text:
Korea: Another Election and Disputes between those in their 20s and 30-40s.  · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

The general election took place on the 9th of April. The result the absolute victory for the conservative party, the GNP that the current President Lee Myung Bak belongs to. While the majority expected the opposite result because of the continual disputes against policies of the current President, the result generates shocks to some people. Many major politicians of other parties lost and politicians who were confident of winning drank bitter cups. After the analysis of the voting was publicized, the fact that those in their twenties chose the conservative party regardless of demonstrations against the current government due to the increase of college tuition fee (post, 2nd of April) lead several netizens to analyze the reason and to have discussions.
Photohistory analyzes why those in their 20s are conservative.
20대 그들이 보수화된 이유
20대들이 욕을 먹고 있네요. 어제 총선을 지켜보면서 가장 충격적이었던 일이 바로 20대의 저조한 투표율보다 더 놀랐던것은 20대들이 50,60대와 맞먹는 수치의 보수정당(사실은 수구정당임)인 한나라당을 지지하는 것이었습니다. 지난달 말 등록금 인상반대 시위를 하던 3천명정도의 대학생들이 외치던 땡박이 맹박이를 죽일놈이라고 외치던 모습이 무색할정도 였습니다. 지난해 연말의 대선전에 40여개의 대학교 총학생회가 이명박지지선언을 한것을 부끄럽게 여기고 이번 총선에는 좀 달라지겠구나 했습니다. 그러나 결과는 별로 다르지 않다는것입니다. 20대의 20대 초반의 나이에 있는 젊은이의 80%가 대학생임을 감안하면 대부분이 대학생일텐데 모여서는 이명박대통령 욕하면서  현실적으로 현정부에 대한 비판의사를 표출할수 있는 선거에서는 거꾸로 지지하는 모습은 뭘로 설명할수 있을까요?
어제 뉴스앵커가 20대의 보수화에 대해서 이걸 어떻게 설명해야 할까 하는 곤혹스러운 모습까지 살짝 비치던데요.  왜 이럴까요?  젊은이=진보 라는 공식은 전세계의 공통적인 모습입니다.
젊은사람들은 가진것이 없기에 기득권층을 향한  비판을 하며  패기와 열정으로 사회를 개혁하고자 하는 모습은 진보의 모습으로 표출되곤합니다. 왜 그런걸까요?
뭐 30대나 40대도 수치만 낮지 보수정당인 한나라당을 1등으로 지지하기는 했습니다… 제 나름대로 분석해 보겠습니다.
Those in their 20s are criticized. Looking at the general election yesterday, the most shocking thing I had was that they supported the conservative party (extremely conservative party honestly speaking), the Grand National Party, as much as those in their 50s and 60s did rather than the low ratio of voting from those in their 20s.  Last month, 3,000 college students blamed the current president harshly while they had the demonstrations against the increase of the tuition fee. What about that? Last year, student presidents of 40 colleges who supported Lee Myung Bak in the Presidential Election expressed their shame. Therefore, I thought the general election would be different. But the result was not different. Let’s say that 80 percent of the early 20s are college students. They get together and criticize the President, but in reality they rather support him in the election when they can express their opinions. How can we explain this?
Yesterday, a news anchorman even showed puzzlement over how to explain the conservation of those in their 20s. Why? The youth=progress… this formula is the common characteristic of the world. The young people don’t have things yet. Therefore, they criticize against the vested. What they try to reform with passion and ambition is regarded as progress.
Those in their 30s and 40s have a lower ratio, but they also supported the conservative party more than other parties. I tried to analyze in my way.
1. 정치에 관심이 없다.
저의 20대때도 정치에 관심이 없었습니다. 모여서 하는 이야기중에 정치이야기는 없었습니다.
정치 이야기를 하기에는 할 이야기들이 많았습니다. 또한 정치가 피부에 와 닿지 않았습니다.
다만 뉴스에서 연일 쏟아지는 5,18청문회,  전두환, 노태우 전대통령이 수의입고 법정에 서있던 모습을 보았습니다. 그래서 민자당=개새끼라는것은 알았습니다. 그래서 선거때는 민자당의 다른이름인 신한국당을 지지하지 않았습니다. 그러다 신한국당이 한나라당으로 이름을 바꾸고 첫번째 이룩한일이 바로 IMF였습니다.  정치에 관심이 없어도 선거 안할수가 없더군요.
정치인을 잘못뽑으니 이런 결과가 나오는구나 한탄을 하면서요.  일어나자마자 선거했던 기억이 나네요.
그러나 지금의 20대들은 정치가 피부에 와 닿는게 없습니다. 20대중에 자기가 돈 벌어서 자기가 등록금 내는 사람이 몇명이나 있을까요? 20대 직장인중에  월급에서 알아서 빠져나가는 각종 세금말고  국가에 세금내는 것이 뭐가 있을까요? 저도 20대때는 정치보단 다른일에 관심이 많았습니다. 친구들과  모여서 히히덕거리기 바뻤구 가끔 정치이야기를 꺼내면 친구들이 손사래를 치면서 피하더군요.  정치이야기=고리타분  공식이 있는것 같더군요.
그런데 요즘은 친구들 모임에서 정치이야기가 떠나질 않는 군요. 왜 달라졌을까요?  친구들이 애낳고 애길러보면서  세상을 보니 온통 정치인들이 만들어 놓은 세상이었습니다. 뭘해도 세금을 내라고 하고  사회 시스템을 보게 되기 시작합니다.  한가족의 가장이 되면  정치인들이 만들어 놓은 세상이 보이기 시작합니다. 하다못해 기름값 올리고 내리는모습을 보면서도 정치인들에게 욕을합니다.
I was not interested in politics in my 20s. My friends and I never talked about politics. Rather than talking about it, we have so many other things to talk about. In addition, those topics didn’t affect me so much. What I was familiar with was the scenes of the 5 18 Hearing and of the court that the previous presidents Jeon Doo Hwan and Roh Tae Woo were wearing shrouds. So I knew that the Minjadang is equal to shit. In the presidential election, I didn’t support the Shinhankookdang that was changed from the Minjadang. And then what the Grand National Party accomplished after they changed the name from Shinhankookdang was IMF. Even though I was not interested in politics, I could not help but participate in the election. I knew that selecting wrong politicians would end up with this kind of result. As soon as I woke up, I went to the voting place.
But those in their 20s at present are not interested in politics. How many of them are paying tuition fee with their own money? How many employees in their 20s pay taxes to the country except those that get it automatically deducted from their salaries? When I was in my 20s, I was interested in other matters than politics. Gathering together with friends, I was busy talking about other topics. Sometimes, when I started talking about politics, friends stopped me, because politics are equal to boring.
But recently our major topic of conversations is politics. Why did it change like that? We have babies and raise them… and observing this world…. This world is made by politicians. Whatever we do, we have to pay tax… and then we look at the society system. If you are the breadwinner of a family, you can see the world that politicians made. Looking at the capricious oil price, we criticize politicians.
2. 정치에 관심이 있어도 한나라당을 지지한다.
한나라당의 전신은 민자당 민자당의 전신은 민정당입니다. 민정당은 5,18 광주민주항쟁을 일으킨 전두환이란 작자가 수장으로 있던 당입니다.  그런데 20대중에 그런것을 인지하는 사람은 몇이나 있을까요.  인지하고 있어도 그게뭐 어때서~~ 어쩌라구.  그래서 뭐~~ 라고 하는 사람도 많습니다. 20대들은 술자리에서 세상을 원망합니다. 자기들이 백수로 있는 이유는 첫째가 정부때문이라고 합니다. 물론 정부도 잘한것은 없지만 지금같이 공급과잉되는 대학생들은 구조적으로 백수를 생산할수 밖에 없습니다. 또한 비정규직으로 내몰리는 대부분의 대학생들은 그 비정규직법을 만든 민주당을 손가락질하고 돌팔매질합니다.  그리고 한나라당을 대안으로 삼습니다.  그러나 그 비정규직법을 통과시킨것은 민주당 혼자한게 아닙니다. 한나라당의 적극적 도움이 아니였다면 통과하기 힘들겠죠. 여기서 알수 있듯이 대학생들이 깊이있는 사유와 사고를 하지 않습니다.
그냥 정권만 바꾸면 자기들 취직문제가 해결될줄 아는 사람들이 대부분입니다. 정치에 관심없다보니 정치돌아가는것에 어설프게 알고 있는것도 있을것입니다.  모르는것보다 더 무서운게 어설프게 알고 있는것이라고 하던데 그런모습이 있지 않을까 합니다. 지난 대선전에 40개의 대학교 총학들이 지지선언을 하는것을 보고 충격을 먹었습니다. 지지못할것은 없지만 부자정당 기득권정당 1%정당 그리고 도덕적으로 흠이 그렇게 많은 대통령을 지지하는 모습을 보면서 정말 놀랬습니다. 20대도 세상의 우선가치가 먹고사는것인가 하는 생각이 들더군요.
20대를 너무 비판하는것 같기도 하네요. 하지만 아실거예요. 20대중에 나 이러이러해서 한나라당 지지한다, 라고 자신있게 외치는 사람은 없습니다.  혹시 이 글을 읽는 20대중 한나라당을 지지하는 이유를 적어주시고 제 견해가 잘못되었다고 지적해주셨으면 합니다.
Previous names of the GNP were the Manjadang and Minjeongdang. The Minjeongdang was established by Jeon Doo Hwan who caused the 5.18 Kwangju tragedy. How many young people know about it? Although they know, they might say, ‘so?’ and ‘so what?’ They blame this world. The reason why they live as unemployees is due to the government. Of course, the government didn’t do any good. But when we have so many college students, the society can’t but help to have unemployees. In addition, college students who work as irregular employees harshly criticize the Minjudang, which make the irregular employee law. And they take the GNP as the substitute. But the reason why the law was passed was not by the Minjudang itself. It was impossible to pass if there was no active support from the GNP. As we can see from here, college students don’t have deep thought.
They simply think that their problems to find jobs will be solved if the government changes. They’re not interested in politics and therefore they roughly know about politics. Knowing roughly rather than knowing nothing is more dangerous. The current situation is like that. When I saw 40 college student presidents announced their support for the GNP, I was shocked. Of course, they don’t have to be against them. But it was surprising to see they support the person who morally has problems and the party, the rich party and 1 percent party. It seems that to those in their 20s, how to eat and live is the priority of their life value.
It seems that I criticize those in their 20s way too much. But everyone will know. I haven’t seen anyone who confidently says why they support the GNP. If some of you can say that there is a reason why you support the GNP and my opinion is wrong, please criticize me.
3. 세상 돌아가는 것보단  자신에게 당장 당근을 준다는 곳으로 달려간다
세상돌아가는 이치를 20대는 모릅니다.  손에는 영어관련 책이 들려있구 학원으로 도서실로 공부만 하는게 20대 입니다. 예전처럼 사회참여를 적극적으로 하여 사회를 개혁하는 모습은 극소수입니다. 자기개발에 투자하는게 현명하다고 판단하여 동아리도 가입하지 않습니다. 개인주의가 점점 더 팽배해지고 어울림을 잘 모릅니다.  자격증 하나 더 따고 토익점수 올리기 바쁘고 그래야 회사에 취직하기 쉽기 때문입니다. 사회비판세력이 되기보단 사회가 만들어놓은 세상에 잘적응하기 위해 순응주의형 인간들이 대부분입니다.   앞에서는 정부를 질타하면서 정작 행동으로 보여주지 않고 그냥 술자리에서 한숨소리에 섞여 욕만하는게 최고의 비판입니다. 그리고  등록금 반값으로 내려주겠다.  일자리 많이 만들어주겠다고 하는 한나라당으로 달려갑니다.  그러나  등록금 반값 공약한 한나라당 대통령은 지금 등록금에 관심없습니다.
뒤통수를 맞은거죠.  그런데 또 총선에서도 한나라당을 지지합니다. 민주당에서 해답을 내놓지 않으니  대안으로 한나라등을 지지하는 모습이 다분히 많은듯 합니다.
요즘 20대들을 보면 건강해 보이기는 하는데 영혼은 허약해 보입니다. 그들이 누굴 지지하는지는 그들의 선택이니 크게 뭐라고 하지는 않겠습니다.(위에 심하게 지적했다면 이해해 주십시요) 하지만 20대들과 대화를 해보면  얘들같다는 생각이 들때가 정말 많습니다. 부모님에게는 50살 먹은 자식도 아이로 보인다고 하는데  저도 그런것인지는 모르겠습니다.  인문학에 대한 교양은 거의 없고 전공지식만 달달외운모습만 보이고  자신에게 도움이 되는것에만 온신경을 씁니다.  세상을 보는 시선의 폭이 예전 대학생들보다 너무 좁아 보입니다.  경마장의 말처럼 앞가리개를 한 말들 같습니다.  목표를 향해 질주하는 말들이요
그 목표는 취직입니다.  왜 달려야 하는지 왜 이런 경주를 해야하는지에 대한 사회를 향한 비판은 거의 없습니다. 언제부터 저항보단 순응하기 바쁜 모습들입니다. 저항의 20대는 다 사라지고 순응의 20대가 된듯합니다. 몸과 마음이 건강한 20대들이 더 많아지고  세상을 보는 시선이 넓어졌으면 합니다.
Those in their 20s don’t know how the world goes around. Having English books in their hands, they go to institutes and libraries. There is the minority who participates in society actively and reforms the society. They judge that self-developing is much wiser and they don’t even join clubs. Individualism is getting bigger and they don’t know how to get along. They try to get one more certificates and are busy increasing the score of TOEIC. Those can help them to find jobs. Most of them get obedient in order to adjust to this world that the society already made rather than being against this society. In front, they criticize the government, but they can’t do anything. What they do is they complain about the government in drinking. And when they hear the promises from the GNP, such as about the tuition fee being cut in half and the job positions will be more, they rush to them. But it was shown that the current President is not interested in tuition fees. The young were stroked on the back of their heads. But they supported the GNP in the general election again. Because the Minjudang didn’t provide solutions, as substitute, they seemed to choose the GNP.
When you see those in their 20s now, they look healthy, but their spirits look weak. Whom they support is their choice. So I shouldn’t say too much (If I spoke way too much earlier, please understand). But when I have conversations with those in their 20s, I feel that they’re like children. To parents, 50 year old children will be like children. Maybe my case is like that. But they don’t have any knowledge about humanities and just memorize knowledge of their studies. They just pay attention to things that will help them. Perspectives toward the world are so narrow compared to the college students before. Like horses at horse races, they are like horses having twofold screens. They are horses to run for their goals. And their goals are to have jobs. Why they have to run and why they have to have races… there is no criticism toward society. From some moment, they are busy adjusting rather than resisting. Those in their 20s with resistance are gone and they become those with obedience. I hope that there are healthier people in body and spirit, and their perspectives are getting wider.
His post became the major space where netizens exchange their opinions as follows.
보수기독교의 영향이 굉장히 크다고 봅니다
친구따라 간 교회에서 한나라당찍으라고 피를 토하는 목사님을 보면서 성경을 집어던지고 싶었습니다
저도 어제 충격 받았는데요. 낮은 투표율보다 더 충격적이었던것은 한나라당 지지율이 30,40대보다 훨씬 더 높았다는 사실이에요. 님 쓴글처럼 현 세태에 완전 순응하여 일자리에 목매달고 있는 20대들. 하지만 그들이 바라는 일자리가 대규모 토목,건설에서 막노동은 아닐진대….왜 이렇게 허약하게 되었는지 근본 부터 따져봐야 할듯 하네요. 현 정권보다 더 암울한것은 바로 다음세대를 이어갈 20대에 열정이 안보인다는 것. 이 모두 기성세대와 시스템의 잘못이 크긴 하지만 너무 씁슬합니다.
저도 20대지만…물론 30대에 가까워져 가고는 있으나 글쓴이의 말에 전적으로 동감하는 바입니다… 외국에서 살면서 객관적으로 우리나라의 정치를 바라보고 있자니 객관적으로 바라볼 수 없을 정도로 막가고 있다는 생각이 들더군요… 도대체 무슨 생각으로 투표를 하고 지지를 하는건 지… 답답할 뿐입니다. 저도 20대 초반에는 정치에 관심도 없고 다들 도둑놈들인데 도토리 키재기지… 하는 마음으로 정치에 무관심했었습니다만 이제는 이런 무관심이 내 미래를 그리고 내 후손들의 미래를 망쳐놓을 수도 있겠구나 짧다면 짧고 길다면 긴 5년이겠지만 한 나라의 흥망성쇠가 어떤 지도자를 뽑느냐에 따라 바뀔 수도 있다는 생각을 하니 정말 두려움이 앞섭니다.
슬픈 현실
20대들이 하나같이 순응형 인간이 된 이유, 전 알거 같습니다. 아무도 그게 잘못된 것이라고 가르쳐주지 않았으니까요. 집에서도, 학교에서도, 학원에서도, 왜 부자가 되어야 하는지, 왜 법조인이 되어야 하는지, 왜 열심히 공부해서 좋은 직장에 가야 하는지.. 저는 배운 기억이 없습니다. 그저 내가 좋은집, 좋은차, 비싼옷을 사입기 위해서라고.. 막연히 생각했을 뿐입니다.
요즘 학교에 가보세요. 공부 못하면 밥도 정부미로 해주는 판국에 누가 돈과 권력위에 더 나은 무엇이 있는지 배울 수 있겠습니까.. 우리나라..점점 동물의 왕국이 되어가는 거 같아요.
적자생존에 약육강식.. 그나마 동물들은 생존을 위해 싸우죠. 나만 배부르면 다른사람이 굶어도 상관없다는 생각.. 태어나서 말을 알아듣게 되는 그 순간부터 배우는 생활신조입니다.
놀라운 자본의 힘이 아닐까요.. 학생운동이 죽은 나라는 더 이상의 발전을 기대하기 어렵죠..
불쌍하지 않나요 20대. 중 고등학교때 사회를 조금씩 알아가기 시작할때 IMF가 터지데요. 아버지가 부도가 나서 가정이 풍지박살난 친구, 명퇴후 자살하는 사람이 있다는 뉴스들 그렇게 아버지들 어머니들 기운 없는 어깨를 보면서 그렇게 대학생이 되었습니다. 사회가 왜 이런 모습을 갖추었는지는 아무도 알려주지 않았습니다. 단지 아버지 세대의 개인적인 실패를 어떻게 하면 겪지 않는지만 말해주더군요. 어떻게 하면 회사에서 잘려나가지 않고 안정된 회사에 들어갈 수 있는지만 알려주었습니다. 오직 사회에서의 성공이 가장 중요한 것이라고 알려주었습니다. 아버지 세대처럼 능력없으면 안된다. 안정된 직장 보수높은 직업이 최선이라고 그렇게 부모님과 삼사오십대 인생선배님들께 그렇게 배웠습니다.
요즘 사회에 만연한 승자독식주의에 가장 익숙한 세대가 20대 입니다. 그런 풍토를 20대 스스로 만든 것입니까? 20대들은 사회 초년생입니다. 초년생들은 이제 배워가는 단계입니다. 하지만 20대는 그 잘나신 민주화 삼사십대 인생선배님들께 배운 것이 없습니다. 그땐 학생 운동하느라 시험을 보지 않아도 학점이 나왔다는 둥 학점이 안되어도 졸업이 되었다는둥 20대에겐 죄다 헛소리들 입니다. 학점이 안나오고 영어가 안되면 졸업후 바로 낙오자 취급받는것이 20대입니다. 또 그렇게 20대를 낙오자 취급하는건 우리보다 먼저 사회 진출하신 그 잘나신 민주화 삼사십대입니다.
Those in their 20s are used to what the winners get more. Who made that trend? Did they make it? They just stepped in society. They’re in the stage for learning. But they didn’t learn anything from those in their 3-40s who are so confident of themselves for democratization.
Those who were busy having demonstrations and didn’t take examinations sometimes. But they could graduate even though they didn’t get all credit. It’s all nonsense. It is those in their 20s who are treated as losers after the graduation if their grade is not good enough and their English is bad. And to treat those in their 20s as losers is what is done by those in their 30-40s who are already veterans in society.

author: Hyejin Kim


text:
Lebanon: On leadership, governance and justice · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

“You are one ugly, evil,  money hungry, conniving bastard, will you marry me?” writes Jamal about the Lebanese opposition and other political peculiarities.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Moussa Bashir


text:
Lebanon: Turf on concrete sidewalk · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

“…some dude ‘planted’ turf right on gemmayze street… midst a heated turf war right on gemmayze street! (pubs vs residents),” reports finkployd with photos and video.


text:
Lebanon: Where to go for scenery and adventure · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

Liliane suggests where to go when visiting Lebanon if you love beautiful scenery and adventure.


text:
Arab Environment Watch: Jordan switches to unleaded fuel · Global Voices
Juliana Rotich

Arab Environment Watch sees a Public Health Boost as Jordan switches to unleaded fuel, saying that the story is worthy of reading and documentation.

author: Juliana Rotich


text:
Bahamas: For Shame?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Have we in the Bahamas become so insensitive and so lacking in shame that there is not a public outcry about this prescription for socio-economic disaster?”  Sidney Sweeting at WeblogBahamas.com blogs about teenage pregnancy.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


text:
Bangladesh: Trade unions and the industry · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

imperfect world 2008 on the suspension of trade union rights and if it's affected the garment industry.

author: Neha Viswanathan


text:
Barbados: Keith Barker Passes · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbados Free Press acknowledges the passing of a “cricket legend”.


text:
Barbados: Thoughts on Zimbabwe · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“I have been struggling for a couple of weeks over how to express my feelings about the current non-outcome from Zimbabwe's presidential elections”:  Living in Barbados finally blogs about it.


text:
Bolivia: Reflections on Autonomy Referendum · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

On May 4, a Referendum whether or not to implement a controversial autonomy statute will take place in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Miguel Centellas of Pronto* provides his reflections on the process and its meaning.

author: Eduardo Avila


text:
Brunei: Moral hazard and economic policies · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Local Freakonomics wants the Brunei government to implement different sets of economic policies for different sets of people.

author: Mong Palatino


text:
Cambodian Chess · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Blogger mythicaldude is hooked to Cambodian Chess


text:
Chile: Wind Power in Maule · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Marcelo Aliaga of Bloggeando La Vida [es] writes about the growing possibility of using wind to generate power in the region of Maule along the Chilean Pacific coast.


text:
China: Report on Overseas Pro-China Protest · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Mao Ningbo complained that western media did not report on the pro-China protest in the Olympic torch journey in Ireland. He urged netizens to do the citizen report [zh].

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
Colombia: Affects of the “Frozen” Free-Trade Agreement · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Liberal Colombiano [es] provides some thoughts on what the US Democrats could lose by “freezing” the Free Trade Agreement with Colombia and what Colombians could miss out on because of this.


text:
Environment: Majora Carter Stands with Tibetans at Torch Relay · Global Voices
Juliana Rotich

From the blog It’s Getting Hot In Here,  Jamie posts on last week's torch relay in San Fransisco, and the statement given by Majora Carter when she carried the Olympic torch, and also expressed solidarity with Tibet.


text:
Guatemala: Watching One’s Parked Car · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Luis Figueroa of Carpe Diem [es] writes about one of many people in Antigua, Guatemala that charge money to watch parked cars, so that “nothing happens to them.”


text:
Guyana: Cleaning House  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Guyana-Gyal is cleaning house.


text:
Haiti: PM Fired in No Confidence Vote  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Both Upping The Anti and Bajan Global Report blog about the Haitian parliament passing a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Jacques-Edouard Alexis, while Dying in Haiti posts a first-hand account by Frandy in Carrefour about the past week's events.


text:
Hong Kong: the Unspeakable Olympic Torch · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Apart from the Tibet issue, Alex also found the Olympic Torch journey unspeakable [zh]. The Olympic cannot be politicized but everything about it is political.


text:
India: Bride’s side · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

of this and that on the heavy weight of patriarchy that forces the families of brides to foot the wedding bills and more.


text:
India: Nizam of Hyderabad · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

HelloJi on the Nizam of Hyderabad in India who made it to the Forbes’ All Time Wealthiest list.


text:
Indonesia Lifts Ban on YouTube · Global Voices
sami ben gharbia

Indonesia has  lifted  the ban on Youtube.com. Internet service providers “would only block access to pages carrying the film by Geert Wilders” The vice chairman of the Indonesian Internet Providers Association said.

author: sami ben gharbia


text:
Is economic recession good for the environment? · Global Voices
Juliana Rotich

Maryann asks some pertinent questions on ChinaDialogue: “So, is recession good for the environment? Only in the short term? How much will it harm ethical producers in developing countries? Or are ethics recession-proof? “


text:
Jamaica, China: Carrying the Torch  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“For many Chinese nationals, this Olympics is an event about hope–hope that China will become a better country not just economically, but as a nation progressing in all ways”: Blogging from Jamaica, ComPromise explains why she would “proudly carry the Olympic torch.”


text:
Jamaica: Telephone Pole  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

How many guys does it take to fix a broken telephone pole?  Montego Bay Day By Day knows…


text:
Japan: Architect bloggers stand against redevelopment plan   · Global Voices
Hanako Tokita

One of the most prominent modern architectural works in Japan is facing possible demolition. Japan Post, privatized last October, announced last year its plan to build a 200m building in place of the current structure, and part of the plan is scheduled to be carried out as early as May.
The Tokyo Central Post Office building was designed by Yoshida Tetsuro, a Japanese modern architect who also designed other buildings commissioned by the Ministry of Communications, and was completed in 1931. The building is listed by DoCoMoMo International as one of the 20 outstanding modern architectural works in Japan. With the old Marunouchi Building (Blog Subarashiki shinsekai[jp] has a series of photos of the building), Sanshin Building (Tokyo Lost Architecture has photos ) and others already swept by a wave of mega-redevelopment in the area adjacent to Tokyo Station, the Post Office building is one the last few historical buildings which remain standing today. (Tokyo Lost Architecture [jp] has been documenting pictures of the buildings that were torn down.)
The redevelopment plan has faced opposition from architects as well as Diet members and citizen groups who are demanding that the building designated an Important Cultural Property. Concerned bloggers have been expressing their concern and calling for preservation of the historical building.
Blogger schinkel has posted pictures of the Post Office building and writes that Japanese people will regret the loss of their cultural heritage one day in the future
言わずと知れた近代モダニズム建築を代表する作品。
しかしネットが張られており解体待ちといった風情だ。この国の文化的精神的貧困と洞察力の無さを象徴する光景と言える。
現代の東京の超高層ビルは1930年代における東京中央郵便局程には東アジア地域で傑出した建築ではない。いつの日か政治的にも経済的にも完全に周辺諸国の後塵を拝したときに初めて、語るべきかつての栄光ある歴史の残滓はほとんど何も残っていないことの悲哀が身にしみるのだろう。
Blogger and graphics designer solidThinking discusses the architectural value of the Post Office building and reflects on their experience from a trip to Amsterdam:
日本人は、どうもこうして文化遺産をいとも簡単に壊してしまうのでしょうかか？　一度壊された物は元に戻りません。
これら二つの郵便局は、日本の伝統の柱と梁というシンプルな形状を近代建築＝モダンスタイル　に応用したもので、西洋建築を模倣した、建築物と一線を画します。　 これらの設計は、日本と深い関係がある、アントニン　レイモンドや、ブルーノ　タウトが賞賛したデザインです。　…
アムステルダムでは、ファサードを残し、中身を改造する建築方法と採用しています。　私が訪れた時にも、運河沿いに銀行が作られていましたが、本当に皮一つ（ファサード）のみを残して後は、全部新築です。　昔の町並みを残そうとするその試みは、民族性＝オリジナリティを残す事です。
Architect-blogger kurarc archiscape further describes the historical background of the building:
東京中央郵便局は建築家吉田鉄郎の設計による。郵政事業が民営化されたこともありこの建築物のある部分（またはすべて）を壊し、高層化しようという方向性が打ち出されている。その方向に異議をとなえようという会である。
この建築が建設された当時、ブルーノ・タウトがこの建築物を見学している。残されたタウトの日記によると、1933年の5月28日にタウトは建築家吉田鉄郎、山田守、谷口吉郎とこの建築を見学している。タウトはこの建築を「非常にすぐれている・・・・同氏（吉田）の建築は極めて即物的だ」として、吉田鉄郎を「最高の力量を具えた建築家」として絶賛している。
Arichitect Koichiro　Kanematsu of Hibi from an architect, one of the active organizers of an advocacy group, calls his readers for help:
そして、東京中央郵便局。
郵政の中に昨年来「歴史検討委員会」（非公開）が設置されて審議されてきたが、このままだとほんの一部を貼り付けて高層化し、民意を受けて保存したのだといわれかねない。思い余って、危機感を持つ多くの人と共に「東京中央郵便局を重要文化財にする会」を設立することになった。
時間がない。[…]
このブログを読んでくださる方々にお願いしたい。ぜひ発起人に名前を連ねていただきたいのです。恐縮ですが、ブログにリンクさせている僕のHPの「イベント情報」欄を、ぜひ開いてください。たってのお願いです。
Another architect-blogger Nozawa Masamitsu writes that the formation of the group is an unprecedented movement:
「中央郵便局を重文にする会」は事態の急な動きを受け、１００人を超える発起人を集めて動きがしたという形のようだ。市民の参加が力強い。国会議員による動きもあり、党派を超えた２０人を超える議員による「会」できているとのことであった。今までに無い動きではないか。
吉田鉄郎という稀有な建築家について考える機会ともなろう。原状を極力回復し保存活用を望む。私は先日ウイーンでワグナーの郵便貯金局が活用されながらミュージアムとなっているのを見てきたばかりだ。彼此の差を考えざるを得ない。

author: Hanako Tokita


text:
Japan: Candle Night for Tibetan · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Martin J Frid wrote an account for a candle night event in a Buddhist temple for showing their concern and support for Tibetan.


text:
Japan: Fertility Festival · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Gimmeabreakman posted a video about the Tagata Fertility Festival at Japundit.


text:
Japan: Stick-puppet Animation · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Edo from Pink Tentacle posted a stick puppet animation, “Mononoke Dance”, by manga artist Masakazu Amahisa. The video shows a traditional Japanese monsters party.


text:
Laos: Footwear for trekking · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Lao Bumpkin discussed the best thing to wear to go for a walk, specifically “trekking” in South East Asia.


text:
Malaysia: Emergency meeting · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Sources of Life writes about unconfirmed reports that the Malaysian Prime Minister will convene an emergency meeting today.


text:
Mugabe criticized because he endangered White interests · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

In a commentary at Babilown (Fr), Eloi Goutchili compares Robert Mugabe and Paul Biya, president of Cameroon for over 25 years, concluding that only real difference between them is the way they are treated in the Western press: “..the Western press, so harsh when it comes to a Mugabe and so concerned with democratic progress in Africa remains silent about the exploits of this hero of françafrique‘s [sham democracies, Biya].  For this self-righteous press, as for Whites, it's dictatorship only when their interests are endangered.”

author: Jennifer Brea


text:
Negligible world attention for Fiji? · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Fiji blogger Tokalulu believes the Pacific Island country warrants world attention only when strategic interests of the Western world are at risk.


text:
Nepal: Elections and after · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The elections are over, and the results are out – but the political play has just about started. More at Nepali Netbook.


text:
Online Obama campaign splits Ethiopian bloggers · Global Voices
Andrew Heavens

Diaspora Ethiopians have been flexing their political muscles in the U.S., organising websites, rallies and email campaigns to persuade their compatriots to support Barack Obama's presidential run.
Many Ethiopians bloggers rallied to the cause, pledging cash and votes for the Democratic candidate whose father came from Kenya, a country that neighbours Ethiopia.
But others raised questions about the campaign, asking whether it was right to expect Ethiopian-Americans to vote en masse for any candidate.
At the head of the Obama pack was the new blog Ethiopians for Obama which, in Ethiopians Journey for Hope, said:
Most Ethiopians immigrated to America searching for the American dream—a dream for a better life and a new opportunity. Most arrived in America with the determination to fulfil the promise that America embodies; destined to realize this dream armed with little more than hope on their side. Ethiopians—like all Americans–embrace the message of Barack Obama, a message that our lives are intertwined with our infinite commonalities.
Ethiounited pointed to a YouTube video of Ethio-Americans speaking at an Obama campaign launch.
I have given a lot of money to the [Obama] campaign since I was not able to take time of from work and go volunteer at the campaign headquarters in Chicago, although I have made phone calls on behalf of the campaign for every primary.
wrote Bernos in An Obama Minute. Bernos has also been busy translating the Obama ‘Yes we can’ slogan into Amharic, one of Ethiopia's main languages, for a range of targeted campaign posters.
Ethioblog talked about its growing disillusion with the Clinton camp in Falling for Clinton and Clinton’s Doubletalk. Ethiopian Politics Blog pointed to another YouTube video describing Obama as the “embodiment of the American dream”.
But Abesha Bunna Bet sounded a strong note of caution in Even Ethiopians Are Crazy About Obama:
Ethiopians. We are not a bunch of herds that needs direction. We can not be told by any group (Ethiopians or not) who to vote for with out being told why. And the ‘why’ should be answered by our individual research, and not by folks who wish to take advantage of us based on heritage.
Tobian ThinkTank‘s email inbox was flooded with ‘Obamaganda’ by friends and relatives. When the blogger replied to them, saying he was backing Hilary Clinton, he got some hostile emails in response. In Surely, it must be that lesbian school … he wrote:
One curious thing to note about who's been sending me these emails has been that it has all come from black men. My friends who are female and black are still rooting all for Clinton…
I think Hilary & Obama should eventually run a joint ticket. They've divided the Democratic party straight down the middle line, and it is in their hands to bring the party, the country back together. As this country stands at the edge of a recession, one of my officemates pointed out, imagine Hilary as the president, Obama as vice president and Bill Clinton as a ‘first man'(?). Is that a power house, or is that a power house?
The Mongrel described how he remained suspicious of Obama, despite the current level of “mass-hysteria” in support of the African-American candidate.
In Conspiracy Brother he wrote:
Seriously though someone please put your hands on me and tell me it's OK to be black and not vote for Obama…I think that's what I'm fighting with deep inside. Either that or it's a case of OCD :-0

author: Andrew Heavens


text:
Paraguay: Duarte’s Response to Media · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Mi Paraguay [es] writes about current president Nicanor Duarte's rather crass response to the media, who allegedly “look for the fall of the Colorado Party.”  Duarte says that on election day on April 20, that the media will “choke on their own vomit,” because the candidate of his party will become the next president.


text:
Philippines: Bomb blasts · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Mindanao Examiner reports that two bombs exploded in southern Philippines. There were no reports of casualties


text:
Philippines: Regulation of land conversion · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Filipino blogger The Citizen on Mars suggests some kind of regulation or legislation to curtail or minimize the conversion of huge ricelands into malls or factories.


text:
Poland: Krakow; Warsaw · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Polandian compares Krakow‘s past with its present; the beatroot writes about a survey that found Warsaw the third most boring city of Europe.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


text:
Russia: Grozny Photos · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Six photos from Grozny, Chechnya, by LJ user remetalk (award-winning photographer Sergei Maximishin, www.maximishin.com.


text:
Russia, Kazakhstan: Baikonur · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Russia may “decamp” from Baikonur, “the Russian Cape Canaveral,” The Lede (the New York Times) reports.


text:
Russia: “Presumption of Guilt” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LJ user tibetka wrote this (RUS) about xenophobia and hate speech in LJ community moya_moskva (“My Moscow”):
Lately, something unimaginable has been taking place in [LJ] community moya_moskva. People keep writing and writing and writing about their hatred for [those who are not Moscow natives].
[…]
What's scary is the “domestic” hatred, expressed in kitchen conversations, “humorous” TV shows – because no one considers it dangerous […]. […]
The post – which is slightly longer than the quote above – has drawn nearly 350 comments in less than three days (LJ community moya_moskva is read by 3,642 LJ users, and 3,214 more are authorized to post in it).
One blogger (distort303) felt that LJ user tibetka was too idealistic and recommended that she read posts in another Moscow LJ community, ponaehali_msk, maintained by people who dislike migrants – in order to learn “how many crimes are committed by aliens from underdeveloped countries.” (An attempt to figure out what the Russian “ponaehali” – or “ponaehali tut” – stands for has been made in this thread at Expat.ru, “the virtual community for English-speaking expats and Russians.”)
Below are a few items from the “manifesto” (RUS) of LJ community ponaehali_msk (317 readers, 280 participants):
[…] They seduce our girls and get pregnant from our young men, in order to stay in our city.
They take away our jobs, because they agree to toil for [very little], just to become part of the capital's life.
They lower the average salary level, because they cost much less than we do.
They jam our roads, because they aren't capable of driving in heavy traffic.
They paralyze the work of public transportation, because they get disoriented on the subway and aren't used to moving quickly inside buses.
They destroy our language, because it's much easier to litter the pure language with village dialect than learn to speak correctly. […]
Xenophobia is not limited to virtual Moscow, of course. LJ user varfolomeev66, a Russian journalist, described (RUS) his real-life encounter with someone who did not trust Moscow's non-Slavic cab drivers:
Presumption of guilt
One evening, I was […] flagging down a car for [a female acquaintance]. She put forward a task:
- Only please make sure that the driver isn't “black” [non-Slavic, a Caucasus or Central Asia native].
– ?
– I don't want to ride with them, especially at night.
– Have you had any problems?
– They always bother you with questions, like “Do you live on your own?” etc. Had enough of it.
– But that's their mentality, oriental.
– I understand everything, but I'm still not going [with any of them]!
Ironically, only [cars driven by] the “guests” were stopping. I had to offer them a really low price, in order to reject their service politely. It took us ten minutes to find a “white” [Slavic-looking] driver and send the female friend home successfully.
She, by the way, is a very modern woman, working in a quite progressive organization.
LJ user varfolomeev66‘s post has received 107 comments; below are three of them:
bukvoyeditsa:
According to my observations, young people of Caucasian looks are a lot more polite than the majority of the locals. They are the ones who offer you a seat on a bus and subway.
And when I once took a cab for my 90-year-old mama, the Georgian driver got out of the car, opened the door and helped her to get out, and I just stood there, admiring the scene.
***
orjuha:
[…] Many times I rode cars with various Caucasian people. We talked about many things – about theater (with a director from Baku), and about music, and about the differences and similarities between Turkish and Azeri languages. About grapes that the driver cultivated back home, and about the wine made of these grapes. About his wife, children. About war. Sometimes they'd offer to walk me to the door – because it was dark and there were drunks around. Sometimes we were both silent, each thinking our own thoughts. But I never get into a car with someone who appears not sober/overexcited/disturbed – regardless of his ethnicity. […] Once, I was in a car with a deaf driver – wrote the address on a piece of paper for him. It went fine. Without unnecessary conversations.
***
wawa_umka:
Since I'm carless, I'm a true expert in this :)
I've been trying to classify drivers for a long time, basing it on the main features: how much they take, how they behave, etc. – but I've fail to classify them by their ethnicity.
Still, I do have some observations.
If I'm with my child, any Caucasian native is more preferable. They treat children – all children – as something sacred. They regularly refuse to take the money, even though I insist, they laugh at my son's jokes, and this is exactly what my kid needs… If I'm on my own, they almost always begin to flirt, but decently, and I've learned to deter them […] by making jokes about them, and sometimes I explain very politely that I'm in a [terrible] mood and that it's not good to have conversations in such a mood – and they leave me alone. As for the “whites,” the young ones are a lot more tiresome. It's harder to deter them. They don't get it and are asking more questions, by the way.
Oh, and the music [playing in the cars of] our [local] guys is almost always worse.
The day before yesterday, a black […] guy was giving me a ride, and he was listening to Armstrong, and didn't ask much money, and knew Moscow well, and was a good driver. […]


text:
Sea turtle conservation in Republic of Congo · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Congopages writes about local efforts to protect endangered sea turtles [Fr].


text:
Serbia, Kosovo: War Reporting · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

From the Frontline posts a story of how a cell phone and a roll of Deutschmarks saved a reporter's life in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo.


text:
Serbia: New Belgrade · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

“New Belgrade” – regarded by many “as a giant sleeping dorm” – turns 60, Belgrade 2.0 reports and posts some pictures and video.


text:
Taiwan: 314 and 228 · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

winddriver compares the 314 Tibet incident with the 228 incident in Taiwan [zh].


text:
Thailand: Temples in banknotes · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Farang Pai Nai notes the temples that appear on Thai banknotes reflect the studied significance of Thailand's national identity.


text:
Trinidad & Tobago: Walking Around Town  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Trindadian blogger Andre Bagoo and his trusty camera go for a morning walk around Port of Spain – flickr photoset here.


text:
Vlog International: collaboration across borders · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

Vlog International is a project bringing together Spanish speaking vloggers: people submit their ideas, one is chosen and everyone records their piece, someone edits them together and they are published on their site. They began in 2006, when a group of friends got together to do a video homage for a vlogger friend [es]: it was through his website that everyone had met, and they wanted to recognize that fact publicly. The next project happened organically: the friend who had organized the first collaborative video was going through a rough spot in his life, and everyone else decided to record a birthday wish on video: they recorded themselves singing happy birthday, playing the song on instruments, dancing and sitting in front of cakes with candles, and that video can be found by following this link[es].
They began calling these experiences “Sancocho de Video“: sancocho is a name that refers to many different soups from all around Latin America. The latest video by the Vlog International group is about a walk around the block. Vloggers in Colombia, Israel, Canada, Germany and the USA all shared their surroundings. You can see it by clicking here or by pressing play on the following video.
Vlog International already has 31 collaborative videos up on their blip.tv page and they are always hoping to add more video bloggers to their site. All that is needed is for the person interested to make a 1 minute video: 30 seconds explaining where they are and who they are, and 30 seconds recording the following “mission” video, then uploading the video and emailing them the link. Instructions in Spanish can be found here.
These videos have all been released under a Creative Commons license, and you can share in on the process by reading their wiki. Browsing through their different episodes is a great way to get a global perspective on the same issue. On the following video[es], the Vloggers take us on a tour away from the supermarkets and into the different traditional marketplaces of France, England, Italy, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, the USA, Chile, Spain and Colombia.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


text:
Afghanistan: Misleading Points on Drugs · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Barnett R. Rubin continues to analyze the public and international debates on the possible strategies of counter-narcotics activity in Afghanistan.

author: Adil Nurmakov


text:
Bahamas: Collective Responsibility  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“We have real problems in the Bahamas.  For us to play like we don’t see our own flesh and blood out there hurting is just turning a blind eye to what is happening and we shall all experience the results later on”: Craig Butler believes that Bahamians must take responsibility for one another.


text:
Bahamas: Outrage · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The Bahamian woman “who was seized from the house she was living in by uniformed policemen who would not allow her to put on any clothes and who was detained in the public area of a Nassau police station for many hours in that state before being allowed to cover herself” has been found guilty on charges of obscene language, disorderly behavior and resisting arrest: Womanish Words calls it a “human rights outrage”.


text:
Barbados, St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago: OECS Invite · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbados Underground reports that St. Lucia's Prime Minister has invited Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago to join the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and says: “We find the invitation to be interesting because the OECS is the only political union which has achieved some of level success in our region.”


text:
Barbados: Talking to the People · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbados’ Prime Minister breaks the standard “Address to the Nation” mold, instead holding a “press conference” on radio and television – Living in Barbados asks: “A new approach to democracy? At first blush, yes.”  Pull! Push! adds: “This is quite simply amazing (maybe even dangerous?). It marks a radical and significant change in the island's political landscape.”


text:
Central Asia: “I Dream of the Stans” · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Pathrick Frost informs the readers that the New York City’s Winkleman Gallery is currently exhibiting seven media projects called “I Dream of the Stans: New Central Asian Video.”


text:
China: Boycott Carrefour · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Shcd from 163.com wrote a boycott action report against Carrefour in Beijing [zh]. The action is a reaction against France's failure in guarding the Olympic torch relay in Paris.


text:
China: Invite Dalai Lama to Olympic · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Melody from my1510 suggests that Beijing government should invite Dalai Lama to Olympic Opening for resolving all the conflicts [zh].


text:
China: Media Fight · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

DANWEI has a very good summary of the recent media fight sparked by Chang Ping's essay of 3 April, “How To Find The Truth About Lhаsa”.


text:
China: Sex and Livelihood · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Li Yin-he blogs her speech at the Time out meeting about sex as part of people's livelihood [zh].


text:
China: Who Attack Jin Jing? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Jin Jing is one of the torch bearer attacked by a so-called Tibet Independent activist in Paris. The incident results in public outrage because Jin Jing is a disabled person. Babaxiaoqian found out that the person who attacked Jin Jing might not be Tibetan but friend of the pro-China demonstrators.


text:
China: Working Class from Central Asia at Beijing · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Laowiseass met some migrant workers from Central Asia in Beijing bars.


text:
D.R of Congo: A new partnership to end violence · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Global efforts to end rape in the Democratic Republic of Congo: “The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the global movement to end violence against women and girls known as V-Day have launched a new partnership to end rape in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and ensure justice for the victims of this heinous crime.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


text:
D.R. of Congo: Fifth fatal crash in under a year, food prices the real disaster · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

News agencies are reporting that 75 were killed when a cargo plane crashed in Goma shortly after takeoff on Tuesday.  An overloaded cabin may have been the cause.  It's the fifth fatal plane crash since June 2007.
Last October, Du Cabiau à Kinshasa, responding to a plane crash in a poor district of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, wrote, ominously: “This crash was not the first…it will not be the last” (Fr).
Sadly, these words have proved prophetic.  In the wake of this latest disaster, Cabiau reflects on how a plane crash can bring attention to the DRC, generally ignored by Western media, even though it's reeling from one of the greatest human disasters in a century.
C'est bien connu, un arbre (…ou un avion) qui tombe fait plus de bruit qu'une forêt qui pourrit. Et en matière de douleurs oubliées, la RDC a déjà donné. Le pays vient de connaître le conflit le plus meurtrier depuis la seconde guerre mondiale sans émouvoir outre mesure les médias occidentaux. Un avion qui tombe suscite l'émoi et l'intérêt journalistique. Comme les moines tibétains, c'est un symbole fort qui touche les gens. Alors les voix se lèvent et l'opinion s'indigne… un peu.
It is well-known that a tree (…or an airplane) that falls makes a louder sound than a rotting forest.  And in terms of forget sufferings, the DRC has already delivered.  This country has just gone through the deadliest conflict since World War II, without really moving the Western media.  An airplane that falls from the sky provokes emotion and journalistic interest.  Like the Tibetan monks, it's a strong symbol that touches people.  So voices are raised and the public becomes indignant…just a little.
Je ne conteste pas la pertinence de certaines causes médiatiques. Mais je constate seulement qu'il y a deux poids, deux mesures. L'Afrique souffre en silence de ses trous noirs (dixit BHL qui pour une fois avait raison). Ces concentrations de misère et de douleur auxquelles personne ou presque ne s'intéresse. Les victimes somaliennes ou congolaises ne bénéficiceront jamais du feu des médias… pas l'ombre d'une caméra. Ils faut croire que ces dizaines de milliers de femmes violées, ces centaines de villages pillés et ces populations terrorisées méritent moins de considération. Je n'arrive pas à comprendre pourquoi.
I'm not contesting the appropriateness of some of the media's motives.  I am only saying that there are two measures, two standards.  Africa suffers in its black holes of silence (dixit BHL is right for once).  This concentration of pain and misery which no one or almost no one cares about.  Somali or Congolese victims never benefit from the bright light of the media…not a hint of a single camera.  The tens of thousands of women who have been raped, the hundreds of villages pillaged, their populations terrorized, merit less consideration.  I don't understand why.
Aujourd'hui, le nouveau drame vient de la flambée des prix. Des millions de personnes voient la famine fondre sur elles. Mais il faut attendre des émeutes pour que les consiences se réveillent… un peu. Ce matin, je lisais dans la presse locale : “En moins d’une semaine, les prix des produits de première nécessité ont quasi doublé sur le marché kinois. Les mamans déboussolées ne savent plus à quel saint se vouer”…La mesure de farine de manioc est soudainement passée de 100 à 150 fc, celle de maïs de 150 à 200 fc. Le sucre a augmenté de 25% en quelques jours et les haricots de 50%.
Today, a new drama comes with the rise of food prices.  Millions of people watch as famine descends on them.  But they must wait until there are riots before people wake up…a little.  This morning, I read in the local press: “In less than one week, the price of staple foods have nearly doubled in Kinshasa.  Bewildered mothers don't know to which saint they ought to pray”…[the price of] cassava flour is more than 100-150 Congolese francs, corn flour is 150-200 francs.  [The price of] sugar has risen 25% in a few days, beans 50%.
C'est moins impressionnant que la chute d'un Antonov et pourtant les conséquences risquent d'être bien plus catastrophiques. A croire que Jean Ziegler [sic] a prêché dans le désert…
This is less impressive than an Antonov [airplane] falling from the sky, and yet the consequences will likely be far more catastrophic.  It as if Jean Ziegler [UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food] were preaching in the desert…


text:
Argentina: Economist Blogs and Economy Policy · Global Voices
Jorge Gobbi

In the last weeks, there has been a series of relevant discussions about economic policy in Argentina. The reason: the massive lock out of the countryside against the rise of export retentions, particularly in the soybean market. During almost three weeks, groups linked to agricultural exports closed the roads and stopped the passing of trucks carrying grains and, in many cases, milk and other food products, which created an important shortage of food in the cities.
Retentions are taxes collected from the exports of certain products, to provide more resources to the State, but also to lower the impact of the international prices’ increase in the local market. Adding to this, since 2002 the Argentinean State insists on a policy of maintaining a high dollar value to make exports competitive. But to keep this exchange rate – that favors farms, industry and tourism, among others- important fiscal resources are needed.
In this context, a type of blog acquired a sudden popularity: those written by economists. Many of us didn't even know they existed, but the need for better information about the conflict between the countryside and the government have turned them into a very good source of information, epecially when facing the poor coverage of the media, plagued with generalizations and common sense statements from both sides.
Homo Economicus [es] is a group blog, but most of the entries are dedicated to the topic of the countryside and were indicated that they were written by Tavos, an economist that prefers to keep a pseudonym. Among its entries, the blog mostly focuses on pointing out the weakness of the arguments of those who favor the countrymen's measures. In an entry called “La rentabilidad del agro” he analyzes how those in the countryside are making even more money than they were in 2007, even with higher retentions. And, inspired in Arturo Jaurteche [es], he analyzed the “nonsense” that was repeated by some people in favor of those who closed the routes.
On the other side, at Economista Serial Crónico [es] they summarized the main reasons by which  arguments against the countryside were not well sustained
Los Tres Chiflados [es] is another group blog, but in this case, with higher effective participation. And part of this plurality has become in reading entries where there are very different postures, be it against the countryside [es]
Parece que se creen dueño del país, o por lo menos de las rutas. Los últimos 20 días toda persona perdió la libertad de transitar con lo que quiera y por donde quiera por el país.
It appears that they think they own the country, or at least the roads. During the last 20 days, everyone lost the freedom for free transit with whom they want and wherever they want in the country.
or against the government [es].
Un discurso y una practican política que es la misma que mantiene hoy la Presidenta y que puso en práctica durante esta grave crisis que afecto al país. Una acción que usa a los piqueteros como fuerza de choque violento, y la violencia de las palabras desde el pulpito presidencial para fulminar opositores, disidentes, periodistas y más recientemente, humildes pero prestigiosos artistas como Sabat.
Rhetoric and politics that are the same that the President maintains and puts into practice during this heavy crisis that affected the country. It is an action that uses the “piqueteros” (members of a social movement) as a violent confrontational group and the violence of rhetoric from the presidential pulpit to attack the opposition, dissidents, journalists, and recently, humble, but prestigious artists like Sabat.
Photo by Quique Mendizabal and used under a Creative Commons license.
While the big topic in the last weeks in blogs about economy was the conflict between the countryside and the government on the retentions issue, in many of them there are entries dedicated to specific theoretical matters and other discussions. The overview gives a surprisingly great variety and vitality, so you'll have plenty of options. To list some of them, you can check blogs such as Controversias del Capital [es]; Mide / No Mide [es]; Exabruptos de Miguel Olivera; Ramble Tamble [es]; La ciencia maldita [es]; Abuelo Económico [es]; Trade and Me [es]; Finanzas Públicas [es]; y El lobo estepario [es].

author: Jorge Gobbi


text:
Egypt: 631 Detainees in Mahalla  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Ibn Al Dunya, from Egypt, says that more than 600 people were arrested in Mahalla in connection to the April 6 general strike and the unrest which followed. They include bloggers, journalists and politicians.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


text:
Egypt: Residential Independence · Global Voices
Tarek Amr

OTV is a private Egyptian satellite TV channel which has attracted the attention of its viewers from the day it was launched, thanks to its liberal approach, the issues it tackles and the way it tackles them, which is different from conservative and traditional TV channels.
Egyptian blogger Zaman El Wasl (Ar), discusses here an episode of a talk show that was aired about women's independence.
أتابع بشغف -كلّما تسمح الظروف- برنامج “مساءك سكّر زياده” على “أو تى فى”
من ضمن فقرات البرنامج فقره لحل مشكلات المشاهدين العاطفيه تعرّفت من خلالها على كاتبه شابه اسمها “مروه رخا” ترد على مشكلات المشاهدين بنصائح تعجبنى فى معظم الأحوال
المهم فى حلقة بداية هذا الأسبوع يوم الأحد كانت “مروه” و معها “جورجيت قللينى” عضوة مجلس الشعب و المذيعه “بثينه كامل” ضيوف على البرنامج لمناقشة فكرة استقلال النساء من خلال التعليق على فيلم تسجيلى -غالبا- اسمه “ست بنات
I love to follow – whenever it is possible – a program called “Masa'ak Sukkar Zeyada” on OTV.
And one part of this program tries to solve people's emotional problems. And through this part, I got to know a young writer called Marwa Rakha, who tries to help in solving the viewers problems, and gives them advice that I normally like.
Anyway, during last Sunday's episode, Marwa, Georgette Quelleny – a parliament member, and the Radio/TV host Buthaina Kamel were invited to discuss women's independence through their commentary on a documentary called Six Girls.
The blogger then continues:
حسبما فهمت الفيلم يدور حول فتيات و سيدات اضطرّتهنّ الظروف لترك بيوت الأهل و الاغتراب للعمل أو الدراسه فى مدن أخرى .. لم يحظ الفيلم بقدر كبير من النقاش قدر ما حظيت فكرة الاستقلال نفسها بالقدر الأعظم منه
فكرة الاستقلال كانت تدور حول ترك الفتيات منزل الأسره حين تسمح لهنّ الظروف بهذا و الانتقال لسكن مستقلّ!! الدفاع عن هذه الفكره كان من نصيب “مروه” و بثينه” بينما كان موقف “جورجيت” -الذى اتّفقت معه- هو عدم الترحيب بالفكره طالما لم تحتّمها الظروف
ليس سبب تحفّظى على الفكره سبب دينى أو أخلاقى وليس سببه التخوّف من نظرة المجتمع لفتاه تقيم بمفردها فى مسكن رغم وجود أسرتها بنفس المدينه !! تحفّظى على الفكره منبعه أنّى لا أعتبر الاستقلال -المكانى- هو المعنى بفكرة استقلال أى إنسان ناضج رجلا كان أو امرأه
أعتقد أن الاستقلال يعنى القدره على اتّخاذ القرارات الشخصيه دون الحاجه لدعم أو مساعده اللهم إلاّ طلب النصيحه و المشوره ثمّ القدره على اختيار الأنسب .. وقد يعنى الاستقلال كذلك الاستقلال المادّى و القدره على تحمّل الإنسان نفقاته الخاصه أو حتى تحمّل نفقات البعض من أفراد أسرته
As far as I understood, the movie is about girls and women who were forced to leave their parents’ homes and live alone to work or study in other cities. Most of the discussion was about the idea of women's independence – more than discussing the movie itself.
Their opinion about independence was related more to the departure of women from their parent's home and living alone whenever it is possible. Marwa and Buthaina were defending this point of view while Georgette – and so am I – were against it, as long as women are not forced to do so.
My stance against this idea is not because of religious or moral reasons, and not because I am afraid of what society will say about a girl who lives alone in a separate house while here parents live in the same city!! I am against this idea because I do not consider – residential – independence is the real symbol of a human being's independence, whether he is a man or a woman.
I believe that independence is the ability of someone to take decisions without the need of others — unless he is asking for their advice. Independence can also be someone's financial independence and his ability to depend on himself in getting his daily needs as well as taking care of his family members’ needs.
One of the viewers of the show had a different point of view.
إحدى المتّصلات -يبدو من صوتها و كلماتها أنّها أم- تساءلت : لماذا يحرم الأبناء أنفسهم و يحرموا أسرهم من التفارب و الترابط و تبادل المودّه قبل أن يحين وقت الرحيل
One of the viewers – whose voice seemed to be like a mother's voice – asked: Why do children want to deprive their families from being close to each other and share love and care till it's time for them to leave.
In fact, people here in Egypt are used to living with their parents until they get married. And that's why many of those who commented on this post were against the idea of people moving from their parent's homes, especially for girls.

author: Tarek Amr


text:
Hungary: Change in Attitudes; Change in Policies · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Hungarian Spectrum writes about the changing attitudes of Hungarians – and about what may become the new government's program, once the new “minority” government is formed.


text:
India: History Carnival · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

varnam presents the fourth Indian History Carnival – a collection of posts related to Indian history and archeology.


text:
India: Postcards and Sugar · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

An accidental brush with a postcard from 1940 sends Windy Skies on a quest for sugar and other memories.


text:
Iran: Iranians favor direct talks with USA · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Homeyra informs us that according to World Public Opinion,”Iranians favor direct talks with US on shared issues, mutual access for journalists and more trade.”

author: Fred Petrossian


text:
Jamaica: Guineps · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Oh what a delightful little fruit! Who can resist its lure? I love the smell, the taste, the colour, the feel of them inside my mouth”: Montego Bay Day By Day blogs about Guineps.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


text:
Kazakhstan: Alleged Newspaper Attack · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Zhanna_Zhukova reports on an alleged attack in which shots were fired through the windows of the Taszharghan newspaper in Almaty.


text:
Kosovo: The Army Challenge · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Balkan Baby writes about the challenges of creating Kosovo's new army: “It is hard, in fact impossible, to imagine any of North Mitrovica’s angry and bitter Serb residents, those who attacked UN forces recently and killed a Ukrainian policeman, signing up to join a re-branded KLA.”


text:
Kyrgyzstan: Parliament Ratifies Border and Resorts Agreement · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Elena writes about the ratification of agreements between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan regarding transfer of resorts and location of national borders.


text:
Lebanon: Commemorating the Civil War · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

April 13 marked the 33rd anniversary of the beginning of the Lebanese civil war which ended, officially, in 1990. Lebanese, who are anxious that the violence may be renewed any time, commemorated the occasion with events to raise awareness against it. Bloggers too wrote about the war from different angles as usual; some with lengthy analysis of what caused it and others with reports on some of the anti–war activities. Here is a summary from some of the blogs:
Tantalus publishes a very angry letter from one of the readers calling for discrediting the Lebanese leaders and politicians for putting the lives of the people in jeopardy time after time. The writer also discourages people from participating in events marking the occasion:
This weekend is the commemoration of the Lebanese civil war. How will you find the right angle to write about the irony, disgust and ignorance that accompanies this date? Do you know that to this day we have no real count of how many people died during the war? I have attached the losses from only the past year of tragic events.
If I had a blog… I wouldn't vent this weekend. I wouldn't blame politicians. I would call for people to stop giving them credit, legitimacy and what have you… Not everyone deserves a second chance..not in politics and government you dont get a second chance. when you're dealing with the lives of millions and u have all the resources in the world, you should try to get it right the first time. these guys have had dozens of chances. Enough is Enough.. people are allowing them to do this.
F*** Lebanese politicians, and f*** second chances.
And, oh s***** Lebanese people, whenever you participate in any of these stupid events, the only people who take credit for it are the f***ing
politicians. It's called PR. You are numbers and statistics for someone's PR campaign.
In one of the events taking place to mark the memory of the civil war and warn against it, a large number of toilet seats were set to be used as seats. But why were toilet seats used? Sietske explains and posts photos of the setup:
These toilets are supposed to serve as seats for the public for tonight’s concert.
This particular exhibition is a commemoration of the old civil war, which officially started today, on April 13, some 33 years ago. (1975 – 1990).
The date is often seen as the ‘official’ beginning of the Lebanese Civil War. On this day, in 1975 a busload of Palestinians got ambushed in a Christian neighborhood, after earlier that day an assassination attempt had been carried out on a Christian leader. Nobody ever got caught of course, for either event, but that is quite common for this country.
However, is it not only a commemoration, but also a reminder, or a strong warning, to people of the possibilities, and the ludicrousness, of a new civil war. So why the toilets, you may wonder?
People in Lebanon have been hiding in toilets for 15 years, so you’d figure they’d have learned something in the meantime.
For those unfamiliar with the mechanisms of a (civil) war; the toilet (or bathroom) is supposedly the safest room in the house during shelling because a) it has either no windows or very small windows, and b) most bathrooms in Lebanon have a double ceiling, because the water tank for your shower is right above the bathroom.
The people that I know usually hid out in the corridors, or the underground basement of their building, but quite a few must have spend substantial time in the toilet.
Hence the title of this installation.
Marxist from Lebanon analyzes how the two major forces are neutralizing any possibility for a third political group or party to rise. In addition to this MFL writes this article on “the Causes of the Lebanese Civil War”. It is notable that the bickering between these two major groups, pro–government and opposition, it so tense that some fear a new civil strife in the near future:
In Lebanon, the majority of the civilians do not want a civil war; however, that was the case back in 1975 and they were dragged to a civil war.
The current politicians are practicing a process what is called: demobilization. This means all non-party affiliates are de-activated due to the lack of availability of alternatives or options to impose the over-all populations’ voice on the politicians. Henceforth, the destruction of alternative aka space to function in opposition to the political parties’ duet singing of 14th of March and the Opposition.
More to the point, activists who oppose the war are suffocated by the demolition forces of 14th of March and the opposition. They can't do nothing, and personally someone may wonder if they agreed with each other to cripple the activists from expressing their opinions.
Marillionlb posted many videos from the civil war of 75–90 and had this to say about the sad events that occurred:
This is nothing but, as we say back home “mourour al kiram”; depicting a small percentage of events which forged a generation that is now controlling the destiny of our nation and children.
I am part of this generation which is lost in limbo, somewhere between a false sense of patriotism and a deep guilt for having followed and engaged in acts that were against our morals and religious teachings.
This was Lebanon then.
I will leave it up to you to watch and formulate your own opinion.
N.B: Always keep in mind that this nothing but a mere fraction of what actually took place.
I will leave you with this sample of blog posts. Let's hope that the voice of the majority of Lebanese, who are opposed to a civil war, is triumphant this time.

author: Moussa Bashir


text:
Sri Lanka: Our Lady of Madhu and the Bishop · Global Voices
Nishadha Silva

Sri Lankan government forces are closing in on Madhu area in Mannar district and it is said that this capture will be very beneficial for the morale of the troops and the government. In the event of army advancing, the Bishop of Mannar Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph has moved the statue of Our Lady of Madhu deep into the LTTE controlled areas. This has received a mixed reaction from the Sri Lankan blogosphere. The shrine is considered one of the holiest Catholic spots in Sri Lanka, and is known to attract Catholics regardless of their ethnicity. Despite its importance, the fact that is is situated in the conflict zone has meant that fewer devotees visit the shrine over the years.
Lanka Libertarian strongly questions the Bishop's motives in his post Time for Mannar Bishop Rayauppu Joseph to speak up.
He has allowed priests under him like the ones depicted above to participate in LTTE propaganda and has not disciplined them as far as i know. Bishop of Mannar himself has attended LTTE propaganda rallies and other functions, including reportedly the funeral of roasted murderers like Thamilchelvan and have turned a blind eye to child soldiers participating in such functions.
All of that lead us to believe he is a willing collaborator of a murderous fascist group.
Kanabona.com offers a different view siting that an unarmed catholic priest can't do what he wants in a LTTE controlled area in his post  Opinion: Our Lady of Madhu and the Bishop of Mannar .
As for the frequent allegation of bias of the Mannar Bishop and his Diocesan priests towards the tigers, once again it smacks of total insensitivity to the complexity of the situation.
For one thing the Bishop has continuously stood for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. He has consistently denounced war and violence. At the last Presidential Elections he unsuccessfully appealed to his followers to exercise their franchise, contrary to LTTE orders against it. The late Maj. Gen. Parami Kulatunga was a good personal friend of his – all of this demonstrates his impartiality in the crisis.
It must stressed that a substantial portion of the Mannar Diocese lies in LTTE territory so the Bishop of Mannar is not in a position to take on the Tigers as much as he would like to. It is easy for the JHU to shout hoarse from their safe well secured confines in Colombo, but for an unarmed priest of God to openly challenge the world's most ruthless terrorists in their own territory is an impossible task.
transcurrents.com talks about the people who are caught in the crossfire and  goes on to add why capturing Madhu is this significant for the president in his post Madhu Church: Tragic Casualty of Politico-Military Crossfire.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa is a devout Buddhist but the First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa is an equally devout Catholic. Shortly before his Presidential election campaign in 2005 Rajapaksa wished to go to the Madhu church with his wife.
Since the Madhu church was in LTTE controlled territory, “permission” was sought from the Tigers for the visit. Rajapaksa was Prime Minister then. The LTTE laid down the condition that once inside LTTE territory, Rajapaksa should dispense with his security detail and rely only on Tiger escort. This was unacceptable and the idea of a Madhu visit was aborted.
The issue however rankled in Mahinda’s mind. During his election campaign he often referred to the fact that though he was Prime Minister he was not allowed to visit some parts of the country.

author: Nishadha Silva


text:
Moldova: “Random Musings” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Random Musings on a Moldovan Odyssey posts an extensive roundup on life in Moldova.


text:
Morocco: Hands off my Muezzin! · Global Voices
Lydia Beyoud

Robin des Blogs received over a dozen comments on his post about a minister in the Moroccan government who has asked muezzins in mosques adjoining tourist areas not to do the call to prayer.
The post's title, “Touches pas à mon muezzin” [Hands off my muezzin], which received numerous reader comments, plays off of the now well-known slogan “Touche pas à mon pays” [Hands off my country], a popular, predominantly youth movement to discourage Islamic fundamentalism.
Sur mon [ancien] Blog, j’avais répondu à Karim Boukhari, du magazine telquel sur la même question dont je vais parler, aujourd’hui, mais ce qu’il a dit lui est franchement tres bénin comparé à ce qu’a demandé Mme Nouzha Skalli, la ministre du developpement social, de la famille et de la solodarité (ouf!).
Madame la ministre, et lors d’une réunion du gouvernement, a en fait, delaissé ses prérogatives et s’est lancée dans un discours incompatible avec ses fonctions, tout d’abord, et rudement vexant pour tout musulman; que ce soit dans ce cher pays ou de part le monde.
On my old blog I responded to Karim boukhari, from the magazine Telquel on the same question I'm going to talk about today, but what he said is frankly pretty benign compared to what Madame Nouzha Skalli, Minister of Social Development, the Family and Solidarity (phew!) has asked for.
During a governmental meeting, Madame the Minister neglected her prerogatives and launched herself into a speech incompatible with her functions, first of all, and rudely vexing for every Muslim, be it in this dear country or anywhere in the world.
De quoi ça s’agit? Rien de spécial, sauf peut etre que la charmante dame a demandé au ministre des affaires islamiques d’uniformiser l’horaire de l’appel à la prière ( al adan) , aisni tous les muezzins du Maroc seront synchronisés, et aussi d’abolir l’appel à la prière d’ALFAJR dans les mosquées juxtaposées aux hotels et aux complexes touristiques. Rien que ça?!!
Selon elle, le muezzin dérange les gwer qui n’aiment pas être reveillés aux aurores et que par conséquent, cela nuit gravement aux projets touristiques au Maroc. Non mais je rêve?!! Iwa pkoi pas abolir l’aid El Adha qui froisse BB, le Ramadan qui derange aussi les goinfres, et tiens tout l’islam et faire du Maroc un vrai plusbopaysdumonde, sans identité, sans culture, et sans souverainneté et tout ça pour que jean paul profite un max de son sommeil payé en devises, et du coup de son séjour ici bas.
What was it about? Nothing special, except perhaps that the charming lady asked the Minister of Islamic Affairs to standardize the time schedule for the call to prayer (al adan), such that all of Morocco's muezzins would be synchronized, and would also abolish the call to prayer of ALFAJAR in mosques next to hotels and touristic complexes. Oh, is that all?!!
According to her, the meuzzin bothers the gwer [plural of gawri, “foreigner”] who don't like being woken up at the crack of dawn and consequently, this is greatly harming Morocco's plans for increasing tourism. Are you kidding me?!! Great, then why not get rid of Aid El Adha which rankles BB [French actress Brigitte Bardot, an animal rights activist], Ramadan that also bothers those who like to pig out, and hey, all of Islam, and make Morocco a real mostbeautifulcountryintheworld, without identity, without culture and without sovereignty and all so Jean Paul can get the most from his sleep paid for in hard cash, and from his trip down here.
Mais Madame, l’appel a la prière est une chose sacrée et le décalage des minutes est une merveille d’ALLAH qui fait que le ADAN ne finit pas de retenir de part le monde, et ce durant les 24 heures, car quand un muezzin dit La Ilaha Illa Allah, un autre dit Allahou akbar plus loin… et il n’ya pas de priere sans ADAN de toutes façons. Sinon comment voulez-vous que L’imam appelle les gens à prier dans ces mosquées là? Il les Bipe?… En plus et même en europe, aux etats unis ou autres pays où l’islam n’est pas la religion officielle, ou même laïques , les muezzins appellent à toutes les prières et n’ont jamais reçu de réclamations, ni personne n’a demandé à les faire taire. Alors comment osez-vous dire ce genre de conneries dans un pays musulman, avec sang froid et sans scrupules ?
Arretez SVP d’empoisonner notre vie avec votre charlatanisme politique de pacotille et faites nous le plaisir de respecter ce pays, sa religion et surtout les sentiments de ce peuple qui n’attends plus rien de vous. Enfin pas encore!
But Madame, the call to prayer is a sacred thing and the time difference in minutes is a marvel of ALLAH which makes it so that the ADAN is uttered at any given time somewhere in the world in a 24 hours period, for when a muessin says La Ilaha Illa Allah, another says Allahou Akbar further away…and there is no prayer without ADAN anyway. Otherwise how would you like the imam to call people to prayer in those mosques? You want him to beep them?…Furthermore and even in Europe, in the U.S. or other countries where Islam isn't an official religion, or even where there is no official religion, the muezzins call for all the prayers and have never received any complaints, nor has anyone asked them to be silent. So how can you dare to say this kind of crap in a Muslim country, with sang froid and without scruples?
Please stop poisoning our lives with your worthless political charlatanism and do us the favor of respecting this country, its religion and above all the sentiments of its people who expect nothing else from you. Or at least not yet!

author: Lydia Beyoud


text:
Myanmar: Vote NO to Junta’s Referendum · Global Voices
May Hnin Phyu

Freedom From Fear notifies that the Embassy of Myanmar in Singapore is accepting ballots from 25th to 29th and Moethee Zun urges to vote “NO” to the junta's one-sided referendum.

author: May Hnin Phyu


text:
Nepal: Maoists in power · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

As a former rebel party comes to power in Nepal, United We Blog! reports that there is an urgent need to end Maoist intimidation.

author: Neha Viswanathan


text:
Israel: Teenage Girls Usage of Mobile Phones for Dating · Global Voices
Gilad Lotan

Hiyam Hijazi-Omari and Rivka Ribak wrote a paper called “Playing With Fire: On the domestication of the mobile phone among Palestinian teenage girls in Israel”. In their research, they analyzed mobile phone practices among Palestinian teenage girls in Israel. The Paper constructs a detailed account of mobile phone use among Palestinian Israeli girls who, at the time of the fieldwork (2003-2006), used mobile phones given to them by their illicit boyfriends, unbeknownst to their parents.
danah boyd writes on the Shift6 blog:
Palestinian boys give their girlfriends phones for the express purpose of being able to communicate with them in a semi-private manner without the physical proximity that would be frowned on. At the same time, girls know that parents do not approve of them having access to such private encounters with boys – they go to great lengths to hide their mobiles and suffer consequences when they are found out. While the boys offered these phones as a tool of freedom, they often came with a price. Girls were expected to only communicate with the boy and never use the phone for any other purpose. In the article, Hijazi-Omari and Ribak quote one girl as expressing frustration over this and saying “I did not escape prison only to find myself another prison.” These girls develop fascinating practices around using the phone, hiding from people, and acquiring calling cards.
No doubt mobile communications technology is enabling teens in the Middle East to bypass cultural norms by providing them with access to private communication channels. More examples:

author: Gilad Lotan


text:
Russia: Yuri Gagarin · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Soviet Russia posts commemorative videos of Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space.


text:
Saudi Arabia: Aspects of Life  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

American Bedu, who lives in Saudi Arabia, writes: “You know you have lived in Saudi Arabia when: … Your idea of housework is leaving a list for the housekeeper; You think black is appropriate daytime wear; You wear a jacket inside and take it off when you go out.” Follow the link, for a full listing.


text:
Sri Lanka: On insurgency · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Deshapalana on the LTTE relying on foreign money to sustain their activities.


text:
Syria: 60 years after Deir Yasin · Global Voices
Yazan Badran

“As Israel prepares to celebrate its sixtieth anniversary, and as Palestinians reach sixty years of dispossession, we must honor the memory of those who perished in the savage butchery that was the Deir Yasin massacre of April 9, 1948,” writes Rime Allaf, who commemorates the 60th anniversary of the massacre.

author: Yazan Badran


text:
Syria: Carter meeting Mashaal · Global Voices
Yazan Badran

Joshua Landis brings us media reports about a planned meeting between former US president Jimmy Carter and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, in Damascus, during Carter's Middle East tour later this month.


text:
Trinidad & Tobago: Rags or Riches?   · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“It really sucks being average in this country. I would say middle class but that carries with it certain assumptions about owning property, having savings and enjoying a particular lifestyle – things that don’t necessarily hold for the middle economic rung in this country”: Ramblings and Reason explains.


text:
Tunisia: Al Radeyef Protests – When Bloggers Give a Voice to the Voiceless · Global Voices
Naruto

With little to no coverage of the plight of thousands of people at the rich Phosphorous mines of Gafsa, Redyef and Oum el Arayess on mainstream media, Tunisian bloggers and activists are turning to the Internet to tell the world their story.
Protests by workers against inflation, the rising cost of living and the right to employment in the rich mines, have been dealt with a security clampdown by the government, which has arrested countless of protesters. And for the first time ever, Tunisian bloggers join hands with activists and other online users to give a voice to the voiceless – on Twitter, like Houieda's Tweets; by joining and contributing to a Facebook group to stream updates and news about situation (134 members so far); and by uploading videos  to YouTube (which is banned in Tunisia).
This video, by Free Tunisie,  shows some of the protests by the families of those arrested in unrest. More videos are also available on the above link.
Many of these online spaces also share the same text made the Tunisian Human Rights League (text published in Arabic by Samsoum and on the league's official website).
Moreover, there is a local committee which was set up to voice the requests of Gafsa inhabitants called Comité de Soutien aux habitants du bassin minier de Gafsa (Support Committee to the people of the mining area of Gafsa), which created the support Facebook group.
On blogs, COS-MAUX-POLIS (Fr) wrote two posts: one about situation and another about the response and disinformation provided by the Tunisian government.
Writing in Arabic, Fatma-Arabicca calls the incidents the Revolution of hunger. She puts some of the troubles in context here saying:
منذ 5 جانفي 2008 تاريخ اعلان النتائج النهائيّة لمناظرة انتدابات كوادر وأعوان شركة فسفاط قفصة اندلعت جملة من الاحتجاجات التى مازالت تعصف بأم العرايس والرديّف منذ أكثر من ثمانية أسابيع يخرج شباب الرديف ليعتصم بالخيام ويعلن اضرابا مفتوحا عن الطعام رغبة منه في تحقيق حدّ أدنى من العدالة الاجتماعيّة ومطالبا بحقّه في التشغيل …امّا في أم العرايس فان الارامل اللاتي فقدن معيلهن في حوادث شغل بالشركة لازلن منذ أكثر من شهر يسكنّ خيمة امام أقليم أم العرايس لشركة فسفاط قفصة يطالبن بتشغيل أحد أبنائهن
A series of protests broke out after the final list of those who will be employed a Phosphates Gafsa company on January 5, which are still continuing today in Oum el Arayes and Al Radeef. For more than eight weeks now young men from Al Radeef hold protests in tents, and announce hunger strikes, to call for the minimum requirements of social justice and their right in employments. At Oum el Arayes, the widows who have lost their breadwinners in the accidents at the company, still live in tents, on the outskirts of the province of Oum el Arayes, which are located in the Phosphates Gasfa company, where they are calling for their sons to work at the company.
Fatima also posts photographs of the protests.
Carpediem-selim (Fr), meanwhile, writes a  detailed post about police brutality against the strikers :
Les forces de l'ordre, qui sont présents par milliers, n'ont pas hésité à déployer des pratiques de barbares contre des citoyens qui demandaient un droit fondamental qui est le droit du travail : des coups de feu ont été entendues, des bombes lacrymogènes ont été jetées par centaines, des chiens de police traînaient dans toutes les rues de la ville, des manifestants ont été violemment battus en plein monde et des descentes policières nocturnes et musclées ont eu lieu, violant l'immunité des domiciles, qui a poussé plusieurs jeunes à fuir et à passer la nuit dans les montagnes entourant la ville. Un climat de frayeur a été instauré dans toute la ville en procédant à des intrusions menaçantes dans tous les quartiers assurant le bouclage total de la ville et l'arrêt de toute circulation…
The police force, numbering in the thousands, did not hesitate to use barbaric methods against citizens who were demanding the fundamental right to work: gunshots were heard, tear-gas bombs were thrown by the hundreds, police dogs patrolled the city's streets, protestors were violently beaten in public and aggressive nocturnal police raids were conducted, violating the immunity of [citizen's] homes, which pushed several young people to flee and spend the night in the mountains surrounding the city. A climate of fear has been instilled in the entire city proceeding to menacing intrusions in all neighborhoods, assuring the city's complete lock down and a  halt to  all traffic.
Brastos (Ar), writes about those arrested, asking what their crime was. He writes:
قلت انو هالاعتقالات شملت العديد من الناس .. سواء كانو مناضلين و كوادر نقابية محترمه .. والا حتى مواطنين “لا متسيسين” .. كل ذنبهم انهم قالو ياخي شبيها بلادنا غنيّة بالثروات ، و الفاقونات العام اثناش ن شهر وهيّ تحمّل في فسفاطنا و مشتقاتو .. و الاربعة و عشرين ساعة و نحنا نربشو في المناجم .. و فنينا اعمارنا فيها .. كيما فنوا اعمارهم الذين من قبلنا .. و الذين من بعدنا .. و بالرغم من هاذاكا نحن جواعى و بطالة ..
يمكن ذنبهم انهم المرّه هاذي قالو هالكلام بصوت مرتفع شويّة ..
They said that a number of people have been arrested, including activists and union representatives, as well as people who had nothing to do with politics. Their only crime was that they asked why when their country was so rich in minerals, and they worked in the mines 24 hours a day, and sacrificed their entire lives in them, as well as the lives of those who came before them and those generations which will follow, were they
still hungry and unemployed? … Perhaps their fault was that this time they have voiced their concerns with a loud voice?

author: Naruto


text:
Turkmenistan: Hacker Rich Country · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Lunaric reports on the activities of Turkmen hackers on sites in Russia and Kazakhstan.


text:
Turkmenistan: Tragedy on the border · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Maciula writes about cases of human rights violations on the Turkmen-Uzbek and Turkmen-Kazakh borders.


text:
UAE: An Extra Pillow? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Want an extra pillow while staying at a posh hotel? Secret Dubai unveils why such a request may not be entertained at all times.


text:
UAE: Broadcasters of Tomorrow New Milestone  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Sharjah-based Broadcasters of Tomorrow celebrate their 250,000th visitor to the site.


text:
UAE: Thousands of Sites Blocked in New Crackdown  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The UAE blogging community is slowly absorbing a new clampdown on the Internet, following the blocking of thousands of websites en masse after objections on their content. While some bloggers are welcoming the move to filter sexually explicit and “unacceptable” material, others are not so happy with the crackdown.
According to i*maginate state-owned Dubai telecom provider Du sent the following message to its users:
“Dear valued customer, we wish to inform you that from 14 April 2008 we will be blocking sites with content that do not conform to the moral, social and cultural values of the UAE. Thank you.”
Commenting on this news, Hatem writes:
Today, I came home to find the TV service broken and Facebook useless! But water and electricity are still there! Ah, and internet too!
And Ali009 reasons:
the more you block, the more people just get curious :P
Meanwhile, Samuriasam says that another telecom provider Etisalat has partially blocked Facebook. The blogger explains:
Etisalat has once again managed to block an integral part of facebook (or was it just MySpace I'm thinking of the last 5 times they managed to do something like this?) (http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/); this is preventing CSS and other design elements from the website loading properly.
Anonymous reacts to this announcement saying:
Come on now, its not like anyone will die because of not having access to facebook !
Move on, there's a lot more to life than facebook,
to which Imaginate replies:
there is much more to life than the internet, too. As far as I'm concerned, it's really anti-social, so I call for a block on the whole of the internet too. Just not facebook (yet) because I need time to save all my friends’ contact details. I wish things were like in the old days, where telephones and emails didn't exist. Those were happy days!
Acknowledging that it is the community which pushed for such measures, Dubai Entrepreneur lashes out at a society which accepts such censorship as being “backward.” He writes:
Internet censorship is always a big deal for bloggers (writers and readers), let alone the average Internet user. For the most part, it is often the government dictating rules that residents/stake-holders don't want. In the case of Internet censorship, it appears to be a case of the citizens demanding more of.
(…)
I have come to the conclusion that you can't help those who don't want to be helped. However, we should clearly identify who is responsible for the current state of access to information. In this case, it is the community that is backward. The situation is beyond help.
Ismail D says the new crackdown, also effects the Free Zone areas, which have lured giant media, communications and Internet companies. He announces:
The run of uncensored internet enjoyed in UAE free zones is over.
He also adds that such a crackdown may impede their work, saying:
Now, considering this proxy will be affecting most of the ‘Free zones’ with all the big name media companies (CNN, BBC etc.) and Internet/Technology companies (Cisco, Microsoft, Google etc.) how will this be affecting their business? There are bound to be sites that should not be blocked or sites that are blocked but could be used for legitimate reasons. An example would be a security professional checking known hacking/exploit archives or a journalist visiting ‘Political/Terrorist’ sites. I am certain it will cause some amount of frustration amongst the companies based here and possibly even hamper some media companies.


text:
Uganda: When taxi drivers went on strike… · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

When taxi drivers in Uganda went on strike:”I get into another taxi a couple of hours later and brave the town. I say brave because the taxi drivers are on strike over this new law that demands that taxis should only stop at City Square along the Kampala-Jinja road.
Any taxi seen with passengers is immediately stoned at. Bricks, stones, sticks.
The mob are angry. Typically, Ugandans will NOT accept change. And these taxi touts are the most conservative, violent and idle of the lot.
I escape certain death by a brick by a hair's breadth.”


text:
Ukraine: Kyiv Mayoral Election · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana posts an update on the Kyiv mayoral election.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


text:
Ukraine: Senior Clergyman for Kyiv City Council · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Steve Bandera of Kyiv Scoop reports on political aspirations of a senior Orthodox Christian clergyman. (Update – here.)


text:
Zimbabwe: A safe waypoint for the chinese Olympic Torch · Global Voices
Daniel Duende

Tomas Muarramuassa comments on his blog, Muarramuassando[Pt], about the passage of the Olympic Torch by Africa. He says it should come to Zimbabwe because “the only place in the world where the Olympic Torch could pass discreetly, in peace, without dragging undesirable pro-Tibet demonstrations and protests, would be Zimbabwe, where the population not only doesn't know what they will eat but ignore who will govern the country in the coming times.”

author: Daniel Duende


text:
Zimbabwe: Boycott Independence celebrations · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Should Zimbabweans boycott Independence celebrations?: “A young man has written to Kubatana asking us to forward his “plea” to people to boycott the Independence celebrations even if they want to see their favourite soccer stars in action. But I guarantee you that the stadium will be full of Zimbabweans wanting some free entertainment even though they will be addressed by the man who has just stolen their vote.”


text:
Zimbabwe: Bread and Roses · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Comrade Fatso is a blogger as well as a musician in Zimbabwe. Listen to his song, Bread and Roses: “The hit song from Comrade Fatso and Chabvondoka's new album, House of Hunger. Sung from the perspective of a vendor during Mugabe's vicious Operation Murambatsvina it is a call for Bread and Roses – Love and Dignity.”


text:
Zimbabwe: Operation Mavhoterapapi · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Victims of Operation Mavhoterapapi in Zimbabwe: “It has been reported that a teacher in Mudzi has also been murdered and 8 women have been abducted. We are awaiting verification of this report.”


text:
Afghanistan: India to Train Afghan Officers · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Peter Marton reports that India offered Afghanistan counterinsurgency trainings of the Afghan officers.

author: Adil Nurmakov


text:
Algeria: Sectarian Violence in Berraine  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Nouri the Moor updates us about the outbreak of inter-communal violence in the Algerian town of Berriane, in Ghardaia province.


text:
Armenia: Cultural Nuances · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Dominic in Armenia writes about some of the many cultural nuances experienced by foreigners living in country. From outbreaks of spontaneous dancing to having to contend with chains of people walking on the street, the Peace Corps Volunteer particularly notes that Armenians can be quite frank in their criticism of others.

author: Onnik Krikorian


text:
Armenia: Moulding the Future? · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Marilisa Lorusso's Blog examines the post-state of emergency situation in Armenia now that the prime minister, Serge Sargsyan, has taken up the presidency. In particular, the blog examines his inaugural address and questions some of its content. Nevertheless, the blog says that there might be some cause for hope.


text:
Armenia: Rising Gas Prices · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The Armenian Observer questions why prices for natural gas will rise. In particular, the blog examines the end of a government subsidy based on the dollar-dram exchange rate despite fluctuations in the currency exchange market.


text:
Armenia: Support Eurovision · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped weighs in with its own opinion on whether or not Armenia's entry to the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest should be supported given the active involvement of local pop stars in the pre-election campaign of the new president, Serge Sargsyan. Some had been considering a boycott of the competition, but the blog concludes that such a move is inappropriate.


text:
Bahrain: Iniquitous Distribution of Electoral Districts  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“One of the main grievances people of Bahrain have is the iniquitous distribution of the electoral districts… Lawyer Abdulla Al-Shamlawi is suing the government in its own courts [Arabic] for this iniquitous distribution of electoral districts on behalf of a citizen in District 1 in the Northern Governate, a Mr. Mattar Ibrahim Al-Mattar,” reports Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif.


text:
Bahrain: Jews Remember Al Nakba  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bint Battuta in Bahrain links to Palestine Remembered and No Time to Celebrate – Jews Remember Al Nakba (Catastrophe), which draw attention to the plight of Palestinians since the establishment of Israel 60 years ago.


text:
Bermuda: Holiday Spirits? · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Both A Radical In Bermuda and Politics.bm blog about the “outrage” surrounding the government's decision to “axe the Queen's Birthday as a June holiday”.


text:
Bermuda: Road Deaths · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Vexed Bermoothes is “appalled by the multiple deaths on Bermuda’s roads” and says that “police enforcement will improve driving behaviour.”


text:
Brazilian political journalism · Global Voices
Daniel Duende

Helio Paz, from Palanque do Blackão[Pt], writes a big post about the Brazilian political media, mainstream and alternative alike, and tells us what he does read, and what he doesn't, and why. There's even a very nice citation[Pt] about Global Voices on the post.


text:
Brunei: Blog of the year · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Senor Pablo writes about his choice for this year's search for the blog of the year in Brunei

author: Mong Palatino


text:
Brunei: Miss Bimbo · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Emma Good Egg checks out a popular internet game called Miss Bimbo which is receiving some adverse publicity online.


text:
Cambodia: Poverty rate · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Details are Sketchy questions the poverty statistics released by the Cambodian government


text:
Caucasus: Development Index · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Social Science in the Caucasus examines statistics used to determine the performance of Armenia and Azerbaijan by the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Three main policy categories — namely, Ruling Justly, Investing in People, and Economic Freedom — are examined. While the blog says that Georgia is showing progress, the two other South Caucasus republics are another matter entirely.


text:
China: Anti-CNN Video Production · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Hecaito commented that instead of boycotting Carrefour, patriotic youths should participate in grassroots media and produce video such as “Tell me Why?”

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
China: More on Boycott Carrefour · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translated an article from Southern Metropolis Daily on netizen's call for Carrefour boycott. DANWEI translated Wang Xiaofeng's comments on the boycott.


text:
China: On Freedom of Speech · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Matrix reposted a censored blog post by Ah Ken which commented on the ideological struggle of the recent attack on Chang Ping who urged for media freedom in Tibet issues.


text:
China: Witch Hunt · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Mutant palm gives more details to the witch hunt on the “Tibetan” (mis) identified as Lobsang Gendun who attacked Jin Jing.