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Palestine: Celebrating Valentine’s Day  · Global Voices
Maya Norton

While the holiday of Valentine's Day sources from Christian origins, people around the world have come to regard it as a celebration of love, friendship, and family. One of the most interesting aspects of Valentine's Day has become how we choose to express our feelings to our loved ones and objects of desire.
The Writing on the Wall–
This year's most innovative way of saying “I love you” comes from an organization called Send a Message. Send a Message enables you to have a note or picture spray painted on the wall dividing the Palestinian territories and the West Bank of Israel. For $45 USD or 30 Euro, a message and three digital photographs of your image will be sent to a person of your choosing.
In their Frequently Asked Questions section, the group explains their purpose and methodology:
“What's it good for, writing on the Wall?
The Wall won't fall just because your text is written on it. True.
But your message reminds Palestinians trapped inside the Wall they have not been forgotten. You help to keep hope alive. ‘Our’ Palestinians want to send you one single, simple message: “we are human beings, just like you, with sense of humour and lust for life.” That's why they do this, and enjoy it.”
“Can I write anything I want?
You can write almost anything. Nonsense and humour are okay. But hurting people ( in Palestine, Israel, or anywhere else) isn't. Obscene, offensive and extremist texts won't make it to the Wall.”
“Will the message be there forever?
Hopefully not. Just like millions of Palestinians we hope that the Wall will fall. But even before that time your text could disappear behind other people's slogans, tags or artworks. We have no control over that.
Never mind, you'll still have the pictures.”
Aside from the basic operational costs that will go to the ICCO, the Dutch firm that began this initiative, all other income will go to the Palestinian Peace and Freedom Youth Forum, who will use the money toward local community projects. (Their website is under construction, but will be available here in the future.)
Of the group's Valentine's Day efforts, Dion Nissenbaum of Checkpoint Jerusalem reports:
“In its first two months, send.a.message has already spray painted one marriage proposal and one marriage acceptance. (Not the same people, apparently.)
And the imminent arrival of Valentine's Day has generated a surge in requests for the group to spray paint romantic messages on the wall.
Along with professions of love, the group has spray painted quotes from Gandhi and Che Guevara. They have written sayings by Nelson Mandela and Menachem Begin. They were even asked by one person to paint a falafel recipe on the wall.”
A falafel recipe? Well, that's one way to pay homage to your favorite dish.
Anti-Valentine's Day Rally Advocates Love All Year Round–
Mona of the Rebellious Arab Girl blog had one of my favorite Valentine's Day postings. She writes:
“Today I decided to gather some people and march down the streets boycotting Valentine’s day. It’s incredible the amount of people that will show up and support such a cause. Our mission was to say that love should be all year round. If you decide to tell a person today and only today that you love them, then you are an inconsiderate wimp! You got to say it all the time and all year long!”
She was even kind enough to provide us with photographic evidence of the protest.
But don't forget to read the small print where Mona adds:
“By the way.. this is a photoshopped image and you are gullible! :P Don’t you love me?”
Valentine's Day Gifts–
One of the best parts about Valentine's Day is the gifts, which range from the traditional to unique.
In an entry entitled, “Thank You, Secret Admirer,” Qwaider of the Memories Documented blog tells of a special present he received from an anonymous friend.
” I opened my door this morning to find the best gift anyone can ever imagine at my door step! A HUGE BOX with the YUMMIEST chocolate in the known Universe, Guylian … But that's not all. The huge box had an amazing one other gift, a $300 gift card at my favorite gadget shop, Fry's.
Could this valentine's day get any better?! It did. A beautiful card from a secret admirer!
Thank you secret admirer…. Whoever you are.”
What could be better?
I'm not sure that Ola Eliwat is the best one to ask. You see, in the colorful spirit of the holiday, she received several packets of ketchup. But don't judge, Ola was happy. In an entry on the Cinnamon Zone entitled, “My First Valentine's Gift,” she relates:
“And so, who knew my first Valentine's gift would be something I am personally fond of, sometimes have short supply of in the office, and since [my friend] knows how much I… go crazy when we run out of it, and how we stock it in our desks in bulk, she found it a pity to let all those small packets go to waste…
Seriously, who needs roses when there's KETCHUP?”
To each her own.
Palestinian Farmers Lose Income from Wasted Crops–
On a note in a different key, several Palestinian bloggers reported stories of farmers losing valuable income this week. Robin of Under the Holly Tree, Annie of Annie's Letters, and Tony of Palestinian Pundit all included posts referencing this loss.
Robin laments:
“Life is ironic, Palestinians in Gaza are starving due to the total blockade and collective punishment by Israel, yet their livestock is eating the flowers that could not be exported to Europe for lovers on Valentines Day.
Roses are fed, violets are chewed: Heifers munch flowers that Palestinian growers had to dump by the truckload in the southern Gaza strip. Israeli export restrictions prevented them from shipping the blooms to Europe for Valentine's Day.”
She concludes with a reminder that on February 14th, 1966, Aretha Franklin recorded her well-loved anthem, “Respect,” asking:
“Have people really gained the respect and dignity that human beings should have? The answer is no. So with that in mind, the song is just as fresh And how do WE as human beings respond? That is the question.”
Conclusion–
The meanings of Valentine's Day, like love, are multi-faceted. This year had the Palestinian blogosphere thinking about making creative connections, communicating across borders and boundaries, meaningful expressions of love and giving, hard losses, and questions of respect.
So, how do your friends and family celebrate Valentine's Day? Do you have any special rituals or traditions that you make sure to do come the 14th of February? Do you send cards, post messages, or stage rallies, like Mona did? I can't wait to hear your thoughts.
Wishing you and your family blessings of love and life in the coming year.

author: Maya Norton


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Peru: Earthquake Area Abandoned · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Six months after the earthquake destroyed a large part of the Peruvian cities of Pisco, Ica and other nearby cities, Juan Sheput of Mate Pastor [es] states that most of the area has been forgotten and abandoned.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Eduardo Avila


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Poor Arab News Service Back · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Poor Arab News Service has resumed its activities.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Russia: Putin’s Last Press Conference? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sean's Russia Blog and Siberian Light write on what is likely Putin’s last annual presidential press conference.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Serbia: Belgrade for Monopoly · Global Voices
Sinisa Boljanovic

Monopoly is one of the world's most popular board games, and there is voting going on right now for 24 cities that will get included in the World Edition of this game. Serbian bloggers have organized a campaign to help their capital, Belgrade, win a spot on Monopoly's list.
On Feb. 13, Belius appealed to his fellow B92 bloggers to support Belgrade's nomination:
Dear bloggers,
In less than a week, Belgrade has succeeded in rising from #24 to #10 on Monopoly's list of cities that are to make it into the World Edition.
Thanks to those persistent people who have been voting every day of the past week, Belgrade is now ahead of such cities as Amsterdam, Athens, Tokyo, Toronto, Barcelona and Kiev.
Maybe it will be better to say that only Montreal, Paris, Cape Town, London, Sydney, New York, Jerusalem, Riga and Rome are ahead of Belgrade.
[On Feb. 14, only one day later, Belgrade took the 5th place on the list.]
The news of the possibility of Belgrade's being chosen among the 22 cities of the World Edition has been spreading very fast.
Latvia/Riga is the only candidate that is making progress at the same speed. In this country, there is an organized mass campaign with the help of many media outlets.
I hope that our media will support Belgrade, too. The deadline for voting is Feb. 28.
Novi Sad has also become our candidate, on the additional Monopoly list. Since there are 24 places total, two more cities will be picked from that list. Voting for these additional two cities will start Feb. 29.
[…]
It is very important that Belgrade is chosen, and I am sending this invitation to you to continue the campaign for the next few days. […]
Milos33 comments:
[…] Honors up for this post… I've been voting every day for the last few days and I am going to vote until the end of the vote… […]

author: Sinisa Boljanovic


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Serbia: Kosovo Independence Poll · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Dr. Filomena asks her readers to respond to a poll on what happens after Kosovo declares independence.


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South Africa: Showcasing lesser known bloggers · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Mike decides to showcase South African lesser known bloggers: “So I want to flip the lid on this one. It would be great to showcase some of the lesser known quality blogs in SA and get more of us nasty self-interested circle-jerking elitists talking about them and linking to them. If you’d like me to review your blog, or want to recommend a blog to me that doesn’t get the attention it deserves, either comment in this post or send me an email.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Soviet History: Ban on Marrying Foreigners · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis writes about the 1947 ban on “marriages between citizens of the USSR and foreigners.”


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Soviet History: ‘Vdokhnovenie’ Chocolate · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LaurenceJarvikOnline writes about the history of Vdokhnovenie chocolate.


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The ‘historical reality’ of homosexuality in Africa · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Blog politique au Senegal reposts an article about the “historical reality” [Fr] of homosexuality in Africa.

author: Jennifer Brea


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Trinidad & Tobago: Canboulay  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Caribbean Beat Blog gives an account of Canboulay – “one of the foundational elements of Trinidad's modern carnival” – and is amazed to discover that “over 100 years later, with a culture that is ever-changing, it is indeed true that the more things change the more they remain the same.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Trinidad & Tobago: Saving “Gingerbread House” · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“There are so many things to be anxious or angry about in this country these days–crime, corruption, smelters, steel mills, dolphin-slaughter, traffic–that the fate of an old house may seem trivial,” writes Trinidadian blogger Nicholas Laughlin.  “But,” he explains, “12 Queen's Park West, the Boissiere House, is not just an old house.”


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Ukraine: Kyiv-Lviv Marshrutka · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Olechko writes about her trip from Kyiv to Lutsk by marshrutka – and posts yet another beautiful sketch (be sure to click on the thumbnail to enlarge it).


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Ukraine, Russia: NATO Politics 2 · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana has more on NATO and the Russian-Ukrainian relationship.


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Ukraine, Russia: NATO Politics · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Foreign Notes writes about Ukraine's NATO-related politics and the muted response to Putin's comment about re-targeting Russian missiles against Ukraine.


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Uzbekistan: Abnormal Cold, End of “Nirvana” and Genderwise Realpolitik · Global Voices
Tolkun

The abnormally low temperature that lasted in the region for a record-breaking long time seems to have its effect not only on Uzbek-Tajik relations but on the Uzbek blogosphere too — for the past several weeks it was not active at all. However, the topics covered there are still vital and deserve our attention.
Blog Khorezm comments on the climate changes in Uzbekistan and how this beastly cold changed the people’s daily life in Khorezm [ru] , which usually has a very mild weather all year.
As the region's infrastructure is not adapted to such extreme temperatures, the Khorezmians seriously suffered from the energy deficit, insufficient gas supply and heating. Schools were closed, as it was impossible to study at a below-zero temperature. The officials had only one answer to the people's alarmed questions: “we can't do anything, wait until it gets warmer”. Khorezm interviewed several people and learned about their experiences of surviving. Alisher, a young teacher, says:
People of Khorezm were not ready to such weather. During the presidential elections (December 23, 2007), we had gas, electricity and heating at homes. However, right before the New Year it's all suddenly vanished… Rural schools suffered most of all. The temperature inside the buildings was almost the same as outside.
However, not everybody was suffering from the cold weather – some people managed to earn some money on it. Two Uzbek rivers, Amu-Darya and Jeihun, were shackled by ice this winter, thus giving chance to the young people to make a buck by conveying the cargo across the frozen river.
“There are just three men like me on the river, but there are lots of people who want their things to be passed. I carry one sack of flour for 1 thousand sum (appr. 0.85 USD)… Of course, it is hard and not secure to work this way on the ice. But I have no other options. I can’t find a job in winter, and I have to provide my family”, Khorezm quotes the young man's words.
Meanwhile, the capital lives its own life – Registan writes an interesting post about the closure of “Nirvana” chain in Tashkent city. “Nirvana” stores were well-known in the city, because they were selling quality audio-and-video production at low prices. Registan opines that the end of “Nirvana” has nothing to do with the government's fight for copyrights.
While I was in Uzbekistan, “Nirvana” got shut down for a short period of time, and then, as now, many suspected that someone in power was trying to carve out a piece of a profitable business. (Maybe it’s the new deputy foreign minister for cultural affairs this time… This is her kind of business tactic.)
Even more interesting part of this post are comments, where the readers – both from and beyond Uzbekistan – were debating if it is necessary to criticize the Uzbek government and if there is rule of law and human rights in Uzbekistan. At the same time,
the Uzbek Women’s Blog cheerfully writes that for the first time in Uzbekistan the parliament's chamber will be led by a woman [ru]:
On 23 January 2008, a plenary session of the parliament's Legislative chamber took place. According to the results of secret vote, Dilorom Tashmuhamedova [ex-candidate for presidency in the December 2007 elections] was elected speaker of the chamber.
This is quite interesting, because usually presidential candidates competing against Islam Karimov never get promotions after the vote. For the Uzbek government, which is trying very hard to send good signals to the West, it is a step forward.

author: Tolkun


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Why the Senegalese government likes anti-gay protests · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

According to African Global News and the Senegalese news website rewmi.com, police ultimately broke up the anti-homosexual demonstration which took place on Friday in Dakar, arresting dozens of people, including an imam.  Police made several arrests in the capital's grand mosque.
Earlier this month, five were arrested in connection with an investigation into an alleged gay marriage, according to Le Monde, and several Islamic organization denounced what they called an increase in homosexuality in Senegal.  The march was in protest of the decision to release the five detainees release without trial.
Homosexuality is a crime in Senegal, punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment.
*   *   *
Senegalese blogger Naomed, who writes Blog politique au Senegal, explains that there are two kinds of protests in Senegal, “those that don't disturb the public order and are legitimately authorized, the minority, and the majority, which [are thought to] threaten the social equilibrium” [Fr].
In other words, there are protests the government likes and protests it will not tolerate.  But where do officials draw the line?
Naomed offers by way of example a protest held today in Dakar against homosexuals, with the government's blessing.
Clairement haineuse, réclamant au choix : leur égorgement, leur mise sur une pirogue en direction des iles Canaries (leur famille ne refusera pas l'argent qu'ils pourraient envoyer malgré leur tare), leur bastonnade pour les plus modérés.
Une manifestation visant à refuser le droit à l'existence d'une partie de la population sénégalaise n'est clairement pas un trouble à l'ordre public. J'ai souvent parlé sur ce blog de la nécessité pour un régime aux abois de se fabriquer des ennemis afin de focaliser la haine et la frustration populaires qui risqueraient de se retourner contre le pouvoir. Les campagnes pour la pureté des moeurs font elles aussi parti de l'arsenal des pays faschisants.
Naomed goes on to offer a (satirical) sample list of a week's worth of protests in Dakar:
Aujourd'hui : manifestation contre les homosexuels du Sénégal, autorisée par le préfet.
Aujourd'hui : manifestation pour le ramassage des poubelles, refusée.
Samedi : manifestation contre la corruption, la mal gouvernance. Interdite
Samedi : manifestation contre l'esclavage des petits talibés. Interdite
Samedi : manifestation pour l'application des lois sur le mariage de mineures, forcés, arrangés… Interdite
Lundi : Manifestation pour le bon déroulement du sommet de l'Oci. Autorisée.
Mardi : Manifestation pour l'obligation de déclaration du patrimoine des hommes au pouvoir. Refusée
Mercredi : Manifestation de soutien à la génération ConCret. Autorisée
Jeudi : Manifestation pour des élections locales sincères et transparentes. Interdite.
Jeudi : manifestation pour rendre fériés tous les jours de Magal au Sénégal. Autorisée
Vendredi : ….


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Abu Dhabi: Site Blocked · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Tom Gara, who usually lives in Cairo, was in for a rude awakening in Abu Dhabi – where he discovered that Flickr was blocked.


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Bahrain: Songs Exchanged between Saudis and Egyptians  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Bahrain, Silly Bahraini Girl posts two videos – one showing a rap song by Saudis targeted against Egyptians and the other containing a response for the first video.


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Bosnia & Herzegovina: Sarajevo Photos · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

55 wonderful photos from Dragan Popovic's 2005 trip to Sarajevo – and much, much more.


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China: Darfur, a reason to say No? · Global Voices
Bob Chen

Mr. Spielberg might have piqued a large group of people, including not only the authority, but many common Chinese as well.
Following his statement that he would drop out as an artistic advisor of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, because he felt China has not done enough to pressure the Sudan government to relieve the humanitarian crisis on Darfur, Beijing soon expressed its regret over the director’s decision. Though the saying that “the consciousness will not allow me to continue with business as usual” is quite touching, Beijing snapped back no less reasonably.
“The Darfur issue is neither an internal issue of China nor is it caused by China”, said firstly the Chinese Embassy in Washington, pulling away ourselves from the issue. But in the next statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the response of the spokesman Liu Jianchao showed another way to deal with the criticisms.
Firstly, he urged the human right advocates not to link Olympics to political issues.
“如果这是对中国政策不了解尚可以理解，但若是出于政治目的，我们不会接受。”
It is understandable if they are made out of ignorance of China’s policy, but if they are made due to political motives, we won’t accept that. (In New York Times version, “political” was replaced by “ulterior”. Or the authority changed it on the script publicized.)
He emphasized it was not wise to politicize the Olympics.  Furthermore, Beijing’s stance on Darfur issue was reaffirmed.
中方十分重视达尔富尔问题，并一直为妥善解决这一问题发挥着积极的、建设性作用
China paid a lot of attention to the Daufur issue, and has been playing a constructive and positive role on resolving the problem.
And some measures to help improve the situation were numerated.
目前，中方已向达区提供了８０００万元人民币的物资援助，向非盟提供了１８０万美元的捐助。中方将派遣３１５人的多功能工兵连，其中１４０人已经抵达达区.
Presently, China has provided Darfur region with an 80-million material aid, and another $1.8-million aid to African Union. 315 engineers will be sent there, and now 140 have arrived.
Also, he said Chinese companies have helped the natives build 18 power stations and more than $50-million will be put to the construction of the water supply system.  He concluded:
“在这一问题上，光靠打标语、喊口号解决不了达区的人道主义问题，最重要的是要以切实的建设性实际行动推动达区和平进程，缓解这一地区的人道主义危机。我们也希望有关人士客观公正看待中国在达尔富尔问题上的立场，脚踏实地地为达区人民做一些实实在在的事情。”
On this issue, simply relying on slogans and banners won’t help solve the humanitarian crisis. What should be the most important is to aid the peace by constructive and practical actions… we hope people can do something down-to-earth to really help the natives.
An article in 2007, Why China Won’t Save Darfur in Foreign Policy has stated that “activists are merely helping Western governments evade responsibility for a humanitarian crisis that they could do far more to stop.” And China itself, demonstrated by its open information about Darfur issue, defined the havoc in Sudan as a struggle for resources rather than a planned genocide. The subtext is that China might not be able to stop the crisis as easily as the western world predicted.
What about the common people?
In 163.com people left over 1500 comments after the report of Spielberg's withdrawal..
斯皮尔的行为是不成熟的，也是不明智的，他非要把自己和强权政治联系起来，做一些有悖于奥运精神的事，是可笑的。也请私屁儿勃格先生不要头脑发热，充当某 利益集团的工具。
Spielberg’s behavior is immature, and unwise. He linked himself to a power (U.S), and did something against Olympic spirits. Ridiculous it is. Please, Mr. Spielberg, don’t be so hotheaded to act as a tool of some interest group.
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放弃就放弃，没什么了不起！！！
Fine, just drop out, nothing big.
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斯皮尔伯格算个毛,他还真以为他美国打伊拉克就是为了解放伊拉克人民啊?还不是盯着石油,只准自己做,不准别人做,典型的霸权主义.
How much dose Spielberg value? Does he really think America attacked Iraq to liberate Iraqis? For oil only! Only allowing itself to play the game but keeping all others out is typically a Hegemonism.
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苏丹的石油对中国很重要，美国一直虎视眈眈，这次这个导演给北京施压，要中国放弃在苏丹的利益。对于这些破坏中国建设的人来说，我们要提高警惕！
Oil in Sudan is so important to China, and U.S has been slavering over it. This time the director tried to pressure Beijing to give up China’s benefit there. We have to be alarmed with those trying to damage our construction.
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美国在伊拉克和阿富汗侵略杀人，中国至少没有去伊拉克和达尔富尔杀人放火，美国先管好自己，从伊拉克和阿富汗撤兵，然后赔偿损失，再来管达尔富尔问题吧！！！
U.S committed killings in Iraq and Afghanistan, while at least China didn’t go to Iraq and Darfur to plunder about. Americans had better take care of themselves first—withdraw from the two countries, then make compensation to the victims, and finally come to talk about Darfur issue.
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那另个国家最爱管这事,结果是不是越管越乱, 是个人都看到眼里. 非洲动乱的多了, 为什么只盯着这个苏丹, 难道就因为苏丹的石油大部分是运往中国,而不是美国跟欧盟？
The country(U.S) enjoyed taking care of this kind of things, but it has always made matter worse. Why does it just put the attention over Darfur? Is it because most of oil in Sudan was shipped to China instead of U.S & EU?
On the internet, most of opinions were pointed to America, criticizing that the power itself as a major nation exporting weapons exceeds China greatly in advocating violence. A netizen left only one word: dual-standard. And someone questioned why didn’t Spielberg resign as an American.
A netizen concluded:
西方国家抢劫了这个世界多少世纪以后,说:这是不对的.你们不要来抢了
After robbing the world for centuries, western countries spoke: “this is wrong, and you shouldn’t do it anymore.”
But the Darfur issue is far more complicated. Searching across information on both English world and Chinese sphere, one can easily find that the descriptions about, realizations of, measures to be taken over and even the basic logics of the issue are quite different.
It’s believed by many western countries that China is making an immoral deal with the Sudan government, which is chiefly responsible for the staggering massacre in Darfur. China sold weapons for the rich reservation of oil there, an action blamed for as indirectly aiding the killing. Thus many people, including Spielberg, appealed Beijing to cut off the “evil” tie.
But this argumentation holds no water in the eyes of both the authority and many netizens.  Presently, China inclined to believe that there is no strictly genocide in Darfur, but pieces of war crimes and killings, according to the UN report. It is in nature a struggle for resources. Moreover, opposite to the idea held by some western countries, China thinks the most efficient way to eradicate the conflict shouldn’t be an economic sanction against the Sudan government. Actually, what is needed is exactly a stable government to maintain the peace.
The opinion of 黄金体验安魂曲 in Tianya.com showed the point:
经济制裁对解决问题根本没有帮助，我再重复一次伊拉克已经证明经济制裁只能惩罚平民而不是统治者。200万难民缩在帐篷里你还大力搞经济制裁？你的良心让狗吃了？本来就是贫困问题造成的冲突你让苏丹更加贫困，这有助于解决部落间的矛盾？
Economic sanction will do no help to the solution of the problem. I would say again that Iraq has proved that this measure would only punish the common people instead of the rulers. There are 2 million refugees suffering in tents, and you are going to play sanction? Where is your consciousness?  Poverty brought conflict, and now you are going to make the country poorer. It could help solve the controversy between tribes?
And it’s also believed that as the truce has been admitted, the measures to guarantee its implementation should come the first. China’s action to push the Sudan government to accept the hybrid peacekeeping force won applause among Chinese netizens.  But why do the two world’s opinions still divert so much?
A netizen Heavy200t concluded:
西方人的思路: 存在种族屠杀->是苏丹政府刻意制造的->需要制裁苏丹政府->中国没有制裁->所以是中国的问题 中国人的思路: 存在种族屠杀->由于无政府状态导致的混乱->需要稳定的政府才能解决危机->制裁只能加速局势恶化
The logic of western people: There exists racial massacre->caused purposedly by Sudan government->sanction is needed->but China didn’t do it->it’s the problem of China
While the logic of Chinese goes: There exists racial massacre->it’s caused by anarchy->a stable government is needed->sanction just makes everything worse
It might be an innate controversy. And no matter what point was put forth by the other side, more evidence could be found to indicate just the opposite. And the methods to solve the problem of course differ by countries, a very normal phenomenon, as we even differ on how to build out countries— socialism or capitalism.  Criticisms against one country can always find their counterparts in another world, which are pointed back. The following ideas showed exactly the story.
几乎所有的西方大公司，基于人道主义缘由，都撤出了苏丹并拒绝与苏丹政府打交道。迫于舆论压力,基本上所有的西方石油公司都离开了苏丹。但是我国公司对此充耳不闻，不但在苏丹增加投资，还卖给苏丹坦克、地雷、反坦克炮、AK-47，甚至还在苏丹遭了两个兵工厂，专门给苏丹生产武器。中石油更是把苏丹的油田看成命脉。2000年，中石油在海外开采的三分之二的石油都来自苏丹。自从1999年9月，中石油已经在苏丹赚了6亿美元（没人和它竞争么）。
Almost all western companies withdrew from Sudan and refused to keep relationship with the government because of humanitarianism causes. But Chinese companies were deaf to this, and they not only added to the investment there, but also sold Sudan tanks, mines, piats, AK-47, and even built two arm-shops to produce weapons. PetroChina saw the oil field in Sudan as its life line. In 2000, 2/3 of oil exploited abroad by PetroChina came from Sudan, because no one competed with it. More than $0.6 billion was earned from there.
But another interpretation of the facts followed:
近些年南部达尔富尔发现石油，西方就兴趣打开，苏丹政府为了摆脱贫穷也想控制当地石油资源，对外超标，中国占了优势，西方某些势力在竞争失利后利用当地矛盾挑唆分离运动，苏丹政府采取镇压行动，西方就大喊当地人权受到侵犯，炒得沸沸扬扬。
These years as oil was found on Darfur, the western came to be interested. The Sudan government also wish to control the oil resources in order to rid of poverty, and China took an advantage on the competition. And some western powers, after the failure on competition, used the conflict to incite the splittism. Sudan authority cracked down that, so the western yelled the human rights were violated.
In a student net forum cuus, I Am Majia’s suggestion goes the contrary:
我不希望看到中国走美国的路。不希望中国对国际事物采取和美国一样的双重标准，说一套做一套。这个世界已经混乱不堪，真理的声音变得越发微弱……同一个世界是一定的，但是是否憧憬着同一个梦想却值得怀疑。如果奥运会带给中国的仅仅是更多的金牌，外资以及傲慢自大和对批评的不屑一顾那这样的奥运对于中国毫无意义。
I don’t wish China to follow the way of America. I don’t want China to adopt the dual standard as America did. The world has been full of chaos, the voice of truth is going weaker… we are sure to have one world, but it’s doubtful that we have one dream. If Olympics brings China merely more medals, foreign investment, arrogance and sneer to criticisms, I think the Game is meaningless to China.
While Fu Hua in Tianya said:
中国政府与苏丹政府进行商业贸易，包括武器贸易，或许不是最“伟大”“无私”“善良”的做法，但也并不算“无耻”，中国近 期也在苏丹问题上尽了许多努力，西方国家的很多指责，明明白白是没有抢到石油资源之后耍的招数而已，而大多数西方人民，在西方媒体的指引下，自然也以为中 国这个“异教徒”真的是妖魔，其实，这些西方人中，有几个知道北京在中国的哪里？有几个人能像中国普通人民热心理解学习西方一样去理解中国？
The business between China and Sudan, including the trade of weapons, might not be “great”,” selfless” or “kind”, but it also has nothing to do with “shameless”. China has recently done much on the Sudan issue, and many condemnations of the western countries are simply intrigues they played after losing the oil. And many western people, under the guidance of media, involuntarily believe China, a heretic, is a demon. But actually, how many misguided western people really know where Beijing is in China? How many people would learn about China as passionately as Chinese learned about them?
Where is the truth? What is the reality? Which version are you going to believe in? Most Chinese do as this comment reads:
我们中国人，应该有我们中国人的立场，我们的是非观，我们的判断标准，唯西方是从的年代，我相信会渐渐远离中国。
We are Chinese. We should have our own position, our own sense of “yes” and “no”, our standard to judge. The age of following the western world, as I believe, will go further away from China.
But the subtext, as another comment said, is that “there is no absolute right or wrong. What really hide behind the subtle and intricate international relations are just the interests of different countries.”
Remember that written in Chinese students’ Politics textbooks? —-The National Interest Plays the Decisive Role.
A truth, and very naked.

author: Bob Chen


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India: History Carnival · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

varnam hosts the Indian History carnival – linking to posts across the blogosphere on various issues.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Iran:100 Hottest Perisan Blogs/Websites · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Kamangir has published a report on “statistics of the Persian Blogosphere“.Thanks to his project, he discovered a lot of interesting information about Iranian blogs.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran:Interview with Samira, Persian electronica artist · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Mideast Youth has published an interview with Smira,Persian electronica artist.


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Iraq: Jordan Pardons Overstaying Iraqis · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“The Jordanian street is today boiling after the lifting the subsidiaries off the economy, which sent prices to the roof ; meanwhile, after ranting about the cost of Iraqi refugees here, the Jordanian government has supposedly forgiven the cumbersome 1.5 JD a day fines from 360 thousand “illegally staying” Iraqis, this was presumably done at the request of Vice president Tariq al-Hashimi (I caught myself before adding the S-word before his excellency's name) who said this move would encourage Iraqis to return home due to the improved security conditions currently in Iraq,” explains Iraqi blogger Abbas Hawazin, who lives in Jordan.


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Kuwait: Knee Problems  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Kuwaiti blogger Marzouq complains about knee problems in this post.


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Nepal: Blogging for Students · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The Radiant Star on the first college in Nepal  offer free web space for blogging to the students.


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Pakistan: Elections and the Attorney General · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Pak Tea House on the Attorney General in yet another controversial matter – this time about elections and rigging.


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Palestine: Oldest Woman Alive · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Kabobfest draws our attention to the oldest woman alive – a Palestinian woman, born in 1888, who lives in Israel.


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Russia: Degrees of Responsibility · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Marat Gelman – LJ user galerist, Russian art dealer and, allegedly, Victor Yanukovych‘s “spin doctor” in 2004 – describes (RUS) his recent brush with Russia's multilevel reality:
I've been invited to [the state-owned Radio Mayak] today, their evening show, at 9 PM. A girl with a pass came down to the entrance and called to me. The guard told her (as if I didn't exist): I'm not letting him through. He's drunk. I saw him stagger. (I've got my iPod in my ear, and I must have been doing a little dance while I waited). And he just wouldn't yield up. I said, OK, fine, no questions, I've got other things to do. The girl's eyes popped. The show was about to get canceled. “Marat Aleksandrovich,” she asks, “have you been drinking?”
I could barely keep myself from laughing. Went out for a cigarette while she was pressuring the guard with the help of her bosses. I could've left, by the way, had the moral right to do so. And then let them decide “who caused the cancellation of the show.”
When some customs official at [Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport] decided that [the work] of [Blue Noses, “the pranksters of the Russian art scene] was disagreeable to the senses of those who love Putin, his bosses were also far away and the paintings were [not allowed out of the country]. Then [the Western media wrote that Putin's regime had initiated and exercised censorship].
My point is that the idiot customs official has as much to do with Putin's regime as this office building guard has to do with [Mayak Radio]. But it's necessary for the bosses to be around.
A few readers disagreed with Gelman, of course:
viktop:
They do have something to do with it, both of them. Bosses determine the behavior of their employees. And so, under a different regime, both guys would have had a somewhat different understanding of their responsibilities.
***
shlagbaum:
Yes, it's funny. Everything's still there. A guard (aka as a [hotel guard], aka as “an old lady sitting by the entrance”) remain kings in our reality and turn this reality into [sovok], and sovok has a really strong base at some level exactly because it relies on the feelings that motivate such a “guard” – to get satisfaction from exercising authority without any personal financial gain. Spirituality, in a way :) […]
***
bel_ok:
When no one is punished for the death of a submarine crew and the country's president smiles in response, and when later no one is punished again for using grenades and tanks at a school [in Beslan, in Sept. 2004], this is when the guards and customs officials begin to understand that there is no one to punish them for anything that they do, that everything will be forgiven and forgotten. […]


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Sri Lanka: On Architecture · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Beyond Borders explores the idea of architecture in the context of boundaries and culture.


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Amit Gupta: A self confessed geek · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Amit Gupta is a software engineer who works as a web applications architect in India and is a self confessed geek, in other words, someone who literally lives, breathes, sleeps
He also has photo blogs, video blog, twitter… Name a tool and you will find out Amit has discovered it (probably before you) and is already using it to good account. Amit blogs to  express himself, let off a bit of a steam and because he likes having his say on everything – and he also loves to meet people who declare themselves to be among his readership. It seems that we are talking to someone quite famous here – Amit was once chosen ASP Guru of the Year.
Amit has been a member of the Global Voices Online family for just over a year, since January 2007, providing roundups of the Hindi blogosphere. From one of his many blogs, we discover that we are talking about a “blogosphere that hasn’t yet reached where its foreign (especially western) counterparts are, and even in the Indian blogosphere, the south Indian bloggers are much ahead than Hindi bloggers”. We thank Amit for the hardwork to bring these bloggers in the spotlight!
What attracted you to GVO?
A bunch of different bloggers from different parts of the world writing about different & yet not so different blogospheres. A bunch of cool guys & gals who are addicted to blogging! :)
And what about projects, such as Paricharcha, you have to help Indian people to blog in their language, Hindi? Could you tell us how this has made a difference?
Well, when I wrote my first post on my Hindi blog, I thought that there weren't any Hindi bloggers but I was surprised as there existed a number of them. Blogging itself is catching up in India, more and more people realising the potential of this medium, more & more people becoming aware of this medium to express themselves!! Hindi is a language that's spoken by most of the Indians, be it a different dialect like Bhojpuri or Haryanvi or Rajasthani but it still is Hindi and that's the first language of a lot of people, so they are more comfortable in expressing themselves in that rather than in another language which they picked up later in life!
So I dreamed of Paricharcha as a place where “we” (Hindi bloggers & non-bloggers who know Hindi; differentiation because the first users were Hindi bloggers) can discuss just about anything be it religion or politics or technology etc. There have been other Indian forums around where people would communicate in Hindi but they would write in Roman characters there due to lack of knowledge about writing in Devnagari there. Unicode has taken away the font problems that used to haunt developers of Hindi websites earlier and phonetic tools like Baraha have made it way too easy to write Hindi in Devnagari script in unicode.
We expected a lot of first timers also coming across Paricharcha (there've been some newspaper articles etc mentioning this platform) who didn't know how to write unicode Hindi so naturally we had a forum section for them to assist them in getting started & we integrated a Hindi editor (the Hindini tool made by a fellow Hindi blogger long before Paricharcha came into being) so that users not on their own PCs can also type in Hindi on the forum. The hindi wiki Sarvagya has been quite helpful in getting people started with both reading-writing in Hindi on their PCs as well as starting with blogging.
You are very prolific on the blogosphere. How do you manage so many blogs (and now also a twitter)?
Umm…..err….. to tell ya the truth I still don't have any freakin’ clue!! ;) I write whenever I have time & whenever I'm in a mood to write & I write on the blog on which I feel like writing on! No management at all!! As for Twitter, well, I post on it either from GTalk or my mobile, again whenever I feel like saying something; so if I'm on PC or logged into IM via my mobile I post & if I'm away from PC I load up Twitter widget in Widsets on my mobile & post whatever idiotic stuff I wanna write! :)
Is there any super special application/tool that you wish would come true?
Yeah. I wish someone could make a software & hardware so that a software engineer will just have to think how he/she is gonna make any software & all the coding etc is done by that tool just by reading the mind!! :D
And how do you see the internet in 10 years?
Hmm….. that's very far to predict & too wide. :) And which region are you talking about? I know about India so I'll focus my reply keeping the scenario here in mind. I guess just about everything will be connected to internet in next 10 years, be it music players (they already are) or TV or Refrigerators or phone calls (already in existence but not as widespread) or automobiles (navigation etc.), etc. Content On Demand would settle in bigtime as well as Services on Demand via Internet. E-Commerce is still in beginning stages here in India, not many choices around & not much motivation for customers and then not many adopters of the convenience but I think that this would change rapidly & for good.
Generally speaking, I think that spam (of all kinds, email, blog, etc) will increase manyfolds & the cat-mouse game of spam & anti-spam technology will continue but more specific laws will come into existence regarding spam & it will become a criminal offence (its already in some places) in a lot of places.
You say you have gone on/off blogging, but reading blogs has always been part of your day. Which are your favorite blogs in English and why?
English, eh? Not many of them English (not many in total as well as I start cutting down after my reading list increases). But still I can't pinpoint 1 favourite so I'll list some that I like most (in no particular order): Darren Rowse – Engadget – Sitepoint Blogs –  Planet PHP (not exactly a blog but an aggregator) –  Digital Photography School Blog
Why I like them? Well, I find a lot of good stuff written on them in areas I've a lot of interest in. Like SitePoint has been a place where I've picked up a lot of info regarding web-tech and it has come in handy as well; have interacted with people having similar interests and the discussions in forums have been knowledgeable (am known as ‘asp_funda’ in the forums there, was voted ASP Guru of the Year couple of years back, not much active there nowadays).
Then I find a number of interesting & knowledgeable stuff on Planet-PHP regarding the PHP language (for past 4 years I've been writing code only in this). Digital Photography School Blog is written by Darren Rowse & I've picked up quite a number of tips about photography there, so that's why its in my reading list. Darren does quite a good job on that blog as well and I'd sure recommend it to any photography enthusiast. :)
So you are a photography enthusiast! How did you discover it?
Hmm, well, I've always liked taking photos but hated the cumbersome process of using film rolls & then having them developed! So my passion found its wings when I got my first digital camera in 2005 & went on my first vacation on my own (with friends) in May 2006. Then gradually the likeness turned into a passion over the next year and I invested in a better camera and started reading about photography, anything I can lay my hands on be it tips-tricks or pointers or tutorials etc. and started practicing them & plan to continuing that. :)
“A grayscale version of peacock's feather with the center showing some colours. I was just playing around with this photo when this idea struck me & it looked nice after completion, so I thought I'd save it.” (Amit Gupta). See more pictures by Amit, the photographer here.
What is your favourite subject to take pictures of? And have you any good memories from photography?
I like to shoot landscapes most & then portraits are my second most favourite. Haven't had any bad memories yet, so they are all good ones till yet!! ;) So I dunno which is the most favoured memory; maybe the one from Dec.2007 when on Christmas I & some fellows from a photography group were freezing ourselves (at 5am in about 4'C) on the banks of Yamuna river taking photos of moonlit Taj Mahal or me delirious at seeing the awesome views & snapping photos of them on my trek to Tungnath (highest Hindu temple in India at about 12500 feet above sea level) or me going nuts at seeing the amazing sculpture work & temples at Khajuraho. And I guess I'll have some more when I go to Agra & Taj Mahal again later this Feb.; Taj Mahotsav (“utsav” means festival & “maha” means big/super & “mahotsav” is “maha” + “utsav”) is on so I guess it will be yet another good memory! :)
Talking about passion, you are the second author we discover with a love of food (Juliana Ricon also blogs about it!). As your Spicy Ice food blog is mostly in Hindi, would you tell us about it?
Well, Spicy Ice will be a bi-lingual blog, ie., in English & Hindi, that's what I thought when I started it & I still plan to make it so. Its just that I've not gotten around to write in English there & some friends who were to write in English haven't gotten around to finding time yet! :) Its basically a group blog about food & drinks where the idea is to write first-hand reviews of eating/drinking places in a not so formal way, recipes of different kinds of interesting foods and drinks which the authors have themselves experienced, etc. So its like sharing one's experiences etc. with others. :)
And what is your favourite kind of food ever?
North Indian & Punjabi cuisine is what I like best, I've grown up eating that only! ;) And I also like Gujrati food. Other than that I find Chinese & Thai cuisine very delicious….. ummmm! :D As for favourite food, *Poori Chhole* is what I like most & *Rabri* is my most favourite dessert (otherwise I like almost all of them, hehe!!). :)
You love traveling too. Have you got a favourite destination? Why?
Hmmm….. I felt peace amongst the old temples of Khajuraho (they are beautiful), liked the vibrancy of Pushkar but the one place where I've been & would like to go there again & again is Tungnath. Not for religious reasons (I myself don't believe in existence of God) but that 4km steep trek/climb to the temple at that altitude is somehow mentally refreshing, the view of the Himalayas is great. I've been there in 2006 & in 2007 and sure plan to go once a year there!

author: Paula Góes


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Egypt: Dov’è L’Amore · Global Voices
Tarek Amr

Last Thursday was Valentine's Day, and for sure Egyptian bloggers couldn't miss such opportunity without writing about it, or even dedicating a special recipe of a Chocolate Pie for this occasion and calling it “The meal of Love”.
Some bloggers, such as Pinsy Winsy, decided to dedicate that day to everyone she knows:
ماليش حبيب واحد أهديله ورده حمرا مع حبي
اشتريت عشر وردات من أجمل ماشفت لكل زمايلي فى الشغل
واتمنيت لو جبت مليون ورده لكل أصحابي وحبايبي البلوجرز والفيس بوكيين وأصدقاء الطفولة والرحلات والسفر
اتخضيت لما عرفت ان أسعار الورد غليت بالطريقه المتوحشه دى
حتى الحب والفرحه عاوزين يكسبوا من وراهم؟؟
أمشي في الشارع ومعايا ورداتي
أبص على الأحبه اللي ماشيين وايديهم متشبكه
والايد التانيه شايله هدية.. حجمها صغر عن السنه اللى فاتت
أو شايلين بوكيهات ورد.. عدد ورداتها قلت عن الأول
بس فرحانين .. ومتحابين
ماحدش يقدر يسرق مننا الفرحه… وهانفضل برضه نحب ونفرح.. ولو بأبسط الامكانات
I don't have a lover to give a red rose with my love.
I bought 10 beautiful roses and gave them to my co-workers.
And I wish I could get one million roses and give them to all my friends, beloved bloggers, and Facebook, childhood and travel mates.
I was shocked when I knew that roses prices became that high.
Even love and joy, they wanna make money of??
I walked in the street with my roses in my hand.
And looked at those lovers holding each others hands.
And in the other hand there was a present … but its size was smaller than the one of the previous year.
Or holding a bouquet of roses … with less roses than those of the previous year.
However they were happy and joyful
No one can steel from us our joy. And we will continue to love  and amuse ourselves, even with fewer resources.
On the other hand, Amira Hassan, decided to dedicate her post to … let's see who her lover is here.
I want Grow Old Loving U,,,
Kol sana w ent yaib ya 7abebi
ml2tsh 7aga bt7bha akter mn Google :)
I want to grow old loving you,
Happy Valentine's Day my dear
I found nothing to love more than Google :)
Hany George, bikya, also wrote about Valentine's Day here.
عيد الحب … تأتيني بعض الرسائل علي تليفوني المحمول … هابي فلانتين … فاجيب بمثلها … ما معني أن يكون الحب مثل التبرز … له اوقات معينه نتبرز فيها بعض الكلمات مثل التي تتكرر علي مسمعي في الهاتف … و انت عامل ايه … كلمات تملأ فراغ زمني … و لا يشعر بها أحد .. نبرة الاصوات تدل علي ذلك بشدة لكنه الواجب
الواجب … و نحن صغار يكون الواجب أن تكرر حرف الالف العديد من المرات في صف طويل في كراستك و انت لا تعرف ما الفائدة ان كانت مرة واحدة كافية لكي تحفظ شكل الحرف
و عندما تكبر قليلا … يكون الواجب أن تحترم المدرسين … و تكتب موضوع انشائي طويل عن مضار التدخين و أنت تعلم أن من سيقرأه و يصلحه لك … مدخن
و عندما تكبر اكثر … يتحول كل شيء الي واجب … حتي ممارسة الجنس … فعل الحب … في اطاره الشرعي يسمي بالواجبات الزوجية
ملعونة هي تلك الواجبات
Valentine's Day … I received some SMS's on my mobile phone … Happy Valentine's Day … and I reply on them with similar ones … what's the meaning of love when it's like shitting … it has specific occasions when we have to piss some words like those ones I received on the phone… “How are you doing?” … just words that fill time and space … and no one feels them … the voices and tones also emphasises this so much, however it's the duty.
Duty .. when we were young, we use to write the letter “A” many times in our copybooks, we never know what's the use of writing it that much when writing it only once is enough to know its shape, and we got older … our duty was to respect our teachers … and write essays about the dangers of smoking even when the teacher who will read your easy is a smoker, and when we got older and older … everything turned to be a duty … even sex and love … it's even called “Marital Duties” … damn those duties.
As you know, in this part of the world, people sometimes like to relate everything to religion, even when religion has nothing to do with it. And Badway wrote here about those who believe that we should not celebrate the Valentine's Day.
و الله أنا زهقت كل سنة فى الميعاد بتاع عيد الحب ده اللى معرفش ميعاده امتى أصلا ألاقى ناس محموقين قوى و أعصابهم شايطة أن ازاى احنا نحتفل بعيد الحب و ألاقى مقالات طويلة و نصايح اخوية رخمة بأننا مفروض منحتفلش بعيد الحب و ناقص يقولوا نعلن فيه الحداد … أو نلبس شارة سودا
I am really sick, every year of Valentine's Day, the day that I do not even know, I see people mad at us because of celebrating Valentine's Day, and I see long essays and silly advises that we shall not celebrate it, I think they are about to tell us to show grief and sorrow then … or to wear black armbands.

author: Tarek Amr


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Ethiopia: Goodbye Ferenge Addis Blog · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

After going back to the US from Ethiopia, this is Marc's last post on his blog, Ferenge Addis Blog: “Having moved back to the US a couple of weeks ago, I'm sad to now say goodbye to the FAB. I've made some friends through contacts made here. And the comments sections has provided no end of entertainment.
I've started a new blog, the “Oh, Sorry, I'm new in DC” blog, which will serve the original intention of the FAB (Hi Mom, Hi Dad). Thanks to everyone who stopped here and especially those who commented.”


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Ghana: Ghana Elections 2008 Blog · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Ethan Zuckerman posts a link to a  special Ghana Elections 2008 Blog: “The beginnings of a project to monitor Ghana’s upcoming presidential and parliametary elections via blogs, mobiles and community radio.”


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Japan: Reactions to alleged Okinawa rape · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

The news last week that U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Tyrone Hadnott had allegedly raped a 14-year-old schoolgirl in Okinawa sparked various degrees of condemnation from local citizens, politicians, the government and bloggers [ja], reigniting anger at the continued presence of American military bases in Japan's southernmost prefecture. While different in many ways from the current case, a famous gang rape by U.S. military personnel in 1995 remains fresh in the minds of many Okinawans, adding to feelings of frustration.
In describing cases of rape in Japan such as this one, media tend to avoid the word “rape” (強姦) in favor of the less direct expression “violence” (暴行). Freelance journalist and blogger Uesugi Takashi comments on this use of language, and on differences between local and national media in their coverage of the case:
また、米海兵隊員による性犯罪が発生しました。
『沖縄タイムズ』は号外を出し、比較的静かな本土との報道の差が気になります。
だいたい「少女暴行」とありますが、はっきり言って「未成年者への強姦」（レイプ）でしょう。
それを「暴行」と、言葉を緩める意味が果たしてあるのか？
「援助交際」とか「婦女暴行」とか、性犯罪用語を曖昧にする日本の報道は、被害者への配慮というよりも、加害者への贖罪意識の軽減につながってしまっているようです。
こうした性犯罪は、絶対許さないという姿勢で報じるように変えていくべきでしょう。
While there was considerable hostility voiced at the U.S. military presence, on Internet bulletin boards the incident also attracted heavy criticism targeted at the high-school girl herself [ja] for (allegedly) not being careful enough and allowing this incident to happen. One blogger, for example, wrote of the girl's “frivolousness”:
沖縄の米兵による中学生暴行事件
よく聞いたら
バイクに乗せて家まで送ってあげると言われて
バイクに乗ってしまったのが原因だとか
バカか・・・・
そんなの、暴行してくださいとお願いしてるようなもんよ
軽薄な行動が呼んだ事件としか言いようがない
この女の子の軽薄さに腹が立つ
Blogger VcCS expressed a similar sentiment:
沖縄県で、またもや米兵による強姦事件が発生！
女子中学生を乗用車に乗せ、車内で暴行をしたという。こういう事件を見ると、結果的には米兵の罪が問われるのだが、そこに至る経緯も気になる。決して、暴行に及んだ米兵をかばうつもりはない。
だけど、被害にあった女子学生は、米兵から声をかけられ、その誘いを受けたことで、こうした事件を招いている。それが知り合いであれば事情が変わったのかもしれないが、見知らぬ人からの誘いを受ける方にも問題があるように思えてならない。
沖縄という土地柄、米兵による強姦事件は後を絶たない。
だからこそ、その土地の女性はもっと用心すべきだ！それにもまして、親はもっと子供に責任を持つべきではないか？
過去に起こった事件から学び、もう少し責任ある行動を取ってもらいたい。
加害者がどんな裁きを受けようとも、被害者の傷跡は消すことが出来ないから
[*] Referring to the fact that Okinawa has many U.S. army bases.
For more about this story, see also this English-language post and a long set of comments responding to it.

author: Chris Salzberg


text:
Kenya: The digital activist class · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Ethan Zuckerman discusses “the digital activist class” in Kenya: “There’s a strong overlap between the emerging middle class in the developing world and the world of citizen media. Bloggers in Africa are highly educated, and generally are wealthier than the average African. (It’s not cheap, in African terms, to afford the amount of internet access you need to maintain a blog.)”


text:
Korea: Burning of Namdaemun · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

Namdaemun, the Great South Gate (called Namdaemun or Sungnyemun), which was established in the 14th century, was ravaged by a fire that broke out on the 10th of February. It was was the city’s main entrance from the south when Seoul became the capital of Korea more than 600 years ago. What made people shocked was that an important historical symbol in Seoul in an instant. It seems many can’t get over the shock easily. Rather than focusing on who committed the arson and why, why the incident happened in the first place and what the tragedy indicates have more grabbed people’s attention.
Many people were deeply distressed.
이 장면 하나에 마음이 무너져 내린다. 20여년전, 난생 처음 서울에 발을 디디며 서울역에 내린후 바로 보게 된 숭례문은 내게 ‘아, 여기가 바로 서울이구나!’ 라는 감흥을 선사한 위대한 건축물이었다. 개인적으로 한국사 공부를 하며 한없이 초라한 우리나라의 문화재 관리에 분통이 치밀어 오르기도 했지만 그나마 이런 건물들이 남아 있는 것이 어디겠는가 하며 스스로 위안을 하고 내심 뿌듯해 하곤 했었다. 임란당시 일본에 의해 훼손되고, 병자년에는 불태워지며, 다시 일본에 의해 무차별로 파괴되는가 하면 개발이란 명목하에 마구잡이로 변질되어 버린 우리 문화재들중 그나마 그 원형을 유지한 몇 안되는 서울의 자랑이 바로 숭례문 아닌가.
태조께서 조선을 창건하며 세워진 도성의 정문이라 할 수 있는 남문인 숭례문은 지독히도 불운한 한국사의 아픔을 모두 겪으면서도 살아남은 진정 당당한 우리 서울의 상징이었고 그래서 ‘나라의 가장 보배로운 물건’ 제1호가 될 수 있었다. 숭례문은 단순한 건물이 아니라 아래의 사진에서 보듯 600여년간 백성들과 삶을 같이 해온 ‘벗'이었다. 숭례문 주위에는 백성들의 삶이 펼쳐지는 상가거리가 있었고, 그것이 곧 지금의 남대문 시장이다. 100년 전만해도 숭례문은 백성들 삶의 터전이자 한낮의 찌는 태양을 막아주는 시원한 그늘을 제공해주며 늘 그곳에 서있는 보배였다.
[…] 600년 전통의 건물이 단 몇시간만에 잿더미로 변해버렸다.
숭례문은 단순히 불에 타고 무너져 내린 것이 아니다.불길이 그의 속살을 태우며 나는 흰 연기는 제발 살려달라고 외치는 절규였고, 날름거리는 불꽃속의 선명한 단청은 그의 마지막 자존심 처럼 보였다.마침내 그 지붕이 무너질때, 나는 600년의 역사를 고스란히 지녀온 그의 죽음을 보았다.더이상 그의 명예와 혼백을 훼손치 말아야 한다.감히 그의 앞에 무릎을 꿇고 우리의 잘못을 뉘우치고 머리를 숙여야 한다. 그리고 다시 앞으로 최소 600년, 아니 수천년을 당당히 버티고 서있을 수 있는 새로운 몸을 그에게 주어야만 600년의 역사가 살아숨쉬는 그의 혼백이 다시 그곳에 깃들 것이다.
The King Taejo established the Chosun Dynasty and established the front gate of the capital. It was Sungnyemun. Going through unfortune events of Korea history, it survived and was the symbol of Seoul. It was the most valuaable heratige of our country, no. 1 of the cultural assets. It was not a simple building. Like the photo below, it has been a ‘friend’ to live with us for 600 years. Surrounding it, there have been market streets where people made a living and it is the Namdaemun market at present. Just 100 years ago, it was a place where people could avoid the sun during the day and where provided the shadow for the people. […] The building with a 600 year tradition became ashes in several hours.
Sungnyemun was not just simply set on fire and cracked down. The flame burned its flesh and the white smog was the voice to cry out for help. Clear paint color in the middle of the flame looked like the last confidence of itself. At last, when the roof was cracked down, I saw the death of 600 year history. We shouldn’t destroy its dignity and spirit. I dare to kneel down, bow my head, and apologize for our mistakes. And as long as we give the new body that can survive at least 600 years or more than several thousand years, its spirit will be back again.
It was not hard to find netizens whose hearts collapsed with the collapse of Namdaemun.
어제 밤, 오늘 새벽녁까지 뉴스를 보면서 소리죽여 울었다. 하루 종일 알 수 없는 죄책감이 들었다. 오래간만에 온 식구 다 모여 먹던 저녁 식사 시간에, 뉴스 보면서 다시금 눈물을 흘렸다. 조상님. 지키지 못해 죄송합니다.
Namdaemun has been regarded as the gate that, according to geomancy, is supposed to protect Seoul from fire. The burning of the gate with that function seems to worry not a few netizens.
[…] 사료에 나온 것을 전적으로 믿을 수는 없지만, 암튼 역사를 공부하다 보면 나라가 망하기 전에는 꼭 흉년이니 민심이 흉흉하다느니 민란이 일어났다느니 자연 재해가 심하다느니 천재지변이 일어났다느니 하는 말들이 나온다. 털내반 인질 사건, 태안 기름 유출 사건, 남대문 소실 사건 … 이거 뭐냐?
21세기 세계화 정보화 과학화 시대에 이런 말 하면 우스갯소리로 치부할지 모르겠지만, 난 이런 사건들이 현재를 살아가는 우리 국민에게 주는 일종의 경고 메시지라고 본다. […]
You can mock what I say in the period of the 21st century, which is facing globalization and the IT world. But I think this series of incidents is a kind of warning messages to the current people. […]
One of the biggest issues following this tragedy is who has responsibility. Politicians are taken as the main victims and perpetrators, especially between the current and coming presidents. Their attidues toward this tragedy have been criticized seriously.
숭례문 화재가 노무현 때문?
한나라당, ‘숭례문 화재는 노 대통령 때문’ 비난 [노컷뉴스] 2008.2.11
(일부발췌)
한편 한나라당이 숭례문 화재의 책임이 노무현 대통령에게 있다고 주장하고 나서 논란이 예상된다. 안상수 원내대표는 이날 최고위원회에서 “노무현 정권이 안전업무에 허술하고 엉뚱한 데 신경을 쓴 결과 이런 비극이 빚어졌다”고 노 대통령을 비난했다. 이한구 정책위 의장은 “이번 화재로 문화재 관리와 보호체계가 얼마나 엉터리인지 드러났다”며 이런 차원에서라도 정부혁신은 정말 필요하다고 화재와 정부조직 개편안을 연결시켰다.
그렇다. 분명히 문화재청과 소방당국이 총 책임자이므로 그 수장인 노대통령이 아무런 책임이 없다고 말할 수 없다. 그런데, 여기서 조금 이상한 것은, 숭례문을 개방한 것은, 이명박 전 시장의 업적 중의 하나로 손꼽히는 부분이라는 것이다.이상하지 않나? 문화재청이 개방의 주체가 되었어야지, 왜 지자체의 장이 그 영광(?)을 가졌을까?그건, 숭례문 등 문화재의 관리는 문화재청이 아닌, 지자체에서 맡고 있기 때문이다.
숭례문 개방의 업적 – 서울시장과 구청장에게 돌아가
서울시 홈페이지의 보도자료를 찾아보면, 숭례문 개방은 “2005 서울 시정 10대 뉴스“에 뽑혔다.
즉, 숭례문 광장 조성은 문화재청의 업적이 아니라 서울시의 업적이며 시민들도 이를 “이명박 시장”의 업적으로 생각했다는 뜻이된다. 주인공은 언제나 이명박 서울시장으로 되어 있다. 청계천 복원이나 버스개편과 함께 이명박 당선자의 업적 중의 하나가 바로 “숭례문 개방”이라는 점은 각종 기사에서 명백하게 나와 있다.영광은 서울시에게, 치욕은 중앙정부에게?[…]총선이 코앞에 있으니, 한나라당에겐 좋은 “꺼리”가 될만한 사건이다. 그런데, 여태까지의 사건 경위로 보건데, 한나라당이 더 세게 “책임”을 노무현 정부에게 돌린다면, 그와 비슷한 크기로 다시 역풍이 불것이다. 왜냐하면, 숭례문의 업적은 모두 이명박 당선자에게 돌아갔었기 때문이다.[…] 모두가 “공범이며 주범이며 종범이다”라는 말이 맞을 것 같다.
“Criticism from the Grand Nation Party: ‘the fire of Sungnyemun is because of the president, Roh Moo Hyun.’
[…] The Grand Nation Party cricitizes that the fire of Sungnyemun is because of the president, Roh Moo Hyun. This argument is expected to generate dispute. Ahn Sang Soo, representative of the Party, criticized “the Roh government has been clumsy about security and has paid attention to other unnecessary matters. Therefore, this tragedy happened.”
Lee Han Goo, chairman of the policy committee, also commented “This fire shows how badly cultural assets have been protected,” and emphasized that political reform is really necessary.[…] ” from Nocut News Feb. 11, 2008.
Yes, we can’t deny the top leader of government offices, Roh Moo Hyun has some responsibility of this. But a strange thing is that letting Namdaemun open in public was regarded one of the major achievements that Lee Myung Bak made when he was the Seoul Mayor. Isn’t it strange? At that time, why did a governor take the honor instead of the National Cultural Treasures Administration (NCTA)? Because taking care of national treasures, including Namdaemun, is not what the NCTA does, but what the local governmenet does.
The achievement of opening Namdaemun – to the mayor of the Seoul Metropolitan Governemnt and the district head.
If you check the press release at the website of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, opening Namdaemun was selected as one of the 10 achievements of the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 2005. In other words, opening Namdaemun was not the achievement of the NTCA, but was regarded as the achievement of the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Citizens also thought it as the achievement of the Seoul Mayor Lee Myung Bak. The hero was always Seoul Mayor Lee Myung Bak.
Including renovating Chunggyechun and reorganizing the public transportation system, one of the achievements that Lee Myung Bak made was “opening Namdaemun” We can see it in many news reports.[…]  But does the honor go to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and does the shame go to the central government?  The general election is coming soon. The tragedy is a thing that could be a good motive to the GNP. But regarding the process of the incident, if the GNP blames the Roh government more, there will be the same amount of the reverse wind to them. Because the achievement of Namdaemun has already been for Lee Myung Bak. […] But, all are “principal criminals, accessories and accomplices” This would be right. […]
Many posts about who should get the responsibility angered other netizens.
[…]숭례문이 방화로 전소되었는데 한나라 열린우리당 편 갈려서 니탓이라는 댓글들이 태반이더군여 방화로 사라져서 화가나는게 아니라 우리가 보이는 반응때문에 더 화가 치밀어 오릅니다.. 나라에 망조가 들었다 누구탓이다 누구탓이다  여기서 누구는 현재 국가의 가장어른이신분과  곧 국가의 가장 어른이 되실분입니다..
과거 삼국시대 무당들이 국가의 중대사를 점쳤듯이 2008년대 새해에 우리들은 방화로인한 화재사건을 두고 국가의 망조를 점치고 있습니다.. 숭례문이 국보1호가 전소되어 사라지니 망연자실한건 사실이지만 이사건을 두고 서로 니탓이라고 싸우니 중요한거는 보이질않나 봅니다.. […]
In the past, shamans predicted important matters of the nation. And in New Year of 2008, we predict the conflagration by arson as a bad omen of the country. It is true that we must be stunned to look at the destruction of the no.1 cultural asset. But it’s not right to argue that it’s because of this person or of that person. […]
Although the tragedy passed in a week and the arsonist was arrested, discussions and posts about Namdaemun are more and more. Individual and group marches in order to remember it keep going on and many stories related to the gate from history, personal stories, and rumors (that sometimes don’t seem to be related), are posted in the internet. It was surely not a good news that people would like to hear right after celebrating New Year and while waiting for the inauguration of the new government.

author: Hyejin Kim


text:
Philippines: A Tale of Corruption and Bribery · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

For a backgrounder on the issue, read this: Corruption scandal reaches presidential palace.
A new witness who recently testified in the senate confirmed earlier allegations of bribe and corruption involving the botched national broadband network project between the Philippine government and ZTE Corporation from China.
The ongoing senate probe concerns two things: the crime of corruption and the attempt by agents of the Executive branch to hide the truth by abducting the witness.
The witness, Jun Lozada, named a high ranking elections officer as the broker of the overpriced deal. He also implicated the First Gentleman in the controversy.
The explosive testimony of Mr. Lozada has revived efforts to unseat President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The opposition is again calling for the resignation of the president. Street protests are gaining momentum. More and more people are expressing their disgust against corruption in government.
New Philippine Revolution lists the summary of Lozada’s testimony in the senate. De La Salle University releases a chronology of events on how the prestigious institution got entangled in the issue. The Daily PCIJ uploads the testimonies of government officials who denied that they tried to prevent the witness from testifying in Congress.
baratillo @ cubao links to a site where videos and pictures of the broad anti-Arroyo rally can be viewed. MlQ3 uploads pictures of the senate hearing aside from providing incisive commentaries on the issue. blog @ AWBHoldings.com and Tingog.com offer an initial round-up of bloggers’ reactions on Jun Lozada.
Akomismo is a high school teacher who suspends his lesson plan to talk about Lozada:
“Lozada, to me, represents the fate of our good and honest public servants. My students ask me whether there are good men and women in government and I would always say, “Yes, there are.” I recognize that there are many young, idealistic and worthy public servants. There are a lot who try to break new ground and make a difference. However, the Damocles sword of political favoritism and patronage remain. This is the political reality that compels the up and coming to leave the public service in the same way that economic realities compel a lot of us to leave the country for greener pastures. Yet in the end, these servants face the choice of being either a Neri or a Lozada. Will they hide in the darkness of truth or will they bring the truth to light? How about you?”
An Apple a Day echoes the feelings of many people:
“We've been through this countless of times already, but no one really sees the end of it. Why? Because no one really gets imprisoned from these things. The trials just go on and on until the public forgets about it… until the next drama special.”
Challenges and Movements wonders why protests are peaking every month of February:
“The month of February is a month of protests. I do not know what is it in February that makes this month special when it comes to protests aside from celebrating Valentines Day, but this month seems always a month wherein protest actions have been successful in booting tyrant president’s out from the palace.”
An OFW Living in HK encourages the people to join protest actions:
“If you are against corruption and you believe that Gloria's administration is corrupt, then the simple answer is Yes, go and support the protest actions. If you think that there will be not enough bodies to make a significant protest, then help increase the number by bringing yourself. If you think that 2010 is near and there's no need to dump Gloria Arroyo now, just go ahead and join the protests to make your sentiment known. It's as simple and easy as that. Just go!”
Congressman Ruffy Biazon argues why Congress must issue a statement against the “kidnapping “of Lozada:
“If the people will see that their House of Representatives will stand up for the rights of Mr. Lozada, it will surely give them hope that if ever the strong arm of government comes crashing down on them, they have an institution that they can rely on. An institution that upholds the people’s interests far above its own, an institution that has a will, conviction and principles of its own, an institution that will not hesitate to defend what is right and condemn what is wrong.”
dantonremoto2010 describes the government as a “rotten fruit”:
“Rotten fruit. This is the way this administration is going. Remember Jose Rizal's El Filibusterismo? Ibarra came back to afflict everybody with corruption, so that like an over-ripe fruit, the system would just fall to the ground from the weight of its own corruption. With a loud thud. That is the way this government is going.”
The powerful Makati Business Club salutes the whistleblower:
“If he had been a lesser person, he could have continued to acquiesce and cower in the dark. But having come into the light, he has become a credible witness to the truth. Now that he is being unjustly maligned by government officials and by senators identified with the Administration in their continuing effort to suppress the truth, we express our support for Mr. Lozada”
Underside praises Lozada:
“He is flawed and he is in no way perfect but the most commendable thing about him is that he had to guts to admit his faults. Have you ever heard a word of apology from the crooks and professional politicians? Have they ever admitted their boo-boos? No, of course not.”
Like a rolling store mentions the two crimes committed by the government:
“I’ve talked to some friends and they are saying that the cover up is somehow worse than the actual crime of corruption. Why? Because the ZTE deal has been canceled and that sort of mitigates its ill effects. But the cover up, that one is still ongoing and is still claiming victims like Lozada. The cover up continues to insult our collective intelligence as a people. Whichever you may find worse, the original crime or the cover up, there is no doubt that someone must be made accountable. Heads must roll, so they say. It won’t happen out of the government’s own volition. We have to make it happen.”
The Marocharim Experiment is demanding more evidence:
“Something smells fishy. For one, Jun Lozada’s version of “the truth” has yet to be backed up by hard, solid evidence.  For two, Senators are grilling Lozada like bad barbecue for hours on end.  For three, no government official has yet to stand to say, “Hey, we’re going after the wrong man.”  Had I been the chairman of the Senate committee hearing out the NBN-ZTE fiasco, I would have let Lozada go right now and sent a subpoena to First Gentleman Mike Arroyo the very next day.  Then I’d send for the President herself.”
Out of my Mind has a message for the opposition:
“Let me get this clear: This administration is hopelessly corrupt beyond redemption and the sooner we get rid of these people, the better. But it’s not just these people. And removing this administration, and mainly by embarrassing and ridiculing it—which, also harms business and ourselves—should not be the only goal. A major reason why this administration is still in power is because most think that the people who are itching to replace this administration are doing so mainly for personal political gain. That may not be entirely true, but that’s the message people are getting. A taxi driver I talked to said it well: Better the thief that has been unmasked and has seemingly no pretensions of being moral than the people who claim to be imbued with stronger moral fiber.”
Phoenix Eyrie believes the anti-Arroyo forces are leading the people to the wrong direction:
“Everyone’s getting caught up in the moment; Government is corrupt! Geezus, like we all didn’t know that already? Somebody’s being taken for a ride here. I just hope the Republic doesn’t suffer because the people got brought to the wrong directions. Again.”
Journalist RG Cruz quotes presidential daughter Luli Arroyo:
“So many times, the people who actually make money from whatever deals do so using my father’s name even though he is not at all involved, and then when they get caught, they point an accusing finger at him while pocketing the money they made. Why do people want to destroy my mother? Because she has tried very hard to take out the institutionalized corruption, so the way they fight back is to try to destroy my family’s reputation.”
Geronimo Nadal is not a fan of an anti-Arroyo civil society group:
“You know them. They are “pushy”, self-righteous and “feel morally superior” above all other Filipinos. If you are with them, you feel that they consider themselves as God’s gift to the Filipino nation and that they seem to have all the answers to the burning issues of the times. You can immediately sense that they truly believe that if you are not with them, you are against them and therefore you are either corrupt, a coward, or less a person.”
Edicio dela Torre uploads an article allegedly written by Jun Lozada. Pinoypress uploads another article by the star witness who explains why a member of Arroyo’s Cabinet has refused to reveal all details of corruption in government. Notes of Marichu C. Lambino weighs the credibility of Lozada’s testimony. Swikey and Joni’s world believe in the sincerity of the witness. M.O.B reacts to how the senate hearing was conducted.

author: Mong Palatino


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Sudanese Blogosphere Reaches New Milestone · Global Voices
SudaneseDrima

The Sudanese blogosphere is starting to build momentum. Blogs written in English are quite active now showing the genuine, diverse and raw face of Sudan to the world.
On the other hand, blogs written in Arabic have mushroomed at another corner of this vast online space. They’re just as important as those written in English (maybe even more important) and they’re explicitly leveraging the power of the internet to practice their right to free expression.
Sudanese Bloggers is an official community of Sudanese bloggers writing in Arabic. Amna is a member. She is a human rights activist and has a brave post translated by a friend of hers from Arabic to English about how she was sexually harassed by a journalist at a pro-government newspaper:
Then He asked me if I wanted to work with him and I told him that was what I wanted.
… He then, and in an unrespectable manners, went on mentioning that everything has its price while at the same time placing his hand on my knee.
… He jumped at me and tried to pull me towards the bench by the wall while murmuring with dirty comments. At this moment, even his looks changed and he became like a real monster. As I was resisting him, I told him I would scream loud and ask for help. But he laughed and told me to do whatever I wanted and that no body would come for my rescue.
Overwhelmed by fear, I slapped him very hard on his face using my hand. Surprisingly, he let go of me and I ran for my safety passing by the secretary and few others who seemed were not interested to notice anything unusual.
One blog in Arabic called Un-Masking Islam is vehemently anti-Islamist.  Imad on the other hand chose the slogan of the Muslim brotherhood, “Islam is the solution,” for his blog. Both are members of Sudanese Bloggers. Even Black Gay Arab is.
As the Sudanese blogosphere continues to expand, bloggers discuss a variety of topics. Amjad is now getting settled in his university in Texas after leaving Oman. He had a few things to say about the color red:
While Saudi Arabia is banning all red items from sale until after February the 14th (Valentine's Day), everything in our university is turning into red because of this so-called Valentine's Day…
AK commented on Spielberg's withdrawal from his artistic role in the Beijing 2008 Olympics to protest what is happening in Darfur:
Someone is going to get mad and I think it's going to be China! I've heard speculations about this for months now, and Spielberg has been under a lot of pressure from various groups (Save Darfur, et. al.) to take this move. Obviously Beijing is going to try to play this down, but they will be furious.
… I can't wait to here the smart things Khartoum will have to say about this.
Drima (who is writing a book about blogging and freedom of expression in the Muslim world) was amused by Spielberg's news:
Ahahahahaha! It’s true!
… Like I said, the coming Beijing 2008 Olympic Games are already too tainted. Seriously, let’s move the games to Taiwan.
Kizzie on the other hand however had a different opinion:
Spielberg, are you scared of George Clooney not acting in your movies again or what? Did Hollywood pressure you into doing it? well, bravo. Instead of reading about Darfur and using your brain, you did the dumbest thing ever!
And as usual Jah Guide drops his poetry:
God runs in me
God in the river and in the sea
someone like you Rumi
Sufi
beautiful
I see Rumi
just like that
love you
I see

author: SudaneseDrima


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Zimbabwe: My first ever bribe · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Hope's first ever bribe in Zimbabwe: “I bribed a government official yesterday – my first ever bribe. The Zimbabweans reading this post may now shut their mouths and massage their bruised chins from where they hit the floor. I know that everyone does it but this really was my first ever bribe, and not because I am prudish about it.”


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Saudi Arabia: No Coffee for Women · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Saudi Arabia, Lalla Mona posts two pictures of signs: one from 1931 America which says “Public Swimming Pool: Whites Only” and the second from modern day Saudi Arabia which says “Following the directives of The Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, offering coffee to women in banned.”


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Abu Dhabi: Picture of Development · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Tom Gara shares a view from his window in Abu Dhabi.


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Afghanistan: Journalists fined for language debate · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Sanjar reports that three Afghanistani journalists working for government-owned media have been fined for using Persian words that are not approved by cultural policy.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Afghanistan: London’s Afghans Rally for Freedom of Expression · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Mohammad says that Afghanistanis, the citizens of U.K., have demonstrated to condemn reprisals against those who are speaking Persian language. The protesters marched in front of the Afghan Embassy in London last Friday.


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Bahamas: Bailouts · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Two issues have caught the attention of Rick Lowe at WeblogBahamas.com “like a red flag to a bull.”


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Bahamas: Thoughts on Bribery  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“One of the clichés about the so-called third world is that nothing can get done without some money–personal money–changing hands. One of the fortunate things about living in The Bahamas–so far–is that that kind of corruption is not a pervasive feature of our society”:  Nicolette Bethel blogs about bribery and corruption.


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Bahrain: Stupid Blogs  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini Mohammed Al Maskati rants about stupid blogs in this post.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Bermuda: Budget Review · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Bermuda Longtail, New Onion and Vexed Bermoothes all comment on Bermuda's 2008-2009 Budget.


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Bolivia: Dinosaur Park in Sucre · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

From Bolivia, Tragicomedia Amorosa Musical [es] writes and posts picture of the dinosaur park in Sucre, where life-sized replicas of these prehistoric creatures can be seen upclose.

author: Eduardo Avila


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

Zhao Mu re-posted an anonymous blog post on a few mistakes frequently committed by mainland Chinese on the principle of Freedom of speech: 1. The over emphasis on there is no “absolute” freedom of speech; 2. Rumor and Defamation shouldn't be included in freedom of speech; 3.  Issue concerning with national security and safely shouldn't be included in freedom of speech; 4. Failure in distinguishing public space and private space.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Spielberg, the Olympics, and oil · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Chinese bloggers shocked world media and those calling for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics this week with blog posts revealing a wide variety of Chinese opinions both independent from and more nuanced than that of the Chinese government on its relationship with Sudanese counterparts. Further surprise came when those posts were translated into English:
But the country's citizens feel no shame, and they will not engage in self-examination; rather, this affair will launch a patriotic movement to condemn Spielberg while proudly claiming that the Beijing Olympics will go on just the same with or without him. They'll even complain about the foreign ministry's few words on the subject—they're only increasing his visibility! Why should our grand nation of China care one whit for the comings and goings of a lowly artist? Scram, spiel-bork.
A small addition to the excellent round-ups linked to above is a researched post from the highly-read independent blogger He Caitou on February 16, ‘Spielberg, the Olympics, and oil‘, in which he takes it upon himself to explain the basics of the situation to his readers, something the Chinese government, Chinese media, Steven Spielberg and the Save Darfur Coalition have apparently all been unable to do:
斯大叔突然宣布不再掺和2008年北京奥运，外交部还专门做了回应，真是莫名其妙的事情。斯大叔给出的理由是什么“达尔富尔”，听都没听说过的名词，更是不明所以的事情。世界著名导演在世界人口最多的国家举办的奥运会上突然临阵脱逃，为的是一个非洲的什么地方，这事可闹得真够“全球化”的。
达尔富尔是怎么一回事？和中国有什么关系？和2008奥运又有什么关系？媒体上语焉不详，不谈这个问题。可能觉得不好谈，不方便谈，但是我觉得谈谈也无妨。反正周末无事，权且当作评书来听好了。
话说非洲，非洲这个地方很热。它的北部大家伙都知道，乃是一片黄沙，唤作撒哈拉沙漠。我国台湾女作家三毛曾经在那里工作、学习和生活过。南部还不错，比如南非，电视新闻里就从来没出现过骆驼。很多人坚持收看《动物世界》的观众也注意到，非洲还有草原和森林，动物们在赵忠祥老师浑厚的嗓音中追逐、嬉戏以及交配。中国人说起“非洲人”三个字，自然联想起面如黑檀木、头发打卷的黑人兄弟来。这种认识不错，但不能说是全对。
So what's up with Darfur? What does it have to do with China? Or with the 2008 Olympics? The media haven't been clear on the what and why, they don't talk about this issue. They might think it wise not to, or inconvenient, but I think I at least might as well. Anyway, I've got nothing better to do this weekend, so I'll try and tell the story so you better listen up.
Back to Africa, we all know where Africa is. And everyone knows that the north part is one long stretch of yellow sand. The Chinese Taiwan writer San Mao once worked, studied and lived there. The south part isn't bad either, like South Africa, which as we've learned from TV news, has no camels. A lot of people insist that those who have watched Animal World will have noticed that Africa also has veldt, forest and animals who frolic and copulate as Teacher Zhao Zhongxiang chases them with his booming voice. When Chinese people say the word “African”, they naturally think of their black brothers with faces like ebony and curly hair. Knowing that much is a good start, but it's not all there is.
看过《阿拉伯的劳伦斯》的影迷应该记得，非洲也有白皮肤的人。在非洲北部，那里是阿拉伯人的天下，骑骆驼骑马，住帐篷，是游牧民族。在南部，那里是黑人的土地，他们种地为生，是耕地的农民。苏丹是位于非洲的一个国家，达尔富尔是苏丹的一个地方。北部是阿拉伯游牧民，南部是非洲黑人农民。大家本来井水不犯河水，你玩你的沙子，我弄我的泥巴。
但是，从上世纪80年代开始，全球气候变暖。这种相安无事的情况随着气候的变更而发生了改变。气候变暖的结果是达尔富尔变得更加干旱，游牧的阿拉伯人立即受到了影响。他们的牧群需要水草，在骆驼和羊的眼中，农田里长满了饲料。于是，非洲黑人和阿拉伯人的友善关系被破坏了。阿拉伯人不可能改变游牧的生活习惯，而身为农民的非洲黑人绝对不允许任何人染指自己的田地。1987年，渴得冒了烟的阿拉伯人发表声明：阿拉伯人在人种上更优秀。然后集结成部队，开始抢夺黑人的土地。冲突全面爆发，两年之后才签署和平协议，代价是3000条人命和数百个村庄被毁。【1】
But then, starting in the 1980s, global warming began. With the weather, the peaceful co-existence situation also began to change. The result of global warming was increased drought in Darfur, and the nomad arabs were the first to feel the impact. Their herds need pasture, and what the camels and sheep saw, was farmland covered in feed. This is what destroyed the friendly relationship between the African blacks and the arabs. Arabs were not able to change their nomadic lifestyles, and the historically farming African blacks were absolutely not going to let anyone take away from their farmland. In 1987, the parched thirsty arabs issued a declaration, that arabs were racially superior. Then they built up an army, and began pillaging land from the blacks. Conflict fully erupted, and only two years later was a peace agreement signed, the price of which had been 3,000 lives and hundreds of destroyed villages. [1]
国内的人们彼此大打出手，苏丹政府又是怎么做的呢？苏丹政府倾向于阿拉伯兄弟，没事还发点武器弹药什么的，支持他们搞一搞。国际社会对这种苏丹内乱的判断是：种族冲突，是黑人和阿拉伯人两种不同种族之间的对立。但是，有学者指出，达尔富尔的冲突更多的是没有土地的牧民和有土地的农民之间的冲突，而不是什么种族冲突。一个明显的例证是2003年的苏丹的叛乱中，双方都以种族为口号，召集各自的兄弟。但是，那些拥有自己土地的阿拉伯人并没有参与到政府一边。所以，说苏丹是种族冲突是要打问号的。
在上世纪90年代，无论是说种族冲突也好，还是争夺土地资源的牧民农民战争也好，反正双方搞来搞去，搞了接近20年时间。2005年，平地一声雷，苏丹达尔富尔南部发现了石油！而且储量还不小，估计全面开采以后每天能产出20万桶原油。在这之前的二十年时间，根本没有中国什么事，但是打从这以后，苏丹、达尔富尔这两个词就和中国挂在了一起。
从1949年以后，中国和非洲就建立的良好的关系。现在怎么想我不知道，但是当时真是没把非洲兄弟当外人看。你们帮我们进联合国，我们就帮你们搞建设。中国在非洲有大量的合作项目，和非洲大部分国家的关系都很不错。那时候根本没想什么利益不利益的事情，工程队去援建，那是真的下苦力，做好事。医疗队过去做卫生服务，那真是活人无数。苏丹是中国的非洲兄弟之一，等打出了石油，老一辈无产阶级革命家心怀非洲兄弟的情谊现在就算结出了现实的果实：
Throughout the 1990s, whether you say it was an ethnic conflict or a battle over land resources between herders and farmers, both sides just kept on going at each other, and have been going for nearly twenty years now. Thunder boomed across the land in 2005 when oil was discovered in Darfur's southern region. And large reserves; after extraction got underway, 200,000 barrels a day by some estimates. The 20 years prior to this had absolutely nothing to do with China, but from that point on, the words Sudan and Darfur got stuck right next to China.
Since 1949, China and Africa had established positive relations. What the deal is now, I don't know. But at the time, the African brothers were definitely not treated as outsiders. You help get us into the United Nations, and we'll help you with infrastructure. China had large numbers of cooperative projects in Africa, and relations with most African countries were pretty good. There was no thought of benefits or advantages to this at the time; The engineering teams who went to aid in construction, now that was menial work, trying to do good. Medical teams went to provide health services, and saved countless lives. Sudan was one of China's African brothers, and now that oil has been discovered, the sense of brotherhood towards Africa that the old generation of proletarian revolutionaries carry is finally being realized.
中国是苏丹最大的贸易伙伴，苏丹出口中国的最重要物资就是石油。2007年，中国在苏丹的石油投资达到了150亿美金。始于1997年的中国苏丹石油合作，在十年的时间内已形成原油勘探开发、输油管线、炼油、石化等上下游一体的石油工业体系，苏丹石油合作项目是中石油公司在海外最大的合作项目，涉及苏丹一、二、三、四、六、七等区块项目及喀土穆炼油厂项目和聚丙稀厂项目。【2】
现在有点意思了吧？美国有沙特阿拉伯、伊拉克、科威特、尼日利亚等等石油大国做朋友（伊拉克本来不想做，萨达姆被吊死，现在做了。伊朗也不想，估计也挺不长），掌控了全球的石油生产和生意。但是，中国人冷不丁地在苏丹搞到了石油，一天20万桶，相当于尼日利亚的20%。卧榻之旁，中国人打起了小鼾，那还了得？【3】
正好，前面提到了2003年达尔富尔叛乱。这是怎么一回事呢？达尔富尔的黑人兄弟在2003年组织起来，成立了“苏丹人民解放军”等反政府武装力量，谋求自制。而阿拉伯人组织了军事组织金戈威德，和苏解对挑。造成了1万人死亡，100万人沦为难民。和1987年一样，苏丹政府支持阿拉伯人的金戈威德，提供武器弹药。小布什敏锐地抓住了这一点，宣称苏丹政府必须达尔富尔的危机负全部责任。并且，美国和它的盟友纷纷发话：喂，中国，说你呢！你的小兄弟搞出来那么大的事，你不去说一声？看中国不搭理，埋头运石油，于是大家一起喊：街坊邻居们都来看啊，小黑人被杀，完全是因为中国暗中支持苏丹政府啊！
就这样，中国和苏丹、达尔富尔的关系在最近几年剪不断，理还乱，倍受指责。
Quite something, eh? America is friends with several big oil countries: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Nigeria (Iraq actually wasn't much into oil, but then Saddam was hung, and now it is. Iran doesn't either. Like that'll last long.), which control the world's oil production business. But, China has suddenly struck oil in Sudan, 200,000 barrels a day, 20% of what Nigeria produces, in its own backyard, and this is somehow outrageous? [3]
By chance, there's the 2003 Darfur uprising mentioned above. How did that happen? Darfur's black brothers organized themselves in 2003, and formed the “Sudanese Liberation Army”, among other armed anti-government forces, striving for self-governance. Then the arabs organized the Janjawid militia and challenged the SLA. Resulting in 10,000 deaths and a million refugees. As with in 1987, the Sudanese government supported the arab Janjawid, supplying weapons and ammunition. Little George Bush shrewdly grasped onto this, declaring the Sudanese government wholly responsible for the Darfur Crisis. What's more, America and its allies one-by-one spoke out: ‘Hey, China, yeah you! Your little brother's gone and made such a mess, why aren't you saying anything?’ Seeing China unresponsive, and continuing to ship oil, everybody started screaming at once: ‘everyone come look! The little black people are being killed, and it's all because China secretly supports the Sudanese government!’
And that's how, over the past few years, the connection between China, Sudan and Darfur couldn't be cut, with inconsistent reasoning and widespread criticism.
问题在于，站在中国的角度上看，谴责苏丹政府？那么中国还要不要石油的？中国已经转变为完全依赖石油进口的国家，每年烧掉的汽油柴油从哪里来？大庆，还是克拉玛依？当然，达尔富尔的黑人被攻击，被屠杀是个问题。那么，中国道路上汽车的油箱和车主的钱包也是个问题。本着人道主义的精神，应该谴责苏丹政府。但是，谴责完了以后，我们烧什么呢？说谴责苏丹政府，声援达尔富尔人民，估计人人都举手。但是，说为了达尔富尔人民，我们宁愿不要汽油，或者宁愿忍受高价燃料，忍受物价全面上涨，还会人人举手么？牵涉到切身利益，那么看待问题时的想法可能会完全不一样了。我们可以做到“宁可经济滞后三年，不让苏丹再死一人”么？
我不清楚对于这个问题的答案是什么。网上的聪明人多，有车的也不少，我想听听大家的意见。
I'm not sure what the answer to this question is. There's lots of smart people out there on the internet, and a lot of them own cars, so I'd like to hear what everybody thinks.
回过头来，再说说斯大叔的事情。斯大叔是犹太人，拍了著了名的《辛德勒的名单》。现在，斯大叔来中国协助搞奥运会，于是有人问他：那你不是变相支持苏丹政府么？为什么纳粹杀你们犹太人你拍电影，而苏丹政府在灭小黑人，你却要帮助苏丹政府的朋友呢？莫非你们犹太人才是人，黑人就不是人了？斯大叔不能回答，只好宣布退出。其实，斯大叔并不是第一面对这类问题的美国名人。巴菲特去年被迫卖掉中石油的股票，也是基于相同的原因。毕竟，人家还要在美国混，必须得顾及这一层关系。不过，现在走掉一个股神，一个名导，都是社会贤达，还不至于说像冷战时候一样西方国家联手拒绝参加苏联举办的奥运会，说起来中国还算幸运。
最后，对于心理有了阴影的各位车主，我想对大家多说两句。美国是自由民主的象征，这句话需要一个定语：在国内。而在国与国之间的关系上，可能并没有可贵的自由和甜美的民主，到今天为止，人类世界在国际关系上还是比谁的腿粗。美国人直言不讳地承认：最大限度地维护美国的利益。那么，除非美国的利益就是世界各国的利益，否则这中间总要冲突，总要有人死于自由民主的美国。今天，美国关怀达尔富尔，那么卢旺达大屠杀的时候美国人呢？再看索马里，美国军队死掉了几个人，于是就撤离了，把那里交付给上帝。而伊拉克呢？美国人在伊拉克死亡的军人是索马里的多少倍？为什么美国人不撤离呢？上帝真是不公平，没有赐予卢旺达、索马里、朝鲜人民以石油，否则他们也能得到美国军队的帮助，不至于被遗忘，任其自生自灭。
Finally, for those car owners with guilty consciences, I just want to say two things. America is the symbol of freedom and democracy, but this clause needs a modifier: domestically. But when it comes to relations with other countries, there just doesn't seem to be that same dear freedom and sweet democracy. To this day, there isn't anything that has more bearing on international relations than ‘the real world’, and Americans admit it straight up: ‘to protect American interests to the greatest extent.’ So then, aside from American interests, there's still every country in the world's interests, or else there would always be conflicts, and people dying for this free and democratic America. America today is caring over Darfur. Well, what about the America during the Rwanda massacre? Or Somalia, where after a few American soldiers died, it evacuated, and turned the place over to God. And Iraq? How many times more American soldiers have died in Iraq than in Somalia? So why haven't the Americans evacuated? God sure isn't fair, failing to bless the people of Rwanda, Somalia and Korea with oil, or else they've have gotten help from the American army, and not just have been forgotten about, left to fend for themselves.
现在，美国说我们支持苏丹政府不对。那么，屠杀库尔德人的萨达姆政府是谁支持的？鱼肉印度尼西亚的苏哈托政府是谁支持的？韩国的5.18事件中，韩国大学生和市民要求民主自由，又是被谁支持的军政府残酷扑灭？顺便说一句，伊拉克和印度尼西亚也都产石油。世界的真相是：
1、美国国内人民的确享受民有、民治、民享的生活，这是真的。
2、这种生活的代价是全力维护美国的利益，包括让愚蠢的沙特王室继续统治这个富裕的国家，让苏哈托、诺列加、萨达姆这样的暴君存在，为美国效力充当前驱。这也是真的。
3、当没有美国利益存在的时候，美国以外的任何地方死掉一百万人，可以当作根本不存在。这还是真的。
我们生活在一个和5000年前一样残酷的世界上。在这个世界上国与国的关系视乎核弹头和经济总量的多少来确定彼此的位次。美国让美国公民过上美好生活值得诸国效仿，但是，这种国内原则并不能扩充到国际关系上去。如果你的确觉得对达尔富尔黑人心存愧疚，这种情怀值得赞扬，更加值得赞扬的是你放弃了自己的汽车，改骑自行车。如果你承认自己是自私的，需要廉价汽油甚于几万里以外的一群人的生命，那么也大可不必觉得惭愧。因为，世界就是这么无情，没有必要让自己去面对这种艰难的局面。相比之下，斯皮尔伯格只是做了一个最容易的选择。
1. The American people enjoy a life of ‘of the people, by the people, for the people,’ this is true.
2. The price of this kind of life is all efforts necessary to maintain American interests, including letting the silly House of Saud rule over that prosperous nation, and keeping despots like Suharto, Noriega and Saddam who serve America in place, this is also true.
3. When American interests no longer exist, any million people who die somewhere that isn't America, might as well have never existed. This is still true.
We live in a world that's just as cruel now as it was 5,000 years ago. In this world it seems numbers of nuclear warheads and supply and demand determine rank between nations. How America lets Americans live such wonderful lives is an example set for all countries to follow, but, this kind of domestic policy isn't allowed to extend to international relations. If you honestly feel so guilty about the blacks of Darfur, that's commendable, but what's even more commendable is if you were to give up your own cars, and started riding bicycles. If you admit that you're selfish, and that cheap gas depends on the lives of a group of people tens of thousands of miles away, well then there's no need at all to feel ashamed. Because, that's just how pitiless the world is, and there's no obligation to put yourself in such a difficult situation. Spielberg, in contrast, only made one of the easiest choices there is.
资料来源：
【1】《达尔富尔问题的真正根源》
【2】《富尔达尔危机是怎么回事?》
【3】《达尔富尔：我的名字叫石油》

author: John Kennedy


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China: Spielberg’s withdrawal from the Beijing Olympics · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Joel Martinsen from DANWEI has translated three local blog posts commenting on Spielberg's withdrawal from the Beijing Olympics.


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Colombia: Money Found in Itagüí Prison · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Julián Ortega Martínez of equinoXio writes about the recent discovery of approximately 6,000 USD in the maximum security prison of Itagüí in Colombia, and which was found to belong to a former paramilitary leader.


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Czech Republic: Klaus Re-Elected · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Rather belatedly, a link to the post by The Czech Daily Word, announcing that the Czech president Vaclav Klaus won the election: “Klaus got 141 votes, which is exactly the threshold he needed.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Editorial Transparency in Qatar · Global Voices
Mohamed Nanabhay

A misunderstanding around the safety of bottle water in Qatar (it's fine!) has led to an interesting conversation about the quality of the English language press in Qatar. Comments were passed back and forth between between a commenter on Qatar Living (tallg) and the Managing Editor of a local English newspaper in Qatar.
In a comment tallg noted that
The press here do have a habit of printing anything they hear without checking the facts. The Peninsula had to run an apology the other day for saying that the museum on the corniche was going to open on the 22nd Feb, when in fact it isn't opening til 22nd Nov. They then went on to blame whoever they heard this information from, rather than accepting that they should have clarified the information themselves. Very amature.
It seems that Rachel Morris, the Managing Editor of the Peninsula keeps an eye on the social web in Qatar and responded to the tallg's comment and explained how incorrect facts had come to be printed in her paper:
… Perhaps you may benefit from hearing the full story.
The Qatar News Agency ran an item the day before saying the opening was in February.
Given it came from the OFFICIAL news agency of this nation, it's pretty fair to assume the information is correct. For those who don't know, all official news from the Emiri Diwan down is transmitted to all media here using the QNA (Qatar News Agency).
It turns out QNA had made a mistake in the copy. The information went out on the Arabic wire, was translated into English then re-transmitted.
We picked it up, ran it because it was from QNA. The following day, it was revealed QNA has put the erroneous report out. I have since had a clarification and an apology from the QNA English Editor and ran the clarification so our readers did not think we were misleading them.
In the end was all very maturely dealt with and not as you charge, a case of assigning blame. Having worked in the media in the Gulf and Australia for 17 years, I know mistakes are made. In this case QNA admitted it and we informed our readers.
It always helps to know the full story.
After apologising for calling the actions of the paper “very amature”, tallg explains that  he still stands by what he said and that
…My issue was not with the original report being incorrect, and I realise that mistakes will be common in a newspaper which collates most of it's articles from other sources. But I do believe that once a newspaper decides to run with a story it becomes their responsibility. It is good that a correction was printed in this case (and I wish this happened more often), but in my opinion that was all that was needed. To then go on and explain how it was actually someone else who made the mistake in the first place did not read very well to me, and to be honest it sounded like the newspaper was passing the buck.
To write an article about how The Peninsula receives it's news stories would have been informative and interesting, and would have offered a chance to explain why articles sometimes carry mistakes. I think this would have been a better way of informing readers, rather than putting it in a correction column.
I hope you'll understand that my offending comment was borne out of frustration with the lack of quality information in Qatar, a frustration that many people here share…
Ms. Morris replies to tallg in a very honest manner explaining that
We struggle everyday trying to get accurate and informative information to our readers so I appreciate your frustrations.
All your points are valid. The reason I replied is because I do believe journalists have a job to do in terms of educating the public about how we form our news values and stories and sometimes, how mistakes can be made. Despite our view sometimes to the contrary, we journalists are not perfect!!
I am really glad to see a newspaper editor engaging with her audience online – it's a brave step that will help enhance trust amongst an often cynical expatriate audience.

author: Mohamed Nanabhay


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El Salvador: Charges Reduced to Public Disorder · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Tim's El Salvador Blog writes that the charges of terrorism are being reduced to “public disorder” for the individuals, who were arrested during demonstrations against the water policy of President Tony Saca.


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Guyana: Massacre in Bartica · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As reports of another massacre – this time in Bartica – reach bloggers, Living Guyana asks “How many more?”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Hong Kong: Suspected to Resemble Gillian Chung · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Duimanpark discusss about the funny language in the recent sex photo scandal and wonders if English speakers would understand the commonly used phrase in local mainstream media: “nude photographs of a woman suspected to resemble Gillian Chung.”


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Iran: Virginia Tech shooting as a piece of Theatre · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Kosoof,a leading photo blogger, has published photos of a theatre group protesting against bad conditions of their workplace in Tehran. This group wants to play Cho's Manifest, the story of Virginia Tech shooting.


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Iran:A film about “friendly” violence · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Jomhour from Iran, has published a film that shows that violence has become for some people an entertainment.


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Japan: Indoor Cultivation · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Japundit has a short photo essay discussing the potentials of indoor cultivation.


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Jordan: Injaz Al Arab · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Mohammad alQaq, from Jordan, draws our attention to Injaz Al Arab – which aims to empower one million Arab students annually by 2018.


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Jordan: Traffic Woes  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Saleem Ayoub Quna writes about Jordan's traffic woes.


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Kazakhstan: More State Control in Economy · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

KZBlog reports that one week after the president's Address to the Nation, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan announced that this year the government will investigate all existing contracts with foreigners in extractive sector to void contracts with companies that have violated the terms.


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Kenya: What is wrong with local web hosting? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

“Dennis Wambugu is a very disappointed man. He is disappointed because Kenyans do not seem to host most of their websites at the local Internet Service Provider (ISP),” writes Rebecca Wanjiku from Kenya.

author: Ndesanjo Macha