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Rolling Stones and U2 in Argentina · Global Voices
Jorge Gobbi

The most commented-upon issues of the moment in Argentinean blogs are music related; in the same week The Rolling Stones and U2 visited this country to perform two shows, each band. And, of course, there was a big number of blogs that reconstructed what happened during the shows.
On the Rolling Stones side, at El Futuro ya llegó (ES) the show's quality was emphasized from the band's fan point of view. At Professor London Boy (ES), Blog de Manux (ES), and Alejandrita (ES) a similar outlook was given, the one of the excited fan, which is also easy to find in the general media.
Some blogs brought up the subject of the incidents that occured during the hours before the show, carried out by people who wanted to get into the stadium without paying. Pescado Rabioso (ES), and Intervoz (ES). We have to remember that on the first show, almost 5 thousand people managed to get in without paying, by overpassing the control gates.
At Eroticus (ES), on the other hand, two perspectives on the Stones gig can be found: Rodrigo Fresan's from the daily Pagina/12 and the Pablo Schanton's of El Clarin. Despite the fact that the blogosphere is usually seen as a ground were criticism easily appears, it was quite hard to track down any alternative outlooks on the last weeks shows and this applies to the Rolling Stones and U2 as well. The prevailing view was the one of the fan, a view that has excitement and happiness as virtue, but which many times don't leave too original reflections.
And this despite the fact that Argentina has a rich tradition linked to The Rolling Stones, to the point of the existence of a street gang known as the “Stones” or “Rolingas” – a bastardization of the term “Rolling” – characterized not only for the dress code but for following band loyal to Jagger and Richard's band sound, such as Ratones Paranoicos or the 25.
U2 shows motivated more diverse reactions, particularly from journalists who work or have worked in the Argentinean news media. Eduardo Fabregat spoke quite well about the show at his blog Pan y Circo (ES), although he showed some complaints about political ideology at the show (Bono sporting a jacket with the Argentinean flag at the beginning of the show and the press conference with Argentina's president Kirchner). Marcelo Figueras opts to remember the songs and keeps all emphasis in political issues out. At Korochi (ES) a more ironic view was offered.
Outside the agenda
Aside from the agenda's main topic, linked to U2 and The Rolling Stones visits, there were several interesting posts on other Argentinean blogs. Roberto Gargarella of TP (ES) criticizes the recent sanction to modify the Consejo de la Magistratura, and the lack of attention to the opposition's critics. Marcos complains about blogs that only repeat the content of other blogs. He also launches a forum in Spanish for WordPress users. Mariano Amartino analyzes the recent “scandal” between blogs and FON. Franco Giménez wonders what to do when someone asks you for proffesional advice about a website. Irene Fernández talks about the relationship between blogs and gender.

author: Jorge Gobbi


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Singapore: Office Space · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Singapore's Tinker, Tailor explains the difference between working in a low office cubicle and working in a high one.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Jose Manuel Tesoro


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Somalia: Waris Dirie – IWD · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Girl in the Meadow celebrates IWD by honouring Waris Dirie, a Somali model who campaigns against FGM.

author: Sokari Ekine


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Southeast Asia, Philippines: Adequacy of Democracy · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

An underthought article in the Guardian decrying the lack of democracy in Southeast Asia angers Eevil Midget, a Filipina in London, who responds: “democracy is a farce anyway! as if the Western world is that much better.” Torn and Frayed in Manila shares his own thoughts on the piece.


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Sri Lanka: Post-tsunami · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Beneficiaries of the Tsunami tragey and their concerns as reported by Webhamuva – “The eventual Thalpitiya beneficiaries are looking forward to the day they will receive them, but they have worries too. They wonder when they will finally get the houses and are also concerned about the situation that will arise once they do.”

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Sudan: education for girls & women · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Sudan Watch reports on an Irish aid NGO that is providing schools for girls and adult education for women in rural Sudan.  She also points to a message on IWD from the Physicians for Human Rights on Darfur.


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Syria: In Baath … who trusts? · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Rime Allaf says: “Apparently, the Syrian people do not need human rights (even though this was an approved EU initiative). They do not need freedom of expression either (but such treatment and intimidation of journalists is old news). Apparently, what Syrians really, desperately need (and the entire Arab world with them) is Arabism. More Arabism. True Arabism. New and improved Arabism. That will solve all their problems. Jealous of the Islamists who have a ready answer to everything (“it's all in the Holy Quran”), the Baathists (not even pretending anymore that “reform” is on the way) are now saying the answers are all in Arabism. Get it?”

author: Haitham Sabbah


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Syria: Syria Planet · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Syria Planet, the community site for Syrian bloggers, is now online, it features an aggregator of member blogs (Syrian or about Syria), and forums for arranging activities and meetings, and discussing what's going on in Syria and the blogosphere, among the other things, Ayman said.


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The Balkans: The ICJ Genocide Trial (1-3) · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Eric Gordy of East Ethnia tackles a number of issues inherent in the dispute between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro, which is currently being heard by the International Court of Justice. The first three parts posted so far highlight these questions: 1. Did genocide occur? 2. Was there a policy? 3. Does the court have jurisdiction?

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Trinidad & Tobago: ICANN wiki · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

ICANN committee member Jacqueline Morris links to a wiki set up to strengthen “Civil Rights and Consumer Protection in ICANN’s policies.” And Taran Rampersad writes to the WSIS governance list with his views on development.

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Tunisia: 11th meetup · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

It was a nice evening as usual full of funny topics and a lot of laughs like in all the meetups I've attended until now. But to avoid repeating what other bloggers said already, I will choose other topics. I'll start by saying that this meetup was the first one to be sponsored by the owner of the restaurant. And it was even his idea when I explained him this phenomenon of bloggers meetups. He was so kind to invite us and offer us the drinks, Marouen said.


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Ukraine: Jackson-Vanik Amendment Scrapped · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Dan McMinn of Orange Ukraine reports that Ukraine is finally going to have “normal trade relations status with the United States,” after the House of Representatives passed legislation yesterday “to graduate Ukraine from the Jackson-Vanik Amendment.”


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Ukraine: Taras Shevchenko’s Birthday 5 Years Ago · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

March 9 is the 192nd anniversary of the birth of Taras Shevchenko, Ukraine's national poet. Two translations of his best-known poem, The Testament, are posted at Orange Revolution. Peter Byrne at Abdymok recalls this day five years ago, when opponents of Leonid Kuchma's regime clashed with the police – first by Taras Shevchenko's monument and later near the presidential administration in Kyiv.


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United Arab Emirates:  Literal pearls of purple prose · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Dubai Police had better sharpen their pencils: they are in serious danger of losing this year's Purple Prose Prize. An associate has forwarded a press release of such exquisite floridity that it quite takes ones breath away, or would do if such a fallacious cliché were possible, Secret Dubai said.


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Vietnam: Fate of an Expatriate · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Our Man in Hanoi worries that he'll end up like many Westerners in Asia: “Am I destined to be the movie ex-pat villain, stuffing my face, sweating profusely and shouting at a befuddled waiter to be quicker with the drinks? I hope not. But you can see it happening over time.”


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Zimbabwe: Arms cache found · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

The Bearded Man reports of a man arrested in Zimbabwe with a large cache of arms. He comments on the Government spin on the case which he feels is too much and unnecessary He also provides links to related stories.


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Big River International Artists’ Workshop · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Artist Ingrid Mwangi (Kenya/Germany) undresses in the waters of the Aripo river, as part of a performance piece she was having videotaped during the third Big River International Artists’ Workshop. The workshop is currently taking place in Aripo, Trinidad. Workshop participants have been commissioned to create works on the theme “Access Denied”.
The 11-day retreat ends on Sunday 12 March with presentations of the works at the Little Carib Theatre in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The countries represented in this year's lineup of artists are Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, the US Virgin Islands, Brazil, Germany, Kenya, China and India. The Big River workshop is a project of Caribbean Contemporary Arts (CCA) and the Triangle Arts Trust.


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Anglo-Venezuelan Blogosphere Conspiracy · Global Voices
Iria Puyosa

Este post también está disponible en español.
Peace Journalism brought to us this week a post about the political polarization on the Internet and citizen-information Venezuelan blogs. Relentlessly optimistic the young journalist says:
thanks to the majority being prone toward dialogue, bigger and better spaces for tolerance, inclusion, or at least acknowledging (…) of the other are being built.
Just two days ago, the counter-information machine that is Enigmas Express criticized English language blogs on Venezuelan politics, regarding them as subliminal warfare. The mythic Khandika  was responding to a post regarding VCrisis, Venezuela News and Views, The Devil´s Excrement, Caracas’ Chronicles and PBMcomments as the Venezuelan political blogosphere vanguard.
Today, a popular Venezuelan newspaper, Últimas Noticias published a full page ad in which those very same blogs are accused of being part of an Anglo-Venezuelan conspiracy against Chávez´government.
The reactions from the bloggers involved:
Anglo-Venezuelan Connection Unite!
Open Threat
NAOR Never
The Mysterious David Duquenal

author: Iria Puyosa


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Argentina, Uruguay: Diplomacy and Celebrity · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Diego is back with his semi-annual post from Buenos Aires. Just back from a trip to Uruguay, he explains how actress Tara Reid plans on saving the world, one party at a time.

author: David Sasaki


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Armenia: Crooked Officials · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Oneworld Multimedia reports on illegalities in the office of the Armenian president. About 60% of government officials have received appointments to positions despite not having done military service.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Armenia: Kosh Prison · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian has photos from Armenia's Kosh Prison in the Aragatsotn Region. Last week, he reported that he was pleasantly surprised by the conditions at the prison.


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Armenia: Observing The 98 Election · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Democracy Guy, Tim Russo, has been serializing his experiences as, well, a democracy guy. The former National Democratic Institute employee is currently on chapter 15, in which he recounts his experiences observing the 1998 Armenian election.


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Bermuda: Local shutterbugs snubbed · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The Limey posts a press release from the Bermuda Professional Photographers Association which alleges that the government is violating its own guidelines by hiring foreign photographers to shoot Bermuda tourism ads.


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Bolivia: International Women’s Day · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Melissa Draper guest-blogs at Blog from Bolivia with her thoughts on International Women's Day in Bolivia and what level of participation women have achieved in the new Movement Towards Socialism administration.


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Brazil: Porto Alegre, Leftist Hotbed? · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Luís Afonso Assumpção is not happy with leftist protesters that gather in his city of Porto Alegre during various conferences and summits.


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Central Asia: Social Change · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Columbia's Harriman Institute held a conference on assessing social change in Central Asia today. Musing Under The Tenement Palm liveblogged the sessions (keep scrolling down).


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China: Human-rights shoot-out · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

“I am glad to have the Chinese government join me in condemning many things that I have over the years contributed money, signed petitions, and cast my vote in order to defeat,” writes Chinese Law Prof. “But its report is more a schoolyard nyah-nyah than a real response to criticism of its own record.”

author: Luisetta Mudie


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China: Kitten mea culpa · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

“After this affair, I have undertaken a deep self-reflection, how I debased myself for a little flyspeck of profit,” wrote Web movie producer Li Yuejun in a Chinese newspaper regarding videos and photos of a woman crushing a kitten and other small animals. “I have hurt far too many people, and have stained what is lofty and holy. I am willing to accept anything the organization or work unit choose to do. I am willing to accept the righteous condemnation of the good-hearted citizens,” says Li, in a translation provided over at Danwei.


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China: Petitioning parliament · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

“The wife of and daughter of imprisoned labor activist Yao Fuxin have gone to Beijing to petition delegates of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on during their annual sessions,” reports Human Rights in China. Yao is in poor health, and his family is appealing for him to be released on medical parole.


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China: Risk assessment · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

The Opposite End of China comments on a recent political risk assessment report produced by the Economist Intelligence Unit, which rates conflict between China's haves and have-nots as the most likely contributing factor to political instability in China.


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China: Urbling memorabilia · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Shenzhen Ren reminds us of the mass mobilization of young intellectuals to the countryside during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), and of Stefan Landsberger's excellent online collection of CR posters and memorabilia.


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Colombia, El Salvador: Sunday Elections · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Both Colombia and El Salvador are off to the polls on Sunday for congressional elections. This prompts Adam Isacson to post a translation of a who's who chart of Colombian candidates, their parties, and their main positions. Hunnapuh, on the other hand, has a far less serious list of “tips for election day (ES).” First tip: don't get wild drunk the night before.


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DRC: Labika on  ” The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”  · Global Voices
Alice Backer

At Renouveau Congolais,  blogger JB Labika  summarizes  (FR) the  entanglements of three strands of influence in the DRC as the Good,  the Bad and the Ugly. He talks of the relationship between the  Congolese Government, the European Union and foreign business based  in the DRC. It's a power triangle in which he says all three sides  benefit.

author: Alice Backer


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Estonia: Language Issue and Russian Media · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Giustino at Itching for Eestimaa comments on how some Russian media are detached from reality when it comes to the language issue: “If you live in a country where the overwhelming majority of the people speak one language, you are going to need to know that language to work a service job. […] How can reality be seen as discrimination? […] Or even in Russia's home territory, can you get a good paying job in Moscow speaking only Votyak or Chechen?”


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Ethiopia: Population increase · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Ethioblog reports that the population of Ethiopia will increase by 100% by 2050


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Georgia: The Ladykiller of Tbilisi · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Susan of SueAndNotU reports on the ladykiller of Tbilisi.


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Guyana, Trinidad: Islam in the Caribbean · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Guyanese Muslim blogger Qays’ defends the use of the word “sainthood” in the context of Islam, sparking a dialogue in the comments thread about manifestations of Islam in Guyana and Trinidad.


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India: Food Labels · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Food Labels get a Hindu group a little angry. Kellogs at the receiving end says Pickled Politics.


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Indonesia: Fewer Tycoons · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Jakartass comments on the drop in the number of Indonesian billionaires on Forbes’ magazine's list of the world's 50 richest individuals: from ten in 1996 to two a decade later. “You've got to feel sorry for them.”


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Indonesia: Rice’s Visit · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Yosef Ardi explains what lies in wait for U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice when she makes her first official visit to Indonesia. In particular, he talks about the possibilities of Indonesia tilting more toward China.


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Iran: Bolton! · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Mr.Behi, an Iran based blogger, writes about Iranian nukes and American ambassador in the United Nations. Blogger says I am not sure if the nucks are the real issue just like the case of WMD of Iraq. I am getting ready for Bolton to take a toothpaste tube from his pocket saying “Iran has produced this amount of enriched Uranium”. This is so vividly scripted.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran: Street & Nuclear · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

View from Iran, an Iran based blogger, talks about Iranian public opinion about nuclear issues. Blogger says “Why do Iranians mistrust everything the government tells them, but trust their spin when it comes to the nuclear issue?” We were wondering last night. If you have followed the nuclear issue at all, then you know that it is reported that Iranians support their government in this issue. Yet, when you hear Iranians on the street respond to reporters (and to me and to K…) they always say “We support nuclear ENERGY.” You would be hard-pressed to find an Iranian who would say “We need nukes. We are willing to be isolated for nukes.”


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Kazakhstan: Dariga · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Registan.net and Democracy Rising discuss Dariga Nazarbaeva, the daughter of the country's president (a biography can be found here), and the ongoing fallout from the murder of a leading opposition politician in Kazakhstan.


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Kazakhstan: Women’s Day · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Betsy of Stanmenistan writes about experiencing Women's Day as an American in Kazakhstan.


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Malaysia: Covering the Fuel Protests · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Worried that the local traditional media will ignore the action, bloggers in Malaysia are covering protests against a recent hike in fuel prices. Jeff Ooi at Screenshots is compiling some places on the Net where you can find more grassroots journalism.


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Mexico: Making Noise About Juarez · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Jennifer Woodard Maderazo wants to see something done about the many unsolved homicides of young women in the border town of Juarez, Mexico.


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Nepal: Human rights · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Bahas has a roundup on the human rights situation in Nepal.


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Nigeria: 3rd term for Presidents · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Grandiose Parlor comments on the attempts by sections of the Nigerian public who support the President's wish to run for a third term.


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Nigeria: Literature reading · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Molara Wood will be appearing in Oxford tomorrow…” Afam Akeh, Nnorom Azuonye and myself will form a quartet with Chuma Nwokolo Jr at the event.”


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North Korea: Who are you calling a threat? · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

OhmyNews! hosts a forum discussion between Robert Einhorn, advisor to the International Security Program of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington, D.C.-based foreign policy think tank, and Peter Beck, Northeast Asia Project Director for the International Crisis Group, on the bogey men being used by various parties to influence domestic public opinion.


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Pakistan: The choices · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Azad Forever captures some of the nuances of the recent controversies to hit Muslims – “
Muslims, as social and conscious human beings should also denounce cowardly acts committed by Muslims, like killing innocence people, just like how Muslims condemn some stupid Danish cartoons against their symbol of faith.”


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Poland: Jarosław Kaczyński’s Expansion to Power · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Michael Farris examines Jarosław Kaczyński's rise to power – his ‘expanding’ to power, that is: “It's certainly been a virtuoso performance and I have no idea how much longer it can last.”


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Russia: FedEx Alternative  · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Yuri Mamchur of Russia Blog writes about a cheaper Russian alternative to FedEx, UPS and other such services – and a faster and more secure alternative to the local post service: passenger trains.


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Russia: Photo Collections · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sergey Belyakov at RUBLog links to two online photo collections: the Russian Photography Collection, 1917-1945, and Albert Hajrullin's Moscow and St. Petersburg pictures.


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Russia: Reckless Driving in Moscow · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

W. Shedd of The Accidental Russophile links to a video featuring a number of car crashes that allegedly took place in Moscow's newly-constructed Lefortovo Tunnel. Pretty wild.


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Russia: Reuters and Wall Street Journal Coverage · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Charlie Ganske of Russia Blog criticizes Reuters’ coverage of Russia's Middle East policies and responds to Richard Pipes’ Wall Street Journal piece (“emblematic of a deeper problem in how the West views Russia”) with shallow remarks summarizing earlier arguments presented on the blog.


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Singapore: Anti-Singapore Sentiment? · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Zuco reacts to news of anti-Singapore demonstrations in Thailand and Australian hostility to permitting Singapore Airlines to fly from Sydney to L.A. He writes: “Very soon, we might have to ask “that” American question: “Why do they hate us so?””


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Slovenia: Playboy Billboards and A Wedding Destination · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The L Files reports on Playboy billboards put up all around Slovenia, featuring a rather naked woman, and the reactions of Slovenians to it. Michael at The Glory of Carniola covers the billboard, too, and also writes about foreigners coming to Slovenia to get married.


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South Africa: Sanitation Week · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

This week is santation week  in South Africa and the government has promised to eradicate bucket toilet systems by the year 2007.  African Houseit “”We have set targets especially on bucket system and we are saying that by 2007 we would have eradicated all the buckets that we have in our country.”


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Sri Lanka: The bumper crop · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

A bumper paddy crop in Sri Lanka may pose marketing problems for farmers – at Janapathi Blog.


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St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Press secretary murdered · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Abeni worries that the murder of the government's press secretary may be politically motivated.


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Sudan: Eyewitness reports from Darfur · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Passion of the Present points to two reports on Darfur from eye witnesses accounts on the violence. “As part of the “Tour of Darfur; Eyewitness to Genocide,” a national speaking tour sponsored by the Save Darfur Coalition, Steidle discussed his firsthand experience of witnessing the mass murder of African Tribes in Darfur, which Steidle describes as “systematic ethnic cleansing.”


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The Week That Was in Bahrain.. · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

It was yet another busy week for Bahrain's bloggers as the country gears up to hosting the biggest event on its calendar, the Bahrain Grand Prix!
Already one blogger has set up shop at the Bahrain International Circuit and started beaming his photographs on the blogsphere!
The event not only brought international spotlight to the kingdom, but also a colourful group of Belgian bloggers, who met with their Bahraini counterparts for dinner, following by drinks and fun in a bid to forge closer links between citizen journalists. Way to go!
This is not all. While people were working round the clock to make the F1 event a success, others were working in the open, calling for more rallies and demonstrations to bring internal issues to the international spotlight. As always, Chanad was on the frontline, trying to put two and two together and report to us what was happening on ground zero.
International Women's Day celebrations too did not go without a bang in Bahrain, where Shia clergymen have stated their discomfort with an impending Personal Law, which will finally streamline family law.
Mahmood Al Yousif has been more than vocal about this,  stopping  just short of waging Jihad on the clergymen.
Blogger Haitham Sabbah  has also added another feather to his cap,  following his success in finally managing to add Palestine to Blogger, Yahoo and MSN. He has also brought to our attention another controversy brewing in Holland, which could very well go the way the infamous Danish cartoons went if not checked.
Away from politics and its headache, Abu Hesham, a Bahraini surgeon in Alaska, US, is giving us a rare glimpse into his eventful life. He is already being terrorised by a  moose, spotted bold eagles and survived the poisons of a killer mushroom which mysteriously sprouted in his backyard! If this is not all, he was also challenged about his lack of information on marijuana.
Meanwhile, Tooners was yet to watch the Oscars  while Nomadic Ruminations suffers a sleepless night after watching a movie! They aren't the only ones immersed in culture as Ali Al Saeed is also enjoying the activities being held as part of  the Spring of Culture festival in Bahrain.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Trinidad & Tobago: Moko jumbie book · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Photographer Stefan Falke posts photos of of the members of the Keylemanjahro School of Arts & Culture in Cocorite, Trinidad, holding copies of MOKO JUMBIES: The Dancing Spirits of Trinidad, the book in which Falke chronicles the school's activities in images. Moko jumbie is the term used in Trinidad for stilt dancer.


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Turkmenistan: Journalists Arrested · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Peter of neweurasia reports on the arrest of two Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalists in Turkmenistan. The location of and charges against the reporters are unknown.


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Ukraine: Demographic Situation · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LEvko at Foreign Notes writes about the demographic situation in Ukraine, an ever depressing topic.


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Ukraine: Election Pancakes and Hot Dogs · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Stephan Clark of Everybody I Love You compares free pancakes served in Kharkiv on Maslenitsa in order to advertise Ukrainian political parties to “that great American political tradition, the parking lot hot-dog give-away.”


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Ukraine: Election-Rigging Expert Expects Election To Be Rigged · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Victor Yanukovych, an election-rigging “expert,” says the upcoming parliamentary election will be rigged, despite victory forecasts for his party. Scott W. Clark of Foreign Notes comments on this unwise campaign strategy: “Discredit an election that it looks like you'll do well in. That will lay the groundwork for what? A court challenge of the election in which you do well?”


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Ukraine: Freedom of Information Campaign · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Maidan: An Internet Hub for Citizens Action Network in Ukraine reprints Stephen Bandera's report on Ukrainian freedom of information activists and their campaign to publicize secret governmental documents “that bear the ‘not for publication’ stamp.” So far, the justice ministry has agreed to provide the dates and titles of nearly 100 secret resolutions and orders issued by the government of Victor Yanukovych in 2002-04. The activists are also demanding declassification of secret decrees issued by Victor Yushchenko in 2005.


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Ukraine: New Customs Rules For Transnistria · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Dan McMinn of Orange Ukraine writes about Ukraine's relationship with Transnistria: cracking down “on smuggled goods out of a country whose economy is based on smuggling” – and the reactions this new policy is getting.


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Ukraine: Potential Yushchenko-Yanukovych Coalition · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Dan McMinn at Orange Ukraine writes about the potential Yushchenko-Yanukovych coalition following the March 26 election: “As Taras Kuzio, among others, has repeatedly said, one of the greatest failings of the Yushchenko government is that it reneged on its promise ‘Bandits to Jail!’ in favor of the informal ‘Bandits to Parliament.'”


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Ukraine: To Debate or Not To Debate? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Oleksandr of Messages From Canada explains why he thinks Ukrainian politicians have to take part in pre-election debates and why many aren't willing to. He concludes: “Dear leaders of political parties of Ukraine, debate now, when you have the chance and have to do so. Otherwise, one beautiful day you will be debated by Ukrainian nation again…”


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Uzbekistan: Politics & NGOs · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Seidenstrasse says that political pressure is causing difficulties for his organization's work in Uzbekistan. In particular, pressure from the government is leading to hesitance of local organizations to partner with foreign NGOs. (Link in German)


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Vietnam: Departures · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Six Months in Hanoi bids an emotional farewell to Vietnam. “My experience of leaving Hanoi was of suddenly seeing the loss of a whole community. I know I will return, but I will never regain that world.” It took him a week before he could write about it.


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What Salvadoran bloggers are saying — pre-elections · Global Voices
Tim Muth

National elections for mayors and deputies to the National Assembly will be held on March 12, so much of the commentary in the Salvadoran blogosphere was political in the past two weeks.
One theme of bloggers was a plea for voters to disregard propaganda and television advertising and to use their minds as they go to the polls.  A contrary view is expressed by Soy Salvadoreño who explains that he has decided that he will not vote for any politician in this election because the campaign propaganda has disgusted him so much.  The writers at the Hunnapuh blog used two separate posts to educate readers that ballots are secret, no one would know their vote, and they could vote without fear.
Blogger Oscar Miguel described his recent experience with taking a child to a hospital in the public health system, a system which he blames for not addressing preventable diseases like diarrhea, and a system which president Tony Saca would not use.  His description of the experience of the public health system followed his three part series explaining the development of his leftist political views following his childhood during the country's civil war.
Rebeca Martel at Hada Luna writes about the relationship between Protestant (in Spanish “evangelico”) churches and politics.  Contrary to common assumptions in the country, the Protestant churches are not uniform and not necessarily either apathetic or linked to the ARENA government.  She describes an interview with a prominent Protestant pastor Mario Vega who spoke of a Christian message for the poor and all but declared himself for the FMLN.
A new blog in the Salvadoran universe is El Visitador.  This blog critiques the ARENA government like many other blogs, but this critique comes from the conservative side of the political spectrum.  In one recent post, the blog argues for privatization of the national zoo.  Pointing to statistics on the deaths of animals and zoo employees and other problems with running the zoo, El Visitador pointedly asks how privatization could possibly be worse than the record of the government ministry currently running the zoo.  El Visitador may lambast the ARENA government, but believes the FMLN would be far worse.
March 1 was the effective date for El Salvador of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).  The FMLN seeks to repeal the treaty while ARENA trumpets the treaty as one of its great achievements.  El Visitador picks up the ARENA line and celebrates the treaty as a step forward and points to, among other things, potential development of a liquefied natural gas facility and power plant on El Salvador's Pacific coast. The bloggers at Hunnapuh, however, critique the discussion of CAFTA by both major political parties as overblown.  In their view, CAFTA's effects will be modest and will be neither the salvation of El Salvador, nor its destruction.
Tim's El Salvador Blog polled many of the Salvadoran bloggers mentioned in this article for their predictions concerning the upcoming election results.  Salvadoran bloggers expect success for the FMLN in legislative elections and the mayorship of San Salvador, while Matt Shugart predicts in Fruits and Votes that there will not be any major shifts in El Salvador during these elections.
Some of the English language blogging in El Salvador comes from religious missionaries.  Mark Trew is a Christian preacher in EL Salvador.  In his blog he comments on politicking Salvadoran-style from a North American point of view and finds it sometimes bizarre, especially when the campaign slogan is “a vote for ARENA is a vote for Tony Saca.”
Amy Zuniga is a newly ordained Episcopal priest.  In a previous post in her blog, she describes her participation in one of the funeral services  for deceased FMLN leader Schafik Handal.  Amy Zuniga would appear to be one of those Protestant pastors to which Rebeca Martel was referring.

author: Tim Muth


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Zimbabwe: one in nine campaign · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

New Zimbabwean blogger, Acoustic Motorbike, comments on a new campaign in South Africa against sexual violence called “One in Nine”.  The campaign is centered on the fact that in South Africa only one out of every 9 rape cases is reported.


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Echoes from the Tunisian Blogosphere · Global Voices
Mohamed Marwen Meddah

The 11th Tunisian blogger meetup was held last sunday in the Latina café/restaurant. Turnout was pretty good for this meetup with 18 people showing up. The next meetup should be held in the mountains of Zaghouan. Many of the present bloggers wrote about this meetup (Tom (FR), Marouen (FR), Karim (EN), MMM (EN), Staka (FR), Mochekes (FR), Foufa (FR)).
Tunisian music podcast Tunizika release a new Moroccan music style episode with music from artists: Ahmed Soultan, Darga, Casa Crew and Hoba Hoba.
There's been a lot of talk about Tunisiana‘s new mobile internet offering, starting from Marouen (EN) who announced it before the service was publicly launched, to Keitaro (FR) who's using it, to Mochekes (FR) who has been giving tips and advice about it.
Both Yamen and MMM picked up the news of the new political party that was born in Tunisia on  Friday, March 3rd. The new formation, named “the Green Party for Progress,” (the PVP) is Tunisia’s ninth legal party.
Tom writes about how after usenet, personal homepages, forums, chatrooms, blogs and the blogosphere, something new is starting to take shape:  a commentsphere, which consists of people who comment a lot on other people's blogs but don't have blogs of their own (FR).
Le Kerkenien and Swobodin both bring up the topic of racism and how tolerant the Tunisian people are towards Black Africans who come to work or study in Tunisia.
Tarek writes about this show that he saw on Tunisian TV once about this poor rural woman who made her living from the breeding of two sheep, and who was cleverly re-investing small amounts of money she was earning in the purchase of additional sheep, and how she was able to repair and embellish her small home thanks to this income.
He talks about how proud he was to see how she was living and surviving, and he believes that Sustainable Development starts with people like this, people who do not stagnate and wait for someone to give them a hand, people who work and believe in themselves and in a better future. (EN)
His post was also republished on the Tunisian El Khadra Environmental Blog in both English and French.
Rim calls for interested Tunisian Females to participate in the “Interfaith Youth Exchange for Environmental and Cross-Cultural Healing”, which is a joint project of the Cyprus Environmental Studies Centre and United Religions Initiative, being held in Cyprus from June 5th to 12th.
MMM writes about Pr. Habiba Bouhamed Chaabouni from Tunisia, who was awarded the L'Oréal-UNESCO Women in Science Award for her contribution to the analysis and prevention of hereditary disorders.

author: Mohamed Marwen Meddah


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First Woman President in Chile · Global Voices
Rosario Lizana

Photo: www.emol.com
Chile is very excited. For the first time a woman has been elected as president and we are talking about it;  in the streets, on the radio, on television and in Blogs. The presidential period of 4 years started today with a ceremony that took place at the Chilean congress building, in Valparaíso. More than 70 international delegates (including presidents) attended the ceremony.
“El Morrocotudo” (ES) posts a emotive view, including details about how people were shouting to president Michelle Bachelet “We are with you Bachelet!” , in the beginning of the ceremony and the goodbye tears of ex-president Lagos.  A very clear list of the symbolic facts of  this historic act can be found at the bottom of the post.
“Peridismo Global” (ES) , emphasizes  ex-president Lagos´ farewell speech, who said of Bachelet “She is a sign of our times, in a country that has moved for new challenges, a society that has deeply positive changes, through liberty, pluralism, challenges and equality.”
“Ciberamerica” (ES)  emphasizes the responsibility of Chile:  “although all the presidents and foreign delegations that attend are a big support, they commit our country with the world. Now we are obliged to show better results, no-one would understand a regression.”
“Itaxac” (ES) posts about the international guests attending the ceremony in “Republican Fest”. He shares with us that he has a strange emotional feeling, that is reminiscent of when the democracy was won in 1998.
A very good summary of Michele Bachelet´s profile is can be found on Libardo Buitrago blog (ES) .
For a Chilean press review of the ceremony, click here.
President Michelle Bachelet Blogs
Michelle Bachelet has two official blogs: the campaign blog (ES), made for the community that supports Bachelet, and the blog (ES) that is based upon her commitment with information technology and communication. This blog is made to inform what will be happening in these areas during her period of governance.

author: Rosario Lizana


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Interview with Nasrin Alavi · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

There are about 75000 blogs in Persian in world and their numbers are growing fast. We are Iran, written by Nasrin Alavi and published in English and German. It is first book written about Iranian blogs. WE ARE IRAN was amongst a handful of books last year recommended by English PEN . It has also been selected amongst the books of the year by both the Independent and the New Statesman. Nasrin in this interview first introduced book and then answered questions.
Global Voices: May you introduce your book and its objectives?
Alavi says I can't claim that “We Are Iran” is scientific   controlled study of the Iranian blogsphere.  But for example I have tried to highlight common themes, common/recurring topics and areas of concern etc. For instance   a “common theme”   was defined as a topical discussion by 5 or more high traffic blogs.  Yet to show a spectrum of viewpoints other bloggers (not necessarily high traffic) that contributed to debates on the message boards of such blogs were also followed through and sometimes quoted. It is the voices of this educated youth that comes through the phenomenon that is the Iranian blogosphere.
Like most Iranians I am also terrified of a US attack against Iran. As the Americans ask the world to consider Iran as a major world threat and potentially the next place after Iraq to be precision bombed into democracy. I wanted to highlight the existence of this dynamic community of bloggers that has risen out of a dynamic society. In the book you get to eavesdrop into the intimate conversations of this so called world threat. And get a unique glimpse of the changing consciousness of Iran’s younger generation. What is happening in Iran is more significant and sustainable in the long run than the mere overthrow of dictators; that as we are witnessing in Iraq is the easy part.
Global Voices: Some criticise your book that you did not mention Hezbollah blogs or bloggers ?
I’ve only reflected a bias that exists in Iranian blogosphere. Yet “Hezbollahi bloggers” are also included in the book, but they don't feature heavily. Do you think that we would find one “Hezbollahi blog” featuring in the top 100 Technorati zeitgeist list of Iranian blogs or even the top 500? Yet we need to also primarily define a Hezbollahi blog. One blogger in the book explains his reasons for voting for Ahmadi'nejad, but I would not call him a “Hezbollahi bloggers”. But there are other bloggers featured in the book who work as journalists for publications such as Kayhan and Hareem and perhaps they could be labelled as “Hezbollahi bloggers”.
For instance do we define someone who attends Friday prayers as a Hezbollahi? They may have power, but how representative are such individuals of Iranian blogosphere or even Iranian society in general. We see Iranians portrayed as death chanting crowds in archive footage that was shot during Friday prayers that is routinely shown on any news broadcasts about Iran. Yet according to surveys by Iran's own Ministry of Culture and Guidance, fewer than 1.4 per cent of the population actually attend Friday prayers.
But young “Hezbollahi bloggers” do exist and they would make a fascinating study.   Perhaps we might even find a commonality that they are also part of a new generation of Iranians who see themselves as citizens with rights. That they also want elected representatives that are answerable to them. As one blogger quoted in the book, describing his clash with a Basij group on a student protest puts it, “Lets us finally break this chain of hate . . . even against those who hit and arrest you . . . All the children of Iran . . . believe even in our smallest efforts . . . I have to tell you that my generation, we don't want to be anyone's heroes or martyrs for freedom. We want to live and the Basij are a part of my generation too.
Global Voices: In same review we read rather than analysing blogs you wanted to expose Iranian youth with pro reform liberal attitude and you used some blogs to achieve your goal. What is your reaction to this review?
It is no secret that most of the rulers in the Middle East are out of touch with their youth, and Iran is no exception. Expect that while Arab leaders have tried to crush the militants, in Iran’s case you have had a militant regime. Tahkim Vahdat, Iran’s largest national student union was formed after a decree by Ayatollah Khomeini to reinforce his rule yet nearly a quarter of a century later it became one of the most vocal critics of the regime. A Generational change ecologically threatens the survival of radicals. But radical Iran survives in isolation.  There is now the challenge of not hindering and alienating Iran's bourgeoning youth who will determine the future of their country. .
I  tried to show the reality that we Iranians all know well, that there is also another Iran simmering behind the sabre rattling headlines. I included an email address in the book and have been genuinely surprised and overwhelmed by hoards emails from Iranians. I had no idea how many others shared my disheartened feelings about the way we are misrepresented in the Western media.
What has also been gratifying and yet again startling are the emails from non-Iranians who are impressed and humbled by our young bloggers and who write to say that they never even imagined that such Iranians existed. A reader of the German translation of the book wrote to say that that, “I am ashamed to admit that for many years I have been unable to see Iran or Iranians that I have met as anything but hostage takers”.
Global Voices: Book does not have an introduction, don’t you think it can creat confusion?
I definitely agree that the book needs a foreword and I had written a background for the book but for some reason it was not included in this edition, but there will be a short forward for the paperback edition. But for obvious reasons we cannot have an acknowledgment section. For instance, you will notice that some the bloggers only gave permission for the inclusion of their writing in the book if they were made totally anonymous. So in such cases their web addresses were taken out during the final edit.
Global Voices: Which effect Iranian blogs ( 75000 at best) can have on Iranian 70 million population and society?
One remarkable aspect of this virtual community is the emergence of something resembling a Habermasian public sphere, were blogger can discuss matters of public concern in an ‘unrestricted fashion’. These are perhaps small freedoms that may have big knock on effect.


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Iran: Persian Puzzle · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Persian Puzzle, a book about Iran US conflict, has been translated by Dr.Erphan Qaneei Fard  but it has not got permission to go to bookstores in Iran. Dr.Erphan decided to make this translation available on his blog (Persian).


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

So, what's the most interesting stuff Saudi bloggers have been talking about in the past seven days? Let's take our weekly tour in the Saudi blogosphere to find out.
Aya posts on her experience with the current state of the Saudi blogosphere, saying she is very encouraged by finding many interesting and well written Saudi blogs. “Although things don’t always come easy for Saudi bloggers, the will of Saudi bloggers is flourishing and thriving. The internet, after all, has no ceiling & one can always find ways around censorship.” she added.
Mo5 o 7ekma has a strong post on women's driving (Arabic):
Yes, I'd like to get my own car, and I'd like to drive it myself. Neither you, nor anybody else on this earth has the right to ban me from something that my religion did not ban me from. There is not even rational justifications for this ban. I say, we demand women's driving because it is our right, and that's enough.
However, she says that she does not like it when non-Saudis who do not live in Saudi Arabia talk about this topic, trying to analyze, criticize, and condemn, because their analysis usually lacks perspective and accuracy, “and even if they had those, it is still a domestic affair,” she added.
On the same topic, Aya also wrote:
Driving a golf cart in an already segregated event might seem to some as a trivial issue, however, it is certainly not for the self-appointed anti-anything related to women’ progress camp. Their logic is simple: If women drive golf carts today, they will want to drive real cars tomorrow, certainly, a major sin that should be uprooted as early as possible.
After a recent visit to Jeddah and Mecca, @tz3naf was not pleased at all with miserable state of the streets of a city known as the “Bride of the Red Sea.” “We, people of Saudi Arabia, are supposed to benefit from the rise in oil prices, and not to keep on donating to Palestinians, or to rebuild what America destroys in Iraq and Afghanistan. Half of what was donated to Palestine could change the face of Jeddah,” she wrote. Moving to Mecca, she says that a Saudi won't feel like home there (Arabic), because there are so many Africans. Those Africans usually come for pilgrimage, but then they overstay illegally in the country to work in some jobs such as begging. “They are not just beggers; they also spread alcohols, drugs, black magic, and prostitution in this holy city,” she added.
Ubergirl lists ten things she likes about Riyadh, including Saks Fifth Avenue and the fact you can get a tan in December. Meanwhile, Leeno takes the time to give us a glimpse from Riyadh nightlife.
After reading Raja Al-Sanea's controversial novel “Banat Al-Riyadh,” Ahmed says (Arabic): “we read or hear everyday about young people who use drugs, drink alcohols, even commit suicide, and we don't see the same controversy that surrounded this novel. Is it because the main characters of the novel are women, or because the writer is a woman, or is it simply because we think our society is that ideal?”
Prometheus takes on the rise of Islamists in the power positions in the Arab World (the win of Hamas in Palestine and the win of Islamists in the municipal election in Saudi Arabia, to mention some examples). He thinks it was expected. He says that in the times of crises, people tend to look for shelter in religion. The Islmists keep on talking about dangers that threat our identity, which makes people become more religious, and to blindingly follow those who claim to talk in the name of religion. “All that extremism we see around us has nothing to do with Islam (Arabic), ” he writes. “It is a bridge the extremists use to take over the power, and to control the destiny of people. They do not hesitate for a second about committing every crime in order to reach their goal, which is taking over the power,” he added.
Trying to explain to a friend that everyone sets their own limits to what they are willing to risk with their lives in the hereafter, June wrote:
Muslims are people too and they are allowed to make mistakes just like everyone else. It annoys me because when Muslims start talking like that about Muslims they sound like Christians and Jews when they attempt to criticize Muslims when they do something wrong.
Finally, let's have some fun with Saudi Future, who tells us about the different kinds of teachers, and also provides the best way to deal with each one of them :-)

author: Ahmed Al-Omran


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Turkey is Typing… · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

There are many elements of a good Turkish meal and Turkish bloggers are always offering up their opinions as to what those elements are:  Zen in the Kitchen discusses traditional Turkish breakfasts; Yogurt Land shows us how shredded filo dough is made; and the Round ball in Ankara writes about Efes beer and football.
The strange news item of the week is brought to us byAmerikan Turk writing about human quadrapeds found in Turkey (although many Turkish bloggers linked to this article as well).
Mavi Boncuk gives us a bit of pop culture with  Turkish Comics  and the writtings of Turkish author Kemalettin Tucu.
Talk Turkey gives us profiles of three prominent Turkish Americans this week:  U.S. Senior Airman Romina Sidi, Ali Kasikci, the Managing Director of The Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel, and whistle blower Sibel Edmonds.
Metroblogging:Istanbul posts about a recent article written about them, however Idil from Ignore Me if You Can has a more detailed posting about the same incident. Erkan's Field Diary tells his version of the interview process and laments not getting an invitation to a Kurdish Conference being held at his Univerisity.
Turkish Torque posted a quote from the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism that explains a lot about archaeology mismanagement in Turkey (something I have gotten to witness first hand): “If the archeological masterpieces were not smuggled out of Turkey, perhaps we would not be able to protect them this well.”  He also points out the high price of Turkish passports and gives a link to a children's magazine for Turkish Americans called Bonbon.

author: Deborah Ann Dilley


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Mauritius: Video Montage Honoring Independence Day · Global Voices
Andy Carvin

The Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius is a veritable paradise, but is going through hard times due to an outbreak of the mosquito-borne illness, chikungunya. Since the disease has scared away a lot of tourists, Andy Carvin has put together this  video montage celebrating the country's 38th anniversary since independence. The five-minute montage features footage taken from all over the island, including its beaches, national parks, Hindu pilgrimage sites and the national dance known as sega.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS

author: Andy Carvin


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Swedish Blogs on “Eastern Europe” · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

It is safe to say that the blog scene reflecting “Eastern European” events is quite limited as compared to the “hotter” regions such as the Middle East. As for the many country-specific blogs on “Eastern Europe,” there is even less information to be found. Therefore, I here try to account for Swedish blogs on the region.
One of the most frequently visited blogs is Tobias Ljungvall on Belarus. Ljungvall, a liberal with a deep commitment to freedom and democracy in Belarus, here makes his “observations of political developments in and around the Republic of Belarus.” The blog also advertises Ljungvall's book “Kontoll – Rapport från Vitryssland” (“Control – Report from Belarus”). The blog is updated every Sunday. Needless to say, Ljungvall is not welcome any longer in Belarus under the current Lukashenka regime. All the same, he is probably one of the most well-informed people in Sweden on the situation in Belarus.
Allt om Georgien (in Swedish) is an anonymous blog dedicated to tell “all about Georgia” – as its title indicates – to a Swedish audience. It thus informs about, comments on, and promotes current events in Georgia, and things related to Georgia in Sweden. As for its anonymity, it is no hard guess that Göran Dalin and his lovely Georgian wife Ekaterine are behind this blog. The couple seems to have formed the hub of Georgian community in Sweden during recent years – correct me if I am wrong – and this, I believe, is just another of their ventures. As for the contents, the love and devotion to Georgia is quite apparent in the blog.
I think many of us may recognise familiar things and phenomena on Camilla Bondareva's blog Ad notam (in Swedish). She writes and reflects on everyday life in St. Petersburg and Russia, and many of her texts are illustrated by her own photos. Bondareva is a freelance communication manager. In addition to the texts, the general layout and impression of the blog are very nice.
A Swedish expat in Tajikistan – Erik Petersson – actually has two photo blogs on the region. The reason is simple – he started up in Moscow and then moved on to Dushanbe. The Moscow blog (in Swedish) – Samtidigt, i Moskva – depicts Moscow life with Petersson's own pictures and accompanying comments. His Tajikistan blog (in English) – Dushanbe pictures – is so far simply a photo blog with few comments. The pictures themselves may, however, need no further comment. Some of the black-and-white pictures bear the hallmarks of a professional photographer.
Wictoria Majby – a Swedish Institute teacher in Murmansk – runs the blog Ryska Rövarhistorier (in Swedish). Its Swedish title means “Russian cock-and-bull stories” and that is perhaps more of an ironic ambition than reality. Majby simply writes and reflects on various phenomena of her daily life and chores as a foreigner in the Russian north. Those of us who know her, will find her frequent comments well in tune with her vibrant personality.
A UN intern in Abkhazia – Carl Gustaf Erixon – tells about his experiences during out-of-service time on CG Bloggin’ (in Swedish). The blog mainly features his reflections from this conflict-ridden region. He also runs a photo blog – cgerixon's photos – to post pictures, which there is not enough space for on his regular blog.
Then there is Fredrik Nejman's Ukraina-blogg (in Swedish), which forms part of the Swedish Union of Journalists website. The aim of Nejman's blog is to inform about the union's ongoing cooperation with the Ukrainian journalists’ trade union. As such, it is somewhat particular to the ongoing project, but that is also its purpose and aim.
Under the pseudonym of “Annabengan,” a Swedish woman serving with the IOM in Albania tells us about her experiences there and elsewhere on her blog Annasblog (part Swedish, part English). She is careful to point this out: “Everything on this website is purely my own thoughts and in no way reflects the policies or thoughts of the organization I'm working for.”
Finally, there are a couple of blogs that are not specifically dedicated to “Eastern Europe” but where one might regularly find comments on the region.
First, there is Andreas's blog, (part English, part Swedish) by a Swedish liberal Andreas Ribbefjord.
Last but not least, mention must be made of former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt's blog – Bildt comments. With his great interest in international affairs, liberal-conservative Bildt every once in a while writes something about Russia and other parts of “Eastern Europe.”
As may have been gathered by now, the Swedish blogosphere on “Eastern Europe” is limited. This is somewhat strange, as there is quite a lot of people in Sweden with an interest in the region. It has apparently so far not resulted in any greater urge to blog on issues related to “Eastern Europe.” A question, however, lingers on: Have I missed something? Is this really the case?

author: Vilhelm Konnander


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Syrian Blogsphere in a week · Global Voices
Yazan Badran

The Syrian blogsphere took a very important step this week, launching Syria Planet. The first online portal for All Syrian bloggers. Encouraged by the blogging boom Syria witnessed this last year.
Ayman Hourieh, one of the Administrators of Syria Planet says…
Syria Planet, the community site for Syrian bloggers, is now online, it features an aggregator of member blogs (Syrian or about Syria), and forums for arranging activities and meetings, and discussing what's going on in Syria and the blogosphere, among the other things.
On to politics, this week was very important and busy for Syria. March 8th holds the 43rd anniversary of the Baath Party coup in 1963. Which excites yearly sit-ins and opposition meetings in protest to the One-Party rule since then, and the Emergency Laws enacted since March 9th, 1963.
Ammar Abdulhamid had a roundup of this year's opposition activities…
In London, on the other hand, meetings gave way to a sit-in organized by various local opposition groups in front of the Syrian Embassy in commemoration of the Baath coup of March 8, 1063. A similar affair on the grounds of the University of Damascus was violently crushed by a gang of students affiliated with the country's various security apparatuses. In the process, author Samar Yazbek was bludgeoned into unconsciousness.
Rime Allaf  also comments on the occasion, and the long-waited Party Law that's expected to be enacted in the next few months.
The glorious March 8 revolution, celebrated especially by numerous pedantic men sporting March 8 mustaches (and other men trying but failing to grow them), celebrates its 43rd anniversary today. In other words, commiserations are in order for the Syrian people, and for the sad state of the Syrian state. Instead of making way for the new political parties everyone's so excited about, the Baath is digging its heels and waving Article 8 of the constitution in our faces.
Yazan had a bitter post about this topic as well.
43 Years of “Revolution”…
43 years of Emergency Laws.
43 Years of legalized torture.
43 Years of legalized political repression.
43 Years of legalized corruption.
Innocent Criminal posted a harsh critique on the state-run official news agency of Syria (SANA), commenting on its inadequacy and lack of professionalism.
How and why would crap like Arabs Reject Targeting Syria, Sudanese President Advisor Says be your fucking headline? What’s wrong with these morons? This is not an Arabic Syrian daily where toeing the government line blindly is accepted. This is an English media outlet that everyone can read. So why can’t they utilize it to express their point in a semi-intelligent manner instead of wasting digital storage space with this is diarrhea like shit?
Away from politics, Strontium has an interesting post about Celtic knots, with a very valid theory that Syrian architecture in the Hellenistic and Roman periods may be the unknown origin for this style of ornamentation.
Plaitwork, which is a pattern of interwoven unknotted cords, is the earliest known form of knotwork. Plaitwork is not unique to the Celts, examples are found in many cultures. By breaking the plait’s cords and reattaching them, knotwork patterns can be derived. The first examples of this practice can be observed in early 8th century in Italy, but many examples of plaitwork and primitive knots can be found in early Syrian art from Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods.
Finally, a fun post by Bassam on his and others experience in the bureaucracies of the Stationary Centers, and how to cheat your way out of the Military Service.
- One guy has faked a surgical operation of his back for “disc problems” and brought films with him. Apparently his doctor made a skin incision without any additional thing and closed the wound, on purpose of course. He was caught and was handed to investigators.

author: Yazan Badran


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The Lebanese Bloggers this week. Pessimism and a sense of foreboding, but life goes on. · Global Voices
Mustapha

Last week, I wrote about how the Lebanese bloggers were not optimistic about the outcome from the National dialogue. As if they were sensing trouble, it happened: One of the top politicians in the meeting left the dialogue in mid session and flew to Washington, were he made statements perceived to be hostile by the other party. The dialogue was immediately suspended, to be resumed on Monday. The Lebanese Bloggers were unimpressed with the blame game that ensued and wrote with anger and despair. But they later moved on and started writing about other things.
Zadigvoltair from Beirut Notes opined:
Tensions in Lebanon will remain until the military and political defeat of either Iran or the US in the region. [..] It seems that Nietzche was referring to Lebanon when he said: “Hope is the worst of evils, for it prolongs the torments of man”.
The mainstream media also joined the frenzy of  distrust and pinning culpability on politicians. Lebanon.Profile from Lebanese Political Journal and Mustapha from The Beirut Spring both noticed an article by an otherwise composed commentator thrashing one of the politicians. Lazarus from Letters Apart highlights the role of the media in sewing distrust among the various parties. He points to a photo one newspaper chose to publish, of US president George W. Bush giving an interview to a Lebanese TV Station. Lazarus noted that the picture is frozen at the exact moment where Mr. Bush was saying “Peace With Israel”, with its accompanying Arabic subtitle.
Raja from The Lebanese Bloggers thinks the Lebanese are Priming themselves. In other words the Lebanese are mentally preparing themselves to fight.
But Raja’s bleak forecast didn’t seem to rub much on other Lebanese bloggers, who are having a “life goes on” attitude. For instance, La La from Land La La posted three pictures that she thinks summarize what it means to be Lebanese.
Kais from Beirut To The Beltway is exploring the freedom to have no religion in Lebanon:
Because personal status matters are controlled by religious courts, intolerant parents can get away with placing legal and moral obstacles in the path of their children.
Jamal from Jamal's Propaganda Site decides to go to the movies but finds out that most of the Oscar nominees are censored:
3 of 5 Movies nominated for the Best picture Oscar will not be shown in Lebanese movie theaters.* One for Homophobia, one for Zionophobia, and one for Islamopyrophobia.
Ad-Libanaises, A blog where most female Lebanese bloggers contribute, wrote an “ode to femininity” on Women’s Day:
…a moment of respect. an ode to femininity. a time to reflect. a call for change. a thought, carefully treasured for you: my mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, virtual friends, working wives, household wives, grocery store ladies, scary childhood dentists, unloved teachers, strangers smiling at me in a crowded street … you, my “ordinary” women, makers of my history, who have shaped me into the woman I am today. To all of you, today I say: thank you.
One blogger, Moussa from Ur Shalim, posted on a very mundane subject that has nothing to do with the national dialogue, but is nevertheless very important: Teaching teachers a lesson.

author: Mustapha


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Bermuda: Meeting on democracy · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The Limey posts a detailed report on a meeting convened to discuss how to make the Bermudian politican system more democratic. Christian S. Dunleavy links to the Limey's post, adding that the meeting was “poorly advertised, badly scheduled and hence lightly attended”.

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Afghan Whispers: Justice, Discrimination & Poor Animals · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Afghan Warrior is upset that a former intelligence chief during communist period was condemned but others who have done worse holding responsibilities in government. The blogger says
“It's so sad when the many criminals in high government posts are not being prosecuted – people who destroyed 70% of the capital Kabul and killed more than 70 thousand people just in Kabul from 1992-1996. Every single one of these Jihad commanders was acting as a king in their area. Looting and killing was done on a daily basis. But now some of them are in the current government and parliament and they are not being prosecuted. People are scared to appeal against them but if the government put these criminals in jail and bring them to justice of course thousands of people will be eyewitnesses of their inhuman crimes. It is clear to everyone that all governments have their opponent. Like the Mujahideen were against the communist government which ran the country from 1979-1992. During this time people killed from both sides and it is wrong to stand a former intelligence chief responsible for crimes carried out by others. “
Maykadeh says that animals are really mistreated & even abused sexually in Afghanistan. He writes
“They have to pull those heavy, over-loaded carts while being whipped mercilessly all day, then much like the women, they have to look forward to being screwed by some sexually frustrated guy at night.
Which brings me to another point, if they would cease this the masochistic sexual segregation, then they wouldn’t have to resort to buggering farm animals and little boys (which is so widespread here – how very strange for a Muslim country!)
Now I’m reminded me of a story. A guy working for some organization or another in Uruzgan province came across a Koochi (Pashtun nomads) settlement and they complained that the Americans had come down in helicopters and stolen a camel. Bewildered and somewhat sceptical, he asked why they would do such a thing? Well, according to the Koochis, it was a young and very beautiful camel so the Americans must have kidnapped it for sex. True story.”


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Africa concerts review · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Benn Loxo du Taccu has a roundup of African music concerts in France with links to the bands and reviews.

author: Sokari Ekine


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Africa: press freedom · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Yebo Gogo comments on press freedom or rather lack of it in Africa. The problem is not just in Kenya, recently a Canadian journalist was expelled from Uganda and in Nigeria a journalist critical of the President is now in hiding.


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Argentina: Turpentine · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Fernando Casale can't stop listening to the new EP of Argentine indie group, Turpentine. You can listen to it yourself as all seven tracks are available for download.

author: David Sasaki


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Armenia: Eurovision Protest · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian notes that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia is now touching Armenia's entry in to the Eurovision Song Contest. The entrant's listing of the “Republic of Nagorno Karabakh” as his birthplace is being taken as an offense by Azerbaijan.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Armenia: Korfball · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Zarchka of Life Around Me writes about korfball in Armenia and says she is excited that a team from her country will be playing in the first youth world championship in Holland, where the game originated.


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Armenia: Notes from the Blogosphere · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Oneworld Multimedia carries roundups of the English-language and Armenian-language Armenian blogospheres.


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Bangladesh: Farakka Barrage · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Razib has a post based on another article on the very delicate issue of the Farakka Barrage, and water politics between India and Bangladesh.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Belarus: More Arrests · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

br23 blog reports on the arrest of Siarhiej Antonchyk, a retired politician, and his son this past Friday. LJ user baleslau (RUS) posts a photo of the judge who has sentenced the two men to 15 days in prison. The same judge – Ms. Reutskaya – ruled on other opposition members’ cases earlier. baleslau also reports (RUS) on how two young men from the town of Kalinkovichi were throwing snowballs at each other and, quite mysteriously, ended up being arrested and sentenced to 15 days as well. The men happened to be working for the opposition candidate Milinkevich.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Belarus: Pictures From An Opposition Meeting · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LJ users aliaksei and belnetmon share their impressions (RUS) and photos of the opposition candidate Milinkevich's meeting with the voters in Minsk on Sunday: two to three thousand people of all ages showed up, including some agents provocateurs and undercover KGB men; the music was blaring so that no one could hear the candidate speaking. LJ user aptymist (BEL) also links to some pictures from the meeting. A man with a video camera on aliaksei‘s last photo is, most likely, a KGB agent filming the meeting's participants.


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Best Latin American Weblog: The Cooking Diva · Global Voices
David Sasaki

It seems, at times, that the only phenomenon growing faster than the explosion of weblogs themselves are the self-proclaimed award ceremonies that recognize their propagation and increasing cultural influence. Amid the orgie of link-seeking and back-patting however, one awards ceremony has long stood out as the sort of Nobel Prize of online diarists, even if it's selection has tended to be Anglophone-biased. More commonly referred to as “The Bloggies,” the sixth annual Weblog Awards are the creation of 23-year-old Michigan native and anime enthusiast, Nikolai Nolan.
According to Wikipedia, “The awards cover thirty categories, including eight by region … seven by subject … and awards for ‘Weblog of the Year’ and ‘Lifetime achievement’.” This year's winners were published today and we are proud to announce that Cooking Diva, the personal weblog of Global Voices contributor, chef extraordinaire, and all around good person, Melissa De Leòn Douglass, was selected as “Best Latin American Weblog.”
It is no surprise that The Cooking Diva Blog often focuses on food, but De Leòn Douglass’ content is far from mere gastronomy. Based in Panama, she has lived, worked, and studied in Mexico, California, Thailand, and around Latin America. That worldly experience often finds its way into her writing and attracts a readership from across the globe.
Whether it's meditating on mangoes, appreciating the artisanship of cheese making in Ecuador, or traveling to rural Panama in search of a cocada-making legend, her warm style of writing comes off like a written letter from a friend.
You can learn more about Melissa De Leòn Douglass by reading her biography or a fun post on “10 things you never knew about me” including her appetite for homegrown flowers.
Other finalists in the Latin America category were Bestiaria, a witty Argentine feminist's blog in Spanish, Motel de Moka, a bilingual music blog from Mexico, Ponchorama, also bilingual and also based in Mexico, and finally, Guyana-Gyal who was previously interviewed by Georgia Popplewell on Global Voices.
Congratulations to Melissa and all of the other finalists and nominees in this year's sixth annual Weblog Awards.


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Bolivia: “Will Bolivia Kiss the IMF Goodbye?” · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Jim Shultz speculates on the probability that Bolivia will not renew its often-criticized lending agreement with the International Monetary Fund. A commenter on Miguel Buitrago's weblog links to the full report by Mark Weisbrot, Co-Director at the Center for Economic Policy Research, on the issue.


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Cambodia: Sorcery · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

seserak at From Cambodia to Japan gives us a primer on sorcery in Cambodia.

author: Jose Manuel Tesoro


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Central Asia: Navruz · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

The Golden Road to Samarqand notes that Navruz is on its way and looks at the different ways that the holiday is celebrated in Central Asia.


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China: Bloggers and farmers · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Danwei compares two recent China cover stories about potential threats to the status quo. Newsweek‘s cover is entitled “Beijing vs. the Bloggers”, while Time focuses on rural unrest.

author: Luisetta Mudie


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China: Nike sparks nationalism debate · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

ESWN picks up on a post on the  on the Chinese-language Tianya discussion forum, which says the most recent Nike advertisement hurts the feelings of the Chinese people. Many commentators appear to think this view is that of a rather sad person, however.


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China: Specter of rural revolt · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Rounding up this year's National People's Congress (NPC), China Confidential says that while it's not democratic, it is far more than a “rubber stamp”, providing a window into the fears and concerns of the ruling Communist Party. Summing up the military's fears, s/he says: “It is one thing to mow down out-of-control students and intellectuals in Beijing, many of whom are anyhow seen by army types as belonging to a historically privileged bureaucratic class, and something else entirely to crush a widespread rural rebellion. This is the specter–the ghost of Mao and the awesome power that he unleashed, one could say– that haunts the Great Hall of the People (where the NPC convenes each year) and secretly terrifies all of China.”


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Colombia: High Abstention in Congressional Elections · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Colombian bloggers have so far said very little about Sunday's congressional elections, but Boz did update his readers on El Salvador and Colombia throughout the day. Sergio Méndez of Bogotá is amazed by the 60% abstention rate (ES) and describes President Uribe as, “despite all his rhetoric, more and more like [Venezuelan President] Chavez.” Professor Matthew Shugart offers his analysis on the tenuous alliance of independent parties that has been dubbed, “Uribismo” after President Álvaro Uribe. Shugart's rundown also has a handy breakdown of the post-electoral Senate.


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Cuba: A sheep dies for baseball · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

As Cuba faces Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic in Puerto Rico, Zenia Regalado's neighbours kill and roast a sheep (ES).


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Czech Republic: Museum of Romani Culture in Brno · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Back in February, Jen and Derrick Teal of A Year in the Czech Republic visited the Museum of Romani Culture in Brno, located in the city's Roma neighborhood: “Suddenly, almost everyone we passed had the darker skin tone of many Roma Czechs and the fairer-skinned Czechs seemed to have disappeared, and sadly, the buildings and streets were in considerably worse disrepair, an unfortunate sign of the modern difficulties faced by the Roma people in this, and other, countries.”


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Czech Republic: What Yugoslavia Meant For Czechs · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The death of Slobodan Milosevic inspires Gazing into the Abyss to write about the Czechs’ feelings toward (what used to be) Yugoslavia: “‘Yugoslavia’ is likeable word for Czech ears. Serbia and Montenegro, Croatia, BiH, Slovenia, Macedonia… they are not. Most Czechs never took an effort to grasp what happened in their beloved Yugoslavia, and why; and how; and who's responsible. […]”


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El Salvador: Closely Contested Mayoral Race · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Early this morning, Tim Muth posted the initial results of yesterday's election in El Salvador: “Across the country, ARENA appears to have won 33 seats in the National Assembly versus 32 seats for the FMLN.” He then posts that in the San Salvador mayoral race Violeta Menjivar trails Rodrigo Samayoa by just 15 votes. Susan Dunlop wrote her own observations of election day.


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Ethiopia: journalist jailed · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

EthioBlog reports that an Ethiopian jounalist has been sentenced to one year in prison for writing “false news”. Meanwhile another journalist, pregnant Internet journalist Frezer Negash was freed from custody.


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Guyana: Third force · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

When is a real “third force” going to emerge on the Guyanese political scene, asks Roopster.


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Guyana: Who are Guyana’s true friends? · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Monologist takes MediaCritic to task for the latter's criticism of the Guyanese President's absence from the historic meeting ratifying the Caribbean Single Market in January.  “I think, by not going to this conference Guyana actually made a statement to these Caricom ‘brothers and sisters’ that have time and time again spat on us,” says Monologist.


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Hong Kong: Orientalists at LitFest · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Glutter is disgusted at the arrogance and lack of courtesy shown to Chinese-language authors at recent workshops in the Hong Kong Literary Festival 2006, who are constantly asked to account for their work with a Western audience in mind. “I still have five more lectures to go and I am starting to dread the whole festival for the most part because so far, as the questions asked isn't about the book, the content, or the stories at all,” she writes.


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India: Computers and Employment · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Charu on a venture that seeks to link women who seek employment as domestic help to families who are on-the-lookout for employees and has grave doubts.


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India: Meetup in DC · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Chocolate and Gold Coins on the recent blogmeet in the US which had Indian bloggers (apparently) having a lot of fun and cake.


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India: The Fabulous Prime Minister · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The indulgence of politicians is well documented and for all to see. Ram has the opportunity to share flight time with the premier from another part of the world and is impressed by relative simplicity of Finland Prime Minister's entourage.


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Jamaica: Possibility · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Francis Wade — and, it would seem, several of his compatriots — senses a “whiff of possibility” in the recent changes in the Jamaican political status quo, notably the ascension of a woman to the position of Prime Minister. “Out of nowhere, it seems, our murders have dropped by 20% in the last couple of months,” Francis writes. “It is the kind of thing that happens when possibility enters that air, and let us all work to make it last.”


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Jordan: Is the Arab World ready for Corporate Blogs? · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Khalidah asks: “Should a blogger be appointed to maintain the corporate blog; he/she must be brave and credible enough to provide the audience with trusted content that will promote the credibility of the corporation as a whole. But are Arab corporations ready to give such power to one of their people? Are they willing to trust someone that much and stand accountable for their own mistakes and talk about them before anyone else does?”

author: Haitham Sabbah


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KenyanSphere this week · Global Voices
Juliana Rotich

In the followup to the government sanctioned raid on the standard newspaper on thursday March 2nd, kenyan blogger/journalist John Kamau gives a detailed piece showing John Michuki's background, thus giving a more in depth look at the man who defended the government over the attack. He notes,
A man who joined the civil service at the age of 25 in 1955, and at the height of Mau Mau war Michuki started work when the word state security was used to intimidate the African press.
[snip]
If he could crack down on the Mau Mau — or witness the crackdown — his recent efforts and threat to crack down the media will earn him wrath for his “tight-fisted” tendencies. Unlike in 1970 when he was asked by Kenyatta to start up the Kenya Commercial Bank after the government bought the former National and Grindlays Bank., Michuki is this time flexing his muscles on the wrong people. It is a battle he can hardly win. Or can he?
The mau mau war refers to the armed resistance against colonial occupation by Britain.
There were peaceful protests this past week against the actions of the government, and Kenyan analyst was there, giving a first person account of the rally from Uhuru Park.
Prior to the raid on the Standard Newspaper, an alternative weekly called Weekly citizen was raided in February and a journalist detained. KenyanPundit posts the articles that led to the raid, and Kenyan Analyst adds another article that would appeared on the Weekly Citizen. kumekucha notices that the weekly citizen staff [were]charged using an old colonial law.
On March 10th, President Kibaki made one statement regarding the press attack, stating that the government would continue to guarantee freedom of expression. This was reported March 11th by Nationmedia.(free subscription)
On to financial news, bankelele reports about Kenya's largest IPO in “here comes Kengen”, where “The Kengen IPO will open with rather short notice on March 20 with shares priced at Kshs 11.90 each.”. Bankelele also takes a look back at Kenya Airways when it was K7.  Kamundulio is not happy with Kenya airways, as a result of an unfriendly experience, noting the stark contrast between the experience of passengers on the ground and the ads on t.v.
Kenyan Bloggers celebrated International womens day this past wednesday, with their entries being covered by global voices in Part 1 and  part 2. Several gentlemen also joined the women in  celebrating this day.  Magaidi has a tribute, Ntwiga honors his wife Njeri, his mom and Wangari Maathai; Kenyan Analyst shares a piece about Liberia's Ellen Sirleaf Johnson.
Cirdan links to the Stanford Encyclopaedia entry on African Sage philosophy, on another post, he points to a Betty Caplan's website, lets just say Cirdan is not a fan of this columnist.
On the inspirational tip, there are two entries of note, the first by Rombo“What Inspires you?” and the second is an excellent piece “Afraid to be great” by Magaidi
If you like Kenyan music, Mocha has some links to music news and websites.
In sports, Kenyan Cricket reports that “Kenyan players ranked in the top 100 “. He also has an entry suggesting government funding for kenyan cricket.
Last but not least, mental acrobatics posts his first podcast, following in the heels of medusa and the boots of Msaniixl.

author: Juliana Rotich


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Malaysia: Correcting Malaysian · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

A Worm's Perspective discusses Malaysia's campaign to rid national language Bahasa Malaysia of foreign loanwords.


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Malaysia: The Mystery of Datukship · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

In Malaysia, the title of Datuk is supposedly awarded to outstanding citizens. Kenny Sia ponders the mystery of who gets them.


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Mexico: Son Jarocho · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Oaxaca Dockters describe Son Jarocho, a type of folk music with roots in Veracruz. Two other posts document the music with photography.


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Mongolia: Corruption and Censorship · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Shards of Mongolia says that corruption in the Mongolian government causes it to not do enough to stop censorship, and that if it truly wants to claim itself as a free and democratic state, it must do more to combat this problem.


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Nigeria: Antiretroviral drug programme · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Kids Doc in Jos explains some of the issues around antiretroviral (ARV)  drug regimes – the need to take every dose as missing one will have a critical effect and how the virus operates.  He also reports on the progress of baby  Paul who has been on an antiretroviral (ARV) program for 18 months. He was doing very well but now he is sick again.


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Nigeria: Hip hop · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Naijablog posts an interview he had with “emerging hip-hop talent/producer FML (aka Blaise) on Lagos Live.”


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Pakistan: How protest evolves · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The Olive Ream, with characteristic humour presents the anatomy of a protest. The story of how some bloggers picked up on the threads after blogspot blogs were blocked by ISPs in Pakistan from the horse's mouth.


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Poland: “Solidarni z Bialorusia” Concert · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LJ user macsim_by links to photos from a rock concert “Solidarni z Bialorusia” (“Solidarity With Belarus”) that was held in Warsaw Sunday.


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Polish Blogosphere Update · Global Voices
Jordan & Maria Seidel

Don't ever lose your wallet in Poland, especially if it contains your bank card – that's the lesson gleaned from expat Wendy Lady of The Poland Diaries.  After reading about her ordeal to  a open a bank account, I have concluded that Eurocrats can learn a thing or two from Polish-style bureaucracy. Wendy Lady laments:
I've been trying to open a bank account for 2 months and it's still not open. No, that's not entirely accurate, I can now put money into the account, I just can't take it out.
But wait, digging a little deeper, I found a virtual “cornucopia” of stories, information, and even academic research  on Polish bureaucracy.
Turning now to public health news in Poland, the beatroot and other sources report that “It's Official”: avian flu has been confirmed within Polish borders. Following the news, and subsequent media coverage, the economic fallout is discussed. In the comments section of the beatroot, Roman ponders the sale of his KFC stock, while P. Gentle sympathizes with poultry farmers…
…who are now facing an irrational consumer boycott of their products. Two hundred million birds have been slaughtered or have died from the disease so far.
Also ruffling feathers, in Germany this time, is Poland's President. On a recent visit to Berlin, Lech Kaczynski was confronted by protesters, but, unperturbed, he had this to say this about homosexuals:
I do not plan to persecute homosexuals or to hinder their careers. But there is no reason to encourage it because it would mean that mankind would slowly die out.
Never to be outdone by flamboyance, especially when it comes to stage garb, the beatroot reports that the 70's Swedish pop quartet ABBA dusted off their polyester pants in support of Warsaw Pride:
The four members of Abba, who have hardly been in the same room as each other since they broke up nearly two decades ago, have came together this week to sign memorabilia which will be auctioned off on the internet.
While the publicity generated by such stunts is sure to raise the issue in the public's consciousness, doubts remain. In the comments section of the beatroot, sonia says that many homosexuals in Poland are still ‘in the closet’ -
…it won't be easy in Poland. Most Polish lesbians I know are in the closet and determined to stay there. Because of their families, religion, upbringing. The last thing they want are parades and publicity around them.
In the business sector, according to Poland – IP Law News and Resources, Krakow is a prime location for biotech firms. Reporting on an upcoming Life Science conference in the Polish city, Dariusz waxes:
Krakow is the best place to invest in biotechnology – there are 12 universities here including 2 renowned biotech faculties, special economical zone (tax exemptions) and new legal instruments for R&D activities (tax deductions).
Among Polish-language bloggers of the more politicized orientation there's been a debate going on the ruling party's project of media monitoring, the opposition's proposal to set up a parliamentary commitee to investigate secret services’ invigilation of journalists, and freedom of the press in general.
On Kurczeblade, Mrozon quotes (in Polish) the ruling party leader publicly expressing doubt as to whether Poland has free press at all:
Freedom of the press means freedom of the journalist. If it's just the freedom of publishers and owners, it just applies to a handful of people who do not necessarily have public interest in mind. […] All the most important media figures in Poland can be counted on your fingers. They decide on the shape of publications and the extent of freedom.
As a comment, Mrozon asks if  PiS leader's attitude reflects the relations in his own party, where he has severely criticized  one of the MP's for giving an interview: speaking to the media seems to be a task reserved for his few selected “pretorians.”
Blogging mainstream journalists Igor Janke and J. Jachowicz are pondering the impact of creating yet another parliamentary investigation commitee, as proposed by the opposition. The goal of it would be investigating  into allegations of police invigilating a pair of known journalists a couple years ago. These journalists had been investigating corruption allegations of some then-prominent politicians, and were allegedly following a leak from Poland's secret services bound on compromising these politicans (as Mr. Janke reminds his readers – in Polish).
Galba writes that neither of these politicans has ever been charged with anything, as the evidence wasn't sufficient, yet both saw their careers ruined after daily Rzeczpospolita publications. He says (in Polish):
There are three “traditional” branches of government, and the fourth superbranch, which, unlike the others, is not subjected to any form of control (you can't even ask about its moral condition) and bears no responsibility for its actions. Is it strange that some say we live not in a democracy but in mediocracy?
Adam Haribu gives us almost a page full of quotes from the leading Polish newspapers, criticizing the government and the ruling party, often in a fervent and rather hysterical tone, to prove his point that “this is a way of spreading political propaganda. Too bad that the journalists are the ones doing that. And too bad they're not doing it openly as members of this or that party, buy pretending to be independent obserwers and experts.” (in Polish)
Finally Michał Karnowski, journalist writing for Newsweek Polska, sums it up on his blog (in Polish):
This is the climax point in division of public and political life started with the debate on forming the current government. Division going across newsrooms and families alike. Both sides lose their nerve, and losing it are – unfortunately – also some leaders of the journalistic community.  Who's not with us is against us.
I'm not buying it. The media have many flaws, but in general they are free. They defended themselves against stupid ideas before, they'll do so now. There's no need to suspend the rules of the profession to do so.
That’s the Poland blogopshere update! Until next time – Do widzenia!

author: Jordan & Maria Seidel


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Russia: “Preved, omerekancheg!” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A Chicago-based LJ user angstzeit encounters  a Russian-speaking bear and through a flashmob of Russian commenters learns about the Preved!-mania. John Lurie's original drawing; hundreds of followups at ru_preved LJ community; Preved! CafePress.com stuff; lots of Russian slang and obsceneties; a Cold War between the Preved Bear and the O RLY Owl; a discussion of stereotypes – and an invitation to visit Russia from LJ user romeus: “All of my American friends tell me that they have gotten happier after they visited Russia. you should come visit Moscow! PREVED!!! In Moscow the “Preveders” have already gone twice to the Moscow zoo to say PREVED to the bears. How happy is that?!!! :)))”


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Silk Road: Sogdians in China · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Musing Under the Tenement Palm blogs about Sogdians, the builders of Bokhara and Samarkand, who spoke Persian and plied the Silk Route through Central Asia and into China for 15 centuries. They show up quite extensively in Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) records recently unearthed in a Turpan burial site.


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Singapore, Thailand: Missteps by Temasek · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Singapore Election Watch asks if the country's normally astute government investment agency Temasek Holdings made a misstep when it bought a large chunk of Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra's Shin Corp.


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South Africa: On God  · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Mzansi Afrika asks “Whose side is God on” commenting that everyone is asking for favours from God even those on opposing sides.  “If there's a God out there or up there, He is probably not on the side of rich folks who sit on poor folks. He's probably unhappy at folks who kill others in his name. He's probably wagging his finger at those who go against the grain of goodness that is inherent in human beings.”


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South Africa: web technology ideas for Africa · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

White African posts an idea of his for web technology in Africa “that could change the way Africans communicate, trade and interact with each other and the world.”


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South Korea: The realm of the Mothers · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

The Asia Pages relates a long and intense debate about parental sacrifice and obligation with a Korean man on-line. In the end, she is told, she doesn't understand because she's not Korean.


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Sudan: peace talks · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Coalition for Darfur points to a report on peace talks between warring parties taking place in Abuja Nigeria. The AU mediator stated “If any party refuses to sign the enhanced humanitarian ceasefire agreement, we will have no option but to conclude that it is not interested in peace and the wellbeing of the people of Darfur,” Salim said.”


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Thailand: Annotating a Royal Message · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Bangkok Pundit evaluates the various interpretations, in the currently polarized political atmosphere in Thailand, made of a decision to replay King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 1992 reconciliation message to rival political parties.


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Trinidad & Tobago: No iron at the World Cup? · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Smi reports that FIFA has ruled that “patrons bearing ‘iron made instruments’” may not be allowed into World Cup 2006 matches, on the grounds that “iron is ‘heavy’ and ‘can be used as a weapon.’” Which means that fans of Trinidad and Tobago's football team may have to do without their traditional rhythm sections and steel pans. “Fair(ish) point,” says Smi. “Although, on the grounds of ‘potential for violence’ shouldn’t England fans be banned en masse from attending any international football games, anywhere, forever?”


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Zimbabwe: Role of NGOs · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

This is Zimbabwe discusses the role of NGOs in Zimbabwe and questions whether they can contribute to bringing about an end to Zimbabwe's crisis.


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Armenia: Waitressing · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Nessuna writes about the trials, tribulations, and joys of waitressing in Armenia.


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Bangladesh: Migrant Labour · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

imperfect world 2006 on Bangladeshi migrant labour, with a feature on a person who worked in Jordan.  – “It is the only good memory he holds of Jordan despite the trouble he got into with it. The other recollections are of beatings and jail.”


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Barbados: The problem with Jamaica · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Barbados Free Press expresses “a concern that many Bajans have with CARICOM – although we might share common origins and history with our Caribbean neighbours, there are some cultural manifestations that we would just as soon not import to Barbados.” The “cultural manifestation”, in this case, is Jamaica's crime problem.