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Greg and Ursula  » Blog Archive   » La Boca – Universidad Catholica 2:2 · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Both Ursula and Diego describe the magic of a Boca soccer game in Buenos Aires.


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India: Free speech in Tamil Nadu · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Tamil Nadu appears to be having lots of issues of free speech coming up of late. India Uncut links to a site which hopes to raise a voice against oppression in the state.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Iran: Interview with Leos Carax · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

New Wave, Iranian blogger, has published blogger's interview with famous French movie director, Leos Carax. (Link in Persian)

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran: Save Pasargad · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Baily & Me, an blogger based in Denmark, urges Iranian and people around the world to get mobilized to save Pasargad Plains, an archaeological site, which will be gone under water because of a dam construction. Please Read More on Global Voices


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Jordan: e-Thesis on e-Journalism · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Rami designed his thesis idea. e-thesis on e-journalism in the Middle East. Help him answer these questions: In the Middle East, who is using the Internet as an alternative (FREE) journalism medium? why? and how?

author: Haitham Sabbah


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Kenya: Referendum · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Yebo Gogo gives praise to Kenya's constitutional referendum vote….Rarely do African people get to vote in free and fair elections that will make a serious impact on their lives. But yesterday, in Kenya, people voted to turn down a proposed new constitution that would have consolidated power in the hands of president Mwai Kibaki.  This is huge. The people's will and their displeasure with the government haven't been felt this strongly in a while, perhaps since calling for elections in Togo

author: Sokari Ekine


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Kiswahili Blogosphere This Week · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Cows, human beings and camels – Indian Ocean, Tanzania by Michuzi
Official records  in Tanzania and elsewhere state that in 1964 Tanganyika and Zanzibar united to form the United Republic of Tanzania.  Did it really happen?  Where is the original document of the Articles of the Union? Mwandani asks.  Recently, 10 Zanzibaris went to court seeking the Articles of the Union from the Zanzibar Attorney General, Idd Pandu Hassan.  To the shock of many Tanzanians, the Attorney General, in a counter-affidavit, said that he does not have the Articles of the Union. Neither does he know who has them.
Picking up on the Union controversy, Kasri la Mwanazuo has decided to publish a play on his blog, Safari ya Mashua, about the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.  This is the first time a Kiswahili blogger is publishing a play.  Poems and short stories are very common.
Does the new statute in Dodoma of the first President of Tanzania, Mwalimu Nyerere, look like him? Asks Miruko, a journalist based in Dodoma, Tanzania.  One of his readers thinks that the statute, which was made in South Korea, looks like Kim II Sung!
Another Kenyan blogger, Dollars4U, has joined Mawazo na Mawaidha, who has hitherto been the only Kiswahili blogger in the ever expanding Kenyan blogosphere.  However, Dollars4U, unlike Mawazo na Mawaidha, is a bilingual blogger.  He writes both in English and in Kiswahili.  Recently, he posted a short documentary featuring East African renowned scholars, Alamin Mazrui, Prof. Ali Mazrui, and Ngugi wa Thing’o talking about the significance of African languages.
The 7th International Language and Development Conference took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last October.  Mwandani supports the argument made at the conference that education in European languages depresses school achievement in Sub Saharan Africa.
While Kiswahili bloggers consider their use of Kiswahili as a means to decolonize cyberspace, Father Privatus Karugendo, a Roman Catholic priest in Tanzania, writes a feature article in Pambazuko challenging Kiswahili bloggers to first “decolonize”  the language itself from Arabic  influence.
The Internet is crucial for survival of African languages, notes Mwandani  after reading this article.  Has the Internet helped Kiswahili to reach its defining moment? (thanks Mawazo and Mawaidha for the link)
Dira Yangu writes about a recent statement by the Tanzanian President, Benjamin Mkapa, attacking the western media.
Nyembo calls the the Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni a “King.”   Museveni has officially decided to run for re-election following the constitutional amendment earlier this year, which allowed him to run for the third term.  Nyembo calls him a “King.” Other former African Presidents such as Bakili Muluzi of Malawi and Frederick Chiluba of  Zambia tried unsuccessfully to ammend their constitutions to run for the third term.   Museveni's main challenger, Dr. Kiiza Besigye,  has been detained and charged with treason and rape.  He returned to Uganda from exile last October.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Latin America: Miss and Mister Blogger · Global Voices
David Sasaki

The Chilean ladies behind El Club de Lulu (ES) say that voting has ended for Mister Blogger 2005 and that results will be announced shortly. Meanwhile, the ever-reactionary fellows in charge of El Club de Tobby announce the beginning of voting for Miss Blogger 2005. BlogsPeru reveals that the contest has already spread northward. A list of the top ten vote-getters.

author: David Sasaki


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Meskel Square · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Meskel Square posts that “”The report of my death has been grossly exaggerated”…………..So I go on an unannounced internet holiday and come back to find I've been killed off in a car crash (see the comments at the bottom of the last post). Nice work Alexander. Just the right mixture of nastiness and school-yard sniggering. I name you troll of the year (and, yes, I am aware of the fact that the Ethiopian new year has only just begun).


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Nepal: If you want democracy.. · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The Nepal Democracy Google Group does not seem to favour freedom of speech says Democracy For Nepal - negating the very cause for which it was established.


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Nepal: Suffering in rural Nepal · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

United We Blog! has accounts of suffering and conflict from villages in Nepal.


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Nigeria: Alamieyeseigha & Obasanjo · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Nigerian blogger Chippla has been providing us with a number of roundups on what Nigerians are saying about VIPs (“vagabonds in power”)  such as bail jumping governors and what Nigerian bloggers think about Obasanjo running for a third term.


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Nigeria: Alamieyeseigha · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

LamikayTy adds his comment to the disgraceful jumping of bail by Bayelsa State Governor, Alamieyeseigha………………He had the audacity to plan a multi million naira escape, (I heard it cost 300,000 Euros) with OUR MONEY!  Abeg! I no fit cry! Its appalling that he has stolen millions and is hailed by anyone at all as a matyr (for what cause?).  “See” the houses he bought, the cash he has in various accounts all over the world, looted from the Government treasury! And He says he is being persecuted, for what now?
He should be hanged, burnt, dragged through the streets of Yenagoa in tatters! That's what happens to people who steal in Lagos!!!!


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Pakistan: Calling Islamabad · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Metroblogging Islamabad sounds out a call for all Isloo bloggers!


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Philippines: Games Preparation · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Jove Francisco has pictures of the preparations for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games in Manila.

author: Jose Manuel Tesoro


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Pulse of the Saudi Blogosphere · Global Voices
Ahmed Al-Omran

This week was even quieter than last week in the Saudi blogosphere. However, we can still find some interesting posts from here and there. Unfortunately, most of our featured posts for this week are in Arabic. I know that most of you can't read Arabic, so I tried my best to translate the most significant parts of every post.
Prometheus compares between the Arab World and other parts of the world when it comes to publish hatred material (Arabic). He tells us is about two Singaporean bloggers who were jailed and fined after being accused with using their blogs to spread hatred and threaten the social peace. “It is different here,” he writes. “Some internet forums have been publishing threads by unknown writers, where they attack other religions and sects.” However, nothing is done about it. He also comments on the news about Bush's administration plans to bomb al-Jazeera TV station, and asks, “why should a big superpower with such a great political and diplomatic influence brush aside all other effective means of pressure and persuasion, and resort to force to silence a small TV station?”
Fouad al-Farhan has dedicated a post to the Swiss president (Arabic), who criticized the Tunisian government for their human rights record and their position from freedom of expression, and described him as a “free man.” After finishing his speech, the Swiss president went to sit on his chair next to the Tunisian president, who did not look disturbed at all. “He is a dictator. Do you expect that he would cry?” al-Farhan wrote.
Farooha comments on the case of Mohammed al-Harbi, a chemistry teacher, who was unfairly sentenced with three years in jail and 750 lashes. She calls everyone to help. “Save the chemist, and would be inventor by leaving these good people your two cents!” she wrote.
After the terrorism attack in Jordan, Abu Joori says the reaction of Jordanians to the attack was different from that one Saudis had (Arabic) when they had similar attacks in the past few years. He thinks the attack has helped Jordanians to form a national unity; something that Saudis did not do. He says, “I think we, as Saudis, have missed yet another excellent opportunity to develop the feeling of nationalism, and to emphasis the concept that we all share this part of the world, and it is our duty to protect it and serve it.”
“Even here at the Saudi blogosphere, we find some people who clearly announce their hatred to a certain sect, a certain region, or even to the American president George Bush, forgetting there are groups who attacked this nation, every citizen lives here, and they did not even said a word to condemn these attacks,” he added.
Metallic Kitty writes about racism against Arabs in Europe. “It sucks how most countries consider Arab people dogs,” she says. “Isn't that embarrassing? Isn't that shameful?” she asks. Meanwhile, ubergirl87 says she is “sick and tired of Hollywood portraying Arabs as ignorant, evil people.”
Finally, here is our weekly selection of random, quick snippets from around the Saudi blogosphere: Dotsson posts an imaginary and funny interview with Michael Jackson, who recently moved to what he called “our tiny neighbor Bahrain!” Jo describes the sense of independence she felt when she was able to cash a cheque. Trilancer is wondering what “exactly is happening to Arabian TV,” and thinks that Arabian channels are “competing in showing the most smut possible without triggering a riot.” And Tyt notices that the majority of Saudi bloggers in English are females. “We need to hear the opinions of the Saudi male bloggers,” he says.

author: Ahmed Al-Omran


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Singapore: Blogger Domination · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Singaporeans believe that their society has the characteristics for global blogosphere domination, as evidenced by their grip on top Technorati searches! Agree or disagree? Follow the discussion at theory.isthereason.


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South AFrica: the perfect poem · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

South African poet, The Imperfect Poet comes out of two months of hibernation….reflecting on life, love and the purpose of breathing. Not necessarily the best state to exist in but it's been working for me. I believe everyone should have the odd moment of self-pity to put life into perspective and give one a ditch to crawl out of… if you don't fall, how are you going to get up? Twisted logic, I guess, but it helps me breathe”


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South Asia: Film Festival · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Rezwan on the  South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF) which is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting established and emerging artists from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.


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South Korea: APEC Protests Again · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Wondering how the protests at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Busan, South Korea, went last week? kotaji has been covering them, as has Two Koreas.


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Sri Lanka: Floods · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Sri Lanka is hit by water yet again. And this time it's floods. Appeals for donations have started.


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Thailand: Majesty · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Sarasonteh covers the perils of using Thailand's king “to make one's arguments.”


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Venezuela: New Forum in English · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Oil Wars points to a new, mostly English forum to discuss all things Venezuelan. It also has an RSS feed.


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Vietnam: Wedding Season · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Vietnamese God comments on the October-to-January wedding “happy season” in Vietnam, and recounts how cat was served at one nuptial he attended.


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Zimbabwe: voter apathy · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Zimbabwean Pundit trys to explain voter apathy in Zimbabwe's forth coming elections…..Understand this reader dearest; it is not that we don't care about democracy or having the right politicians in place or any other high sounding question you may want to throw at us. No, our nonchalence is evidence only that we care about other things more than we care about politics and governance. We care more about living to see tomorrow. It is all about survival now. Such is the result of how simple and unsophisticated a society ZANU-PF has made us.


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Argentina: Rosal · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Zona Indie highlights the Argentinean acoustic group, Rosal and links to several free downloads.


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Armenia: Raffi Hovannisian Rally · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Oneworld Multimedia has a report and photos from Raffi Hovannisian's political rally in Yerevan, where the US-born foreign minister urged voters to boycott the constitutional referendum.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Armenia: Referendum News · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

neweurasia's Armenia blog has numerous updates on the upcoming constitutional referendum, including a report that the opposition may set up orange tents for the day of voting.


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Bangladesh: On the Hijab · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Mezba's Blog reflects on the issue of students being banned from wearing the traditional Islamic scarf (Hijab) at the Imperial College. The ban seems more of cultural imperalism than an act to control terrorists!


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Bangladesh: Open Office · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The much waited for OpenOffice in Bangla for various platforms has been released says Just A Start!


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Belarus: Solidarity Flagging? · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Tobias Ljungvall asks whether or not Belarussians have run out of solidarity.


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Blogging the latest news South African style · Global Voices
Bronwyn

As we approach World Aids Day on the 1st of December, South Africa's controversial and unpopular Minister of Health, Manto Tshabalala- Msimang, has caused yet another stir. Known as  “Dr.Garlic” for her advocacy of garlic, lemon juice and olive oil as a solution for Aids sufferers instead of supplying much needed anti retro-vital drugs, this time around  she has been the subject of media attention by blaming the old apartheid government for South Africa's HIV/AIDS pandemic. Jonty at The Fishbowl has the story:
There have always been those (including myself) that have blamed apartheid for some of South Africa's worst social ills, but Manto's statement that “the apartheid government was to blame for the rapid spread of Aids in South Africa” is far off base…Blaming the apartheid regime here is more of Manto's ‘head in the sand’ mentality. The meteoric rise of AIDS (unfortunately) took place on the watch of the Mandela government, and whilst the early Nineties held the seeds of that exponential growth, the transient Government of National Unity had influence on health policy for the majority of that period. Rina Venter, the National Party who was the health minister of that time alleges that Manto was personally involved in drawing up the AIDS policy in the early Nineties.
Dr Garlic has been lucky to avoid too much attention with her latest blunder, because hogging the media headlines as always, and particularly over the past week, is the saga of South Africa's embattled former deputy president Jacob Zuma. Not only has Mr Zuma been charged with corruption, but adding to his woes, he has now been accused of rape. His police docket was yesterday handed over to the National Prosecuting Authority who will decide whether or not to prosecute him on the rape charge. He has also been asked to provide blood for DNA testing to see if this matches the semen on the alleged victim's underpants.  Fodder takes a look at how this latest development is affecting Zuma's support base which comes from Cosatu (the Congress of South African Trade Unions) and the communist party:
The problem for COSATU was their support for Zuma was never a rational policy decision and it soon gathered a life of their own. Unfortunately Zuma was not their best option for a workers leader and slowly they are figuring that out, but now they're too far down that road for the break up to not be very messy and at the end of the day they're going to look very stupid and probably weakened.
South Africa is home to a fairly large Muslim community that is highly emotionally attached to the Palestinian/ Israeli conflict. It is also home to a smaller Jewish community which also has a strong emotional attachment to the Middle East conflict. Middle East politics relating to Israel and the Palestinian territories get a lot of media coverage in South African newspapers, and is often the subject of heated debate on radio talk back shows with the two groups seeming to be unable to understand one another or find any common ground. The issue has found its way into the South African blogosphere, most notably with two blogs, one writing from a pro-Israel point of view, and the other from a pro-Palestinian point of view. Steve at It's Almost Supernatural aims to highlights what he feels is media bias in favour of the Palestinians. In his latest post he blogs about Professor Solomon Hussein, a South African Muslim academic who recently visited the Middle East on a fact finding mission:
Solomon recently visited Israel and the Palestinian territories on a fact-finding mission to explore the conflict. His conclusion? Most South African Muslims do not understand the conflict and at best have a simplistic understanding of it. Solomon’s conclusion is hard hitting and he will no doubt face a backlash from the South African Muslim community…
Muhammad at The Front Line highlights what he seems to feel is the unreasonably brutal treatment of the Palestinians by the Israeli's.  He takes a look at the recent protest by Palestinian school children:
“The most powerful weapon in the hands of the oppressors are the minds of the oppressed.” – Steve Biko
…You can take our land, but you will never take us… you will never win… you will never sleep peacefully while this injustice lives in your name.
Finally, Trudi at The Hope Flower raises interesting questions about so called Black elitism in South Africa:
…the judgement from the left is that Mbeki has contributed to the creation of a ‘parasitic black elite'… I guess the white elite was parasitic from day one. Now it's not clear what the left thinks on the matter of meritocracy and excellence, but I think they have diagnosed the elite problem correctly. I resent that the fact that any developing world elite is assumed to be predatory, wheras a western one is assumed to have some basis in achievement…

author: Bronwyn


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China: Censorship Interviews · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

EastSouthWestNorth describes and analyzes the experience of being interviewed by the Western media about censorship in China.


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Cuba: Travel Notebook · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Steven Mansour, so far, has written chapters one, two, and three of his “Cuba Chronicles.”


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Diaspora: vengeful acts · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Musings of a Naijaman reflects on “ghettos and revengeful violence” by bringing together discussions over the recent Paris riots and the possibility of them being replicated in Germany and Spain, the recent killing of a policewoman in the UK, amnesty for terrorist acts in Northern Ireland and the whole issue of forgiveness. …..”It IS a lot to ask of victims and their families but there are examples through history that show it can be done….and that forgiveness can be liberating”.


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Echoes from the Tunisian blogosphere · Global Voices
Mohamed Marwen Meddah

The 8th Tunisian blogger meetup was held last Friday with international guests Rebecca MacKinnon, Jeff Ooi, Mite Nishio and Isam Bayazidi. A lot of blogs followed here, here, here, here and here.
Adib, Chouchitou and Metal Mad write (in French)  about the death of famous and passionate Tunisian photographer Bechir El Manoubi who attended and photographed all the big sporting events Tunisia participated in. He also met and took photos of the biggest Tunisian stars. He is famous for his sombrero, that he got from Mexico while he was with the Tunisian soccer team in the 1978 World Cup, and all the flags and badges he wears.
Bechir El Manoubi
Iskander writes about how his several travels to Spain make him wonder how the Muslim civilization, that shined during the days of Al Andalus, has now gone so low. He talks about the modernization of Islam and how we should learn from those times by spreading tolerance and openness (in French).
Zizou writes about the Tunis Marathon that will be taking place this Sunday and suggests we have a Tunisian blogger team running. He thinks it'd be a good change from the cool cafés we usually meet in (in French).
Mochekes is excited about the new MMS service by Tunisiana and the 50 free MMS messages they offer, which he thinks it's a great marketing move by the company. He also favorably compares it with Tunisie Telecom's offering (in French).
Houssein updated the Tunisie Blogs aggregator with a new design and added random photos of Tunisia from flickr, events from upcoming.org, as well as some news and activites in Tunisia.
Aziz talks about the Tunisian rumor creating talent and how it worked at the WSIS with a bunch of rumors surrounding the $100 laptop and that they were selling some at the ICT4ALL expo (in French).
Sup'Comian boy thinks that the Tunisian blogs still don't truly reflect the Tunisian society, belonging to people who are different from most of the masses, and somehow idealistic (in French).
Tom gives a full account about meeting and having dinner with Richard Stallman, the father of open source, at Dar Bach Hamba in Tunis, and how great an experience it was for him.
MMM puts up some photos that he took from the ICT4ALL Expo at the World Summit on the Information Society.

author: Mohamed Marwen Meddah


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Ethiopia, Eritrea military build up · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Friends of Ethiopia reports the UN is threatening acton against Ethiopia and Eritrea if they do not reverse their military build  up. If either nation refuses they could face sanctions.


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Puerto Rico: Ten Questions · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Gil C. Schmidt has ten questions for fellow Puerto Ricans.


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Honduras: Election this Sunday · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Boz writes about this Sunday's upcoming presidential election in Honuras. Honduras y el Mundo (ES), Opiniones Irreverentes (ES), Nuerocosmo (ES), and Hector A. Castillo (ES) are all filled with poetic pessimism by the state of Honduras’ democracy.


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Hong Kong: Tycoon’s Call · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

T-salon translates an op-ed written by Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai urging people to support universal suffrage in the Special Administrative Region.


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India: Romanticizing Imperialism · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Havelis (Mansions) that literally mark India's history, and are habitable museums by themselves – are being sold to Brits who want to experience life a la Raj. Disturbing.


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Indonesia: Dress for Success · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Indonesia Anonymus runs an experiment involving the security guards along Jalan Sudirman, the main street of Jakarta's business district. They send the same man to see whether he is treated differently when he wears a suit and carries a cellphone from when he wears a T-shirt and jeans.  The results are unsurprising. The bloggers ask: “Is that what it takes to gain respect these days? Dress up in a suit and carry an expensive phone? Is that why we work so hard? Is that why we chase higher and higher salary? So that we can afford to wear expensive things and hence gain respect from people?”


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Iraq: Hospital Tragedy · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Mama – the Dentist from Mosul, Iraq, describes Al ammonia Hospital tragedy.


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Israel: No Leaders? · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Imshin says that for years everyone has been moaning that we have no leaders. Suddenly we do. Two of them, up against each other.


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Japan: Moving Noodles · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Amy Nakazawa at Blue Lotus describes the first meal she cooked in her new Tokyo apartment: hikkoshi soba — “Hikkoshi means moving, and soba are buckwheat noodles; and eating soba right after moving is the done thing in Japan.”


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Kazakhstan: Bloody Election · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

KZBlog reports that the election trail in Kazakhstan is getting bloody.


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Kenya: Referendum · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Diary of a Mad Kenyan Woman adds her thoughts to the Kenyan Blogosphere discussion on the Constitutional referendum.….”And the Oranges have it!! To all you English history freaks out there, you can do your historical comparisons another time…(although, apropos of something else altogether, I did always wonder, meandering to South Africa, if the Orange Free State meant that absolutely no oranges were allowed through the borders…?)”


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Malaysia: Malay Identity · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

The Silent Room grapples with what kind of Malay he is. “While being brought up with strong Malay values, they also made sure I was able to converse in English before I set foot in primary school. I was taught to bow and extend my right hand forward when walking in front of elders. Plenty of my typical Malay habits are hardwired, not into my brain, but into my body. There’s quite a few things that I do yet not even realise I do them.”


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Malaysia: Police Scandal · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Jeff Ooi at Screenshots has the latest on the scandal roiling the Malaysian police: the videotaping of a naked woman, a Chinese national, forced to do “ear squats.”


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Morocco: Tunnel · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Samir says that Spain and Morocco will start building a tunnel on 2008 and its final completion is expected to be on 2020.


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Mzansi Afrika: new bloggers · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Mzansi Afrika introduces us to two new bloggers for the site….”Rethabile of Sotho and Soul South will be joining Mzansi Africa. I am delighted to have him on board. Welcome Rethabile, I look forward to your contribution”.


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Nepal: From bad to worse · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The Nepali Government's democracy-trackrecord seems to be going from bad to worse according to United We Blog! The harassment continues with obstacles to  pro-democracy parties and people’s activities.


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Nepal: Violence against women · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Violence against women is an issue that needs closer scrutiny and tighter laws says Legal News From Nepal.


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Nigeria: SMS campaign · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Timbaland reports on his excitement at being asked to do an SMS campaign for his local church


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Palestine: Human Rights Observer Arrest · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

International Solidarity Movement (ISM) reports that a Human Rights Observer (HRO) from the UK was arrested in Tel Rumeida, Hebron earlier yesterday. He had just finished escorting Palestinian children to school and was walking home on Shuhaddah street when he was stopped by an armed Israeli Border Police unit in a targeted arrest.


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Palestine: Vanunu is Terrorist? · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

The Cutter of Peace Palestine blog, publishes a letter from Mordechai Vanunu. He says: “…they want the Israel public to regard me as a terrorist.”


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Tajikistan: Punishing Traffickers · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

neweurasia reports that Tajikistan is taking steps to enforce its laws on human trafficking.


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Thuggery is the solution · Global Voices
Mostafa Hussein

The second stage of Egpytian elections were marked by violence and wide spread irregularities. Officially one died during the first run of the elections and several wounded. But opposition newspapers claimed four died on that day. Few days later another man was killed and 21 were injured in election related clashes. 450 Muslim Brotherhood (MB) activists were detained, most of them were released few days afterwards.
On the day of the first run of the second stage. Mohammed together with Haisam and few others decided to take the risk and go see what was happening in several areas in Alexandria.
In two long posts, Mohamed describes (Arabic) what he has witnessed; swords, knifes, sticks, vote buying, police inaction, thugs intimidating voters, clashes between MB and thugs, broken car windshields. At one point, Haisam was slapped on his back of his nape by one of the thugs. While they were kicked out of a street while publicly cursed and insulted by a coffee shop owner who turned his business into a center for organizing vote buying to the NDP.
Haisam witnessed thugs beating women supporting the MB in front of a voting station. They also hear from other people who witnessed wide spread irregularities including breaking ballot boxes, clashes, people injured and the man who got killed.
Mohammed said he felt it was like war coverage and not election coverage.
Bigpharoh posts several photographs from news wires of clashes and fights. While Egyptian Conscience posts some photos taken by amateurs.
Wa7da Masrya describes her voting experience (Arabic) that day and how she was pressured by MB supporters to vote for them. Yet she refused.
As for the results of this bloody round, we are still waiting for the re-run. However, the MB secured 14 seats. Sandmonkey did the math:
Welcome to the second round of our parliamentarian elections. I am Sandmonkey, and I will be your host for the evening. So far we know that the MB has won 14 seats, which brings their total to 48 seats, and are likely to go into a run-off elections in 4 more, which if they win, will bring their total to 50 seats, 3 X what they had last elections. Once they hit 60 seats it will be really hard to decline them a party, and once they hit 65 seats they will be able to field their own presidential candidate for the next presidential elections. Oh Joy.
As for what happened in the past few weeks here is a summary of the first stage:
The opposition formed a coalition against the NDP, while the Muslim Brotherhood didn't join this front. Both the NDP and the MB campaigns were the most visible. With the MB slogan “Islam is the solution”.
After the first and second run of the first stage of elections the MB won 34 seats (40 after the first run of the second stage). NDP and indpendants who join the NDP secured most of the remaining seats. While the opposition only won 8 seats. With its most prominent leaders losing their seats.

author: Mostafa Hussein


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Western Sahara: Mariem Hassan · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

SoundRoots introduces Mariem Hassan and the Sahraoui musical tradition “Hassan lived in a camp for 26 years, raising her five children there. A rare interview at World Music Central gives more insight into her life and her music. And for more on her people's story, check out Sahrauis: The Music of the Western Sahara, a box set with 3 CDs and a wealth of information about the Sahraoui people”.


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Zimbabwe: Mugabe and Bush · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Zimbabwean Pundit posts out the ongoing war of words between Mugabe and Bush……..”In a public battle of wills, Mugabe continues to blame the sanctions for the rapid contraction of Zimbabwe's economy. Bush on the other hand insists the sanctions are not intended to harm Zimbabwean people”


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Zimbabwe: South African pilots · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

This is Zimbabwe has a humorous take on the news that Zimbabwe will be helping to train South African pilots….Terrorizing flyovers of Johannesburg. Use old jets with noisier engines. Backed with before-after public opinion research on the increase in fear…and there is more.


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From the Jordanian Blogosphere · Global Voices
Roba Al Assi

Jordan: A New Government in the Making
The newly appointed Prime Minster has been announced, being Marouf Bakhit. Naseem Tarawneh thinks that this might help the path to reform. Khalaf says about the newly appointed PM, “Being self made, one would hope that he would respect merit over pedigree.” At the same time, Khalaf, though, is not amused, “What is bothering me is that I feel that these changes don't seem to serve any purpose, except to keep people amused, while the fundamental policies stay the same.”
Abu Aardvark, meanwhile, is uncomfortable in regards to the military background  of the new Prime Minster, “I'm still very uneasy about the symbolism and the institutional reality of concentrating power in the hands of the military “.
Politics in Jordan; unsexy?
Meanwhile, the “sudden” interest in politics on the Jordanian blogosphere resulting from the Black Wednesday incident gave way to a lot of speculation as to why there is general apathy towards the political scene in Jordan. Haitham Sabbah wonders if the explosions were a “wake up call”, while Naseem Tarawneh points to a recent study on Jordanian newspapers that showed that there is in fact a lack of local political news coverage. Naseem also says, “Our politics is dominated by constant change in governments, the lack of noticable reforms, and more of the same old same old.”
Life for the Jordanian Bloggers
Ladies and gentlemen, behold, the very first Arabic podcast; Dagdegni, by Reef Fakhouri, George Akra, and Karim Arafat.
Tololy and Sabbah argue the different facets of implementing a dress code in offices, while Yazan Malakha has a post on superstitions, “I find it amusing how we spend our lives doing all sorts of things to protect us from all sorts of evils. Whether those evils are self detonating terrorists, spirits from beyond or a huge stream of carbonated beverage in our face.”
Meanwhile, the monthly Jordanian blogger meet-up for the month of November will be held on Sunday the 27th at Wild Jordan Café at 6:30 PM, all bloggers in Jordan that day, both Jordanian and otherwise, are more than welcome.
Science, Art, Culture, and Technology
Jameed reports about the latest AIDS epidemic on the genral HIV status in the MENA region, especially in Jordan. Lina Ejeilat talks about a new education initiative that is being launched to spread awareness about women’s empowerment and career planning curriculum into 1,500 schools in the West Bank, Gaza, as well as 100 Discovery schools in Jordan.
Eman of Aquacool and Isam Bayazidi report on Jordan's participation in the WSIS summit held in Tunisia this month. Eman writes about the Jordanian participants and provides some feedback while Isam says, “I am glad that light is being shed on Freedom of expression in the internet, specially for bloggers.“
Jordanian movie maker Amin Matalqa posts a link to his latest short, “Obsession“.
Local exhibitions taking place in Amman this month include “Erasing the Black Day“, “Jordan University Exhibition“, and Carmen Calvo at the National Gallery. A little Eastwards, Ahmad Humeid of 360East points to the annual design conference “Tasmeem Doha” held in Qatar early next year.
Freedom in Arabia
Natasha Tynes reports about a study on religious freedom in Jordan, and concludes, “Christians in Jordan enjoy a very good status”, Haitham Sabbah reports to a published a research that reports the status of Political and democracy freedom in the Middle East, as well as a report that reveals that the Arab world is one of the most troubling areas for press freedom.
Naseem Tarawneh writes about abolishing the Jordanian Press Association(of which belonging to is mandatory), which subjects journalists to “constant harassment”.

author: Roba Al Assi


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Haiti on the Internet – a chat with Alice Eddie Backer · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Haitian American blogger Alice Eddie Backer
My conversation with Nicholas Laughlin about the Caribbean blogosphere has elicited some strong reactions from Caribbean bloggers. Haitian-American blogger Alice Eddie Backer, a lawyer based in New York, first came to my attention when she answered my appeal for more Haitian bloggers. Alice then went on to respond to our conversation on her blog kiskeyAcity with a post outlining her own views on the Caribbean blogosphere plus a lively analysis of the online conversation about Haiti, a nation the world is fond of referring to as “the poorest country in the western hemisphere”. Alice took some time out from her Thanksgiving holiday to talk with me via IM on Friday 24 November. Here's an edited version of our chat:
GP: Perhaps you could begin by giving me a little background on yourself.
AB: I lived in Haiti — of Haitian parents — until the age of 18, at which point I migrated to the US. I've since been occupied with attending college (Barnard) and law school (NYU) and have become a lawyer. I started my blog kiskeyAcity about three months ago.
GP:  What motivated you to start a blog?
AB: Well, I needed more of a connection to a place to which I was no longer feeling connected any more and which nonetheless made me who I am.
GP: What do you think caused this feeling of disconnection?
AB: First, there's the geographical distance. Second is the fact that every time I watch news of Haiti, I do not recognize the place. I have to ask, have things gotten that much worse? Or was this always the way the world looked at Haiti? Although there is a little bit of the former, I have come to understand that it is mostly the latter.
GP: And how come you chose blogging and not, say, joining an organization?
AB: In terms of joining an organization, I have joined tons over the years. My interests are not always served out there. Also, not all Haitians are interested in linking up with people who study Haiti for a living. This medium allows me to network with all sorts or Haitianists, Caribbeanists and journalists from the region. Also — and this is by far the most important point here — I find very few actors who seek to look at Haiti in a Caribbean context, Haitians included.
GP: Who is reading your blog?
AB: A broad range of people, although those who interact with the medium the most tend to be younger. The readership includes Haitians but also Caribbeans and various non-Caribbean actors who are interested in fresh perspectives on Haiti.
GP: You gave a very lively response to the conversation Nicholas and I had the other day. In it you expressed strong feelings about what you call “pundits”. It seems to me that the word has special resonance for you and perhaps for other Haitians as well. Could you define what you mean by a “pundit”?
AB: There is actually a definition on my pundit blog entry [Pundit: “photogenic horse's ass who makes wild, unfounded predictions”]! Because of the joblessness that affects intellectuals in Haiti, many have to turn to politics in some way or the other to make a living. So we have a political class made up of people whose profession it is to run for office and keep an office for a “party” whose members are their spouse and children.
GP: You also imply that you'd prefer if these pundits stayed out of the blogosphere. Here's how you put it: “Luckily these days national and transnational Haitian pundits populate list-serves such as Corbett or haitianpolitics@yahoogroups rather than my dreams. I can pop in to their world when I need the exercise but pop out as soon as I'm about to pass out from deja-vu asphyxiation.”
AB: You cannot trust that when you go on [the] Corbett [list] and read an article . . .  that there is not a political agenda of some form behind it. It would be naïve, of course, to think that pundits here in the US are all independent — in fact most are known for certain biases. But now more than ever, people in Haiti and even in Jamaica profoundly distrust politicians and pundits, who I believe they lump together. All you have to do is listen to the music. Is there a single reggae song that does not diss politicians in some way, shape or form?
GP: What if the pundits were suddenly to “swarm the blogosphere”, as you say? And, in fact, why haven't they?
AB: It seems like for some reason or the other, that technology has not yet become fashionable for pundits. I was reading your interview with Nicholas (perhaps in error) to deplore the lack of political discussions in the “cariblogosphere”, and my gut reaction was “No! please don't bring the types of pudits that put me to sleep on the blogosphere!” And I made sure to cite the names of those pundits that I like. Interestingly, they did not last very long out here (Haitian Mofo), or only post sporadically (like yon ayisyen).
GP: Haitian Mofo is one of the few bloggers who is/was actually based in Haiti, right? Do you know why he stopped blogging?
AB: I e-mailed him and even posted on the site for him to come back, especially when I noticed that he was still posting on the Haitian Politics list. He e-mailed back to say he had experienced some kind of burnout but was reading my blog and thought that he might restart in a bit. My impression of him is that he is a very bright guy who is also very busy.
GP: Which brings us to some of the challenges that could be faced by a blogger attempting to do his/her thing out of Haiti? What are the obstacles, besides burnout?
AB: Well, Georgia, Haitians are all over the web — every day I discover a new Haitian website. I think that the idea of the Haitian web site (with forum, entertainment news, free music and radio) is now seen in the community as a viable business model and it's spreading like wildfire. [There are many Haitian-targeted message boards] and a ridiculous number of konpa-oriented [konpa is a Haitian musical genre; also see Alice's post about konpa] web sites. So Haitians, like most people, seem to go to the web primarily for entertainment.
GP: Are any of these sites based in Haiti?
AB: I'm not sure, but they are definitely read by Haitians in Haiti and same with the lists.
GP: But to get back to the blogging issue: you said in your post that “there's no particular need for caribloggers to mirror anyone. If Jamaicans had merely mimicked the R&B they captured through New Orleans airwaves in the 50s, there'd be no reggae. Aren't we about the blending of old disparate forms into new ones?” In what ways do you think a Caribbean blogosphere could create its own forms?
AB: The Caribbean blogosphere, like reggae, is going to take the form and make it into something new and creolized.
GP: Any idea what a “creolized” blogosphere might look like?
AB: You are going to have your average people, on the one hand, liming [Caribbean slang for “hanging out”] with their friends and showing pictures of beautiful women while discussing their daily vicissitudes, and on the other you are going to have your outliers discussing news and policy concerns along with whatever their passion is. Another point about Haitians from Haiti and the Internet is that they are apparently going online mostly to use the free phoning capacities. Cybercafés in Haiti are populated mostly by people looking for a cheaper way to talk to their relatives abroad. Remittances do make the world go 'round in Haiti, as does, consequently, keeping close tabs on your relatives abroad. People get their fair share of punditry on Haitian radio and I think want to get away from it all by the time they get online.
GP: So you'd say it will be some time before we see the emergence of a native Haitian blogosphere?
AB: I'd say anything can happen depending on people's needs and when they have something to say.
GP: How much of an obstacle would literacy be?
AB: According to the CIA factbook, we are at 52.9% literacy nowadays which is much higher that the 25% that I was hearing while growing up. And again, there is plenty of written activity on message boards and lists (you should have seen Moun.com around the time of Aristide's departure last year), so that cannot explain the lack of activity on the blogosphere. The 52.9%, btw, puts us above India and Egypt.
GP: Last but not least: what's the hot topic in the Haitian news this week?
AB: Simeus, Simeus, Simeus [Haitian-American Presidential candidate Dumarsais Simeus]! Whether he will be able to run — the CEP and the Supreme court seem to be at loggerheads on this issue. And his “secret meeting” with [interim president Gérard] Latortue which he then outed to the press. The talk is whether he or Charlito [Charles Henry Baker] will win the elections. Sadly, noone is really talking about what kind of president either would make, and the underlying issue is, of course, double nationality and whether the diaspora which votes all he time in its pocket will eventually be allowed to vote point blank. That is a crucial issue to being able to reverse the brain drain. As a Haitian who has taken on a different passport you technically can't vote, but thanks to yon ayisyen [post in French] we found out that [Haitian-American rapper] Wyclef Jean apparently has registered to vote.

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Iran: Blogger Escaped Iran · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Shahram Kholdi writes in his blog that Seraji, a blogger who had been jailed for his political opinion, escaped Iran to Turkey illegally, as he did not possess any valid passport.


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Iran: Women & Violence · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Feminist Iranian Tribute says Non violence day against women was a failure in Iran. A conference was organised by goverment and “specialists” asked women to tolerate violence. Link in Persian


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This week in Israel: a “political earthquake” and lots of fun stuff – not just politics · Global Voices
Lisa N. Goldman

This week, much of the Israeli blogosphere is in a tizzy over what the media lost no time in dubbing a “political earthquake”: Ariel Sharon has left the hawkish Likud party, which he helped found and has virtually defined for years; he has formed a new centrist political party that was briefly called National Responsibility. After a couple of days that name was rejected in favour of Kadima (Forward). Yup, there's already a Wikipedia entry about the new political party, even though it's less than one week old.
Quite a few prominent Likud members jumped ship to follow their leader, and some well-known Labour politicians have left, or are considering leaving, their party to join Kadima as well. The Israeli parliament, or Knesset, voted to disband the current government in the wake of Sharon’s move, and national elections have been scheduled for March 28.
So now we have Amir Peretz rejuvenating the until-recently moribund Labour Party (see last week’s roundup of reactions to Peretz’s election to chariman of Labour), a shattered and possibly permanently sidelined Likud party and a new centrist party led by Sharon. In two weeks, the domestic political landscape has changed completely. For journalists and politics junkies who happen to be bloggers, this is fabulous stuff. There’ll be tons and tons of material to talk and write about for – oh, weeks and blissful weeks.
But don’t worry if you’re not interested in politics – Israeli bloggers are writing about plenty of other stuff too and there’s a roundup of miscellaneous posts following the political roundup.
Reactions to the Sharon earthquake
Allison Kaplan Sommer of An Unsealed Room has written several insightful and frequently hilarious posts about the events of the past week. For hilarity, check out her interpretation of Ben-Gurion University President Avishay Braverman’s speech, in which he announced that he was joining the Labour party: “The very unsubtle subtext of the speech was, ‘Yuppie Ashkenazi White People! Fear Not from the Labor Party! I won't let Amir Peretz turn into Fidel Castro! We're Social Democrats like Bill Clinton and Tony Blair!’”  More of Allison’s not-to-be-missed commentary is here, here and here.
Imshin of Not a Fish writes,  “Sharon and Peretz are both nasty bastards, both sly, corrupt, cynical politicians. Is Peretz any nastier than Sharon? I doubt it. Love them or hate them, the thing is that both are people who get things done, make things happen. Who would have believed the Gaza disengagement would actually happen?”
Bert of Dutchblog Israel writes, “The most positive result of Sharon's decision to leave the party of which he was one of the main founders seems to be that in the coming elections Israeli voters will have two very clear options to choose from, at least as far as our presence in the territories is concerned.” But in the same post Bert also worries that Sharon, like Rabin, is a one-man show. Who will carry out his plans if the septuagenarian leader is incapacitated while in office?  Read more of Bert’s incisive commentary here,  and here.
Batya, who lives in the West Bank  (many Israelis call this territory by the biblical names Judea and Samaria) and blogs at Shiloh Musings, has this to say about the Likud: “The ‘real Likud’ of pro-Land of Israel loyalty is dead. It is like a brain dead patient being kept alive by machinery. It's time to pull the plug.”
Shai  of Shaister is currently on vacation in the USA, and while he’s mildly irritated at missing the current goings on he has plenty of pithy political analysis: “I see the Israeli political landscape dominated by a number of political blocs at the moment. Sharon’s new party will likely dominate the center, drawing moderate Likud voters and hawkish Labor voters. The new party will more than likely kill Shinui, since it occupies the same political space but lacks both Shinui’s anti-religious message and its odious leader (Tommy Lapid).” More political commentary from Shai here.
Harry of  The View from Here took a break from his usual podcasts to write about politics, “It's mindblowing that the political landscape of a country can completely change within a week.”
There’s even a post about the upcoming elections over at the purportedly apolitical group blog Israelity: “The only aspect to look forward to actually, is the campaign commercials for the fringe parties like the taxi drivers’ party, the Green Leaf party for legalizing pot, and the sentimental favorite – the battered husbands’ party. Now that’s entertainment.”
Dave of Israellycool is posting regular media and blog roundups on the upcoming elections. His latest post is here; it includes a link to his previous coverage.
Adrian of Expategghead writes, “If Moshe Feiglin wins [leadership of the Likud] I shall seriously think of seeking work abroad.” (that remark led to a lot of controversy in the comments, which is the main reason I include it here).
Don Radlauer of On the Contrary writes an open letter to Ariel Sharon with some rather interesting advice and commentary – such as: “There is no point in declaring that there will be no further unilateral withdrawals under a National Responsibility government; nobody will believe you even if you believe yourself, and your voters actually like the idea of unilateralism. Your voters want you to do what’s best for Israel, and if negotiating with the Palestinians won’t get us there, that’s the Palestinians’ problem.”
At the spiffily designed One Jerusalem group blog, there is a hilarious post that summarises the fun at one of Israel’s most popular (and totally irreverent) television satire shows, Eretz Nehederet (A Great Country). The show, which is broadcast Friday nights, had a field day this week with sly skits skewering Sharon and Israeli politics in general, and the post includes a link to video clips from the show (the clips are in Hebrew only, I’m afraid, but some of them are universal enough to be enjoyed even by non-Hebrew speakers).
Miscellaneous– political:
One Jerusalem also posted a video clip of Amir Peretz making his first speech in English. The event, which took place at the opening of the new Rabin Centre, was broadcast on Israeli television news to general national hilarity. Peretz speaks great Hebrew; he speaks French and Arabic as well. He does not, however, seem to speak English. Go watch the speech, but make sure you’re not eating or drinking near your keyboard – otherwise there’s liable to be some spillage.
Dave  of Israellycool also posts two photos, called “separated at birth,” that mutely – and hilariously –  explain why Israeli voters who come from the former USSR might not be too enthusiastic about Amir Peretz.
A week ago Friday, David Bogner of Treppenwitz posted some photos and political commentary about the West Bank settlement of Efrat, where he lives. Bogner writes that none of Efrat’s land was stolen from Palestinians, and posts photos showing parts of his settlement that are still cultivated by Palestinians who live in the area. But the most interesting part of the post is the comments thread: Jewish readers from all across the political spectrum wrote to express their agreement or disagreement with David’s political views regarding Israel’s presence in the West Bank, and a long debate ensued. The comment thread is fascinating for two reasons: (1) it shows that a debate between people from opposing political camps can be conducted with civility; and (2) it is an excellent summary of viewpoints from Israel’s political left, center and right.
At Jewlicious there’s an amusing story about a carrier pigeon that flew from Israel to Lebanon. According to a Lebanese newspaper, the pigeon, which was found by a resident of Kfar Tabnit, was carrying a steamy love letter from an Israeli girl to her boyfriend. The Lebanese man who found the pigeon was less interested in the letter and more concerned that the bird might be carrying Avian flu, so he rushed it over to the local police. But it turns out that there’s a lot more – and less – to the story.
At my blog, I posted a translation of a letter by Nazir Majli, a Palestinian commentator on Israeli affairs for the London-based Al Sharq Al Aswat. The letter, which is addressed to Majli’s three sisters residing in a Jordanian refugee camp, is written in Hebrew and was published in an Israeli periodical. The article is called Enough With the Hatred. Excerpt: “Enough with the hatred, let’s let it go; because we don’t have much time left. We need every day, every hour and every minute we have left to find a change in direction. We want our children to think about their studies and about advancing themselves. We don’t want them to grow up without experiencing childhood. We want our children to hug computers and bicycles, not stones.”
Miscellaneous – non-political
Alli Magidsohn, the Tel Aviv-based editor of an English-language site called Jewsweek, has written an article on the Jewish blogosphere and its significance. She mentions and quotes several Israeli bloggers in the article – including moi (of course!).
Stephanie Freid of Stefanella’s Drive Thru has taken a no-politics-on-my-blog vow. Instead she writes lovely posts about her life in Tel Aviv. Recently she composed a list of fun things to do in the city that are either free or cheap. Sample suggestion: “Check out the Interior Ministry's gorgeous, young security guards at the entrance and upstairs. Modeling candidates, every last one. While inside, view the acrylic and oil paintings on the ground floor and the photo-essay exhibit on the 2nd. Are we feeling cultured after our moment of lechery?”
Finally, if you like to cook and are looking for inspiring recipes – or just enjoy looking at luscious photos of homemade cakes, cookies, soups and more, check out Chanit’s blog. It’s called My Mom’s Recipes and More and if you're not hungry now – you will be, after you check it out.

author: Lisa N. Goldman


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Turkey is Typing….. · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

Welcome to the week that was in the Turkish Blogosphere….
Both Metroblogging:Istanbul and Turkish Torque reported this week about the new Picasso in Istanbul exhibit  at the Sakip Sabanci Museum from the 24th of November till the 26th of March 2006.  Continuing with the art theme Metroblogging:Istanbul also revisited a topic that they originally covered last month but has recently been covered in the local television station.  As part of a new security survallience system in the city of Istanbul the police have installed/in the process of installing 4000 security cameras on the streets.  This system, called MOBESE has spawned a group of university students to protest it called NOBESE.  They perform and protest in front of these cameras.  According to Metroblogging, their motto is “since we are being watched, why not perform?”
Turkish Torque writes about the ongoing discussions of the Turkish National Identity and posts an interesting article from Dogan Hizlan from Hurriyet Newspaper entitled “Our Leaders Don't Have Any Hobbies”.  He writes about how Turkey is changing, specifically in relations to the Turkish Military involvement in the government.  He says: “Turkey is changing faster than some of us think. Where this change will lead Turkey, that's another discussion of course.  But at the descriptive level, there are things happening in Turkey today that would be unthinkable just a few years ago.” Torque also gives a more personal reaction to a proposed ban on smoking law in Turkey.
Mustafa Akyol from The White Path was recently interviewed by the BBC about Intelligent Design, the sound file of the interview is available for download.
Mavi Boncuk has a few book reviews posted: “Turks, Moors, and Englishmen in the Age of Discovery” by Nabil Matar, “The Ottoman Story Today” by Virgina Aksan, and information about the  1795 Barbary Treaties taken from the “Treaties and Other International Acts of the United States of America” edited by Hunter Miller.
This week I decided to focus on some of the more personal postings from Erkan's Field Diary, an excellent archive of information about Turkey and the EU.  Erkan writes about the power a professor has in jumpstarting the campus shuttle.  November 24th was Teacher's Day in Turkey and a picture was posted showing some gifts that his office mate received.  Also a new picture of Ataturk was posted that is interesting to look at.  And finally Erkan notes that in the new Freedom Press Survey, Turkey has advanced its ranking in regards to the freedom of its press.
Flipping through the archives of Talk Turkey  I came across this older post about the Young Turks radio show on Satellite radio.  The Young Turks advertise themselves as a “liberal nationwide (US) talk-show”, and while a US newsradio program doesn't overtly seem to be about the Turkish blogosphere, one of the members of the program, Cenk Uygur, is a Turk.    He blogs on the Huffington Post mostly about issues that occur in the US, but should also be added to our list of Turkish bloggers.
Amerikan Turk has a short but very funny post speculating why Turkey lost to Brazil in the 2002 World Cup (and it probably isn't a reason you would normally think of).  Also within the realm of speculation is this post: Is Turkish Raki a defense against birdflu?”  Finally, he has a post about reaching out to the Turkish Community in Rhode Island (which I understand is rather large) to find other local Turkish athletes.
And for our last item for today's post: the weather in Istanbul.  Idil from Ignore me if you Can has a post about being stranded in the rain with a cold.  Phanja from The Need to Know writes about the traffic in Istanbul when given even a small hint of snow.
Interesting finds of the week:
1. Wikipedia in Turkish!
2. For you Tarkan fans out there, Tarkan Deluxe.
3. Elvis Fansite in Turkish!
4. Personal website of Turkish Artist Metin Bereketli.

author: Deborah Ann Dilley


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From Indonesian Blogsphere · Global Voices
Enda Nasution

A Fatih Syuhud blogging from India, has a series commentary posts about Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Republic of Indonesia visit to India.
…President arrived in India along with around 180 people mostly from KADIN (Chamber for Trade and Industry), several under-ministry officials and few ministers. I saw the face of familiar figures like Marie Elka Pangestu (trade minister), Hasan Wirajuda (foreign min.), Yuwono Sudarsono (defence min.) and Yusril Ihza Mahendra (state secretary min.)…
…I'm fortunate to get the invitation letter, yet I'm not happy with the way the Ambassador handling unnecessary things: the limited invitation for me is the sign of a limited freedom. I don't know whether this kind of crap happen in Indonesian embassies in other countries…
Complete commentaries can be found on these posts: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
PKS Watch, a blog founded as a watchdog for the up and coming Prosperous Justice Party [PKS] has a post about PKS's reaction regarding Khairiansyah Salman's matter [in Indonesian].
Khairiansyah Salman is the key person that uncovered corruption scandal in Indonesian General Election Commission [KPU] this year. Early in this month he was awarded the Integrity Award 2005 by Berlin-based Transparency International.
However two weeks ago, in a surprising and ironic turn of events, he was named as a suspect in The Haj Funds Scandal where apparently he received USD 1,000 from the controversial haj funds that amount to hundreds of million US dollars.
Several others officials also received money from this funds that by law is intended to use for the benefit of the pilgrims but nevertheless spent on a number of eyebrow-raising expenditures.
The amount is relatively small compare to other corruption cases in Indonesia and the fact that he was the only one that have been named as suspect raised many people curiosity whether this is an act of retaliation because of what he has done.
The blog wrote:
What's the case got to do with PKS? This is what's interesting. PKS as a party with clean and honest promises must took part in the effort to eradicate acute corruption in this country and so far I haven't seen any real act from PKS in this matter.
Moreover, apparently Khairiansyah is PKS's cadre since a long time ago [confirmed by one of the party's senior]. Now he has been named as suspect and he gets only cool reaction so far from PKS as if PKS wants to wash its hand about his case.
Now that the case is on going Khairiansyah Salman lost his job as manager for anti-corruption unit at Aceh Reconstruction Body and he has returned the Integrity Award temporarily to Transparency International until the case is resolved.
Yosef Ardi over at Indonesia Today posted information about Shell to build 500 gas stations in Indonesia.
This may seem odd but for many Indonesian this will be the first time ever oil company names other than our own Pertamina will be visible in many oil stations on the streets.
Super-major oil company Shell plans to build 500 gas stations in Indonesia over the next few years. Petronas had announced its plan to build 200 gas stations in Indonesia. Shell just opened the first foreign oil company's gas station in Tangerang, Banten province last month. Shell planned to build more gas stations in Jakarta, the largest fuel consumer in Indonesia.
Rizka Nurlita Andi has interesting post [in Indonesian] telling how she she joined a Museum's Friends Mailing List a community of Indonesian Museum lovers.
This is a happy and rare development because there are plenty of museums all over Indonesia [In 2003, there are 269 museums in 26 provinces], with a very little information, promotion and interest in them.
Maybe gathering people and building a community with a share interests is the first step toward better appreciation about the museums.
Totot Indrato on his blog Celebrating Life inviting everybody [in Indonesian] to come and see the Jakarta International Film Festival (JiFFest) that will be held from 9-18 December.
The much-awaited annual event is on its 7th term this year and has successfully over the year providing Jakartans audience with alternative movies other than Hollywood ones.
201 films (including shorts) from 35 countries are participating in this year festival and even tough JiFFest has always included documentary films, but it's the first time that it will have dedicated section for documentaries.
An All About Indonesia section will features a number of Indonesia-themed films, including “Lukas’ Moment” by young director Aryo Danusiri and a compilation of short films entitled “From The Cabinet of Des Alwi”.
Selected Short films from ASEAN countries and China as well as two Animation programs: World Animation and Eesti Joonisfilm Studio will be shown.
Workshops, Music Concert and Photo Exhibition is also in the programs.
Check out JiFFest official site for more information: www.jiffest.org

author: Enda Nasution


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Iran: Church & Blog · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Iranian Church in Brussels is, probably, first Iranian church which started using blog to communicate with members & non members. (Link in Persian)


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Iran:EarthQuake · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

(November 27 14:30 Brussels Time):According to BBC Several dead in south Iran quake :A powerful earthquake has hit southern Iran, damaging several villages and killing at least five people and injuring dozens more, officials say.
The 5.9-magnitude quake struck Qeshm island, home to 120,000 people, and the city of Bandar Abbas, state media said.
The Qeshm island governor said four nearby villages had been damaged and at least five people had been killed.
According to Isna(Iranian Student News Agnecy):Two villages were almost destroyed.


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Nigerian blogoshpere this week · Global Voices
kayode

Jangbalajugbu-Homeland Stories posts on the Global Voice workshop, “Expression under Repression”. He felt honoured as he says:
I am glad I attended the sessions as I was able to see some things I have been taking for granted as regards blogging. I was also able to meet Rebecca and Ethan in person.
Chippla updates his past entry on the ex- head of the Nigerian Police Force trials in an entry titled Tafa Balogun—Justice Has Not Been Served
He refrenced back to his post on the subject which he blogged about on the On the 19th of January 2005.
There it was stated, according to mainstream media reports, that Mr. Balgoun was suspected by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of stealing and stacking up to a billion Nigerian Naira (US$ 7.7 million) of public funds in his private bank accounts.
And thereafter laments on the justice system, whereby the subject in question was only sentenced for 6 months in jail besides confisication of assets, for such a grievous offence. As he laments:
According to reports from ThisDay of Nigeria, the Nigerian Daily Independent and Reuters of South Africa, Mr. Balogun will be spending six months in jail less the 67 days served in detention. He was sentenced to six months for each of eight charges to which he pleaded and was found guilty. The judge requested that the six months imprisonment for each of the eight charges run concurrently. Were this not to be the case, Mr. Balogun would be behind bars for 48 months, equivalent to four years. All of his stolen assets will be confiscated and he was further fined 4 million Naira (US$ 30,000).
NubianSoul  on a holiday visit to Nigeria, commends the speedy pass through, at the airport. As she says in her post titled Motherland:
I got through immigration, picked up my bags and was in the main hall of Nnamdi Azikwe airport in 10minutes!.
It usually takes about 30 – 40mins to get through customs in NewYork!.
Remmy Nweke at “ITREALMs” announces that a Nigerian youth won the WSIS award. In the post titled “Nigerian youth wins WSIS award”, he says :
Eighteen years old Nigerian, Samuel Oloyede Odofin, has emerged the second prize winner for the development category of the World Summit Youth Award (WSYA) held as part of the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society WSIS-05 in Tunis.      His emergence was based on the entry, Biotechnology: The  Food solution .
Naijablog attends the Abuja craft fair, and laments on  Nigerian tourism, its current state besides also giving tips on what tourists normally want to buy and how to get them to buy it. As he laments:
It’s a shame – Nigeria has huge tourist potential, but they don't seem to understand the basics here – marketing, publicity, presentation, attention to detail etc.
And thereafter suggests :
Why not have a heritage day (public holiday) like they do in South Africa?
We Westerners can't help ourselves and the way our desire is constructed – when we want to buy stuff (unless we're tacky people from Essex or equivalent) we want stuff that looks as authentic as possible. We want masks that look fetishistic and old (even if they are not). The trouble is, many Nigerians are in some way embarrassed of too many masks (and spiritual forces that may lurk). So the Western tourist doesn’t get to buy an old-looking mask, and no sale is made. Such a contrast to Ghana, where they know exactly what we want and sell it in droves.
The two other things tourists/Westerners want to buy are ceramics and textiles. There were one or two okayish pieces from the Bwari and Marabara (Kaduna) potteries, but they were way overpriced (its much cheaper to buy pieces at source).
And last of all Black Looks adds her displeasure to the most popular topic in the Nigerian blogosphere this week, with her title “going going…” but directed towards “Governor Alamieyeseigha”, the governor of Bayelsa state of Nigeria, who absconded bail in London.
Whatever Governor Alamieyeseigha imagined would happen once he absconded bail in London is not clear.  What is clear is that this is sinking into a farce as Alamieyeseigha now finds himself cornered on all sides. Like a trapped animal he has no other recourse  than to snarl desperately accusing the Federal government of plotting to eliminate him.  The British police may try to seek extradition. The State Assembly has called for his resignation or face impeachment.  The Inspector General of Police is investigating him and yesterday gun shots were fired by thugs hired by the Governor as his Johnathon Goodluck attempted to ambushed the Governor.
The Nigerian press is having a field day as photos of “Big Mama” are circulated in the mainstream and tabloid media. The Vanguard reports of a “bitter war” between Alamieyeseigha and Deputy Governor, Johnathon Goodluck.
But thereafter she expresses her worries on the deployment of troops to the region.
A more worrying development is the deployment of 200 special forces to Bayelsa State as once again the Niger Delta is faced with a military campaign.   Citizens of Odi and Kaiama  will not have forgotten what happened  the last time troops were sent into the region.

author: kayode


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Recent Posts From Peru · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

La versión original de este artículo está disponible en español.
What follows is a small review of some recent posts chosen from various Peruvian blogs; posts that in one or another manner stir a certain interest:
En the blog Nauta, the post “Y de pronto, nos quedamos sin periodicos (And suddently we're without newspapers),” which, beginning with a report from the INMA: Newspaper Outlook 2006: Managing Perceptions, presents us with a few ideas about the future of print publications. Following the journalistic thread, Sandro Medina of Letra Suelta shares his worries about the future of journalism in our country in the post “Periodistas a mansalva,” manifesting his perception of an invasion of the media by people who are not strictly trained as journalists. And to finish with journalism and media, Fernando Lozano of Notas al Vuelo, in a post entitled “Perdimos a Expreso … Otra Vez” informs us of a lie by Fujimori that was detected by the newspaper, Expreso; an interesting post which unfortunately hasn't had it's deserved impact.
Pablo Lores Kanto, a Peruvian blogger residing in Japan, offers us an uneasy piece of fiction: ¿Qué Está Haciendo Su Hija? (What is Your Daughter Doing?); a fictional story that is certainly based on reality. Noche Cusqueña (A Cuzcan Night) is a post published in the blog Explorando Perú (Exploring Peru) of Rolly Valdivia where we are given his nocturnal impressions of the imperial city. Personally, I really liked it as the nights of Cuzco have always seemed magical to me and I'm not speaking of the festivities, but rather the city's solitude in the deepest hour of the night as well as the weight of the history which she breathes.
In Sin Papel, Juan Carlos Luján asks why are we not interested in science in Peru? after a scholastic event about science and technology received scant attention in the media, something which unfortunately is already a custom. And, speaking of technology, TIC para el Desarrollo (TIC for Development published an excellent introductory post entitled, “What is TIC for Rural Development?: An Explanation for Maria” with a couple cases of application of the TIC's in Peru.
On the other hand, the post, El Cholo Jacinto complains about the corruption of the Peruvian police, published in The Wings comments about the absurdities that happen in our country when a known juvenile delinquent denounces the warden of his prison in spite of being someone who permits “bonuses” like cell phones and other things, when being bribed of course.
In the political arena, Sergio of Origami con los boletos del micro published the post For Followers of Fujimori (or Effects of the Syndrome of the Humiliated Wife), which reproduces an article which appeared in a local paper. In this case, what is the most interesting is the argument that follows in the comments of the post. Ernesto Cardenas of Fisica3 tells us “There is no worse blind man than he who does not want to see” and compiles various commentaries taken from a forum which defends and praises ex-President Fujimori.
Changing the topic, Luis of Autobús has a post called Dog Dance in the City. Diego Avendaño of Desde la Clandestinidad tells us what seems to him to be The Perfect Moment. And in Escritos de un Murcielagato there is an excellent story: Valkiria del Nuevo Mundo.
Finally, but no less important, Freddy from Nuestra Voz Siempre es Escuchada reflects on topics very common amongst bloggers: publicity and censorship, arriving at the conclusion: censorship will always be present, whether justified or not, with the end result of putting order in our tumultuous and uninformed world. We hope that it won't be and that censorship will come to mean self-control, a selection of one's best and the very best of others, or simply the desire to not bother anyone else. Speaking of which, I will stop bothering all of you. At least, until the next time.

author: Juan Arellano


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Africa: anti-corruption  · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Africa Unchained suggests adopting a “bottom-up” anti-corruption strategy for African countries


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Argentina: Yanquis · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Diego of Altered Argentina says he is much more impressed with the ex-pat community he has met in Argentina compared to his experience in Costa Rica and describes his ex-pat friends both online and off.


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Aruba: “Another Hotel: Yay?” · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Lost In Smallness weighs out the pros and cons of a proposed new Ritz-Carlton hotel along Aruba's coast.


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Bahamas: Being Found · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Lynn Sweeting describes what it's like to realize there really are people out there reading what she has to say.


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Bangladesh: Identity and India · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Me, Myself and Bangladesh on the attitude of Indians towards Bangladesh - and a link to an article exploring Bangladeshi identity and sovereignty.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Bangladesh: Politics · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Rezwan on the recent political controversies in Bangladesh including the expulsion of ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) lawmaker (Rajshahi-3 constituency) Abu Hena from the party for his comments.


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Brazil: Gun Referendum Thoughts · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Tatiana Cardeal explains her disappointment with the decision by Brazilian voters to vote down a proposed firearm ban.


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Burkina Faso: microcredit · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Timbuktu Chronicles writes about a successful micro credit scheme at work in Burkina Faso.…”As a member of this credit union network, Jacqueline got a first loan of 430,000 FCFA (C$1,000) in 2000. She duly repaid the loan. This gave her a higher credit rating. In the next three years, the credit union loaned her 7,730,000 FCFA (C$18,000). Among other things, this allowed Jacqueline to take government orders for office equipment.Business was booming”

author: Sokari Ekine


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Cameroon: Solar light & WiFi · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Afromusing writes about a recent initiative in Cameroon that links a solar street light with WiFi and network technology which she suggests could go hand in hand with the $100 computer launched at this years WSIS.  One comment on the post is worth mentioning.    “It sounds like a good initiative, but I hope that the laptops can be made on the continent (Africa), or else it will be yet another lost opportunity for en masse job creation.” – Negroponte and MIT take note.


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China, Taiwan: China’s Future · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Madman of Chu muses on the future of China, from what he believes to be Taiwan's perspective.


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China: Water Crisis in Harbin · Global Voices
Frank Dai

Harbin, a city in northeast China, has been suspended from water supply for four days due to contamination over its water by spill from a local chemical factory after an explosion. During the period of shortage, which started from Nov 23 and ended yesterday, the water for both livelihood and commercial production is suspended. It affected 3.8 million inhabitants of Harbin.
ESWN post with some photos showing that local resident rushed to supermarket for buying drinks and purified water. He links to some of the major media coverages of the water crisis.
Howard French observed the rumor of water crisis and earthquake as well before official annoucement. (Later the earthquake confirmed to be wrong ). He thought there is a problem of coordination and efficiency in government handling the crisis.
Inertia (in ZH) said the rapid economic development of China is at the high cost of environment pollution while fairly no one pay attention to this point. Liberalism and WTO accelerate this process.
Tango (in ZH) criticize 3 different and confusing documents issued concerning the suspending of water, which eventually caused general panic among residents. They simply do not know what the government has not yet revealed about the fact. When everybody rushed for water, the official newspaper and TV just said, “the city is in order and people are calming down”
Fanjun (in ZH) reviewed the Chinese media coverage that put their primary focus on transparency of government. He thought that many of the stories written were short-sighted. He asked the CNPC, to which the chemical factory belongs, to take responsibilities of compensation and treatment afterward.
From yesterday the water supply has been recovered partly. Some water-consuming enterprises are still limited.
Further Reading:
Technorati Search for “Harbin”
Bingfeng: Governor explains why Harbin lied about water pollution
T-Salon: The Way Government Agencies Handled Harbin Chemical Spill
NYT: Water Crisis Shows China's Pollution Risks
Guardian: Harbin's poor left out in the cold as city runs dry
Washington Post: Chinese Officials Sought to Hide Toxic Spill
Financial Times: Harbin authorities seek to win back confidence
Photo:
Photo taken by a resident via BBS
Photo Via Flickr

author: Frank Dai


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Colombia: Galeras Valcano Erupts and Shakira · Global Voices
David Sasaki

John Guzman has the latest on the eruption of Galeras volcano as well as Shakira's new album, which will be in English.

author: David Sasaki


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Colombia: Southern Colombia and Northern California · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Plan Colombia and Beyond makes the very worthwhile observation that “nobody is proposing to fumigate Sequoia National Park.”


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Cuba: “How Lovely is Cuba!” · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Ernesto, a computer programmer in Havana who rarely writes about anything other than programming, describes Steven Mansour's Cuba Blog as the first weblog he has “found to be friendly and honest about this island.”


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Egypt: Sudanese Protest in Cairo · Global Voices
Mostafa Hussein

Youssef and Chiara (Italian) took photos and wrote briefly about the protest by Sudanese migrants against the UNHCR in the middle of Cairo. Almost 500 to 1000 (thanks Youssef) protestors are living in a miserable state since September, protesting their state of limbo. They refuse the return to Sudan and refuse local integration in Egypt


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Ethiopia: US · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Ethiopundit writes on the recent state violence in Ethiopia and the complicity of the US as exporters of arms to the Ethiopian government.  Arms which are then used on Ethiopian citizens and opposition leaders…..”The War on Terror must be fought with vigor and determination but Ethiopia seems to have slipped through the cracks. The Ethiopian government slickly uses the threat of terror to manipulate Washington in particular, and its policies of aid dependent economic stagnation and tribal divide and rule will ultimately lead to another failed state.”


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Gabon: elections · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Chippla's Weblog reports on the Gabon elections which took place yesterday.  President Omar Bongo is expected to win.  He  “is the longest serving ruler on the African continent, having been in power for 38 years”


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Iran: BBC & a Mistake ? · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Hanif Mazroi, a former jailed journalist & active blogger, says BBC made a mistake to say that new director , a cleric, of University of Tehran has no university degree. According to Mazroi he got his PhD in same university. (Link in Persian)

author: Fred Petrossian


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Malaysia: A Life, Blogged · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Malaysia's Kenny Sia turns 23, and chronicles, by linking to his past blog posts, what happened in the past year, including a relocation from Australia back home to Malaysia and the loss of his father to cancer.

author: Jose Manuel Tesoro


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Pakistan: World Performing Arts Festival · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Metroblogging Lahore on the World Performing Arts Festival.


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Presidential Election: Blogs and politics · Global Voices
Rosario Lizana

We are 13 days from the presidential election. Every night, on TV, before the news hour, the 4 presidential candidates, belonging to different parties or coalitions, have the legal option to publicize their campaign and proposals for  5 minutes each, in  all the open channels, at the same time.
There are four in competition, Michelle Bachelet, Tomás Hirsch Joaquín Lavín and Sebastián Piñera.
Chile is full of advertising for the potential presidents. All the marketing strategies are exposed, all candidates have their webs, but not all have their own personal blogs.   País Digital, as it was mentioned, is hosting their blogs under Presidential Blog Forum.
Sebastián Piñera, posts about his vision, or to reply to the media on news about himself, or to talk about what he is doing in his campaign. He posted in his blog a question related to the  evaluation of his TV  campaign, most of the people commented that there was not enough time to express concerns in a deeper way.
In Michelle Bachelet´s  blog, the are post of supporting groups  and herself about main political issues.
Supporters of Joaquín Lavín, have created a blog for him not as successful as the ones of Michelle Bachelet or Sebastián Piñera.
For a quick browse on the political environment click here.

author: Rosario Lizana


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SA: AIDS research · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Fodder reports on a scheme that uses idle computer time for  AIDS research.


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SA: Rape victims paid off · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Mzansi Afrika reports from South Africa on a rumour that rape victims are being offered financial compensation by families of rapists  in lieu of them reporting the rape to the police. “because a lot of people are poor due to unemployment, particularly young people, families of victims often accept the money, since they need it and they are told that maybe the alleged rapist is the bread winner or a provider to the family therefore if he is prosecuted they (the alleged rapist family) will not be able to survive.”


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Senegal: Hissene Habre · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Senegalise blog SEMEtt comments on the recent detention in Dakar of former Chad President, HISSENE HABRE.   The Court of Criminal Appeal in Senegal has yet to rule on his extradition which leaves the whole matter in the hands of Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade.


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Singapore: Blogger Sentence · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Singapore bloggers comment on the probation sentence received by the third blogger prosecuted for sedition. The blogger had made racist comments online and his sentence apparently includes immersion in the local Malay community.


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Singapore: Value of Citizenship · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

The amount of the fine levied on a Singapore pianist to avoid liability for defaulting on his national service obligations leads Singapore Alternatives to think about the “value of citizenship.”


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South Korea, India: Orientalism as Orthodoxy · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Kotaji says that Edward Said's attack on “orientalism” has become its own sacred cow, and posts a critique of it by Indian historian Irfan Habib.


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Sri Lanka: More on media · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Morquendi points to instances of media's bias when it comes to the issue of LTTE, especially in the recent elections.


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Sri Lanka: Youth and Media · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Suba Ude has a post on a multi-media training program for youth  in Akkaraipattu, which  is a mixed community of Muslims and Tamils. Part of the population is made up of war displaced persons, and the town was also affected by the tsunami.


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This Week in Palestinian Blogs: Ending Occupation is What Really Matters to US · Global Voices
Shaden Abdulrahman

Rafah border was opened on the 25th of Nov, congratulations to all Palestinians!
On Rafah crossing, Rafah Pundits say the agreement reached between Palestinian and Israeli authorities state that Israel has no physical presence in the Rafah crossing except for reserving some sort of remote control, and the right to stop, search, arrest, detain or deny entry of anyone deemed by Israel as a “Palestinian suspect”.
As the January parliamentary elections approaches, a public opinion poll conducted by Al-Najah University showed that 75.5% of Palestinians will take part in the voting and only 66.8% believe that the elections will be held on its scheduled date. Moreover, 39.5% of the voters will vote for Fateh while 19.9% said will vote for Hamas. 53 % of participants said that they believe the elections will be fair and free.
Following up on some one-week-old news, peacepalestine has made an excellent attempt at Deconstructing Condi, offering us a good read. Check out the interesting feedback on the document. Condoleeza Rice visited Israel on the 13th of Nov to revive a peace process that had never been alive. Hillary, who had the same thoughts as Condoleeza's about the Wall, was sent a letter from Human Rights Watch, explaining to her what does the Wall really mean. By the way, neither did Hillary nor Condoleeza visit the occupied Palestinian territories.
On the same matter, umkahlil makes a wild guess at what Sinator Hillary Clinton will think of the criminal act of this lady.
Talking about Main Stream Media manipulation, Sabbah's Blog  writes that BBC sanctions a journalist for insensitively feeling puzzled and shedding some tears upon watching a helicopter carry Arafat from his headquarters to a hospital in France.
Back to peacepalestine, a very interesting lesson in Hebrew teaches us how shalom is not peace (even though Judaism might disagree). Shalom means the freedom of conflict while achieving the maximum level of security. Peace is  so much more than that, but then again nobody can blame Sharon for the mistranslation.
Inexplicable hatred of Israelis combined with shameless hatred of some Arabs and topped with the brutal practices of the Israeli occupation will definitely ruin even the bestest of mornings. davereed reports that the Israeli government is planning to demolish more houses in Anata, Beit Hanina and Silwan. Imagine one cold and rainy late night, in which you have to wake up and start removing all your belongings, not knowing where you should spend the night (chances are you'll spend it on the street). Either that or your house will be brought down by rockets while still inhibited, and oh, they might as well use one of your family as a shield.
From Sugar Cubes, a secret British document accuses Israel of taking measurements such as building illegal settlements and the Apartheid wall which jeopardize the peace process and prevent Jerusalem from becoming the capital of the Palestinian State, violating human rights all the way. I wonder what took them so long? and are they sick and fed up as we all are?
FromOccupiedPalestine, Bush has a vision for the future Palestinian State that resembles Dubai! what matters according to Bush, is not whether or not the occupation ends but rather the possibility of Gaza becoming a Dubai on the Mediterranean.
Students in Hebron protesting the electronic gates and x-ray screening systems
Israel violates human rights -again- by installing electronic gates and x-ray screeing systems in Hebron (Al-Khalil). Students, who were protesting non-violently last Thursday were attacked by  gas canisters and percussion grenades used by the Israeli occupational forces. Needless to say, the inhumane practices of Israel occupational forces have their negative health effects on Palestinians. Teachers held classes outside at the checkpoints in protest to all the trouble their students have to go through everyday in order to reach school.See pictures on BBC.
From Baqa'a Refugee Camp, Israli occupational forces opened fire at anti-Wall rally in which Internationals, Israeli activists and Palestinians participated resulting with four persons wounded. At the rally, participants protested the Wall, the bullodizing of vast areas of olive trees,  and turning villages into big jails.
Being familiar with oppression, dozens of Palestinian journalists demanded an International investigation regarding the recent news of Bush wanting to bomb Al-Jazeera office in Qatar. Al-Jazeera staffers started a blog to condemn the plan and ask for support.
Mordechai Vanunu, the Israeli Nuclear Whistle Blower has a letter for you. He talks about his latest arrest and the harassments by the Israeli authorities. Vanunu has offered his email, please do show your support and do not let Israel get away with this!
The little things that matter…
As a Palestinian I've heared a lot about the Nabulsi soap from my parents. Sadly the art and industry of making soap are dying slowly under the occupation, as it continues to suffer due to the stranglehod of the Palestinian economy and the regulations on International free trade.
On the 26th of this month, Nov, a conference will be held in Ireland to launch a divestment campaign that aims at getting Irish pension funds to divest from CRH, an Irish company which owns 25% of the only Israeli cement-manufacturing company until/unless it provides an absolute guarantee that it is no longer involved in the supply of materials used in illegal Israeli construction projects in the West Bank.
Lulu of CafeLulu describes what was it like to attend one of Ibdaa’s performances, Ibdaa’ created  something out of nothing.
Imaan had a wonderful day out with her son in Gaza city, check out the pictures. Imaan, like everyone who roamed the street of the city, came face to face with poverty.

author: Shaden Abdulrahman


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This week in the African Women’s Blogsphere · Global Voices
Nish Matenjwa

November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and marks the beginning of 16 Days of Activism on violence against women and children in which women and their organisations organise activities around the world aimed at ending gender violence.
Some African women bloggers have been blogging to raise awareness on this issue.
Black Looks writes about a report from the World Health Organisation on domestic violence  that contains disturbing and alarming statistics and that indicates that domestic violence is more prevalent than had been realised. She goes on to say that the reality of gender violence is that ’there is no country where abuse is not taking place’ and violence against women is not just an issue for women but is an issue for all.
Although she believes drawing attention to the campaign against violence against women is important, Bronwyn writes that more needs to be done such as establishing an on-going media campaign, women’s shelters, outreach programmes and other relevant actions  and asks a pertinent question: ‘what happens on day 17′ when the media spotlight is turned off and politicians move on to other issues?
Making the link between gender violence and HIV infection, AfroFeminista highlights the campaigning activities being undertaken by some organisations in Kenya and says gender violence ‘is leaving many women and girls at risk of HIV infection and by extension the men and children in our lives’.
African women are also blogging about other issues.
Because she feels culture and social background, usually taken for granted, should be constantly questioned, Helenism writes about a debate regarding an archaic and sexist marriage ritual and the resulting excellent and thoughtful explanation on why she considers herself a feminist.
In the aftermath of the recently-held Referendum on the Constitution, Kenyan Pundit writes about her concern regarding the absence of women in the campaigning and the fact that some members ‘of the Orange team campaigned strongly against the [draft constitution] on the basis that women will be allowed to “take all the land” and other inaccuracies’.
In light of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf becoming the president of Liberia, Mama JunkYard is impressed by the rising numbers of African women in leadership and says a developed country such as the United Kingdom has ‘to contend with falling out of the top 50 (19.8% places them at 51) and also deal with the realisation that they have been out ranked by Iraq 31.5%) and Tunisa’.

author: Nish Matenjwa


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Trinidad and Tobago: A Dinner of Peers · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Taran Rampersad has a meditative post on his dinner with fellow Trini bloggers, Georgia Popplewell, Nicholas Laughlin, and Jonathan Ali.


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Uganda: Museveni dictator? · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

East African Peripetatic notes that there is no difference between a Ugandan soldier and a Ugandan policeman….”To a lot of people hearing that there is every signs to believe that the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni is a dictator has been a taboo.But now here everything is under soldiers. Now, for instance, the army are working as police force, can you imagine?”