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China: Standard of the white-collar · Global Voices
Bob Chen

(Note: The Chinese Academy of Social Science has denied the publishment of the list, which under hot discussion for quite a few days proved to be faked)
In Chinese concept, white-collar is related to a decent life and a desirable living style. How much have you got to earn to be a qualified white-collar worker in China? A recently published report by Chinese Academy of Social Science gives people an official standard.
Here is an excerption (in RMB/ month)
一档：香港 18500，澳门 8900； 二档：上海 5350，深圳 5280，温州 5020，北京5000； 三档：杭州 4980，广州4750，苏州 4300，厦门 4100，青岛 4000； 四档：南京 3780，福州 3380，无锡3200，天津3150，济南3120，大连 3000； 五档：郑州 2880，昆明 2800，武汉 2680，海口2600，长沙 2480， 三亚 2360，重庆 2250，沈阳 2100,乌鲁木齐 2100，西安 2080； 六档：成都 1900，哈尔滨 1700，呼和浩特 1700，贵州 1600，长春 1500， 兰州 1500，银川 1100，西宁1000； 七档：拉萨900。
Class 1: Hong Kong (18500), Macao (8900)
Class 2: Shanghai (5350), Shenzhen (5280), Wenzhou (温州), a southern city famous for retail goods（5020）, Beijing (5000)
Class 3: Hangzhou (4980), Guangzhou (4750) Xiamen (4100)
Class 4: Nanjing (3780), Fuzhou（福州）,a city by Taiwan Strait (3380)
Class 5: Kunming (2800), Wuhan (2680), Changsha (2480)
Class 6: Chengdu (1900), Harbin（哈尔滨），a northern city (1700), Guizhou (1600), Yinchuan (1100)
Class 7: Lhasa（拉萨）, provincial capital of Tibet (900)
The coastal cities took the head of the list, while the mid-China cities mainly on the middle and several distant inner-land cities on the bottom. However, though a report by the national authoritative institution, the list was questioned by many netizens. Most of them grumbled that the report terribly underestimated the earning needed for one to survive like a real white-collar in China today. That is, a “white-collar” according to the standard can hardly live a decent life in such a society of surging prices.
A blogger in sina.com thought it unbelievable:
据说这是他们的研究成果,天啦!!!!!!!!!!!!这个研究也太可怕了,白领竟然难以解决温饱问题??????
This is a result of their research? Oh my God! Such a terrible research! A white-collar can’t even eke out his/her daily living?
人生若只如初见, though with her beautiful name, commented:
蓝领差不多
It fits for the blue-collar only.
Baby Ninie (宝贝妮妮) from Ji’nan sighed:
也不知道到底什么是白领，我是济南的，反正按你说的那个标准在我们这里也就是个中农吧，哈哈。我觉得我一个月一万块钱也不够花啊，而且还没供房子。现在什么 都涨价，这个标准是现在的吗？我看着不大像，要是一个月收入3000多，连车子都快养不起了呢，光说这油价吧，97#的都快六块钱一个了，这肉吧，都十五 块钱一斤了
I don’t know what the white-collar really is. Whatever! According to that criterion, someone with the earning is only a so-so farmer here. I think 10000/month is nevertheless not enough, even though I am not paying mortgage installment of housing. Everything is now going more expensive. With 3000 RMB (the standard of his city), I couldn’t maintain the automobile. And the pork price, solely, has hit 15 RMB/500g. What a life!
Moreover, another focus of the blogsphere is the deteriorating living condition and heavier pressure on the white-collar, the people working in urban offices. A widely circulated saying tells the life of the white-collar:
干得比驴都累，吃得比猪都差，起得比鸡都早，下班比小姐都晚，装得比孙子都好，
挣得比民工都少，看着比谁都好，其实勉强解决温饱。他们不过是一群听起来很爽，看起来很美，却干着辛苦活儿，拿着血汗钱，受着脸面与金钱双重熬煎的穷人
We work harder that an ass, eat worse that a pig, get up earlier that a rooster, ring out later than a street girl, adulate more than a kiss-ass, merely eking out basic living, though looking better than any other. We look cool, sound good, but live a life so poor, with money earned by sweat and toil, grinded by self-respect and salary.
辰雨如君 spoke for the blue-collar:
白领们都在叫着薪水不够，我们蓝领真该去要饭了。现在看快了，离要饭仅一步之遥。
As the white-collar are yelling for being hard up, we blue-collar had better go begging. It’s soon when I am going to be a beggar.
Finally, let me cite the introspection of blogger 大智若, who discussed why people tended to make white-collar as their identities and whether the category is necessary, to end the post:
阶级的政治属性越来越淡，逐渐归位于经济属性。在城市，已经进入了全民流浪的时代，他们在匿名的竞争中无法喘息，怀着家园寻找乡愁，他们共有一个类似的伤痛感，在无家可归的迷惘中失去了自己的身份，我是谁？我属于谁？我到那里去？
The political nature of class differences is fading away and gives the place to the economic nature. In the cities, a new era of all people wandering has come. We immerse ourselves in the reminiscence of old homes and have a pain in common, the pain that we lost our identities in perplexity. Who am I? Where do I belong to? Where am I going?


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Egypt: Bloggers to Attend First Arab Youth Forum · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Tunisian blogger Amin reports that bloggers are being recognised as a group at the First Arab Youth Forum being held in Egypt from November 19 to 22. “This group of bloggers will prepare some material (brochures, presentations…) to introduce blogging culture to the others participants/guests/visitors/potential partners,” he explains.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Georgia: Bad News for Freedom · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The Washington Realist draws comparisons between events in Tbilisi with Pakistan and Russia. The blog concludes that it will be interesting to discover U.S. reaction to what is happening in Georgia as opposed to other countries.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Georgia: End of a Fairy Tale? · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

It couldn't have come at a worse time with all three republics in the South Caucasus gearing up for elections to be held next year. Georgia, considered a beacon of [relative] democracy in the region until today, has set an unfortunate precedent given that the opposition in all three countries will protest leading up to the respective votes as well as afterwards. Even the November 2003 Rose Revolution that brought the Georgian president, Mikhail Saakashvili, to power was peaceful in comparison to crackdowns by the authorities in neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Today, that all changed with the ironically entitled Steady State publishing a post simply entitled “Crazy in Georgia…” and a link to coverage from TOL Georgia. The two blogs were both established by Transitions Online and in particular, TOL Georgia is a welcome addition to blogging in the region. It's coverage of the events as they unfold has been exemplary with recent updates now reporting attacks on the independent media in the country. Photographs recording scenes in downtown Tbilisi, some of which are posted here, are already up on Flickr courtesy of Davit Rostomashvili.
Following posts about Kavkasia TV and Imedia TV being taken off the air, TOL Georgia draws a frightening conclusion.
The Imedi TV journalists were threatened with force, kicked out from the TV station and had their mobiles phones seized.
[…]
A person was just beaten up by the additional internal affairs troops entering the TV station…
In how many democratic countries this happen???
Probably Imedi TV will be unveiled as Russian traitor TV… Shameful. This starts to look like clear-cut dictatorship…
According to the authorities, Georgia's traditional foe, Russia, is behind the trouble in Tbilisi. International media outlets are already reporting that Saakashvili is pointing the finger directly at Moscow. The Internal Security Services, for example, have already released audio and video recordings of meetings between opposition figures and alleged Russian intelligence service agents. Georgia's Ambassador to Russia has apparently been recalled.
The opposition denies the claims, as do bloggers such as Artmika at Unzipped who instead suggest that the Georgian government and Saakashvili in particular is using Russia as a scapegoat for the country's own internal problems.
I think Saakashvili seriously suffers from spy-mania. Actually, it’s a very convenient pathological condition, successfully used back in Soviet times and elsewhere to shut dissident voices. As expected, he blamed everything on Russia, and Russian “special agents”. An extremely convenient trick for anyone who perhaps feels that grounds under his power are shattering. He used it before too, and apparently from now on any discontent with his policy and regime will be considered a treason. Good old days are back. And good to ensure continuous Western support too.
The Armenian blogger, now based in England, does however mention a Georgian friend who is filling him in with details from on the ground. According to Unzipped, the situation is getting out of control on both sides. However, he concludes, the main blame lies with the authorities for adopting heavy handed tactics to disperse an opposition protest.
My Georgian friend from Tbilisi blamed opposition too. He condemned government’s excessive use of force but suggested that opposition was to blame too. They provoked police and were not really up for a dialogue with the ruling regime, and “both sides acted ugly.” I am sure that opposition is not any better (just names of people who are behind the opposition are enough to put me off; also ridiculous mass prayers during their rallies – oh dear…). But I know one thing, when those in ruling power use excessive force against civilians, there is something wrong with their power. Therefore, I blame government. […]
The blogger concludes that “as long as [Saakashvili] is in power, there will be no calm in Georgia and no prospect for democracy.” On his other blog, he posts photographs from today's clash, and back at TOL Georgia, jibs concurs with Artmika's dismay at blaming unrest on Russia.
Just listened to President Saakashvili’s speech on the latest developments in Georgia, involving the forceful dispersal of the opposition demonstration.
[…]
He put the blame on Russia again.
I think Russians need to pack on and leave somewhere towards South America, so that they are not blamed for Georgia’s internal affairs.
[…]
How can all this be blamed on Russia? Are those 70,000 people that showed up in the first day of the protests ALL Russian puppets? […]
[…]
Long live our savior and protector against the Russian dark magic!
Gregory Levonian at GL.Mimino.Org writes from Tbilisi on the day's developments even though he admits he tries to steer clear of politics on his blog. Saying that “things are not well” in Georgia, the blogger perhaps represents how most Georgian citizens feel, regardless of their ethnicity. He praises Saakashvili for what he has achieved, but is now concerned about the direction the country is heading in.
[I]ts really hard to support the opposition here since they really don't have much of a platform and it also seems to me that people have always had unreasonably high expectation of Saakshvili but all this notwithstanding there is no question that our Misha (as he's often called) has become less and less sensitive to those around him.
[…] He is a populist. He marginalizes those who disagree with him.
But still, he was truly committed to Georgia and the best democrat the country had ever seen.
At least, that was until today. Now, nobody knows what's happening and the whole city is in shock and horror.
[…]
I can't believe I'm writing this, but the city has the feel that it's under occupation. […]
Others observing from afar also have mixed feelings about what is occurring in the Georgian capital. underWater desert Blogging, for example, remembers visiting the country and says that it was “amazing.” Indeed, the blogger obviously had such a good impression of Georgia that they hope something positive will occur.
There are huge possibilities for good in this country and I hope that the President, Saakashvili is smart enough to be able to quell this thing without having to resort to Soviet era tactics of repression.  I will be an unequivocal supporter of him if he can figure out a way to address the core of what the protestors are saying […].
Global Voices’ Veronica Khokhlova at Neeka's Backlog, however, does not seem so convinced. Posting a story she wrote at the time of the 2003 Rosie Revolution hoping that Georgia's problems would now be behind it, Khokhlova seems as disappointed and shocked at what is happening as almost everybody else.
I really hoped Saakashvili would let them protest all they wanted, but he's an impatient guy, unfortunately, and so he ended up using some force today to get them out.
I haven't been following the situation in Georgia too closely, but BBC tells me “the protesters accuse President Saakashvili of corruption and of not doing enough to tackle poverty” – and I've no reasons not to believe them.
More updates on events as they happen will undoubtedly be found on the excellent TOL Georgia and on BBC correspondent Matthew Collin's This is Tbilisi Calling. Indeed, as writing this post comes to an end, TOL Georgia has made one more post announcing that a State of Emergency has now been declared.
Four years ago, the current authorities came to power through mass demonstrations against the Shevarnadze regime, and back then the mass media was left untouched. Saakashvili does it differently — this must be a democratic measure I have never heard about.
This is why the demonstrations swept Georgia in the first place, and not because of an “evil” Russia. Russia looks way more democratic right now than Georgia. This is the end of the Rose Revolution myth in Georgia.
Or as Unzipped put it earlier in the day, “This is the end of Saakashvili's fairy tale. […] Georgians will not forgive him for this attack.”
Photographs accompanying this post are © Davit Rostomashvili. These and other photographs can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/barrygeo/.


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Guyana: Live and Let Live · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As the debate over the homosexual lifestyle heats up in Guyana, Stella Ramsaroop says: “Sexual preference continues to be at the forefront of the ‘get rid of them because they are different’ battle simply because there are so few who wish to accept the fact that a person’s sexuality is as ingrained as a person’s race or gender.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Happy Birthday Africa Ready for Business · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The blog, Africa Ready for Business, is one year old: “I just noticed that this blog has now passed the one year mark. It is my hope that you have enjoyed this 1st year of blogging on Africa Ready for Business. What we have tried to do here is to illustrate how Africa's free market economies have been on the rebound…”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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India: Henna and Weddings · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Kamat's Potpourri on how “Mehendi” or “Henna” – which is traditionally associated with North Indian weddings has become an integral part of the wedding rituals in the South.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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India: Poor Boy, Rich Girl · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

GreatBong comments on the case of Rizwanur Rehman, a young man killed because he married a girl from a family much richer than his. “if the families were woefully maladjusted economically, then the union was doomed to ultimate failure”


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Iran: Bloggers Back Political Prisoners · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

In recent weeks, the Iranian government has stepped up pressure against human rights and civil society activists. Some of these activists, including a former university professor and several syndicate and student activists, are in jail. Some were arrested because they visited a mass grave of their executed relatives earlier this year. Protests in Iran continue against this new wave of repression. Bloggers share news and ideas on these events.
Human rights activists targeted
It seems the Iranian government is actively targeting men and women who support political prisoners and advocate human rights.
The blog of the Student Committee for Human Rights Reporters (SCHRR) says [Fa] that Sepideh PourAghai, a human rights activist and member of  SCHRR, has been in jail for more than 45 days and is being held in isolation in the infamous 209 section of the Evin prison. Her mother says, “My daughter is under a lot of pressure and she is sleepless. She has no contact with exterior world. She has no right to books, journals or TV in her cell.” Sepideh was previously jailed one month for her activities, 8 years ago.
SCHRR says [Fa] there are five more political activists such as Mansour Saraji who were arrested at the same time and are still in prison.
Another human rights activist who was arrested (again) in recent weeks is Emad Baghi. He is a writer and a journalist, and the director of the Association for the Defense of Political Prisoners’ Rights. Kosoof says [Fa] says these days many activists are being sent to jail. He has also published a couple of photos attributed to photo blogger Mansour Nassiri.
Labor activists jailed
Kaargar condemns [Fa] the prison sentences against Masour Osanloo and Ebrahim Madadi, two leaders of a bus drivers syndicate. The blog says Osanloo was sentenced to five years, and his colleague Madadi to two years. The blog considers such sentences an attack on the workers’ movement. The blogger says these two men fought to get the most basic workers’ rights and did not commit any crime or wrongdoing.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation, ITF, has launched a Free Masour Osanloo Campaign. The ITF site invites visitors to sign a petition urging President Ahmadinejad to take every step possible to ensure the safety and immediate release of Mansour Osanloo.
Free Sohrab Rasaghi is a blog covering news about jailed civil society activist, Sohrab Rasaghi. The blog has published several photos of this former university professor. An excerpt from a text on Front Line says about him:
Dr. Sohrab Razzaghi has been arrested and is being detained as a result of his peaceful and legitimate human rights activities. He recently wrote a report on the status of the Iranian civil society. He is due to attend the Front Line Platform, which will take place in Dublin, Ireland from 22-24 November 2007.
According to [Fa] Sharfsasan, Majid Tavakoli, Ahmad Ghasaban, Ehsan Mansouri, are three student activists who are still in jail and have been tortured.
Women's rights activist in danger
Kamangir reports:
In an unprecedented and unexpected development Delaram Ali, a women's rights activist, was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months and 10 lashing in appeals court… Delaram was beaten severely during this protest, dragged on the ground by several police officers and subsequently arrested (see picture above). She suffered a broken arm as a result of these severe beatings.
Jomhour writes [Fa] that the Iranian government dreams that by lashing women's rights activists, it can control the women's movement but that such a dream will transform into a nightmare for despots. The blogger wonders how the Iranian government can call itself a government of kindness!
The SCHHR blog says that Ali Saremi and his wife were arrested because they participated in the anniversary of the 1988 mass executions. According to the blogger nobody knows where they are imprisoned.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran: Killer Iranian Insulin in Iraqi Hospitals · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Truth Teller from Iraq warns of Iranian-made Insulin suspected of being tainted with the deadly HIV Aids virus in circulation in Iraqi hospitals.


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Iran:No to war · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

CASMII is an independent campaign organisation with the purpose of opposing sanctions, foreign state interference and military intervention in Iran.


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Iran:”Supporting Mehrnoush Solouki” · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

FreeSolouki blog[Fr] covers all news about Iranian-French film maker,Mehrnoush Solouki.Solouki is due to go before an Iranian court on November 17. She faces charges of intending to make antiestablishment propaganda.


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Iran:Venezuela becomes another Iran · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Jomhour says [Fa]that there is a growing pressure against media,journalists and civil society in Venezuela.The blogger writes that this country looks like Iran more and more.


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Iran:War and Public Opinion · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Mohammad Ali Abtahi,former vice president, says  that it is months when American officials are trying to convince public opinion of the world to launch a war against Iran.


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Iraq: Difficult Decisions · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Iraqi blogger HNK has a difficult decision to make: what to study in university?


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Iraq: The Story from Fallujah  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Blogger and journalist Dahr Jamail travelled to Iraq and here's his story from Fallujah.


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Israel: Status of Women in the Arab World · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Nissim Dahan reflects on the status of women in the Arab world in this post on Mideast Youth.


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Jamaica: Pages of Wisdom · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Geoffrey Philp's Blogspot features a new book whose Caribbean contributors include George Lamming, Derek Walcott, Earl Lovelace, Jamaica Kincaid and Edwidge Danticat.


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Jamaica: Voter’s List · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“An easy way to begin to reclaim one's Jamaican-ness…is to be enumerated, and to be placed on the Voter's List,” writes Moving Back to Jamaica.


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Kazakhstan: Crying Forever for the Victims of Nuclear Test Ground  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

KZBlog reviews a new book by Struan Stevenson, a Scottish Conservative Member of the European Union, who has spent a lot of his career trying to bring public attention to the tragedies surrounding Soviet-era's Semipalatinsk nuclear test ground in Kazakhstan.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Kazakhstan: Interview with Akhan Satayev, Film Director · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Tomorrow the movie theatres of Kazakhstan and Russia will start shows of “Racketeer”, one of the first Kazakhstani commercial film-making experiences. The audience is invited to learn the biographical story of a young boxer from Almaty, who decided to fight for a better life with his own fists in uneasy 1990s, but had to pay a high price for this decision later on. Below is the (Neweurasia presents) interview with the director and producer of the film Akhan Satayev, who has been known earlier for his works in the sphere of video-advertising.
The history of world cinematograph features many examples of highly successful debuts of clip-makers. What are your expectations for the box-office? Are you happy with the result?
Yes, I think that production of advertisements, which we are doing already for 10 years, served as a good school for us. It was very comfortable to make the movie with the same team. I really hope that box-offices will turn out to be okay (if pirates are not going to spoil everything). And, yes, we are 99 per cent happy with the outcome!
What are the further plans of your company Satai-Film? Don’t you want to make a movie about today’s crafty techniques of business-making, like raider attacks? Try yourself in other genres? Or all further perspectives will depend on successfulness of the “Racketeer”?
Certainly, we want to move ahead, and we do have plans for the future, but they all seriously depend on how successful the first film will be. If everything goes well, we would like to try different genres. The main thing here is a good script.
The Kazakh cinematograph has been known earlier for its art-house and new-wave movies. In all sincerity, what do you think about the new trend, set by your film – is it a step forward for the domestic film industry and its future, or it is step backwards?
I am convinced that any attempt to make a commercial project in our cinematograph is a step forward. If we are not going to do it, then we will never have a good, sound and competitive commercial movie product.
A replica of the Russian cinematographic bandit ballads “Brigada” and “Bumer”, adapted to Kazakhstan, with the participation of Vladimir Vdovichenkov, an actor who made his name on such kind of movies, – it’s all looks commercially flawless. Aren’t you afraid that your message “Evil gives birth to evil and always comes to a bad end” may miss the minds of teenagers, who can capture only the image of romantic villains?
Yes, involvement of Vladimir Vdovichenkov in our movie added up a commercial value to the project. Besides, he fits perfectly in his role of the criminal kingpin from Moscow. As for your question, I can assure – in spite of the fact that the film is about criminals, we by no means are romanticizing the bandits. And we showed it very clearly.


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Kyrgyzstan: Feedback to the Article in Economist · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

The Azamat Report reviews an article on Kyrgyzstan in The Economist, and says that although the article is well written, its expatriate author lacks understanding of some intricacies of political playground in the country.


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Moldova: Prison Conditions · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Last year, Father Bill Haymaker of Moldova Prisons documented the heartbreak and humiliation of prisoners’ lives: 20 boys living in a cell designed for 12; 18 girls packed into a similar cell; two women, each mother of a 4-month-old, sharing a room “so small I could not extend my arms completely” – here and here; rats that are “larger than cats, and almost the size of small dogs.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Nigeria: Lagos Comics & Cartoons Festival · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Naijablog writes about the Lagos Comics & Cartoons Festival 2007.


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Nigeria: MIT OpenCourseware to benefit Nigerian University · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

AfricanLoft publishes an article about a Nigerian University using MIT Open Courseware: “The Osun State University, Osogbo [Nigeria], has launched a virtual library and OpenCourseware that will enable its students and faculty members to have access to the lecture videos, notes and audio lessons of lecturers at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States of America.”


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Pakistan: Stability, Activism and the Emergency · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

As the reality of the emergency sets in, reactions from bloggers explore the idea of democracy and stability in the country, looking at the consequences of the current political situation. Metroblogging Lahore points to the ups and downs in the biggest stock exchange in Karachi, and that a similar trend could be seen at the Lahore Stock Exchange.
Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE 100) nose-dived on the first trading day under Emergency rule this Monday while registering a record fall of 635 points. However, the market regained some ground on Tuesday by jumping up 146.87 points to close at 13,426.1
The blog also provides a running update on a student protest at Lahore.
iFaqeer has a different take on the situation, a perspective that underlines that people are probably not going to be passive participants in the political situation.
As Adil says, people see a picture and all they feel is shame for the 5 policemen beating up a lawyer; I feel nothing but pride, for I see one Pakistani putting his self on the line for his principle. People see a media blackout; I see journalists that a dictator has no choice but to ban.
A thought and comment provoking discussion at Sepia Mutiny as Abhi writes
To be clear, I do not condone the jailing of lawyers and judges but Pakistan is not ready for the type of democracy they currently protest in favor of. There is not one shred of proof pointing to a better outcome if elections were to take place, nor a single candidate that one could point to as a competent successor to Musharraf, one likely to provide stability in Pakistan and by extension in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Amardeep, another blogger at Sepia Mutiny argues against this point of view.
My point is this: elections are necessary for democracy to occur, but they aren’t sufficient for democracy to sustain itself. What Musharraf should have done, if he really cared about transitioning to democracy, was, first of all, let the Supreme Court rule on whether the recent Presidential election was valid. Secondly, he needed to give up his uniform (though admittedly, that should probably have happened first). Thirdly, Parliamentary elections.
Law and Other Things, an Indian blog reflects on judicial activism given the turn of events in Pakistan. Indian Muslims comments on Pakistan having been taken to the past again, and how Musharraf seems to have no support from any side.
Gradually Musharraf has found himself losing his grip. Tribesmen accuse him of killing his own people and have adapted suicide bombings, a deadly new import to Pakistan. The secular Pakistanis chafing under dictatorship accuse him of failing to protect Pakistan from the growing reactionary extremism within Pakistan.
Activism seems to be in the air. Chapati Mystery links to a document –
From students and activists in Pakistan comes The Emergency Telegraph [pdf link] – the first issue of a comprehensive booklet that hopes to fill in the vacuum created by the media blackout in Pakistan”. It includes a short note from Asma Jahangir as well other links, eye-witness reports etc.


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Russia: Insulin Shortage · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Window on Eurasia writes about shortage of insulin in Russia.


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Russia, Japan: Putin’s Sexiness Ranking · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Siberian Light writes that the Japanese have voted Vladimir Putin the world’s fifth most attractive politician.


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Russia: Moscow Monorail and Ostankino · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Turkish Invasion takes pictures of the bums sleeping in Moscow subway trains, of the Monorail and the Ostankino TV Tower.


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Russia: Putin Jokes Not Allowed, Sort Of · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Window on Eurasia writes about the FSB's attempt to ban jokes about Putin in Novosibirsk.


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Russia: Revolution and National Unity · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

This year, Nov. 7 marks the 90th anniversary of the 1917 revolution in Russia. Sean's Russia Blog writes about the events leading up to the Bolshevik's ascent and suggests that, by some definitions, they “came to power democratically”; he also writes about the Russian opposition's wrong reading of history. MoscowThroughBrownEyes writes about the current substitute for Nov. 7 – the National Unity Day, marked on Nov. 4 – and about the Russian Marches that took place on that day. A Soviet Poster A Day merges the Russian flag with the old Soviet one and offers a few interpretations.


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Russia: Stalin and the Kurds · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Window on Eurasia writes about “the tangled history of Moscow’s involvement with the Kurds during World War II and in the last years of Stalin’s reign.”


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Saudi Arabia: Egyptian “Magician” Executed · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Elijah Zarwan, from Egypt, links to a news article about the execution of an Egyptian in Saudi Arabia, accused of practicing magic and sorcery as well as adultery and desecration of the Holy Quran by putting it in a bathroom.


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Saudi Arabia: Kinky Clothing on Sale · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Under the heavy veil and behind closely guarded doors, some Saudi women are being a tad bit naughty when it comes to dressing down for the bedroom. Blogger Nzingha reminds us, with photographs, that even women can be naughty in the ultra-conservative kingdom.
Photo credit: Nzingha
To set the mood, Nzingha explains that there is more than meets the eyes in Saudi Arabia.
“Saudi for the most part has an image of being ultra conservative, an image that is rightly deserved in some areas. But when you actually live here and know what is going on, in secret and in open, you find out that people living in Saudi aren't necessarily that conservative. This ranges from the expatriates and their swinger parties, or the gay weddings and beauty pageants with cross dressers displaying their moves. Some of these events are cracked down upon by the police but for the most part it goes on and people whisper,” she notes.
She then takes us on a shopping spree for some kinky outfits, which she includes in her blog for their sheer entertainment value. Nzingha further explains:
“Being kinky doesn't have to be to these extremes a little fun and excitement in the bedroom can fit into the kinky mold. But, again, being in the conservative society of Saudi Arabia with veiled laden ladies one would think the kinky side couldn't be easily entertained. Think again! As I went out with Sister C the other day to a local ‘families’ mall we stopped in a shop called “Oh La La” .. (a)nd there in the shop, protected by the single male employee, hung these kinky bedroom get ups.”
For more outfits, check out the link above.


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South Africa: SynthaSite Beta is out · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

SynthaSite is a South African application that allows people withouth technical background to publish websites online: “The structure of the site is geared more around making it easy for users with no technical (html & css) knowledge to create Websites in simple, trouble-free style. What this means is, you can create a website , have and an assortment of goodies in the body of your website all in easy drag ‘n drop fashion.”


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Soviet History: Richard Sorge · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

ExecutedToday.com writes about Richard Sorge, a spy whose “signal achievement was establishing, as a foreigner in a highly xenophobic Japan, a spy ring that for years penetrated the highest levels of the Japanese government and the German embassy, giving Moscow an inside look at Axis planning” – and who was executed on Nov. 7, 1944.


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Sri Lanka: A Child Soldier · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Open Maze points to a photograph of Thamilselvan's coffin being carried, featuring a ten year old child soldier.


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Sri Lanka: Democracy, Institutions and Crisis · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Groundviews discusses the intricacies of democracy, given “‘Democracy’ and ‘Crisis’ are words we have come to associate them in the same sentence.”


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Sri Lanka: Death of LTTE’s Thamilselvan · Global Voices
Mathy Kandasamy

Thamilselvan, Tamil Tigers’ political wing head was killed along with five of his colleagues on Friday. [link: BBC]. Thamilselvan was the public face of the LTTE and his death has devastated many Tamils. However, as is in the case of such men, his death also highlights the controversial role of the LTTE and how the organization is perceived.
These were the photographs of his five colleagues who were also killed in the raid launched by Sri Lanka Air Force against a meeting place of Tamil Tiger leaders in Kilinochchi.
Prominent journalist, broadcaster and cricket commentator from India Abdul Jabbar met Mr. Thamilselvan in 2002 in Sri Lanka. Thamilselvan professed to be a fan of Abdul Jabbar's radio program broadcast from a radio station in London, UK. Abdul Jabbar spent some time with Thamilselvan and visited a few places in Vanni, Sri Lanka before meeting Prabhakaran. Abdul Jabbar says that he did not see Thamilselvan after that. But, he continues, Thamilselvan always conveyed his regards whenever he could via others. Abdul Jabbar says, “There are people in Colombo who hate the very word ‘Tamil Tigers’. Even among them,  Thamilselvan has earned a good reputation and respect. A particularly vehement Sinhala leader uttered a line about Thamilselvan which stayed with me. He said ‘aiya hontha minisu ekkanaik’. ‘He is a good person.'”
Natkeeran calls Thamilselvan, a template of a Sri Lankan Tamil Warrior. According to Nakkeeran, the death of Thamilselvan is a victory for war-minded people while a setback for peace-seekers and for those seeking political solution.
Malainaadaan, Switzerland translates Rete Uno's (A Swiss public broadcasting organization that handles radio and TV programs in Italian) radio broadcast. He attended a condolence meeting organized in Zurich, Switzerland and shares photos and an audio podcast.
Aaru blogging from Toronto, Canada remembers seeing regularly in Jaffna during the 90s when he was around 8-10 years old. Like everybody else, Aaru also remembers the pleasant ever-smiling face of Thamilselvan. Aaru says that in the past decade he had cried only twice. The other occasion was when his friend was killed in front of his own house, three months ago. Aaru who has also lost his father shares his anger too.
Kuruvikal who regularly writes science related posts write another post about thermobaric bombs. There were speculations that thermobaric bombs could have been used in the bomb blast which left Thamilselvan and his colleagues bodies unscathed.
Sinthanathi, India has a post with a timeline of  40 years old Thamilselvan's life since he joined LTTE in 1984.
Condolence meetings are taking place all over the world. And Ko.Sukumaran, a human rights activist from Pondicherry, India blogs about a condolence meeting in his town with photos.
Praba, Australia lost one of his blog readers in the bomb blast. He has shared a mail he received a few weeks ago from Major Mihuthan.
Sent: Tuesday, 18 September, 2007 12:28:35 PM
Subject: mail from miguthan
வணக்கம் பிரபாண்ணா
தங்களது பதிவுகள் பார்த்தேன்
மிகவும் மகிழ்ச்சி
I saw your blog and am very happy. People haven't forgotten anything. It's just difficult for them to talk about it. Reading your blog, I learned that you studied in Kokuvil Hindu. I too studied there from 1989 to 95. I belonged to Karthikesu Illam (for sports).
And I saw your post on Nallur. I would like to request something from you.
I think, not a lot of people would read entries about the specialties of Tamil when it comes coated with the flavours of Hinduism alone. That's what I feel.
Your posts on the history of Jaffna was very useful. Thanks Anna.
Do you remember? Once Mahendram principal disrupted the Navarathiri programme because a couple sang together.
Good old Jaffna! It seems now the youngsters are spending all the time with the cable television.
Let's work together and pave the way Anna.
Thanks,
Mihuthan.
Major Mihuthan died on November 2nd along with Mr. Thamilselvan.
While there was mourning from both sides of the Palk Strait and elsewhere. There were also others with different opinions. Srirangan, originally from Sri Lanka residing in Germany, titles his post ‘Flies, not youth, would arise from Thamilselvan's blood!’. Boston Balaji originally from Madras, India quotes Wildred Owen's ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ and some pro-Sri Lankan Government media reports.
If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,—
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.*
*From the Roman poet Horace: “It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.”
Balaji while professing next-to-nil knowledge about the problems in Sri Lanka follows through with some questions. Comparisons of why the very same people who oppose a war on Iran by president Bush are leaving LTTE chief Prabhakaran out of the equation. Balaji drags Myanmar and Pakistan and questions the modalities. One of Balaji's questions was about Thamilselvan's past role in fighting (Thamilselvan actively fought against India's Indian Peace Keeping Force in Jaffna in 1987.) And whether he would have been given the same respect if he'd died fighting. He further questions about the sort of respect given by the media to the soldiers killed by Thamilselvan. Balaji goes on to draw parallels between Pakistan's Parvez Musharaff and LTTE's Prabhakaran. And alludes to collusion between the Sri Lankan Goverment and Prabhakaran while stating it would be profitable for Prabhakan if the whole issue continues in the same vein; just so he could continue to be the chief and continue bargaining in the world market. Needless to say, heated discussions are on in the comment section.
While all this is going on, Badri from Chennai, India analyzes the situation even handedly from an Indian perspective. The readers follow up with an interesting discussion in their comments on the post.

author: Mathy Kandasamy


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Trinidad & Tobago: Festival of Lights · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Roi Kwabena blogs about the upcoming Hindu festival of Divali.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Moving On · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Nicholas Laughlin comments on the results of the Trinidad and Tobago election: “An eleven-seat majority for Mr. Manning, but thankfully two seats short of the 28 he needs to start tinkering with the constitution…I hardly need say that things will probably get worse before they get better…”


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Tunisia: New Auction Site · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Tunisian blogger Subzero Blue points us to a new Tunisian auction site in this post.


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Tunisia: Two Decades of Human Rights Abuse · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Tunisian blogger Samsoum links to an Amnesty International report commemorating human rights abuses in the country over the past 20 years. “President Ben Ali’s two decades in office have been marred by a continuing pattern of human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture and other ill-treatment, unfair trials, harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders and curbs on freedom of expression and association,” says the report.


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Turkey: Free Speech Development · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Murat Altinbasak, from Turkey, links to a news article which says that Turkey is “bowing to EU concerns that it overly curbed free speech.”


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Turkmenistan: President Visits Brussels · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Bboyd informs of the first visit that Turkmenistan's President Berdymukhamedov is paying to the EU, receiving a “cautiously upbeat welcome”. The EU has earmarked 30 million euros ($43 million) for the period through 2010 if Ashgabat is to upgrade the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.


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Uganda: Remembering Bangi · Global Voices
Rebekah Heacock

The death of Ugandan radio personality Wilfred Bangirana on Sunday has the blogren fondly remembering his talents as an oldies DJ.  Eddyslahh at Mixed Notions posts a sweet tribute:
I remember one time when i went with my uncle to the disco for the oldies night where Bangi played and the guy refused step off the dance floor becouse to him, Bangi had taken him back to them days when they were still young and energetic,where getting off the floor would only be when the bouncers were asking them to get out coz it was time to close….
Bangi is one of those people who made me love old music and for that reason i never missed his wind down zone programme on sanyu fm becouse he always knew what to play, its as if the guy knew exactly what i wanted to listen to.
Reactions to President Yoweri Museveni's declaration that he “do[es] not need money to leave power,” a thinly veiled slight to former Mozambican president Joachim Chissano after his acceptance last month of the $5 million Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, were considerably less tender.
Minty queries:
Why does my computer’s automatic correction give me the words Amusement and Uneven when I try to type the name of our dear visionary president Museveni?
Does it have anything to do with this story?
While The Phantom frets:
I wish this were a lie, a conspiracy orchestrated by the media to discredit the good name of the paterfamilias. There would be heads rolling and people apologising and all that but this is a small price to pay for the alternative. That the president actually thinks the prize is about the money.
And finally, a series of beautiful pictures from Bethany, taken in Kampala's Owino Market on a rainy Saturday afternoon:

author: Rebekah Heacock


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Ukraine, Georgia: Presidents vs the Opposition · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Mark MacKinnon compares Mikhail Saakashvili's policies to those of Victor Yushchenko: “The people still own the streets in Ukraine, for better and for worse. That's no longer so in Georgia.”


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Ukraine: Trouble in Crimea · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Window on Eurasia writes about the growing anti-Crimean Tatar sentiment in Crimea: “…the two incidents this last week suggest that tension in the Crimea are almost certainly going to increase. And to the extent that happens, neither the Ukrainian authorities nor the Crimean Tatars who are trying to make a life for themselves after returning from their Central Asian exile will benefit.”


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Uzbekistan: Rethinking Andijan Again · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Central Asian Borders reflects on the Western studies about the tragic massacre in the Uzbek city of Andijan, saying that in Uzbekistan, many people don’t know what the Westerners know about Andijan.


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Afghanistan: Terrorism Hits Baghlan · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Peter Marton provides a final update on the yesterday's attack at the New Baghlan sugar factory against a delegation of Members of the Afghanistan's Parliament.


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Africa: Managing the Brain Drain · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Brain drain in Africa is not a problem but a symptom, writes Omodudu: “I now know that African think tanks are gathered in Libya trying to tackle the ‘The Brain Drain Issue’ (Would definitely work for a movie title). I am glad that the word ‘managed’ is used and not ‘stop’ or any other grander sounding verb, as a show of force.”


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Angola: The rise of civil society in Angola · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Koluki blogs at African Path about the rise of civil society in Angola: “The one party political system also meant the virtual ruling out of any civil society organisations, whose space was filled by the party’s so-called “popular mass organisations”, and of any independent media.”


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Bahamas: Abortion Debate · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“In Bahamian society, whether legal or not, abortions will happen”: Adrian Gibson at WeblogBahamas.com shares his views on a woman's right to choose.


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Bahrain: Accountability · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

A new law will soon force public servants and MPs to declare their finances, reports Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif.


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Barbados, Jamaica, Cuba: Lightbulb Scandal · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbados Free Press blogs about the Jamaican lightbulb scandal and says: “Citizens of Barbados should pay close attention”, while Stunner's Afflictions asks: “Will there be criminal charges? Or will we see more bawling in the house of Parliament?”


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Cambodia: Mobile Internet · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

A new mobile telco is offering free mobile internet and attracting the geeks in Cambodia.

author: Preetam Rai


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Cambodia: Online Video Channel · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Jinja introduces a dedicated online video site for content about Cambodia.


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China: Journalist Festival  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Yesterday was the journalist festival. Zengying remembers the first time he shed tears in his journalist life. The incident about a child starving to death[zh].

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: University ID Check · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

In order to prevent outsiders from enjoying facilities in the university, several universities in Beijing started to check on students’ ID card when they are buying meals and entering lecture halls. Zeng Jin-yan criticized the bureaucratic attitude of the university management [zh].


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China: University Students Buzzing with Green Activity · Global Voices
Juliana Rotich

On China Dialogue, Peng Li writes  “From energy efficiency to mitigating climate change, China’s students are looking for solutions. A lack of resources and experience, fundraising, management and publicity do present problems, and it is often difficult for groups to feel they have a lasting and wide-ranging impact. If they continue to care and to act, however, progress will continue.”

author: Juliana Rotich


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Czech Republic: Reckless Driving · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Petr Bokuvka of The Czech Daily Word argues that the Czech football star who was caught driving his Ferrari at more than twice the 130km/h speed limit, deserves a harsh sentence.


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D.R. of Congo: A video of Madilu System’s funeral · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Extra Extra has posted a video of the funeral of Congolese popular musician, Madilu System: “A video has surfaced of Madilu System’s amazing funeral, the biggest in years. “


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D.R of Congo: Transporting goods in Kinshasa · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

How do you transport goods if you are in Kinshasa? Congo Girl explains: “People move items around by vehicle a lot of the time, but it's not always an option.  If you don't have a truck on hand, you can always rent a guy with a wheelbarrow.”


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Dubai: If You Don’t Like It · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Blogger Qatar Cat, who lives in Dubai, has some advice to the locals in this post.


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Eastern Europe: TOP 100 Russia-Weblogs · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Krusenstern posts a new edition of the “TOP 100 Russia-Weblogs” (in German) – which is only “secondly (!) a ranking. First and foremost, this list is an invitation to a journey through a “Terra Incognita” in eastern Europe, which is fifty times bigger than Germany!”


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Egypt: Fear God Call · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger Zeinobia is urging the Shaikh of Al Azhar University to fear God in the fatwas (religious edicts) he issues.


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Georgia: Armenia Urges Political Solution · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Oneworld Multimedia says that the Armenian Foreign Ministry has urged a “political solution” to the crisis in neighboring Georgia. As up to 90 percent of Armenian trade passes through Georgia, the blog says that such a declaration was to be expected.


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Georgia: Early Presidential Election · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

TOL Georgia reports that an early presidential election has been called for January following clashes with police in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. In an earlier post, the same blog asks who is to blame for the situation in the country.


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Georgia: Election Gamble · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Registan also has more on news that a early presidential election has been scheduled for January 5 in Georgia. The blog says that the move by the country's president is “tentatively good news for Georgia and the US” and “hopefully will put Georgia back on more or less the right track.”


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Georgia: Online Petition · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped posts details of and a link to an online petition which calls upon the international community to intervene in Georgia following yesterday's clash in central Tbilisi. It also requests the release of political prisoners, the lifting of the state of emergency as well as an end to restrictions on the media and the persecution of opposition supporters.


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Georgia: Russian Hopes · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The blog of Vladimir Gushchin, International Communications Director of the RIA Novosti News Agency, posts an entry saying that his Georgian friends consider their president to be pushing the country to the “edge of civil war.” However, while believing that Saakashvili's resignation is not the answer, Gushchin hopes that his friends in Tbilisi will “finally get some stability in their life” and “proper and correct leaders.”


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Georgia: Troubled Times · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Cuttino's Site reports that the situation outside the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, is calm and that “in general, it feels like a normal day.” However, Peace Corps Volunteers have been instructed to “be ready in the event of an emergency.”


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Ghana: Female Ghanaian Hip Hop · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

What is the state of female Ghanaian hip hop?:”Ever since hiplife became part and parcel of Ghanaian music, the female hiplife artistes have been holding it down. Talk of Abrewa Nana, Triple M (Manye Mercy), Mzbel, LA (made up of Lateefah and Asantewaa), Ras Nigga, etc – they have been matching their male counterparts boot for boot.”


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Guyana: Look-See · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Oh, the wonderful things you can see when you look, look, look”: Guyana-Gyal‘s eyes are opened after a visit to the courthouse.


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Haiti: Learning Through Gameing · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Bryan Schaaf at Haiti Innovation thinks that video games may be a great way to raise children's awareness about international development and humanitarian issues.


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Hong Kong: An Interview with a Clinical Psychologist · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Willsin blogs about his interview with a clinical psychologist [zh]. Upon knowing the blogger had depression and suicidal tendency, the psychologist said he would contact his family to prevent him from suicide. And the blogger criticized the psychologist for violating the trust relation.


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Hong Kong and China: Interview with Isaac Mao · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Sidekick posts a video in the outblaze blog. The video is an interview with Isaac Mao on the concept of Chinese blogger conference.


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Hong Kong and Macau: Prosperity on the Sand · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Erynnyes comments about the political environment in Macau. The blogger said that the city's prosperity has been built on a sandy ground where the dissent voices are repressed and the government is corrupted [zh].


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Indonesia: Diving in Indonesian Waters · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Parvita on why Indonesia is a great place for diving enthusiasts.


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Iraq: Al Mutanabbi Street to be Reopened · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Iraqpundit reports new developments in the war torn country, saying historic roads are being reopened. Among them is Baghdad's fabled Mutanabbi Street, which had been around since the Abbasids — until it was blown up by insurgents last March.


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Japan: Fearless Mouse · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Edo from Pink Tentacle reports on the invention of a genetically engineered mouse that does not fear cats.


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Jordan: No Monitoring for Elections · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Civil groups will not be allowed to monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections in Jordan, reports blogger Naseem Al Tarawnah.


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Kazakhstan: Media Wars  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

As the Rakhat Aliyev affair spins, and the ex-ambassador and former presidential son-in-law continues blackmailing the country’s authorities with discrediting materials, including publication of illegal taps of telephone conversations between the top officials, a number of websites have been recently blocked in Kazakhstan. “No explanations on the reasons of filtering were provided”, mantrov reports.
A Kazakhstan-born blogger now living in Australia, weathercock, says he has a “pathologic reaction to restriction of free speech on the post-Soviet space, especially in Kazakhstan” and undertakes a commitment to repost all of the censored kompromats “just for their exotic nature”. “Where would you find another country, where the top-ranking officials speak with each other in a way the American gangsters did in 1930s”, he notes.
Meanwhile, the blockade of disfavored websites was not a final stage of the government’s excessively neurotic reaction – last week, several independent newspapers were raided by police and regulatory bodies in an apparent attempt to hinder their publication. As a result, some of them were denied printing facilities and failed to appear in print. Shortly after that, chief editors of these newspapers had a meeting with Minister of Information Yertysbayev.
As sarimov informs, the meeting was meant to mitigate the conflict – the authorities are not interested in another scandal with the press, but they are even less interested in broadcast of discrediting materials about the government and president. “The conditions that had been set by the minister are simple: stop publications of Aliyev’s leaks and there will not be any problems with print-houses. A deadly dichotomy”, sarimov concludes.
However, the newspapers seemingly did not have a choice, but to accept the conditions – mahno-mactep calls the deal “an obscene peace treaty”. Meanwhile, Joshua Foust offers an overview of the recent alarming developments in the sphere of mass media in the region of Central Asia, listing the cases of journalists being murdered over the past few years.
[All links, except the last one, lead to the posts in Russian]


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Kenya: ‘Virtual endowment’ for Biodiversity · Global Voices
Juliana Rotich

Richard Leakey is proposing the idea of a virtual endowment to provide for Biodiversity disaster relief, in the event that the income for conversation is interrupted either by disaster, conflict or acts of terrorism


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Korea: Special Compartments for Women on the Subway  · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

What do you think about special compartments for women on the subway? One reason given for its necessity is to protect women from male sex criminals. A new policy that Seoul suggested causes a new kind of battle between men and women.
도쿄 경찰에 따르면 지난 2005년에 검거된 지하철 성추행범은 총 1853명이었다. 포르노 왕국 일본의 치한은 그룹으로 움직인다. 즉 사이쿄센과 신주쿠 등과 같이 이동 인구가 집중되는 역의 혼잡을 틈타 한 여성을 둘러싼 2인 이상의 치한이 조직적으로 성추행을 자행하고 있는 것.
이에 치한 퇴치용 어플리케이션인 접촉 경고 프로그램(Anti-Groping APPli)이 큰 인기를 끌고 있다. 휴대폰을 이용한 이 어플리케이션은 굵은 글씨체로 치한에게 “실례합니다. 나를 더듬었나요”라는 1차 경고를 보낸다. 그 뒤로 2차 경고인 “이건 범죄입니다”라는 메시지가 나간 뒤에도 범행이 반복되면 “경찰서에 같이 가시죠”라는 메시지를 보낸다. 그럼에도 그치지 않는 추행에는 ‘열 받아 (Anger)’ 아이콘을 눌러 주위 사람 모두가 들을 수 있도록 경고음을 울릴 수 있다.
지하철 성범죄 발생에 있어서 한국도 심각하기는 마찬가지다. 서울시와 경찰청의 통계자료에 따르면 작년 서울 지하철에서 일어난 범죄 1379건 중 성폭력 범죄가 610건으로 44％였다…
이에 열차 내 CCTV의 설치와 여성 전용칸 마련이 거론되기에 이르렀다.
그런데 이를 둘러싸고 쓸데없는 남녀 갈등이 조장되고 있다. 이건 남녀의 문제가 아니라 성범죄에 있어서 가해자와 피해자의 문제일 뿐이다. 불체자 지문채취를 떠올려보라, 다수의 선량한 외국인 노동자 중에 불순한 범죄자들이 섞여 있기에 그 인권 침해적 소지에도 불구, 그들을 향한 지문채취를 요구할 수 있는 것이다. 전용칸 설치에 대해 반발하는 남성들은 외국인 노동자 전체를 잠재적 범죄자 취급하는 지문 채취에도 반대할 것인가?
교실에서 떠드는 아이 때문에 전체가 벌을 선다고 해 보자, 누구를 비난해야 하겠는가? 바로 떠든 아이들이다. 같이 벌을 서는 여자 짝꿍이 아니란 말이다. 역시 전용칸을 둘러싼 불만에 대한 화살은 주 피해자인 여성이 아닌 성범죄자들에게 돌려져야 한다.
여성 전용칸이 특별 우대로 보이는가? 웃기지 말라. 가리봉동의 불체자들이 휘두르는 칼에 맞지 않기 위해 입는 안전 조끼와 같은 것이 전용칸인 것이다. 남성들과 똑같은 요금을 지불하고 이용하는 전철 전 칸을 안전하게 이용할 권리를 박탈하는 성범죄자들에게 쫓겨 타야 하는 것이 전용칸이란 소리다.
이를 남녀 대결의 구도로 모는 세태가 심히 한심스럽다….전용칸은 피해를 받을 것으로 우려되는 여성들을 일정 공간에 피신시키는 것으로서, 남성들에게 있어서 이용할 칸수가 줄었다는 것 외에 가해지는 특별한 변화가 없는바 쓸데없는 피해의식에 사로잡힐 이유가 없다고 본다. 한마디로 누가 성추행범인지 알 길이 없으니 당하기 싫으면 피하라는 식의 소극적 정책이 전용칸 사용이 아니던가. 켤코 남성 전체를 성추행범으로 몰아 시행되는 것이 아니다.
지문채취, 선량한 노동자들을 떠올리면 미안한 마음이 들게 하는 요구이다. 마찬가지로 여성전용칸, 역시 선량한 남성들에게 초래될 불편을 생각하면 미안하기는 마찬가지다. 그러나 당장의 피해자 발생을 막기 위해 그만한 희생과 불편은 감수해 줄만도 한 것이 아닐까 한다….
남자도 불편하고 여자도 불편하다. 여기서 욕을 먹어야 하는 것은 다름 아닌 성범죄자란 소리다…
In order to prevent sexual harassment, a warning program (Anti-Groping APPli) using cellularphones is popular now. The program gives a first warning to a sexual criminal, “Excuse me. Did you touch me?” and second warning is “this is a crime.” If it continues, “let’s go to the police.” The last warning “Anger” gives the warning sound in order to let other people know.
Regarding sexual harassment on the subway, Korea is also very serious. According to the statistics of Seoul Metropolitan City and Police, 610 (44%) of 1,379 sex crimes happened on subways in Seoul last year…
Therefore, the establishment of CCTV inside subway and special compartments for women will be made now.
But this issue has caused conflicts between men and women. This is not a problem between men and women. It’s about problems between perpetrators and victims about sexual harrassment. Think about forceful fingerprintings of illegal migrants. Even though we know most of them are good people, but there is a few criminals and therefore we can demand fingerprintings. Will men who oppose special compartments for women on the subway also oppose fingerprintings of illegal migrants which treat all of them as potential criminals?
Imagine that all students have to be punished because of a noisy student. Who will be blamed? It is the student who is noisy, not others who are punished at the same time. Like this, criticism to complain about special compartments should be toward sexual criminals, not toward female victims.
Do you think that women’s special compartment is a special treatment? Don’t be absurd. It’s like a safety vest that people in Karibong-dong wear not in order to be stabbed by some illegal migrants. Even though women pay the same fare with men, women should be kicked to the special compartments to protect themselves from sex criminals who take those women passengers’ rights away.
It’s pity that some people try to make it as a battle between men and women…The special compartment is a place where women can hide themselves in a special space. There are going to be no special changes except that men will use less compartments. Therefore men don’t have to feel victimized. In other words, it is a very passive policy that women should avoid sexual criminals in order not to be victimized. It doesn’t mean that all men are sexual criminals.
Fingerprinting… it’s a demand that we should feel sorry for nice laborers. In addition, the apology toward nice men about special compartment for women causes. But in order to prevent more victims, we should put up with sacrifice and discomfort.
Men are not comfortable. Women are not comfortable either. Whom should be blamed here is sex criminals.
Some male bloggers have different opinions of this new policy.
최근 서울시가 ‘여성이 행복한 도시'라는 슬로건을 내걸고, 각종 공약과 사업을 내놓고 있다. 그런데 그 사업 중의 하나인 ‘여성 전용 택시 (일명 핑크 택시)'와 ‘지하철 여성 전용칸’ 사업을 지켜보고 있노라면, 우리 사회의 여성 보호 정책이 나가도 너무 나갔다는 생각을 하게 된다. 여성을 보호하겠다는 취지가 나쁘다는 것이 아니다. 그 방법과 발상이 완전히 잘못되었다는 말이다. 남성 전체(남자 택시 기사)를 잠재적인 범죄자로 낙인찍는 위와 같은 정책은 아무리 목적이 좋아도 그 수단의 불합리함과 억지스러움으로 인해 환영받을 수 없다. ….
지금 우리 사회는 ‘남녀평등’의 문제에 있어 ‘진보’와 ‘퇴보’를 동시에 겪고 있는지도 모른다. 한 편에서는 남녀평등으로 인해 실질적인 이득을 얻고 있는 사람이 있는 반면에, 다른 한 편에서는 알게 모르게 불평등을 당하는 경우도 있기 때문이다. 사회는 평등과 변화를 향해 나아가는데 아직도 우리 사회의 남성과 여성들은 이런 현실을 현명하게 받아들일 준비가 되어 있지 못하다. …하지만 여성들을 수동적이거나 순종적인 존재로 여기는 인식의 시대는 끝이 났다. 많은 남성들이 이러한 시대적 흐름에 순응하며 산다. 그러니 여성들 역시 자신의 삶과 진로에 대해 독립적이고 적극적으로 판단해야 하는 시대인 것이다. 그러나 많은 남성들은 자신들이 필요할 때는 남녀 평등을 외치다가도 결정적인 순간에는 ‘여자니까’, ‘남자니까'를 들이대는 여성들의 이중성으로 인해 혼란스러워하고 있으며 배신감을 느끼고 있는 것이다. …여성 전용 택시를 만든다고 해서 문제가 해결되지 않는다는 것이다. 급한 일로 택시를 타야 할 여성이 있다고 하자. 그런데 남자 택시 기사가 여성이 자신을 범죄자로 생각한다는 이유로 탑승을 거부한다면 여성들은 그것을 합리적이라고 받아들일 수 있을까?
지하철 여성 전용칸의 문제도 마찬가지이다. 지하철 성추행 등의 문제가 있다고 해도, 여성 전용칸을 만들어 여성을 보호하겠다는 발상은 그릇된 것이다. 남성들 전체를 범죄자로 낙인찍는 정책은 정당하지 않으며, 효과도 미지수이다. …
.
…Now our society experiences ‘progress’ and ‘retrogression’ about the equality of men and women at the same time. On the one hand, there are inequalities. While society looks for equity and changes, men and women in our society are not ready to wisely accept the reality yet. The time when we think of women as passive and obedient beings is passed away. A lot of men accept this current. Therefore, women should be independent in their own lives and actively judge their lives and paths. But many men feel betrayed when women cry out equality of men and women when it is necessary, but in the important moment, they emphasize sex, ‘men’ and ‘women.’…. To make separate taxis for women is not going to solve problems. Think about a woman who needs to take a taxi urgently. But a male taxi driver can turn down her because the woman might regard him as a criminal… then how will women take this situation?
The special compartments for women on the subway are same as well. Even though there is sexual harassment on the subway, protecting women through the special compartments is not an appropriate idea. The policy to assume that men are all criminals is not right and the effect is also questionable….
Complaints for the new policy are not a few.
어쨋거나 저쨋거나 여성전용칸을 2량이나 만든다면.남성전용칸, 노인전용칸, 어린이전용칸도 만들어 주세효.
여성전용칸에 안타는 여성은 성희롱 해도 되는거?
여성전용주차장도 짜증나 죽겠는데 아니 무슨 여성(性)이 무슨 장애인가? 왜 여성전용 주차장이 따로 있어.
…남자라서 억울해요.
Harsh criticisms about this policy from male bloggers let female bloggers speak out as well.
조선시대부터 박혀있는 남성우월주의 사상이 이렇게까지 끈질기게 남아있을줄은 몰랐네요….
여성부가 생긴 이후로 우리나라 여성인권이 조금 올라가니까 그게 또 보기 싫다며 우르르 몰려와 물어뜯고
지하철 성추행 문제가 많아 여성칸을 따로 만들자니까 왜 여성칸만 만드냐며 찌질대는 인간들을 보니…이건 뭐…여성인권문제는 아직도 멀었다는 생각이 듭니다.
There are other kinds of reactions as well.
이에 대한 여자들의 반응은 엇갈립니다.
전용칸을 이용하는 사람은 당연히 더욱 강화해야 한다는 쪽이지만,
어떤 여성단체는 오히려 ‘여성격리'라며 비판한다네요.
However, not a few netizens question the efficiency of the policy.
…여성전용칸이 생기더라도, 나머지 공용칸에 여자들이 타는 한 성추행범죄는 그녀들을 대상으로 여전히 기존과 같은 비율로 일어날겁니다. 다만,  여성전용칸에 탑승한 여자들은 안전하겠지요.. 하지만, 전체적인 면을 볼때 지하철 성추행이 감소될꺼라고 믿어지지는 않네요.. 마치 범죄가 많은 동네에 살기 싫어 몇몇 가족이 이사를 간다면,  그 이사를 간 가족이 범죄에서 안전하게 되는 것이지,  동네 자체가 범죄에서 안전해지는 것은 아니라는 것입니다.
성범죄 예방을 위해서 여성전용칸이 필요하다고 하시는 분들께  질문 드립니다..  여성전용칸 이외의 공용칸을 탄 여자들의 성범죄 노출에 대해서 복안은 있으신지요? 만약, 복안이 없다면, 여성전용칸의 존재에도 불구하고 여전히 여성들은 지하철 성범죄에 노출됨을 인정하는 것이겠죠. 반대로  공용칸에 탄 여성들에게 성범죄 노출에 대해 다른 복안이 있다면 굳이 여성전용칸의 존재가 필요하지 않다고 봅니다.
Even though several family members move to other places from villages that have high crime rates, it doesn’t mean that the village after their leaving will be safe. The people who moved out would be safe, but the village will be the same.
I would like to ask people who insist on the special compartments. Have you thought about preventions for women who are in the non-special compartments? If you don’t have any suggestions, that means there will be still potential sex crimes targeting those women. On the other hand, if you have solutions for those women, it means the special compartments are not so necessary either.
Or some other suggestions are shown.
이왕 하는 김에 테마지하철을 해보는 것은 어떨까요? 1992년 12월 설치됐다 운영이 흐지부지된 서울지하철 열차 내 여성전용칸이 2008년부터 다시 운영된다. 커플칸, 솔로칸, 여성칸, 남성칸, 어린이칸, 노인전용칸, 변태전용칸, 취객전용칸 등등.

author: Hyejin Kim


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Lebanon: Car accidents · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

Lebanon, 2007,  recorded the greatest number of car accidents to date – 830 casualties and more than 10,000 injuries, reports Liliane.

author: Moussa Bashir


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Lebanon: Phoenician DNA · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

“It’s possible now to test yourself if you are descended from the the ancient mariners: the Phoenicians, or simply migrated from another part of the world,” writes  Lebanos.


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Lebanon: Presidential Selection · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

“Alas it seems Beirut isn't that important in deciding the outcome of Lebanon's presidential selection,” writes Jamal.


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Malawi: Insanity on the roads of Lilongwe · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Madinga blogs about insanity on the roads of Lilongwe: “These devices were placed there with the aim of brining sanity to the roads of Lilongwe. Unfortunately there are a few cowboys and cowgirls on the roads who have great disrespect for these expensive traffic regulators.”


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Malaysia: Stealing Culture · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Screenshots writes about Malaysia's repeated attempts at using Indonesian cultural output as their own.


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Myanmar: Gambhari’s Failure · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Eccentric Ghost wants the U.N. representative Gambhari to refuse meeting dummies set up by the Myanmar junta.


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Oman: New Religious Blog  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Omani blogger Sleepless in Muscat has launched a new religious blog – Hope of Islam.


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Oman: Why No One is Reading My Blog? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Omani blogger Muscati jokingly says no one is reading his blog because his readers fall under the post-grad category.


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Pakistan: A Middle Eastern Perspective · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

What are bloggers in the Middle East saying about the latest developments in Pakistan? The reactions range from launching petitions to stop martial law to satire, from advice to lamenting over badly-timed opportunities.
Mideast Youth:
Writing in Mideast Youth, Umar Farooq discusses marital law in Pakistan.
“Emergency as proclaimed by Musharraf’s regime is just a pretty word to replace a visibly harmful noun ‘Martial Law’. Without being partial, it can be easily said that the current step by General Musharraf’s government is in fact an imposition of Martial Law and not that of an emergency,” he explains.
Farooq further adds:
(The) larger population of Pakistan is peaceful. However, due to certain harsh and unjust policies of Musharraf’s regime has made certain areas of Pakistan vulnerable to extremist mindset. Such policies and its effects could only come to end with an end of Musharraf’s regime. However, to attain this goal, the world must help the people of Pakistan by giving a strong message to Musharraf’s regime.
This message should first incorporate an unconditional with drawl of the proclamation of emergency (Martial Law) and then should invoke Musharraf’s regime to ensure free and fair elections in Pakistan, according to schedule.
Mideast Youth is also sponsoring a petition to stop supporting marital law in Pakistan  here.
Palestine:
Kabobfest‘s Will deals with the issue with satire. He writes:
“On behalf of several Arab states, the Palestinian Authority and Israel, KABOBfest welcomes Pakistan to the exclusive club of states under emergency law. Though these are long-time members of this esteemed, exceptional group, a Musharraf-led Pakistan should fit right in…
In solidarity, and to deal with the greatest threat to KABOBfest security, I declare a state of emergency for this blog. I am suspending open commenting access, will rigorously edit and screen posts, and am cutting down on flirtatious dalliance on the KABOBfest e-mail listserv until the “anonymous” terrorists attacking us in the comments section halt their assaults,” he writes.
Egypt:
In Egypt, blogger Zenobia comments on the events in Pakistan in a post entitled Musharaff's Last Dance in Pakistan.
“What you are seeing in Pakistan is Pervez Musharaff's last dance , this is how dictators act when they feel that their thrones and rule are in danger.
What Prevez is doing is not an attack on democracy , what he is doing is just like suicidal attack in order to preserve his existence it is very simple , the man feels that he is unwanted especially after the huge receptions Bhutto had received despite that huge terrible terrorist act,” she notes.
Zeinobia further adds:
“It is very sad to see what is happening in Pakistan , the real Islamic country with a real nuclear power , forget about Iran , Pakistan has a Nuclear weapon already first
Pervez is a real classical example of a dictatorship that depends on both the army and the west , now the west is leaving him behind because depending dictators like Musharaff proved it brought nothing to the west except destruction , the only power the general is depending on is the army and that's why I predict that he will be removed insh Allah soon enough either by an army coup just like the one he led from a couple of years and brought him to the rule
By the way that rush of arrests in Pakistan reminds me so much with the infamous September arrests that proceeded directly the assassination of President Sadat , Fool Musharaff should learn for the other's mistakes.”
Turkey:
From Turkey, Metin feels that the developments in Pakistan have overshadowed the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the US.
“Of course, the situation in Pakistan with Musharraf, the former poster child of the U.S. until Benazir Bhutto came back on the scene, overshadowed the Erdogan visit . . . once again, poor timing by the Turks,” he writes.


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Pakistan: Student Protests, Police and the Underground Life · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Students in Pakistan have joined activists in protesting the state of emergency imposed in the country. On 3rd November, the Lahore School of Management Sciences (LUMS) released a draft resolution on behalf of the faculty, students and staff condemning “gross political injustices that the nation has experienced in the past few months – more so, we take liberty to condemn the ethereal blockage imposed by the executive by the declaration of a Martial Law in the country.”. RedDiaryPk has the entire text of the resolution
We, the LUMS community, reach a collective consensus that the problems that the military run government declares as responsible for the need to declare the current state of emergency are its own pandemic. We, therefore, refuse to acknowledge any attempt by the government to employ the ‘doctrine of necessity’ and call upon the same to immediately lift the martial law as per instructions of the Supreme Court.
Teeth Maestro has a message from Osama Siddique, a university professor who was arrested. The Emergency Times reports on students of LUMS joining a protest on the 5th of November.
Yes the very depoliticized student society that our leaders have taken for granted and grown so accustomed to, has awoken from its decades long slumber with a roar, that enough is enough. No longer are we going to be conformist to our governments policies, as if we have no choice, no longer are we going to be scared to question or raise our voice because we are intimidated by the state’s power and what may be done to us; no longer are we going to refrain from action, from sheer complacency.
On the 7th of November, over a 1000 students of LUMS gathered as part of a protest. The protest went on despite the police warning them that any protest-related activity, even within the campus would result in a baton charge. It was further let on that the names of the students at the helm of the movement were known, and that they would be specifically targeted. The Emergency Times has a post detailing the protest activities and its consequences.
Right after this, about half the number of initial protestors carried out a silent, peaceful protest where they simply sat down in front of the Main Entrance in front of the police personnel. Most of the protestors placed masking tapes over their mouths, in a show of silent solidarity as they faced the police. At this time, all media personnel attempting to leave the campus were accosted by police with their cameras confiscated. The Police presence since then has multiplied and they are still at the gates. Reports are that they have been ordered to procure at least 15 people for detainment. The administration has denied them thus far. They remain outside. We are not sure what the outcome will be.
In the FAST University campus also held a protest. Metroblogging Lahore provides a timeline of the events at the university.
Police has released the three guys arrested earlier but are still inside the campus insisting that the guys who were holding the placards, charts etc should be handed over to police's custody. The atmosphere is quite tense a the campus. Other faculty members are out there with the students.
Videos are appearing on YouTube of some of the student protests. This one has students marching, and shouting slogans. Another video can be seen here. Some of the slogans I could catch –
“Go Musharraf! Go!”
“Laathi Goli Ki Sarkar, Nahin Chalegi, Nahin Chalegi!” (Trans. This Baton and Bullet Government, Will not do! Will not do!)
“Musharraf ___ gaddar hai” (Trans. Musharraf is a traitor)
Metroblogging Lahore had an update by an alumni of FAST university.
When we, the protesters were just 5-10, they were already 15-20 in number, some in police uniform and some in plain clothes. As the number of protesters grew to around 20 or a bit more when the people passing by also joined us (or just stayed there to watch the ‘drama’) the police started getting a bit violent. They started to push every individual to move and started asking them where are you from and noting down the details?
Democracy and Freedom has some live reports on various protests in various universities, including two in Islamabad.
Protest in Islamic University, Islamabad, where hundred of student gathered, same information is with reference to the Quaide-eAzam University Islamabad, where also students boycott the classes & participated in a huge demonstration in campus, Police also reached at both the campuses & successfully performed his duty to arrest some students.
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the Labour Party documents life on the run at LeftClick.
We bought some more sims on anonymous names. I had to arrange a new place to stay. My friends are fantastic. They are all waiting when I call them to stay the night. I am not staying at LPP comrade’s houses as they are already under surveillance. I had a good night and good sleep after I arrived the place of my friend traveling over one hour in a public bus.


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Palestine: Beware of Falafel · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

One of the traits of eating FALAFEL is the possibility of getting blacklisted in America or worse accused of being a terrorist, warns Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah in this post.


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Poland, Iraq: Polish Troops to Pull Out · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The beatroot writes: “Prime minister-in-waiting, Donald Tusk, has said that Polish troops – a thousand or so have been part of the what the hell-are-we-doing-there-anyway-coalition of the increasingly not-so-willing – will be out of the war-torn carnage in around nine months time.”


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Poland: Schengen and Migrant Workers · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

“Thousands of Ukrainians work as nannies in Poland – you are a social leper in some circles of Warsaw if you haven’t got your very own shiny, low maintenance, Ukrainian home help,” writes the beatroot. Once Poland enters the Schengen zone in December, however, things will most likely change.


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Poland: Selectively ‘Liberal’ · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Don't expect the new Polish government to put an end to “the homophobia and other backward social policies that characterized Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s two years in power,” the beatroot warns.


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Romania: Equire, Issue 3 · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Owlspotting previews the third issue of the Romanian edition of Esquire.


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Russia, Ukraine: Language Issues · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Window on Eurasia writes about the “language issue” – in Russia's Komi Republic, in Ukraine, and in Moscow.


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Saudi: Use Al Qaeda to do your Dirty Work · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Saudi-based Dottson advices his readers to use Al Qaeda to do their dirty work. “If you are stupid enough to try this and end up getting jailed, don’t blame me, I’m just the messenger :-)” he cautions.


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Singapore: Strange Sightings · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Indi is spooking readers with the stories of his son being able to see what others cannot.


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Slovakia: Odious Government · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Deleted by Tomorrow writes: “After the recent Polish elections Slovakia can now, unfortunately, boast the title of having the most odious government in Central Europe, led by the neo-bolshevik Smer – Social Democracy, along with two mostly cleptocratic nationalist parties as its wingmen from an asylum of politically deranged and decrepit.”


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Slovenia, Hungary: Travel Notes · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Csíkszereda Musings writes more on his travel in Slovenia and Hungary: “Bodonci is in a national park which uniquely (the literature implied) spans the borders of three countries – Slovenia, Austria and Hungary. […] I am not 100% sure if you can describe a national park that is simultaneously in three countries actually as a national park, but there you go. A tri-national park? A Euro-park? Parc-a-Trois?”


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Tajikistan: Examining the President · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Vadim translates excerpts from the report on the results of a poll amongst the political experts of Tajikistan about President Rahmon’s policy during the past year.


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Tanzania: Meet Tanzania’s acting icon · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Bongoland II introduces to the world Tanzania's acting icon, Mzee Kipara: “the With the success of twenty to thirty something artists in Tanzania, it is easy to forget that even before Bongo Flava or YouTube and, even the Internet for that matter – Mzee Kipara was there.”


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The Balkans: Centre for Peace in the Balkans · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Srebrenica Genocide Blog dissects the Canada-based Centre for Peace in the Balkans.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Challenges for the COP · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Caribbean Public Relations has some advice for Trinidad and Tobago's newest political party that won 25% of the popular vote, but not one seat in Parliament.


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

“Vox populi, vox dei. The voice of the people is the voice of god”: Jeremy Taylor fears that the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago has taken the phrase literally.


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Turkey: Apostasy Isn’t a ‘Crime’ · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Apostasy cannot be considered as a crime in today's world. It is, indeed, a natural right. People should have the right to believe or disbelieve in Islam,” writes Turkish blogger Mustafa Akyol.


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Turkey: Sex and the Muslim Girl · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Turkish blogger Metin reflects on sex and the Muslim girl in Turkey.


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UAE: Justice for Alex · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

While sexual abuse and rape cases are usually brushed under the carpet in Arab countries and hidden from the prying eyes of local and global media, a recent case to grab the international headlines is making its way back to the UAE blogosphere.
It is the unsettling story of a 15-year-old French boy, Alexandre Robert, who was kidnapped and gang raped in Dubai. What is more alarming is that one of the three suspected rapists tested positive for the deadly HIV Aids virus in 2003.
The UAE Community Blog linked to the story and published excerpts from it, generating criticism from readers.
“Dubai looks good on the outside but still living in the dark ages on the inside.
Westerners should stay out of there until they modernize their justice system. That poor boy was brutalized and the doctor acted like a savage, too. What most people don't know is that to those dark age Muslims, kafir (infidel), like women, are fair game,” comments reader Criminals in Dubai.
Another reader, who signed off as Anonymous, shrugged off the case, saying justice would not be met. He writes:
If there was such thing as justice, then alcoholics and drug dealers should be the 1st ones in line to be executed for causing alot more trouble on the streets and night clubs.
– Indians/Asians will be the 1st target followed by east Europeans/Africans then comes the other trash (White/Local etc…)
This case will be dismissed like any other, why even bother to post this story while we all know nothing's gonna happen.
Another anonymous reader sends a wake up call for Dubai, saying:
Wake up Dubai, if the UAE want to be on the top or the best in everything; it should start with the basics first (education, health, justice)…then it may consider building the highest towers and the biggest malls.
On the other hand, Bahraini blogger Ammaro said the case shouldn't be used to tarnish Dubai's reputation.
“As much as it is a horrible act,this incident should not be used as a stereotype or a generality to describe Dubai, because the local culture is very respectfull and descent. However, people are very angry at this incident,including me and something should be done to those criminals.Don't forget UAE is still concidered one of the safest places in the world,” he said.
Rosh echoes similar sentiments. He writes:
“It's very unfortunate this has happened. Please don't confuse Dubai or UAE with actions of 3 perverts.
All said , it is amongst the safest places on earth – and whatever people say of human rights – safety is it's most valued commodity. It's not perfect however, it's much better than many places and have miles to go to achieve equality, transparency and justice for all (which I personally don't think exist in any nation today, in it's truest form)
I pray the 15yr old does not develop HIV. Please say a prayer for him, and let justice take it's course.”
Alexandre's mother is also taking her son's struggle online and has launched a site dedicated for the case, in English and French.
In her introduction to the site, Veronique Robert, writes:
I dedicate this website to all the children of the world whose wounds were never recognized, their words never heard and their suffering never known.
I dedicate this web site to all the mothers of the world even the ones of my son's aggressors.
To all the Pakistani, Filipino, and Indian mothers who were expelled from Dubai to their countries of origin with their little children, wounded in their hearts, flesh and minds.
This web site is open to all the mothers of the world united in the same Combat.
Tears have no identity, no religion. We must unite so when tears run, it will no longer be in loneliness but in front of the whole world’s eyes , with many hands  to wipe them.
Ms Robert also calls upon the authorities in Dubai to immediately implement the following procedures to protect children caught up in similar situations:
We therefore request from the authorities of Dubai the creation of:
* Reception facilities within the police force for minors victims of rape, be they  boys or girls.
* Recognition of their status of victims
* The immediate taking of precautionary measures, after a rape, against all types of infectious illness and sexually transmissible diseases (AIDS, Hepatitis, MST) with adequate means such as trithérapy, etc…
* Psychological Follow-up for as long as it is needed.
Otherwise, she is encouraging readers to boycott Dubai.
Until these elementary measures have  become law in the super rich
Emirate of Dubai, we kindly request you to join the support group called www. boycottdubai.com
With your determination and your support, the children victims of rape shall learn again to live a normal life, restructuring themselves physically and morally.  Hopefully to smile at life again,” notes Ms Robert.
The site's support page  has had more than 4,300 comments on it so far.
The case is currently being heard in a Dubai court, where Alexandre testified earlier today.


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Uganda: Fighting for gay rights in Uganda · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Is it worth it fighting for gay rights in Uganda?, asks GayUndanda: “Trying to convince people that what I am demanding is normal? Insisting that I am a normal human being? The price is high. But the alternative is too costly.”


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Ukraine: 1,000 Riot Police vs 50 Crimean Tatars · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana critiques TV coverage of the recent clash between nearly a thousand of Ukrainian riot police and 50 Crimean Tatars at Mount Ay-Petri in Crimea – and asks some questions: “Why is it that some have to bear the full brunt of the law while others stay above the law? Why is it that some have to play by the rules while others play with the rules? ‘To my friends, everything; to my enemies, the law.’ Is that the house rule?”


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Ukraine: Olechko’s Recent Paintings · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Olechko shares her recent work, including her parents’ wedding portrait: “In Soviet people were not encouraged to smile into the camera. So my parents here look pretty terrified.”


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Uzbekistan: Bread, Elections and Instability · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Bboyd reviews the three top news for Uzbekistan – problems with supply of bread products, upcoming presidential elections and samely bad situation with human rights despite West's sanctions – and notes that all these developments casts doubt on stability of the region.


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Uzbekistan: Working in NGOs and GOs · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Bordersca reflects on the state of NGO business in Uzbekistan in comparison with the work in governmental organizations, and notes that the level of technical equipment is much worse in the state bodies.


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Zimbabwe: Hero to Zero: A brief history of the Zimbabwe dollar · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Kubatana blog announces the release of a new DVD, Hero to Zero: A brief history of Zimbabwe dollar: “… a new DVD. Hero to zero: A brief history of the Zimbabwe dollar, tells the story of the nosedive of our precious Zimbabwe Kwacha, from Independence in 1980 – when 1 Zimbabwe dollar would return you 2 US dollars, to today, when 1 billion (old) Zimbabwe dollars isn’t enough to exchange for 1 US dollar.”


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Zimbabwe: Pliz, Mugabe must go now! · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

A protestor in Zimbabwe holds a banner, which reads, “Pliz Mugabe must go now people are starving“: We’ve added images of a small protest in Zimbabwe, sent to us by a subscriber, to our flickr account. You can see the thumbnails in the far right column of our blog, but swing by Flickr and see them larger.


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Egypt: Nothing Moves People As Much As Religion · Global Voices
D B Shobrawy

The late Naguib Mahfouz once said: “If you want to move people, you look for a point of sensitivity, and in Egypt nothing moves people as much as religion.” It continues to move the social and political mechanics of the people, the future of Egyptian politics and the consciousness of our nation's bloggers alike. These are the current issues of Egypt illustrated through their words.
Zeinobia-Egyptian Chronicles
I remember when I spoke about the Burmese Buddhist Monks protests and I wonder why we do not have religious men like them,the photo I posted about the Sheikh of Al-Azhar drew some criticism , well I am sorry I will have to post this photo again in this post because it is too relevant
First of all as man of religious knowledge I respect Sheikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy, the current Sheikh of Al-Azhar ,even before he was appointed in the position “Sheikh of Al-Azhar ” -“the head of Al-Azhar University” which is considered the highest religious position inscan0002 the Sunni world yet since being appointed in that position , the man seemed to be following the regime's orders  in a way that sometimes contradict his role as a Shekih and his responsibility towards the Islam and Muslims from fighting injustice in land ,seeking equity ,freedom and fighting corruption with all its kinds .
As in most of the Arab world, faith and politics are very much intertwined in Egypt and the impact of the two stretch far outside the countries own borders encompassing those in the diaspora. The political concerns of Copts outside of Egypt are equally relevant and arguably significantly harder hitting than those of Copts inside of Egypt. Understanding that dynamism is paramount to understanding Egyptian religious relations.
Samuel Tadros-Liberal Wall
Many things were written about Copts that live outside of Egypt and many accusations were leveled against them from treason, collaborating with Zionists, calling for Aid to Egypt to be cut and generally being fanatic Christians that exaggerate about the situation in Egypt.
When I was invited to attend the Coptic Conference being organized by the Coptic Assembly of America in Chicago, I had mixed feelings about it and felt hesitant to accept. My own experience in meeting some of the Coptic Political leaders abroad had not been very encouraging and I knew that if I attended I was going to be automatically labeled with all sorts of terms.
I thought a lot about it and decided to attend. Part of that decision was based on my interest in meeting those people that are so much hated by the Egyptian media and forming my own opinion about them
It was religious sensitivities in a country often described as a powder keg waiting to explode, that sent Kareem Amer to jail for his controversial statements about Islam and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Several rallies are being held today, November 9th, all around the world in protest of his imprisonment. Check FreeKareem.org for details of protests held in 15 cities around the world.
Kareem is not alone in being oppressed, in many ways he is lucky to be alive and presumably free from the constraints of torture due to his very public case. Many others have not been as fortunate as more police officers are arrested for torture and more of their victims die as a result of their heartless actions…
Zabinzo-Kalb Baladi
Just one day after two Egyptian policemen were convicted of torturing a man, another 22 year old man gets beaten to death by policemen in Giza.
If this happened in any slightly civilized country, governments would fall, ministers and top officials would be sacked and people would be demonstrating in the streets.
The issue of religion is not always a mixture of politics, more often than not its an obsession of people handed down to others in a sometimes unfriendly manner most apparent in the work place.
Isis-Egypt The Reality
New Office-girl started at the office today. She's not veiled. She seems really sweet. Especially with her tight jeans and belly&cleavage-revealing top. I asked her if she can make some tea and she said sure. Then I asked her what her name is and she told me it was Rana. She then asked me what my name is and I told her… Then came the very first question of my relationship with the office-girl:
“MUSLIM OR CHRISTIAN?”
My eyes went as wide as physically possible while I was trying to understand why the very first question in my relationship with the office-girl has to be concerning which God I believe in. Apparently my name made her believe I could be non-muslim. I jokingly answered:
“Haahaha… I'm still making up my mind”
Then she said with a lovely smile:
“It's okay honey we're all sisters and brothers.”
Then I told her:
“I'm Muslim”
Her response was:
“THANK GOD!!”
These issues are hardly new to the country and show no signs of change, they will continue to shape the minds of the people and the relationships of individuals. Naguib Mahfouz was a tolerant and reasonable man who put it best because he saw the country from an unblurred perspective. Till we meet again.

author: D B Shobrawy


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Afghanistan: Aftermath of Terror Attack · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Carl Robichaud resumes the tragic consequences of the terror attack in Afghanistan, saying that sixty eight civilians have been buried, a hundred more are wounded, and countless questions remain because of absence of a credible explanations from the authorities.


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Africa: The BOBs and other awards · Global Voices
Paula Góes

In this last week to vote on the Best of the Blogs award, Sokari Ekine from Black Looks presents the two blogs on Africa that made it to the nomination list, one in French and one in Portuguese. Netcitizens have until November 15 to choose their favorites from the 150 nominees in 15 categories.

author: Paula Góes


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Algeria: Fouad Ajami as Undersecretary · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Algerian blogger Nouri argues why he doesn't think Lebanese born academician Fouad Ajami should not be an undersecretary in the US cabinet.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Armenia: Presidential Election Monitor · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Now that the date for Armenia's presidential election has been announced for 19 February, the Armenia Election Monitor 2008 blog rounds up the latest news and also posts a harrowing account of life under the presidency of one of the main opposition contenders in next year's vote.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Bangladesh: Nur Hossain Day · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Tacit reflects on democracy on Nur Hossain Day in Bangladesh.


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Brazil: 5 years old boy dressed as Spiderman saves baby · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Rachel Glickhouse, from Adventures of a Gringa in Rio, brings a piece of news that happened in Santa Catarina, state in the south of Brazil: “5-year old boy named Riquelme (named after an Argentine soccer player), rescued a one-year old girl from a terrible fire in a neighboring home, while clothed in a Spiderman outfit. When he saw the fire growing, he yelled, “I'M SPIDERMAN!” and ran into the house and saved the girl”. See some more news on Brazil through the views of a young American student here.


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Brazil: African myth told by Brazilians in a Japanese cartoon · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Cynthia Santos has a piece of advice for film buffs in her Brazilian Cauldron: do not miss the First Brazilian Film Week that takes place from November 15th through 18th in Washington DC, all free. She is particularly curious about the short film Yansan, “Can you imagine an African myth told by Brazilians in a Japanese cartoon?”.


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Brazil: Books at bus stops · Global Voices
Paula Góes

“You know that feeling when you’re waiting at a bus stop and you just wish you had something to read?”, The Spectacled Bear discovers the Books at Bus Stops project in Brasília, capital of Brazil. It is a very simple idea: a stall at the bus stops where anyone can borrow books, in a country where municipal libraries are rare and books are an expensive luxury.


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Brazil: From a Venezuelan point of view · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Daniel, from Venezuela News and Views, takes advantage of the announcement by Petrobras that Brazil has found a new oil field of high quality to analyze why Brazil is now the country where people are lining up to invest in, and concludes: “That oil find might be the last nail in the coffin of the Venezuelan wish to enter Mercosur”.


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China: Rule By Law or By Force? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Human rights activist Yu Mei-sun was arrested because he was involved in the preparation of Bao Zun-xin‘s funeral. Tei Liu criticized the brutal police action[zh] at indymediacn.


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China: Social Stability · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Peijin Chen translated an article written by Sun Liping, a sociologist from Tsinghua University, on social stability.


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Ethiopia: Largest English weekly angers Sheraton Addis · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Why did the Sheraton Addis closed its door on the largest English weekly paper in Ethiopia?: “Bad news for the paper that claims to be the largest English weekly in the nation.Fortune isn’t going to darken the doors of Sheraton Addis for an indefinite time. The popular private weekly made a strategic error by allegedly getting itself on the wrong side of the tycoon, Sheik Alamudin.”


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Ethiopia: Meet Dr. Berhanu Nega · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Ephrem Madebo writes about Ethiopian politician, Dr. Berhanu Nega: “He is a farsighted politician, an inexhaustible intellectual, a charismatic person, and a visionary leader who is entrusted to lead our nation to a new direction, ending fifty years of dancing in a political quagmire.”


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Georgia: A True Democrat? · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

La Russophobe says that the decision by Mikhail Saakashili to hold an early presidential election is sign that the Georgian president is a “true democrat.” The blog argues that the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, would not have done the same under similar circumstances.


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Georgia: Update · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Oneworld Multimedia has posted an update on the situation in Georgia following the declaration of a state of emergency after this week's clashes with police in central Tbilisi. The blog also notes that the former French Ambassador to Georgia and ex-Georgian Foreign Minister has said that she will consider running in the 5 January presidential election if the opposition requests her to do so.


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India: Deepawali in Chennai · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Metroblogging Chennai has photographs of Deepawali celebrations in Chennai.


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Iran:Covering Iran from Khatami to Ahmadinejad  · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

View from Iran has published an interview with the British journalist,Angus McDowall, about his experience in Iran.


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Israel: Rumsfeld Correct on Lazy Arabs · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Israeli blogger Aussie Dave shares his views with Rumsfeld on how lazy oil rich Gulf Arabs are.