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Thailand: People’s coup or putsch? · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Since Tuesday, anti-government protesters have invaded Thailand’s Government House demanding the resignation of Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. The rallyists, estimated to be as low as 3,000 to as high as 25,000, are members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).
The activists accused Samak of being a puppet of ousted Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra. One of the most popular slogans in the rallies is this: “Monarchy, Nation, and Samak you are bad.”
In the last four days, protest actions were launched in different parts of Thailand. Rallyists have forced airports to close down and union workers refused to work in solidarity to the protesters. Despite the rallies, Samak has refused to step down.
It is difficult to ascertain the sentiments of the Thai people about the ongoing protests. Citizen dissatisfaction may be high; and people are very angry against corruption. But many are opposed to the campaign tactics used by PAD.
A sample of public opinion: Bangkok University surveyed 1,023 people in Bangkok this week about the PAD protests. Below is a summary of the poll results as provided and translated by Bangkok Pundit:
1. Do you agree with closing of the roads to force out the government? 13.8% agree, 72.6% disagree and 13.8% have no opinion.
2. Do you agree with the seizing of NBT? 14.8% agree, 70.8% disagree, and 14.4% have no opinion.
3. Do you agree with the seizing of Government House? 16.9% agree, 68.3% disagree, and 14.8% have no opinion.
4. Do you agree with the police to take action against the 5 PAD leaders? 42.8% agree, 31.7% disagree, and 25.5% have no opinion.
5. Do you think it is time to declare a state of emergency? 46.9% say not yet, 27.6% say and 25.5% have no opinion.
6. What action do you want the military to take? 51.8% say join with the police to control the situation, 38.4% say stay neutral and stay put, 4.5% say stage a coup, and 5.3% gave other responses.
7. What do you want the government to do? 34.9% say continue administering the country, and 65.1% want a change (33.3% want a new election, 17% want the PM to resign, 14.8% want the Cabinet to resign).
Christopher G. Moore provides a background to the events which transpired last Tuesday:
“Last night a mob (some estimate to be 25,000) occupied a radio/TV complex in Bangkok, and later broke into and occupied Government House. Tempers are on edge. Violence is in the air. But the police and military have exercised restraint. There is tension and uncertainty as everyone hunkers down and waits for the final confrontations on the streets to play out. Forces hidden out of sight are huddling, contemplating, weighing, and planning. One plan is to starve them into submission. No food is allowed into the building. No keys given out to the washroom.”
absolutely Bangkok.com liveblogged the first day of protest activities.
PAD was severely criticized for invading a TV station and blocking traffic. This prompted ~Meaw & More~ to reflect about nonviolent activism:
“The PADs protest raise questions and doubt for people who heard that it was nonviolent. As we have seen television and website broadcast, it did not seem to be so. Does nonviolent simply mean unarmed or that no one is physically hurt others.
“Considering what PADs have been proclaiming that they want to bring about ‘democratic’ change, can they be the change and democratic?”
PAD was the same group which led the protest actions in 2006. The street rallies were followed by a coup which led to the ouster of Thaksin. But former PAD supporters are now questioning the legitimacy of today’s protest activities.  The Lost Boy is one of them:
“This is getting silly now. As a foreigner who has lived in Thailand for three years and often sympathized with the PAD, I’ve lost all patience and respect for that group and I hope the PAD leaders are brought to justice and that the government does not buckle to the demands being made.”
absolutely Bangkok.com further explains why PAD is losing public support and why Samak is benefiting from the crisis:
“Doesn’t seem much popular support left for the PAD. They got carried away by pitiful issues such as Preah Vihear and ran nonstop through town demanding this and condemning that – and are staging a revolution that shall bring Thailand which leadership?! Heaven forbid. Any PAD success would divide the kingdom even more deeper. No disrespect, but the PAD’s current actions and false fronts work for the benefit of Samak.”
Thailand Jumped the Shark identifies the street protests of PAD as Thugocracy:
“This is a fascist movement. Of course, because this is Thailand and an Asian country on the periphery of world affairs, nobody will care. But this is what fascism looks like in the 21st century.”
Even mainstream international media have negative views on PAD, perhaps bolstered by PAD’s attack on a TV station.
But there is no doubt that PAD remains a solid force supported by many Thais, including ordinary people, as noted by The Bangkok Bugle:
“There was noticeably less traffic on the roads this morning, so much so that my taxi driver had no qualms about going past one of the PAD demonstrations close to Government House. The few protesters I saw were very normal, mostly female and a far cry from the mobs that took control of some Government offices yesterday. There are a lot of ordinary people supporting these protests.”
Sustaining a protest movement for several days is not easy. Logistics preparation is essential. The public were asked to support the rallies by donating food and other stuff:
“If the organizers could not manage proper toilet and shower corner, it would be more difficult to female protesters to stay. Some post in Manager webboard ask for donation of flashlight, whistle, helmets, umbrellas, hat, fans, towels, tissue paper, plastic bags and rubber band (to be used as makeshift toilet.) Other requested female and male underwear.”
Manager posted pictures which exposed police brutality. On the other hand, several video clips showed the aggressiveness of the protesters.
New Mandala theorizes the possible motives and endgame plans of PAD:
1) They may hope that the king steps into the fray and asks, to guarantee national “reconciliation” among other things, that Samak resign.
2) Elements within the PAD may hope that an escalating confrontation could motivate an army faction to mount another “extra-constitutional” intervention: a coup.  Whether such an effort would be acceptable to the general populace or to the rest of the Bangkok elite is uncertain.
3) The PAD may, more modestly, be hoping to de-stabilise the Samak government sufficiently that its management of the economy and society is brought into further disrepute.  Perhaps there is hope among some in the PAD that a confrontation in Bangkok, however resolved, could prepare the way for a stronger Democrat Party showing in future elections.  Perhaps there is also some hope that if a compromise can be worked out, perhaps with an interim “government of national unity”, the PAD will be able to take on a role as an un-elected “PM-maker”.
4) Elements within the PAD may also be hoping that a heavy-handed government response to the current protest may provide them with some politically useful symbols of repression (and perhaps even some martyrs) that could be used to invigorate future phases of their campaign.
Bangkok Pundit reacts to this post. A coup is unlikely. Samak is still the Prime Minister even after meeting with the King.
A timely appeal to all parties involved:
“You’d expect rationality and reasoning in a political fight. Thailand’s political landscape has been reduced to a Darwinian diktat of the ruthless and reckless leaving a swatch of hate, division and destruction behind.
“The aims and goals of all sides are respectable and we’re not for or against the Samak government. We’re just asking for some mutual respect, civil debate and adherence to the rule of law. All we can see though are agitation and politics of primal fears.”


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Zambia: A costly constitutional blunder · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Cho identifies a costly constitutional blunder in Zambia: “A simple requirement in the constitution to have a presidential running mate would have saved Zambia (and its donor partners) a staggering $70m dollars – that is the estimated administrative cost of the upcoming bye-elections.”

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Zimbabwe: Dirty Politics · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Dirty, dirty politics in Zimbabwe: The MDC has unearthed a plot by the Attorney General’s office and members of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) to secure convictions against MDC MPs in a bid to reverse the MDC majority in Parliament.


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Americas: Celebrating BlogDay · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

August 31 marks the celebration of BlogDay around the world. According to the site the event was created so that blogs from other parts of the world can be discovered by others:
On that day Bloggers will recommend other blogs to their blog visitors. With the goal in mind, on this day every blogger will post a recommendation of 5 new blogs. This way, all blog readers will find themselves leaping around and discovering new, previously unknown blogs.
Members of the Latin American team from Global Voices Online decided to recommend five blogs collectively as a group, and one post in particular that may be of interest to others:
Luis Carlos Díaz recommends El Chigüire Bipolar [es], which is an increasingly popular blog from Venezuela and one that has received half a million visits in less than four months online.  The post titled, “We Never Thought That 203 Other Countries Would Attend” [es] is a satirical post about Venezuela's participation in the recent Olympics:
El presidente del Comité Olímpico Venezolano (COV), Eduardo Álvarez, aclaró hoy en rueda de prensa las razones por las que hasta ahora la delegación venezolana no ha cumplido las expectativas trazadas en un principio en las Olimpíadas de Beijing. “Cuando hicimos el pronóstico de 5 medallas de oro, nunca pensamos que iban a asistir otros 203 países a la cita. Eso echó al suelo el pronóstico inicial” informó Álvarez ante la insistencia de los medios y la opinión pública, que esperaban ver a los venezolanos en los podios de Beijing.
The President of the Venezuelan Olympic Committee (COV for its initials in Spanish)  Eduardo Álvarez, in a press conference stated the reasons why the Venezuelan delegation did not meet expectations that were set at the beginning of the Beijing Olympics.  “When we made the prediction of 5 gold medals, we never thought that other 203 countries would take part in the games.  That wiped out our original prediction,” said Álvarez when asked by the media and public opinion, who hoped to see Venezuelans on the podiums in Beijing.
Juan Arellano highly recommends the blog Choledad Privada [es], which may only be understandable by Peruvians for its slang and “inside jokes.”  However, articles are meant to elicit laughter from its readers for its tongue-in-cheek articles “How Much Does a Peruvian Cost?” and about other subtle peculiarities of Peruvian society [es].
Jorge Gobbi from Buenos Aires, recommends Merodeador [es], which is a blog that focuses primarily on the media, but also other topics such as the lack of recycling programs in the capital.  There was one law called Basura Cero (Zero Garbage) that sought to reduce the amount of waste by 30%, however, that was ended by the current mayor. There is one type of informal recycling program that is carried out by “cartoneros” (cardboarders):
Todas las noches, los cartoneros revuelven las bolsas de basura antes de ser recogidas por los camiones, en busca de papeles y cartones que luego venden para su reciclaje. Es ésa su única retribución: el pago por la cantidad de papel que juntan.
Every night, the cartoneros go through the garbage bags before they are picked up by the trucks, in search of paper and cardboard that can later be sold for recycling.  That is their only payment:  money for the amount of paper that is collected.
Milton Ramirez, who writes about Ecuador recommends Dialogo con Joselias [es], which discusses the role of provincial autonomies in the new Constitution.   Joselias criticizes a recent editorial in the newspaper El Telégrafo, which dismisses the call of the province of Manabí for increased autonomy.
Con el más puro egoísmo intelectual analiza la aspiración manabita de su autonomía administrativa. Nos ubica como “sucursal menor del bastión guayaquileño”. Que la autonomía es una cantaleta que “vuelve desde otra provincia, Manabí, para confundir a la opinión pública”. Que desde Manabí se está calificando al Presidente de “dictador” y “traidor” porque la Asamblea Constituyente no aprobó la autonomía manabita.
With the purest form of intellectual selfishness, (the newspaper) analyzes Manabi's aspiration for administrative autonomy.  They place us as “the minor branch of the Guayaquil bastion.” That autonomy is another term that “comes from another province, Manabí, to confuse public opinion.”  That Manabí is calling the President a “dictator” and “traitor” because the Constituent Assembly did not approve the Manabí autonomy.
One of the new bloggers from the Voces Bolivianas project, Virginio Sandy, represents his indigenous community as one of the leaders. One member of the community is named “Authority” for the duration of one year, after which it is rotated to another.  He also represents his community online with his blog Ayllus de Dalence [es], where he writes about festivities, traditions, but also about archeaological ruins near his community.
Por las caracteristicas que presenta, se evidencia que fue una fortaleza, la que fue construida con fines defensivos y refugio de los habitantes, cuando eran atacados por otros pueblos. Al pie de esta fortaleza se encuentra la Comunidad de Pucara Grande, población milenaria, cuyos origenes se pierden en el tiempo y espacio. Esta fortaleza conserva aun parte de las tres murallas que se erigieron alrededor de la colina y en la parte superior de este cerro, se encuentra los cimientos, de viviendas circulares, todas con puertas orientadas hacia la salida del sol.
For its characteristics, it is evident that it was a fort, which was constructed for defensive reasons and a shelter for the residents, when they were attacked by others. At the base of the fort, one can find the community of Pucara Grande, millennial peoples, whose origins are lost in time and space. This fort still conserves three walls that were built along the hill and in the higher part of the mountain one can find the foundations of circular houses, with all of their doors that pointed to the rising sun.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Bangladesh: Palin and the US · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Mash writes on the Sarah Palin being chosen as the running mate for McCain and feels that something doesn't quite fit.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Blogger of the Week: Siniša Boljanović · Global Voices
Solana Larsen

Siniša Boljanović had never blogged when he volunteered to report on Serbian blogs for Global Voices in 2007. He read an article about Global Voices in a Serbian online magazine and was so hooked on the idea of contributing, he taught himself to write in English and to use WordPress for the first time in spite of one additional obstacle: Siniša is blind.
Siniša Boljanović at the Global Voices Summit in Budapest 2008, Photo by Elia Varela Serra
Among the topics he has blogged about in the past year are, atrocities of war in his region, the arrest of Radovan Karadžić, human rights, Serbian politics, and Kosovo's independence claims.
Siniša lives with his family in a town called Novi Sad, which is well-known for the EXIT music festival. He is a graduate of Serbian language and literature at Belgrade University. He does not have a personal blog, but is planning to create one in the future. More urgent are his plans to help start a new Lingua website, Global Voices in Serbian.
In his spare time, Siniša likes reading books and sometimes writes short stories. Before he became blind, he liked to play tennis. These days he is a fan of Serbian tennis players Novak Djoković, Janko Tipsarević, Ana Ivanović and Jelena Janković, and also likes Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova.
When did you first learn about Global Voices?
One day in May 2007, while I was surfing the internet, I accidentally found an interview with Global Voices co-founder Rebecca MacKinnon in a Serbian online media magazine called Link. Until then, I'd never heard anything about Global Voices. Starting with the first of Rebecca's sentences, it was already clear to me that Global Voices is a really serious, modern and interesting project. While I was reading the interview I remembered an old Latin proverb:Vox populi vox Dei (‘the voice of the people, is the voice of God’). I think if there are more voices, there will be much more truth around the world. At that moment, in my eyes Global Voices looked as an modern version of this saying. Of course, I immediately visited the website.
What is your most memorable blogging experience?
Every time I remember how I published my first post for Global Voices I am numb with fear again. Just a few days after reading Rebecca's interview I wanted to write a post for the site. Back then I didn’t know english almost at all. Back then I didn’t know how to use WordPress at all. I didn't know almost anything what was necessary to start blogging for Global Voices. At the same time I was enthusiastic and I had a strong desire to publish my first post. I was translating it the whole day using a Serbian-English dictionary. Ljubiša Bojić, Global Voices’ other contributor from Serbia, and Veronica Khokhlova, the Central and Eastern Europe editor, unselfishly assisted me, and thanks to them I succeeded in finishing my foolish adventure. I’ll remember that as long as I live.
Can you describe the software you use to read and write on the computer without seeing?
Blind and low-vision persons use screen reading software to read digital text. These softwares are logically based on use of keyboard shortcuts, instead of a mouse. I use Jaws. It's one of the best screen readers. There are numerous applications that are supported in JAWS, including word processors, encyclopedias, financial and spreadsheet packages, email and messaging applications, and more.
For example, in Internet Explorer, for navigation over the page I use arrows on the keyboard or TAB or PageUp/PageDown buttons. Jaws can read everything in a textual form on the page. If I want to enter a web address to visit a website, I type “ALT+D” to make the address bar available for editing. Jaws says: “Address – Edit”.
When I hear that, I can fill out the address bar.
Apart from Jaws’ keyboard shortcuts there are also Windows keyboard shortcuts. They are not exclusively intended for blind and low vision computer users. You can see these options in the menus of almost all applications and use them instead of the mouse.
How do you write the posts for Global Voices?
I have no problems doing that, because the WordPress platform is accessible for screen reader users.
What are the Serbian issues you are most interested in communicating to the rest of the world about?
I think there are a lot of interesting things Serbia can communicate to the rest of the world. Unfortunately, we are in the shadow of political issues. I am sure we will communicate with the European Union more and more in the next months, in order for Serbia to become a member as soon as possible. Slobodan Milošević's regime isolated Serbia for more than a decade, but Serbia is a very nice and attractive country from many aspects. We can communicate with people around the world about tourism, economy, industry, sport, art and other issues too.
Do you think we can look forward to a Serbian language Global Voices website?
I am thrilled to announce that a Serbian-language Global Voices website will start very soon. My friend Dijana Djuričković, who will be one of translators, is currently preparing the site, and I hope the first post will be translated and published in the Serbian language at the beginning of September.
How do you think Global Voices could be better?
As time goes by Global Voices is getting better and better. There are a few new interesting initiatives such increasing the availability of audio versions of posts. They would make Global Voices better and more approachable by different kinds of readers.
I think there are more populations who can get their place on the Global Voices in the future. For example, I am very interested in how young people live around the world. I remember when I was 13-15, I wanted to know how persons of the same age from other countries live, what their problems are, what they think about etc.
I would love if we could provide something like a “Junior Global Voices” website, where young people could read posts created by other young people. For now, everyone of us could find several boys and girls from different countries and encourage them to be bloggers. I think the Global Voices could be better in this way.
Do you think your daughter Maša will grow up to be a blogger?
I think she will be. She is a very clever and curious little girl. She is almost 4 and I am going to enroll her in an English school. She likes the computer and she already knows how to type on the keyboard. Maybe these are initial steps to becoming a blogger one day.

author: Solana Larsen


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China: gold medals=a great power in sports?  · Global Voices
Bob Chen

Achievement
“Truly Exceptional” is the term IOC honored the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At the time that Chinese people strived to impress the world with grandiose stadiums, seamless organization and the best service ever provided, the Chinese athletes didn’t disappoint the host nation with 51 gold medals, topping the table for its first time. Only 10 medals fewer than U.S, China seconds by the total medals won.
Thinking back the 1932 Los Angels Olympics when only 1 athlete from China made his appearance with no gain, no one could deny this is a historic achievement.
China maintained advantages on sports such as gymnastic, badminton, diving and Ping-pong, but also achieved ground-breaking victories on rowing, gymnastics trampoline, and fencing etc.
Questions
However, with the farewell fireworks dying down and life back to normal, more and more people begin to question whether the result could suggest China is indeed a great power in sports.
On portal website 163.com, an online voting was conducted on the topic “Is China a great power in sports?” 4730 Yes vs. 17030 No more or less proves a large part of people still thought China has a long way to go.
China’s weakness on worldwide popular sports like football and basketball is clear. We also fell behind both on tracks and swimming pool, the merely 2 bronzes got on track and field are more than embarrassing. Liu Xiang’s withdrawal from 110-metre hurdle race extinguished the last hope for a gold medal for Chinese in the spectacular National Stadium (Bird Nest).
An internet user (网易中国网友) commented on 163.com that:
各种奥林匹克比赛，奥林匹克考试中国都行但看看，得到的金牌的含金量，举重8块，试问，世界上有几个国家开展？中国有个人玩这个项目呢？最最起码的常见的体育项目田径、游泳成绩惨不忍睹，世界都玩的中国有几个强的？
Look at the true value of the gold medals we won. How many countries in the world play weight-lifting, on which we totally grabbed 8 gold medals? How many Chinese people are actually practicing weight-lifting? On the other hand, for the most basic and common sports like tracks and swimming, we have poorly performed. Have we really excelled on any game the whole world play?
In an opinion (网易特评) written directly by 163.com, the author questioned that though China won a gold medal on rowing, the playing of the game is in fact uneasy to see in daily life of Chinese.
在中国的湖面、河道上几乎看不到赛艇的踪迹，很多人甚至连赛艇是什么都不知道，但是在欧美国家，赛艇的普及程度超乎中国人的想象。在那里，公开水域、宽广的河面常常点缀着各色赛艇
On the lakes and rivers in China, rowing boats are hard to find. Many people don’t even know what it is. But in western countries, it is far more popular than Chinese could imagine. There in public waters and broad rivers a great many kinds of rowing boats scattered around.
However, another side of opinions thinks quite the other way.
Internet user from Zhongshan, Guangdong (网易广东中山网友) said:
有 人说我们田径不行，所以我们不是强国！那牙买加一定是强国，因为他们田径厉害。有人说我们足球不行，所以我们不是强国！那巴西一定是强国，因为他们足球厉 害。也有人说我们篮球不行，所以我们不是强国！那立陶宛一定是强国，因为他们篮球厉害！可是如果你说牙买加、巴西、立陶宛是体育强国的时候，估计人家会把 你当作疯子。我们就是强国，完全没有必要妄自菲薄！那些说自己不是强国是人，要么是别有居心，要么是自卑的民族自尊心在作怪，是对自己民族的一份不自信！
Some says we played poor on tracks so that we are not a great power in sports! Then Jamaica must be a great power because they are dazzling on the track. Some says we played poor on football so we are not a great power. Then Brazil should be a great power. And Lithuania is also a great power for its basketball. But consider that if you assert Jamaica, Brazil and Lithuania are all great powers on sports, I bet people would think you a mad man.
We are exactly a super power in sports, and we need not humiliate ourselves! For those denying our status are either with a covert intention or a self-contemptuous mind, in-confident on our nation.
石头儿 said:
我竟然在新华网上看到—— 一个世界上最荒唐的命题——-“金牌第一”不等于体育强国！ 为什么当美国金牌数第一的时候说美国是体育强国？
In xinhua.net, I saw a most ridiculous proposition in this world—- No. 1 on gold medal doesn’t mean a great power in sports. Then why should we call U.S a great power when they topped the table?
Though defenders’ comments are inspiring, questioners refused to give up any ground. They further called in question that the number of gold medals implies a great investment on professional athletes training, but don’t necessarily mean adequate support for populace health and sports, namely enough stadiums, spaces, infrastructures built for common people.
The comment by 163.com aforementioned also states:
中国现在的体育场地有85万多个，体育场地面积达13.2亿平方米，仅从数量上看已具有一定规模，但是相对于多达13亿人口而言，每万人仅拥有6.58个体育场地，人均体育场地面积权1平方米多(wiki)一点，与同时期的发达国家平均每万人拥有200多个体育场地的状况比起来，这可是30多的倍的差距。
据2005年有关部门对全国10多万名学生的调查表明，2/3(66%)的学生每天锻炼时间不足1小时，近1/4(24.8%)的学生每天基本不锻炼。
There are now 850,000 sporting venues in China, 1.32 billion m2 in area. It’s notable by quantity, but to the 1.3-billion population, it just means 6.58 venues for 10000 people and not much more than 1 m2   per person. It’s a 30-time margin to the developed countries where 200 venues were shared by 10000. According to a national-wide survey of 100,000 Chinese students, 66% exercised less than 1 hour every day and 24.8% basically do no exercise.
Internet user from Fuzhou (网易福建福州网友) said：
看看农村中小学的体育现状吧,很可悲,体育器材不全,领导重视不够,我做为一名农村教育工作者是最清楚的，我学校有6年没开运动会了
Look at the pessimistic status in quo of sports in villages. Equipments are incomplete, while the officials paid no attention. I am so clear with this as a rural teacher. In my school, sports meeting is not open for 6 years.
Internet user from Heilongjiang(易黑龙江绥化网友) said：
看看我们小学生的近视眼占都多少，就知道了
You’ll realize the truth when seeing so many grade-schoolers are wearing myopia glasses.
Internet user from Nanjing (网易江苏南京网友) said：
金牌获得多，只能说明是比赛强国。因为中国13亿人口，选拔参加奥运比赛选手还是比较占优势的。而且，运动员因为训练比赛而失去健康，其实不是一件好事，因为那已经不是运动爱好者，更不是为了健康而运动了。
A great haul of gold medals means nothing but that China is a super power in COMPETITION. It’s not hard to choose from 1.3 billion people the best to attend the Games. Furthermore, it’s not a pleasing thing for those who lost their health in training, as they are no long practicing for joy and health, but only for competition.
Comparation
So is U.S a super power in sports?
Holding that China is far from a super power in sports, most people unconsciously took U.S as an idol, for both its balance on gold, silver and bronze haul, also its populace participation in sports.
But the “idol” is quickly broken in ridicules.
In Tianya, 鎏金岁月 said:
那些说美国全民体育的人估计没几个真正到过美国的,
一到美国你就会发现原来真正的美国人和好莱坞大片中的美国人不太一样,
美国人的肥胖率是全球最高的,都是让垃圾食品害的,
要是全民体育,人人都是体育迷,每天抽一两个小时出来锻炼身体会有这么高的肥胖率?
I guess those suggesting a mass participation in sports in U.S have not really been in U.S. Once you are there you’ll find Americans much different from that depicted in Hollywood films. U.S is one of the fattest nation in the world due to their trash food. If it was really a sporting country full of sport fans, would it be possible for such an obesity rate?

author: Bob Chen


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Ecuador: Abortion a Controversial Topic in New Constitution · Global Voices
Milton Ramirez

With a little more than one month until the Constitutional Referendum in Ecuador, the campaign has intensified, especially on the internet. Both the “pelucones” (the nickname given to the opposition) and the supporters are finding their arguments and their reasons why to support or oppose the draft Constitution.   More attention is being given to the support or opposition within the universities.
Alianza Pais (Correa's political party) is more interested in winning sympathizers inside local universities in order to alleviate the discontent among university  students.  A group of students from the Catholic University of Guayaquil has expressed their opposition to the new Constitution, which produced a music video with this sentiment. “Yo también digo no” (I also say no), is a post written by La Alharaca [es] and refers to a musical video with a theme song in which criticize to the “pelucones” and makes mockery of presidential remarks to silence demonstrators at the Catholic University of Santiago of Guayaquil (Santiago is a surname people of Guayaquil feel proud of and that was the original name of the Guayas province).
However, one of the most controversial topics in the new Constitution is abortion and the right to choose by women in Ecuador. Don Javier [es] compares the section regarding Families in different Ecuadorian constitutions, such as the 1979 and 1998 versions, including all their various reforms, stresses why he will be voting YES in the referendum of September 28th.
Según veo desde 1979 nadie nunca lo oí pegar el grito al cielo diciendo que eran constituciones abortivas o que permitían el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo. Ni oí a ninguno de esos curas de Mercedez Benz y tenedores de deuda externa decir que estas constituciones protegían el aborto….Yo Voto SI y mil veces SI.
As I see it that ever since 1979 I never heard the heavens crying out that Constitution was pro-abortion of that it allowed same-sex marriages.  I have not also heard from those priests with Mercedez Benz and the holders of the foreign debt that have Constitutions what protect abortion… I vote YES and a thousand times YES.
Kevinhurl [es] writes about a long online debate with his friend, who supports the NO in the next electoral process in Ecuador,  and points out intentions of Antonio Arregui Yarza (President of the Ecuadorian Episcopal Conference) and strongly makes his point that the Constitution to be submitted into referendum does not establish the right of any women to abort:
El derecho de la madre a abortar se termina donde empieza el derecho del niño a vivir: desde la concepción, ya que el artículo 46 dice claramente que El Estado reconocerá y garantizara la vida, incluido el cuidado y protección desde la concepción. En ninguna parte dice que se podrá abortar en ejercicio de un derecho, ya que en ningún lado está estipulado el derecho a abortar.
The mother's right to abort ends where the child's right to life begins: from conception, since Article 46 clearly states that the State recognizes and guarantees life, including the care and protection from conception itself. Nowhere has it been said that the abortion is a right, and nowhere is it stipulated that there is a right to an abortion.
In a deeply religious country like Ecuador, this topic will continue to be a topic of controversy up until the date of the Referendum.

author: Milton Ramirez


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Egypt: A protest for Turkish TV series Nour · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

Egyptian Blogger Zeinobia, wrote her reactions regarding the recent news stating that a group of high class Egyptian ladies led a protest all over Marina against the Imam of Marina’s mosque after his attack on the Turkish TV series “Nour”.

author: Eman AbdElRahman


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Egypt: Respecting Traffic Lights · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

What does people's attitudes towards crossing the road have to do with where their country stands in the world? Egyptian blogger Egyptian in the USA brings us the answer in this translation from Arabic.
Writing in Egyptian Wish, the blogger quotes part of an article published in Aljazeera.net, by Mohamed El Sayed Ahmed which says:


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Georgia: Behind The Poti Lines · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Behind the Poti Lines, a blog by Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, reports on the recent visit by the Georgian president to the Russian-occupied port. The blog also notes that Russian soldiers are keeping interaction with residents to a minumum and no longer buying bread and vodka from local shops in the town. Poti is operating at 35 percent of its capacity because of the Russian bombing and occupation. Increasingly resembling a ghost town, local residents meet at people's homes rather than on the streets.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Georgia: Security in the Caucasus · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Security in the Caucasus, a new blog established by a PhD candidate at the London School of Economics currently undertaking field work in the region, says that the recent conflict between Russia and Georgia was largely the result of a major miscalculation by Tbilisi. The blog also says that the confrontation was one by proxy between the West and a re-assertive Russia.


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Georgia: Unfrozen Conflicts · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Marilisa Lorusso's Blog comments on the conflict between Georgia and Russia over South Ossetia and says that the military solution has brought the world closer to a new Cold War. However, the blog notes, while the Georgian president continues to survive defeat on the battlefield, a political solution would have led to a situation that benefitted more of those involved — and not least hundreds of thousands of IDPs without homes in Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.


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India: Volunteer efforts for Hurricane Gustav · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Conversations with Dina has links to the web-based volunteer efforts for Hurricane Gustav in the US.


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Libya: The Ramadan Special · Global Voices
Fozia Mohamed

Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, begins in all parts of the Islamic world. Depending on where you are located, it could have either started, will start tomorrow or even Tuesday in some areas.
The Libyan blogosphere is being populated by Ramadan posts and while most of them are of a congratulatory nature such as this example from the Alwafy blog run by the duo Hassen and Hana, others have a different flavour.
WEDA 4 All revives the beautiful Libyan traditions of her Benghazi city and she takes us on a virtual tour of the Fish Market (Soug al hoot) which she used to visit with her parents.
“you can't be in Benghazi in ramadn & u don't go there…..really you'll miss alot…..as  you go there you'll see the crowed which starts at abut 2pm..alot of home made libyan  bread “tanoor”, harrisa, emsaer, boreek, olives, knafaa,…etc..& of course fireworks.[sic]”
There is another touching part to her post but you'll need to go read to understand.
Then there is PH from My Personal Space who highlights several negative societal aspects in the Arab world associated with Ramadan and which apply to Libya as well. These come as a result of  – in my opinion – the very fast loss of values which is plaguing our region lately. I cannot pinpoint what brought it and when it began exactly but I admit it is forming a part of the mosaic of our society and culture. So the extensive number of cartoons he has posted reflects: preoccupation with Ramadan TV programmes, extreme socialising of youth instead of spiritual quests, hypocrisy and addictions, bad timekeeping and other bad practices at the office, greed and lust, soaring prices, conspiracy theories from satellite providers and the ‘West’, and not forgetting that it would not be PH without the odd political insinuation and so we have the Arab street looking the other way at Arab hot topics and my personal favourite is the cartoon with the US military arresting the Mesaharati  (aka the person who traditionally wakes up Muslims so they can have their suhour i.e the Ramadan breakfast before sunrise) and accusing him of terrorism intention.
On the edge, an American married to a Libyan is counting down to Ramadan. She shares with us her Ramadan preparations while her husband went to the beach:
“[…]stayed home to spend the day in the kitchen cooking food to freeze ahead for Ramadan. Ramadan is only a little more than a week away [.]I am hoping that by cooking as much as possible before hand, I won't be spending ALL my time in the kitchen this year [.] Today I did some more cooking by preparing all the pickled veggies by setting them to start marinating. Tomorrow I hope to finish up with baking the pizzas. I also cooked up the soups too. All this goes into the freezer to be taken out as needed for dinners. Next I have to tackle the house cleaning …ugh ! I hate that part more than the cooking .Ramadan is 90% preparation and 10% doing what needs to be done. This isn't the correct way to celebrate Ramadan but it helps to get these things out of the way so you can devote your time to prayer, charitable acts, good deeds, good thoughts, and being good. Behaving well, being the operative words here. That's why prayer is so good, it keeps you on track [..]”
The humour notwithstanding she does manage to remind us that Ramadan is about tapping into your spirituality and connection with God which is Ramadan's message and blessing.
And while we are on the subject of 3ibadah (tenets of worshipping God) and spirituality, another Ramadan related post is by White African , a Libyan in Britain. She recently returned from Umrah and is sharing with us the beautiful spirit of Mecca and Medinah from her clandestine mobile phone camera.
“seeing the haram again was amazing, the whole place takes over you and you forget about all your problems, life, bills, application forms etc… its simply serenity…obviously i took pictures but the ones inside the haram where from my mobile as my camera is too big to hide […] its always weird to come back after visiting mecca and madina, you kinda get absorbed by the life style of praying in the haram and listening to the adhan and generally having more ibadah in your life[..]mecca and madina is filling up pretty fast with people who are coming especially for  ramadan, by the time we left it was choca block…”
Another facet is expressed by Khadijateri, an American living in Tripoli and married to a Libyan. Like On the edge, she is making her own Ramadan preparations.
“I've spent the weekend relaxing and getting things ready for Ramadan[…]The shopping part was the pleasant part. I got a new blender and a microwave oven. Also some stuff for the kitchen; plastic containers and soup spoons. I have plenty of everything for the kitchen already. I also picked up some curtains for my bedroom and a small furniture dealie with three drawers in it that fits nicely under my desk. I didn't need those but I wanted them and cash was in my pocket so I got them. I decided that for the groceries I'm not going to go shopping for anything special. There's a shop around the corner that always has just about everything I need.”
She also hits Libyans under the belt:
I can't understand why Libyans go berserk at the grocery store right before Ramadan starts. You would think that all the food was going to disappear or something.
To be fair Ramadan has been increasingly commercialized in the Arab world at least and even in Libya shopping for groceries and cooking utensils and renovating kitchens has become a major aspect in pre-Ramadan planning. Also the ills of modernization and globalization are increasingly catching up with us and eroding some of the more innocent aspects of our culture making us more materialistic. Yet I would like to think that most Libyans were not shopping because they are gluttons or stupid enough to think that food would disappear soon but rather perhaps the simple reason is like on the edge implied i.e. early preparations in order to save more time for religious contemplation?
Ramadan Mabrouk to you all!

author: Fozia Mohamed


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Northern Cyprus: Similarities with Georgia? · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

While discussing the plight of unrecognized states, blog Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus states that “If Russia does decide to recognize Georgia’s two separatist regions, they’d be in a diplomatic situation similar to North Cyprus.”

author: Deborah Ann Dilley


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Pakistan: Honor and Murder · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

All Things Pakistan asserts why tradition or religion does not justify or sanction honor killing.


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Pakistan: On the Hijab · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Degrowchyowl from Pakistan on the intricacies of wearing a hijab – as an assertion of identity or as a reminder of one's faith.


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Russia, Georgia, U.S.: Michael Lee White’s Passport · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LJ user olegpanfilov2 links (RUS) to a newspaper story (ENG) on Michael Lee White, a China-based U.S. citizen whose passport was allegedly stolen “during a flight from Moscow to New York” in Dec. 2005. Last week, “a Russian general […] displayed a blown-up photo” of the passport and claimed that it was found in Georgia. PM Putin said in a CNN interview that “the passport gave him reason to suspect U.S. military involvement in the Russia-Georgia conflict over South Ossetia.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Russia: New LJ Ads · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LJ user tema is one of the many Cyrillic bloggers who are unhappy with how the new LJ ads interrupt the flow of their posts; he shares a screenshot (RUS) of his blog to illustrate his point. Others are sharing a way to get rid of LJ ads in their posts; LJ user hydrargentum is one of them (RUS). At least 18 posts in today's Top 30 at Yandex Blogs (RUS) are about LJ ads and what to do about them. LJ user horinalex writes (RUS): “If they had introduced LJ ads on Aug. 8 (the day the war started in S. Ossetia), there would've been no war, everyone would've been discussing ads!”


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Turkey: Questions on Their Nuclear Program · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

Kurdish blogger Rasti questions the motives behind Turkey's nuclear program: “Although there has been no official proof that Turkey is actively building a nuclear weapons, some experts on Turkey's nuclear program have recounted their support, suspicious that the energy program is a cover for a weapons program.”


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Africa: 5 Great African Blogs · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

In honor of BlogDay 2008, White African features 5 Africa-focused blogs that he thinks are interesting.


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Africa: Big Brother Africa III · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Felix writes a 2-part critique of Big Brother Africa III. He writes, “…I ask myself a few more questions, what really is a reality show based on, I thought it was supposed to be acting out your real life in the house or your being yourself without pretense or am I getting it all wrong, I stand to be corrected if I am, else how do you describe 2boys and a girl butt naked in the shower at the same time…”


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Africa: Bundublog: A blogging platform for African bloggers · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Bundublog is a blogging platform started by Gordon Bishop aimed at the average African blogger. It is based on open source software.


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Angola: Four days to go to the polls · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Many Angolans have blogged today about the elections. Pitigrili [pt] says that despite the atmosphere of peace, “foreign journalists covering the elections still have prejudices. Alex Duval Smith, from the British “The Guardian” and writing for the “Observer”, has an interesting story but he finishes it off with observations that show reserves that things may still go wrong”.

author: Paula Góes


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Arabeyes: Ramadan TV – for and against · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

The month of Ramadan has just started, and many across the Arab world have been looking forward to the special Ramadan television series that are always shown. Bloggers from Jordan, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia give us their opinion of the popularity of Ramadan TV in this post.
In Bahrain, Sami highlights the effort people make to keep up with the Ramadan TV schedules – and asks if anyone pays as much attention to the timetable of Ramadan sermons:
I believe that among the benefits of technology is the invention of the the DVD with a hard disk which enables users to record the programmes they want without having to waste discs. People are also able to programme the device to record programmes while they are outside their homes.
I don't know how many among us have have set up a schedule for the Ramadan sermons, and where they will be held and the topics they will tackle. I also don't know how many have decided on the times they will be reading the Du'a [prayer of supplication]. I just don't know.
Bakkouz from Jordan has some advice:
Aaanyway, one thing that cannot be disputed is that TV channels air some good TV shows in Ramadan, which makes people become obsessed with watching their favorite show, much like a cult following, Me for example, I might watch Bab El-Hara [Syrian drama] since I’m not too much into historical and Bedouin shows (not that I have anything against Bedouin and/or historical shows, I really don’t, seriously) and what not. I guess you can watch whatever you want to, but FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NOT WATCH JORDANIAN TELEVISION COMEDY AND GAME SHOWS, especially the ones right after the “athan” [call to prayer], unless you suddenly felt the need to get a stroke. I am being 100% sincere here, don’t!
However, not all bloggers are looking forward to the TV series – or even Ramadan itself. In Bahrain, The Girl With No Face complains:
Ramadan Ramadan Ramadan Ramadan.. I hate Ramadan…and whenever I say that I hate Ramadan in front of anyone, everyone says “astaghfer Allah” [I ask God's forgiveness] as if I said something Blasphemous. I hate the hypocrisy of Ramadan. I hate how people totally miss the point of it. I hate that it’s not a choice. I hate how all people ever talk about in Ramadan is the Ramadan shows on TV.
In Saudi Arabia, Bassem Kurdi says:
(T)he list for this year’s TV shows are far more extensive than last year’s. However, Tash Ma Tash, the most famous Saudi TV show, will not be airing this Ramadan. It finally came to an end after 15 successful seasons. I personally wasn’t one of the show's enthusiasts but I have to acknowledge that it did touch on many important topics and shed some light on multiple issues that we suffer from in our country. … I personally hardly ever watch TV in Ramadan because I believe there is more to do in this month than be glued to a TV screen.
Another Saudi blogger, deja vu, has started a campaign against watching TV at all in Ramadan, so as not to be distracted from the real meaning of the month:
دعم الإعلام تعميم سلوكيات ومفاهيم غير صحيحة عن رمضان وجعله أهم موسماً “ترويجياً” مربِحاً من كثافة المشاهدين الذين وُجِهَت ثقافتهم إلى اعتبار رمضان “متعة” تلفزيونية كل عام
رمضان يحمل عروضاً مغرية بين صوم الجسد ، العقل ، الروح ، و السلوك والخُلُق ..
The media helps to spread inappropriate behaviour and concepts concerning Ramadan, and make it the most lucrative marketing season because of the large concentration of television viewers, who have been trained to view Ramadan as the month of television entertainment every year.
Ramadan does carry ‘attractive offers’ – fasting of the body, mind, spirit, behaviour and character.

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Bahamas, Guyana: Carifesta Comes to a Close  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“There's the mastery of the activities in the Grand Market…the hospitality of the ordinary Guyanese, the incomprehensibility of the closing ceremony preparations, the ending of the Fineman reign of terror…and there’s the serious discussion of what we need to do, and how, if we want this festival to move forward”: Bahamian blogger Nicolette Bethel summarizes the Carifesta experience.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Bermuda, Trinidad & Tobago: Federation Forum?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Blogging from Bermuda, Vexed Bermoothes thinks that the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister's call for a Caribbean federation is “doubletalk at its best: he wants a ‘movement of the people’ but will not allow the people a forum focused on the issue.”


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Bermuda, U.S.A.: Obama’s Message  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

a bermudian's view says that Barack Obama's brand of politics is one that he would “love to see unfold in Bermuda…”


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Brazil: Guide to blogging in Portuguese · Global Voices
Paula Góes

“So, do you want to have a blog? Are you starting your first blog? Are you still inexperienced in the roads od the blogosphere? Great – this is the guide for you!”, says   Nospheratt [pt] on releasing a free download guide for blogging in Portuguese with 120 tips showing the ropes to newbies, from getting started to monetization.


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Brazil: Useless newspapers · Global Voices
Paula Góes

“Sorry. I do not want to look like a pedant. But after some time outside Brazil – and especially after a a time geting information about Brazil through the Internet – I can only lament the quality of Brazilian newspapers”, says Luiz Carlos Azenha [pt] pointing out mistakes to bias on Folha de São Paulo, the biggest Brazilian newspaper.


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China: A Story of Unrequited Love  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

[BLT]FQX posted a funny and beautiful set of pictures about “a story of unrequited love“.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Cannot criticize the national soccer team? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Angrychinese blogger quoted from sources said the Chinese Central Propaganda Department has issued instruction to prevent criticism against the national soccer team.


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China: Yang Jia given death penalty in problematic trial · Global Voices
John Kennedy

After going to court last week, cop killer Yang Jia‘s (杨佳) first trial concluded today with the handing down of the death sentence. Yang has ten days to appeal for a second trial, which if he does will be followed by a review at the People's Supreme Court of his having been given the death penalty, to then be commuted or carried out.
Lawyer-blogger Liu Xiaoyuan (刘晓原) has written eleven [zh] (not including those that have already been harmonized) posts about this case over the past week, looking at all aspects of the case. His post today [zh], however, deals not so much with the social factors that would see a brutal cop-killer receive so much support and sympathy both online and off, but the logistics of Yang's case as it moves forward from here, as well as problems he perceives in the non-transparent way it has been handled so far:
一审判决后，杨佳日子已不多了
从7月1日袭警案发，到今日宣判，整整两个月时间。奥运会的召开，让杨佳多活了一些日子。
杨佳袭警案会如何判决，不要说是律师，就是普通民众也能预料到结果。
我们关注杨佳袭警案，并不是支持他“以暴制暴”，而是关注案件的作案动机、司法机关办案程序，以及发生案件的深层次原因。
杨佳袭警案，仅从表面上来看，案情并不复杂，也不特殊，以前也有类似的案件发生，只不过没有杀死杀伤这么多警察。
杨佳袭警案，是一起全国有重大影响的案件，司法机关在办理案件中一些遮遮掩掩的做法，引起了社会的广泛质疑。
杨佳杀人了，本应受到社会的谴责。出乎预料的是，他竟然得到了很多人的同情。难道民众都好坏不分了吗？到底是什么原因，使民众的社会价值观如此颠倒了呢？
我想，除了社会深层次原因外，可能是司法机关办案中一些不透明做法。
在这起袭警案中，令人不可思议的是，杨佳母亲竟然莫明其妙的“失踪”了。她“失踪”后，当杨佳父亲委托的北京律师，来上海要求会见杨佳时，检察院又拿出了杨佳的笔录，说其只接受母亲委托的律师。有了这份笔录后，上海谢有明律师就在北京找到了杨佳母亲，并办理了授权委托书。这事有点离奇吧？
如果谢有明律师的授权委托有问题，则要影响到审判程序和判决的合法性。因为按照《刑事诉讼法》及司法解释规定，对可能判处死刑的案件，被告人一定要有辩护人进行辩护，当然，这个辩护人必须是依法委托或法院指定的。谢律师不是法院指定的辩护人，而是由杨佳母亲委托的辩护人。假设这个委托不真实，一审判决是不是程序违法呢？
这个案件中，不可思议的还有，杨佳的精神病鉴定，是无司法鉴定主体资格的机构所做。我不知，检察院或法院有没有对杨佳重新做司法鉴定。如果没有重新做过，而是以司法部司法鉴定科学技术研究所的鉴定，作为认定杨佳具有刑事责任能力的证据，那么，上海市第二中级人民法院的一审判决就存在严重问题。
一审判决后，杨佳还有十天的上诉期限。如果上诉了，还有二审程序，由上海市高级人民法院审判。二审判决后，还有最高人民法院死刑复核程序。如杨佳不上诉，只直接进入死刑复核程序。
按照《刑事诉讼法》第196条规定，第二审人民法院受理上诉案件，应当在一个月以内审结。至迟不得超过一个半月。有本法126条之规定情形的，还可以再延长一个月。
杨佳袭警案，不符合《刑事诉讼法》第126条规定的情形。也就是说，这个案件的最长审限是一个半月。
7月1日案发，7月10日侦查完毕，上海警方将案件移送上海市人民检察院第二分院审查起诉。7月17日，检察院二分院向上海市第二中级人民法院提起公诉。如果不是因为奥运临近，7月28日就要开庭审理。从中可以看出，公检法对此案是速侦、速审、速判。
二审判决后，死刑复核期限没有明确时限规定，也就是说，可快可慢。
原山东省济南市人大常委会段义和炸死情妇一案，2007年8月23日二审当庭作出判决驳回上诉，案件进入死刑复核，仅用十天就复核完毕，9月4日执行了死刑。段义和一案，7月9日案发，到执行死刑，只用了五十八天时间。我担任律师的廖思齐死刑复核案，案件在六月初就到了最高人民法院复核，至今三个月了还没有复核完毕。
如果不是奥运会，杨佳一案也会象段义和案那么快。
如快的话，也许在九月底之前，杨佳一案会走完全部程序，最迟不会超过十月底。

author: John Kennedy


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Cuba: Gorki Released  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Uncommon Sense, Blog For Cuba and Review of Cuban-American Blogs report that Gorki, the Cuban punk rocker who was arrested and initially charged with “pre-criminal social dangerousness”, has been released from jail.


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Czech Republic: Children’s Playgrounds and Ice Cream · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Dr. Sean's Diary writes about children's playgrounds in Brno and the Polish-made ice cream featuring “Helena Vondráčková, the politically conformist 1960s pop diva turned stalwart of normalization era light entertainment.”


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Czech Republic: Media and Politicians’ Reactions to War in Caucasus · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Dr. Sean's Diary writes about the reactions of the Czech media and politicians to the Russian-Georgian conflict.


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Dominican Republic: Sidewalks in Poor Condition · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Rocío Díaz of Monaco [es] (National Movement for Community Action) writes about and posts photos of sidewalks in deplorable condition in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.


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Dubai: Corrective Eye Surgery  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Kinan Jarjous, who lives in Dubai, had corrective eye surgery. Click here to read what happened afterwards.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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East Timor: On the struggle of the diaspora · Global Voices
Paula Góes

“The East Timor sons in other countries have fully contributed to the visibility of the atrocities that were happening in the country to our brothers. It was another kind of struggle, a much less terrible one, different of the fight of those who stayed, but it was still a fight for East Timor”, says Ana Loro Metan [pt] asking people not to fight against each other on blog comments.


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Ecuador: Video of Campaign for “No” in Upcoming Referendum · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

A 150-car caravan paraded through the streets of Quito in support of the “Not” vote in the upcoming Constitutional referendum in Ecuador.  Danny Ayala of El Federalista [es] posts a video that he took of the demonstation.


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Egypt: Welcoming the Holy Month of Ramadan · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins Monday, has a distinct flavour in Egypt, where the streets are decorated for the occasion. One blogger takes us to the heart of action and paints the festivities.
Egyptian blogger SaSa, quotes in
her blog Stories from the Past  a report published on the Egyptian website Masrawy, which features a recently published story in Iran which describes how Egypt is prepared to welcome the holy month.
She continues:
She also mentions a new trend among couples in Egypt:
Photocredit: Wikipedia


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Haiti: Everybody Ate · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Blog de Port-au-Prince reviews Margaret Trost's newly released book about her experiences in Haiti.


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Iran:Remember the mass killings of 1988 · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

View from Iran writes that the 1988 mass executions of political prisoners in Iran cannot be called anything other than a black mark on the recent history of Iran.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iraq: “Obama couldn’t care less about us”… · Global Voices
Salam Adil

… so says Iraqi Pundit.
“…” by Baghdad Connect
Apart from the usual suspects, talk of the US Presidential campaign in Iraqi blogs is pretty thin on the ground. But that silence in itself speaks volumes. Neurotic Wife gets the reason from some co-workers:
I asked a few Iraqis, many did not seem to have interest in the US politics “We have enough of the Iraqi one let alone the US” in their own words.
The selection of Joe Biden as vice presidential candidate made some bloggers suspicious of Democratic candidate Barak Obama. Iraq Pundit opines:
Barack Obama's choice for vice president can only drag the country into ugly territory. His pick simply confirms his total disregard for the Iraqi people. All along, Biden has made it clear that he sees Iraqis as nothing more than savages bent on killing one another. His solution is to divide the country to stop the beasts from murdering the other beasts. He can argue all he wants that President Bush and John McCain are not nearly as smart as Biden is, but at least they will not abandon the Iraqis.
Nibras Kazimi adds:
Wasn’t Biden’s ‘intellectual’ heft supposed to be the whole point of adding him to the Obama ticket to balance out the greenhorn factor?
Iraq’s political class doesn’t seem to be buying it, though. They are not reassured by the Biden pick, whose name is forever associated, in Iraqi eyes, with a hastily-thought plan to divide Iraq
However, there seems a general preference for Obama among Iraqis. Fayrouz is smitten for her own fuzzy reasons:
It's not only hope that drives us to him as his opponent claims. It's how he put us on our feet to face the reality on the ground. It's his ability to make us believe in the “good America” that we always loved. It's the power of “we” instead of the power of “I” that drives people to him.
While Iraqi Atheist compares Obama to his favorite TV show. He writes “Season 4 of LOST is much more awesome. And even more awesome is Barack Obama.” and Neurotic Wife asks Iraqis in the Green Zone to offer an opinion. She writes:
of the minority who did say they are curious, said they like Obama more. It was funny, cause one of the guys said in a very enthusiastic manner and I quote “No Macyeen, yes Bahama” Bahama? I thought to myself, is that a new candidate that I haven’t heard about, hmmm? It took me a few seconds to register he actually meant Obama, lol.

author: Salam Adil


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Iraq: They call this freedom · Global Voices
Salam Adil

It can be hard to believe that it is approaching 2000 days since the beginning of the occupation of Iraq. After all the promises and expectations made at the start of the war maybe it is worth taking stock of the current situation for Iraqis. Bloggers have been reviewing their lot and give some slices of their daily experiences.
“I have finally found something that was really made in Iraq.”
“They are real human skeletons. In the past, they were importing skeletons for (the college of Medicine) from India and Pakistan. But these in the photo were made in Iraq (this is what the doctor told me about them).”
Mama visited Baghdad and gives her impression of the city and its people. In a post titled “There was no Baghdad” she gives a picture of a devastated and demoralized city:
when we reached Baghdad … the very first sight that upset me and filled my eyes with tears , was the large no. of beggars in the streets, they were old women under the burning sun , with four or five years old skinny kids.
… the roads are walled with concrete walls hiding from view; the stores. the only thing every one sees is concrete walls, all streets look the same. it was frustrating , to see my beloved Baghdad like that.
… It was very obvious that the people are very tired from the situation, the lack of electricity, lack of fuel, the costliness ,and the loss of hope. the No. of people leaving Iraq is greater than ever. I had to farewell a very dear family, I felt that Baghdad is not the same and it's empty. I missed it's lineament, and missed the very large No. of friends , neighbors and relatives who either left abroad or dead.
I swear that I needed to scream from anger many times, but who will listen and care!!
Last May
I had called her from this staircase
and she described what it meant living the way
she was
dodging bullets
while trying to keep her children sane.
I had not heard her voice in two winters
and in spring when I did
it brought all the sunshine that Iraq could endure
and Ohio could dream of…
Silence
as I press my shoes in the carpet
my toes jut out in impatience
but for someone I love like next of kin
someone I knew all my life…almost
I have been very patient.
I have waited 13 months…
At times the silence spat staggering truths about the end of waiting.
At times the lines spawned noises that clawed at my brain and my breath.
She is no longer in that local Baghdad directory…
and I am left to this silence.
The occupation had raped and killed an ‘Abeer’
and set on fire all that was left of her and her kin
and hence followed nightmares that this is an omen…
I wake up in sweat and all around there is this silence.
I wonder and anger that this world can remain this silent…
Abeer returns in dreams every May,
a smile of compassion from warm brown eyes
and a nonchalant nod at the life she knew or knows…
I don’t know…
I wonder if she even breathes anymore…
or if her body lies somewhere…
in silence.
poem by ZZ
Baghdad Connect tells of the trouble one must go through just to do business in Iraqi. He writes:
The other day we had a call from a business man to meet in his office… We drove the car in sweltering heat the distance of roughly 10 kilometers, and literally there was a military check point at every 300 to 500 meters!! In derelict, filthy roads full of cars and low-life pathetic looking people – It was sickening. By the time we got to his home-office we already forgotten the objective of our trip. Prior to talking about the tender – totaling USD 4.5 Mil our business associate began to talk about the certain gifts that we should pay the ministry employees, the bank employees, the logistic handlers and a few extra men – based on sects, that totaled more than 350 thousands US dollars and prior to bidding!!! This is an absolute mortal circus when compared with the years of Saddam. Later the business associate began to talk about the security situation and how the Iraqi resistance can turn things into flaming hell in matter of hours but the orders now is to play politics and for a few months!! How on earth one could do business if hell can be ascended in a few hours?!
And offer some advice to those Iraqis who can lead a life outside the country:
For those Iraqis who are in foreign countries and have a slight hope for a job opportunity or a vague form of decent life we recommend that you do not even think of coming back for a long, long time.
Faiza Al-Arji gives the stories of Iraqis that she helps through her charitable work in Jordan:
UUm Mohammed's father in law came from Baghdad a week ago; he has a gland in the liver that needs to be removed, the operation requires thousands of dollars, of which they do not own even one, and I don't, either. I don't know; maybe he'll die waiting for a donation.
Um Ahmed's husband was kidnapped at his front door, 3 years and 3 months ago, he is possibly in an Iraqi-government's prison; I seek someone to help us locate him…
A blind old man's family went back to Baghdad and left him alone. I help him monthly to pay the house rent, but I know that his wife and daughters there in Baghdad suffer hunger and poverty; I cannot help them, I do not have super financial means to cover the expenses of all the needy…
… There is a number of Iraqi women who are alone without families; whose husbands or families were killed and they remained alone, waiting to be re-settled. They face improper advances and molestation by this and that, looking towards a life more dignified and more settled, in some spot in this world.
At work, I daily receive women who were beaten and treated cruelly by their husbands. Poverty is the reason in most cases; or the frustration that befalls the man because of poverty and unemployment; they turn him into a wild, cruel, and aggressive creature. This is what happens to some Iraqi families here; the conditions of displacement, poverty, estrangement and degradation all put pressure on the men and the women and increase the rate of family violence…
… Are these the signs for the end of time, of the dooms day? That the world has lost its mind, its ethics, its mercy, justice, and all its beautiful features?
Sunshine is becoming frustrated::
All I want is a safe and open road so that I can go to school… like all students in the whole world, be a good citizen and rebuild the country I love, I am doing my best to make my life seems normal, and try to go to my teacher’s houses no matter how far they live and how serious the situation is, but sometimes I feel that I can’t, I just want a rest, because I can’t take it any longer ..
School and studying are not so much fun for all of the students right? well add to that spending hours in order to reach!!! hearing gun-fire and explosions in your way, And seeing horrible views in your way to school such as armed men, dead people etc, sometimes I feel it is amazing how I can tolerate that..
I see on TV. and internet, talk with people abroad and wonder, we are all human beings have feelings, strength and have the same needs, why do Iraqis have to suffer that much and have that pain in side their hearts? While other people don’t get through 1% of what we are going through .. they have a good life without war and all that mess.
… Two days ago my family and I arrived home, dad was opining the garage’s door and tanks came by they started to wave and pressing horns at us to go away, I felt so angry because the car is in front of OUR OWN garage in OUR OWN neighborhood … we have an aphorism says “it is our own house and people kick us out” it is exactly what’s happening here its so hard to be an Iraqi, but no matter how it get worse I’ll always have the Sumerian blood and I refuse to belong to any other nationality.
And I will finish with a message to “the Liberators” from Mama:
So many things changed since YOU AMERICA invaded my country to liberate us from our live…
my people are suffering in every life field, specially the educated citizens, the government that is supported by AMERICA, trying to spread and encourage the backwardness . many strange idolatrous rituals, appeared in my country, we didn’t know before AMERICA’S liberation ,wonder if this is the brighten future that America brought us!!!!.the government allow those who weep the thousand years gone imams, in the streets, and also stop the traffic and close the roads for them. not just that but also make curfew in the capital Baghdad for the weepers safety. ignoring all the citizens life matters, business, and the country financial losses , due to paralyzing all life issues , to weep. leaving the country reconstruction, and instead steeling and straying it’s wealth.
What shall I do, where shall I go? I want a better life for my children, they deserve to live in peace, and to get good education, they deserve to have fun , and enjoy their live, they deserve to live the recent century , and not live in the darkness without electricity ,and in the backwardness without knowledge. but leaving my country, my friends and family is not what I want. I can’t.


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Japan: Fukad resigns · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Tobias Harris writes a brief comment on the breaking news about the Prime Minister Fukuda's resignation.


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Jordan: Libya’s King of Kings  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Libyan leader Colonel Muammer Al Gaddafi has been crowned as Africa's King of Kings. From Jordan, Naseem Tarawnah asks: I’m not sure how “king of kings” is going to fit in with his official title of “Guide of the First of September Great Revolution of the Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya” or “Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution”.


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Lebanon: More Signs of Corruption  · Global Voices
Nash Suleiman

With consumer goods hitting a new record in Lebanon this summer, Lebanese are starving for electricity in their homes as well. Ms.Tee writes about the power-shortage situation and the corruption within.

author: Nash Suleiman


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Macau: Olympic winners parade · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Leocardo [pt] reports that the 63 Chinese medal winners have arrived today in Macau, part of a tour of China that, accorging to the blogger, made they look like “monkeys in a circus”: “Couldn't they have rested a few more days before this enormous embarrassment on the news across regional and foreign press? Is this the right way to demonstrate the unity and love for the SAR?”


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Madagascar: Arrest of opposition leader at a public marketplace   · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

Gazety Avylavitra publishes photos of the very public arrest of one of the leaders of the political opposition Henri Lecacheur at the marketplace on friday morning (8/29/008) by a SWAT team wearing face masks(mg).

author: Lova Rakotomalala


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Morocco: Extraordinary Rendition · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Al Miraat/The Moroccan Mirror reports on the status of Binyam Mohamed, currently detained at Guantánamo Bay, and expresses disgust with Morocco's role in Mohamed's rendition, saying, “I'm speechless and abhorred by the Moroccan authorities’ attitude, abasing themselves to a despicable executor of America's dirty business.”

author: Jillian C. York


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Palestine: Ramadan Mubarak  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Originally from Gaza, Palestinian Alaa Annan, who is now based in Belgium, wishes his readers a blessed Ramadan [Ar] with this drawing.


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Qatar: Spotlight on Wikipedia  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Aljazeera Talk [Ar] sheds light on wikipedia in this interview.


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Russia, Georgia, EU: Will There Be No Sanctions? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

BBC's Mark Mardell reports from the emergency EU summit in Brussels that “it seems all but decided that there will no sanctions against Russia.”


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Russia: Kremlin Critic Shot Dead · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Red Menace comments on news that a vocal critic of the Kremlin and local administration in Ingushetia has died from a gunshot wound to the head sustatined while in police custody. If his death was an accident, the blog asks somewhat rhetorically, why was web site owner Magomed Yevloyev's body reportedly dumped in a street near a local hospital?


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Somalia: Gadget for cooling camels’ milk · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Paula writes about a gadget for cooling camels’ milk in Somalia: “My brother Dominic Wanjihia invented this gadget which he calls Fine Lined Evaporative Cooler, for rural application in Somalia – the cooling of camels milk for transportation . He was working on a project for VETAID, Somali Pastoral Dairy Development Program – SPDDP,in Burao, Somalia June 2008.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Somalia: The Exiled Press Pack · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Since it has become extremely dangerous for journalists to operate from Somalia, several Somali journalists have left the country for Kenya where they are working from. Rob writes about them in a post titled, “Somalia's Exiled Press Pack.“


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South Africa: Partnership for mobile journalism · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Nokia partners with Bizcommunity, a South African-based daily advertising, marketing
and media news resource: “As part of the ongoing relationship, Nokia will provide the Bizcommunity editorial team with Nokia N82 devices. The Nokia N82 is the ideal broadcast tool with a five megapixel camera, powerful Xenon flash and fast camera activation.”


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South Africa: South Africa’s answer to PayPal · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Here is South Africa's answer to PayPal: “Payfast, out of South Africa is a paypal like service. The site bill’s itself as a payment processing system and has already integrated with bid or buy.”


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South Korea: Patriotic summer fashions · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Matt from Gusts of popular feeling introduces some patriotic summer fashions in South Korea related to Dokdo.


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Taiwan: Pan Green Mobilization Against Ma Ying-Jeou · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Claudia Jean blogs about the Aug 30 pan-green mobilization against the KMT president Ma Ying-Jeou economic and political policy. Michael Turton discusses about the number of demonstrators appeared in the rally.


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Thailand: Protesters misunderstood by Western media? · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Good news: Airports have been re-opened in Thailand.
Bad news: The political crisis is far from over.
Protesters are still camped inside Thailand’s Government House. They have been demanding the ouster of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. The leader is accused of being a puppet of ousted Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra.
Members of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) are the frontrunners of the protest rallies in Thailand. The group is accused of fomenting chaos and military adventurism. In fact, some have branded it as People Against Democracy because of its proposal for a Parliament in which most of the lawmakers are appointed and only 30 percent elected.
Most of the online commentaries and news reports about PAD are not positive. SilapaJarun.com wonders whether the statements of PAD, and their English translations, are delivered to the global audience correctly.
“There is something wrong with Dan Rivers and CNN. Many details in the articles online contain erroneous info and I've found phrases in English which clearly show they have poor translators working for them. In one very clear example I think it was Dan R. who cut up a quote by Sondhi Limthongkul (leader of PAD) to suggest Sondhi and the movement wants a democracy which would disenfranchise the rural poor—when the full quote is that we need an interim government for a period before holding elections.”
The writer clarifies that PAD is not against democracy; what it opposes is western-style capitalism and its excesses:
“Many news outlets portray PAD as being “not happy” with democracy. PAD is not happy with western style capitalism in Thailand which has grown like a cancer. This kind of capitalism is obviously deeply connected with the debased form of democracy pandered by Thaksin Shinawatra.
“PAD's slogan is ‘toon niyom samarn’ which is like ‘filthy capitalism’ in which you can buy everything and most importantly sell everything including national assets and bring in foreign investors to do what Thai people can do on their own.
“The movement is therefore condemned as being ‘nationalistic’ when in fact it's trying to stop the snowball effect of neocolonialism (economic colonialism).  Hyper-nationalism or nationalism (which) leans more towards thinking one's nationality is superior to another—this is not what PAD has ever said”
Then the writer highlights a point missed by mainstream media:
“It's interesting to note, that the Thai idea of democracy at the grassroots level has shades of socialism. In fact many of the key PAD leaders are union leaders which allowed them to shut down the railways and now ports.
“Media in the West has left out the key detail that Thai Muslims are backing this protest as well. Maybe it's a good thing they haven't picked up on it though—before you know it they'll think PAD is a bunch of terrorists.
“Only in Thailand…a movement is 100% supported by the people. PAD gets free food, mobile bathrooms, clothing…everything even ice from volunteers. If they announce on the stage “we need flashlights, batteries, water”—it'll be there soon!”
There are two ways to explain the ability of protesters to sustain their campaign for almost a week already. One, it has genuine support from citizens and organized sectors. It is impressive that railway and airline employees supported the protesters. Second, PAD has financial and political ties to other factions of the elite and military.
How are ordinary Thais and foreign residents coping with the protest activities? Will Yaryan is a bit excited:
“I'll take my binoculars up to the 22nd floor of our apartment building to scan the skyline for signs of action. And I watch news videos of the crisis on one of the local TV stations which provide a bit of information and insight, even if I can't understand the commentary. I've never been in a revolution, coup or putsch before. It's a bit exciting.”
Stuart's Life in Thailand is somewhat clueless:
“The political atmosphere is a huge mess, but away from the protests downtown in the government quarter, life is going on as normal in the rest of Bangkok.
“I have been trying to keep up with what is going on. But as an outsider, this has been a very difficult task. What are the protesters really aiming for? Who is supporting them? Who are the big groups that are struggling for power here? That is basically what this is all about — a power struggle over who will control the country, and the type of government that will have that power.”
A reader of Jamie's Phuket comments about the closure of the Phuket airport:
“Before Friday's action, the PAD had the support of the vast majority of people on Phuket. And now? Well, anyone who depends on the tourism industry for a living would have to wonder. Tourists don't play politics, so it's best not to play politics with tourists.”
Phuket is Thailand’s major tourism destination.
Gnarly Kitty is not amused:
“With the PAD going all crazy and s&#!t, who's going to side them now? And I was thinking, what's going to happen if the PAD doesn't stop this government? I mean, what's the big deal? You did it last time they came back anyway. And look, the more you're fighting, the more people are going to hate you. Just chill man. You're hurting the traffic. And I don't like waking up at 6 in the morning to hear you sing on TV.”
It is good that apology statements are circulating in emails about the inconvenience caused by PAD.
PAD has been criticized for invading a TV station. The attack was viewed as an assault on press freedom:
“Thai Broadcast Journalists Association and the Confederation of Thai Journalists, said: The mob action is one of the gravest and most blatant assaults on media freedom to date. The media was threatened, intimidated and kept from performing their duty.”
But a commenter thinks the government-run TV network deserved it:
“That darn TV station only broadcast government one side talk anyway… it's basically a government public relation channel. If it's fair, both sides should be in a talk show long time ago debating not one way. So the TV news is not a fair play, and deserved the break down like this.”
Prachatai uploads an article written by Pokpong Lawansiri which discusses why PAD is not as popular as before:
“This movement is no longer a broad-based alliance as it was during the anti-Thaksin days in 2006. Civil society groups in the PAD now only comprise a few individuals, not of broad-based networks.
“This is because the PAD no longer mentions issues relating to the welfare of the people. Issues such as the government's policies towards trade liberalisation which are affecting the people; human rights violations such as the case of Tak Bai, or the menacing war against drugs under the Thaksin administration; or issues relating to an attempt to push policy towards the creation of an economic system similar to that of a welfare state.
“The PAD's focus is now on superficial issues, which would not benefit members of the poor or marginalised group”
Real Life Thailand on why the protests backfired:
1) It has not achieved its stated objective;
2) Its fascist behaviour is losing it support.
3) It is actually increasing the popularity and perceived independence of Samak Suntarajev. Samak's calmness and patience during this fiasco is exactly what the PAD did not want. They wanted him to react angrily and threaten force, or start talking about Thaksin. His restraint has won him support.
Yesterday, an emergency session of Parliament was convened. Thailand Crisis is not impressed:
“It’s difficult to imagine how the session of Parliament could solve the political crisis. This is just PR. Nothing more.”
glossyart.com accuses PAD of promoting anarchy:
“The PAD is not even a party; it's more like a lobby consisting mainly of members of the Thai elite who are fed up with Samak's politics and who think he's just a puppet of the old (and corrupt) PM Thaksin. Taking the issue in their own hands is therefore not democratic but anarchic.”
Connecting the Dots insists political tensions in Thailand will not subside until Thaksin is punished:
“The unrest in Thailand will continue until Thaksin is out of the picture completely. If he is granted political asylum anyplace in the world, Thailand will still suffer. If Thaksin is unwilling to back down and give up, then someone must step in and do that for him. The Thai courts look to be on that track, and all that needs to be done is deliver Thaksin back to the Thais.”

author: Mong Palatino


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The Balkans: Karadzic at The Hague · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Observations on what Radovan Karadzic expects from The Hague and what may possibly await him there – at Mark Mardell's Euroblog, here and here.


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Trinidad &  Tobago: Flood Waters  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Attillah Springer, Jeremy Taylor and Raffique Shah write thoughtful posts about Trinidad and Tobago's drainage problems, even as the country celebrates its 46th anniversary of Independence.


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Turkey: Sharing the Same Name · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

An already controversial Turkish Olympic champion (he publicly prayed after winning the gold) shares the same name as a recently apprehended serial rapist.


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Uganda: The cost of doing business in Uganda · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

What is the cost of doing business in Uganda? Jonathan, an American software developer living in Uganda, writes, “A Breakdown of the Costs of Doing Business in Africa.”


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Uruguay: Schools in OLPC Project · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Escuelas Uruguayas [es] is a photoblog maintained by a member of the Ceibal Project, who is responsible for installing the internet connection for the schools taking part in the One Laptop Per Child project and writes about the rural schools “that have shown a reality very different than the city dwellers are used to.”

author: Eduardo Avila


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Venezuela: Youth Orchestra Transforms Lives · Global Voices
Laura Vidal

In 1975, José Antonio Abreu started working on his dream of creating an orchestra in Venezuela.  Abreu and other 8 students, started the Old Music School José Ángel Lamas, which created a program based on new ways of learning and adapting different teaching methodologies that fit with the country's reality.  The new system brought together young musicians from around the country, especially from the cities of Maracay and Barquisimeto (two cities widely known for its great music.). The orchestra took the stage for the first time on April 30, 1975. Thirty-three years later, hundreds of children, especially from very poor neighborhoods, have taken part in the orchestra.
As a true example of Venezuela's social, intercultural and musical talent, Fesnojiv (Sistema Nacional de Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela) or “The System” is a real pride for Venezuelans, since it demonstrates how people from mixed origins (some of them come from very poor and violent areas of the country) can be able to understand and perform wonderfully the works of authors from faraway lands. These young musicians add something to the Venezuelan soul, always looking for something to call its own, and to add to their own identity. The performances are breathtaking, the stories are touching, and the mixtures and styles are impressive.
Domingo says:
Los integrantes que conforman hoy día esta orquesta comenzaron con orquestas de barrio, a lo que le siguen orquestas departamentales y regionales, algunos de sus integrantes llevan consigo historias de delincuencia juvenil, problemas de drogas, robos, vida en la calle, y para todos ellos “El sistema” ha significado la transformación de sus vidas en plena adolescencia y juventud. Los integrantes más jóvenes pueden tener dos años de edad y el promedio no supera los 22 años. El Sistema ha sobrevivido a todos los eventos políticos, sociales y económicos que han ocurrido en Venezuela durante los últimos 30 años, recibiendo siempre el apoyo de los Gobiernos de turno.
The members that currently make up the orchestra started with orchestras in their neighborhoods, which were followed by departmental and regional orchestras, and some of the members have pasts of juvenile delinquency, drug problems, robberies, life on the streets, and for all, “The System” means a transformation of their lives during their adolescence and youth.  The youngest musicians can be as young as two years old, and the average age is no more than 22 years old.  The System has survived all kinds of social, economical, and political problems that have taken place in Venezuela during the past 30 years, and it has always received support from every government.
Nicodemo celebrates the 2008 Principe de Asturias Arts Prize awarded to the orchestra.
El fundador de las Orquestas Juveniles de Venezuela, Jose Antonio Abreu, fue designado recientemente miembro honorario de la “Royal Philharmonic Society” del Reino Unido, y uno de sus ex alumnos, Gustavo Dudamel, recibió el premio al mejor artista joven del año.Son premios a la esperanza, al papel restaurador de humanidad que puede tener el arte.
The founder, Jose Antonio Abreu, was recently designated as a honorary member of the Royal Philharmonic Society in Great Britain and one of his ex pupils, Gustavo Dudamel received the prize of best young artist of the year.
The documentary Tocar y luchar (To Play and to Fight) tells the story of the system and part of his members.

author: Laura Vidal


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Afghanistan: Taliban Sets Schoolbooks on Fire · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Azar Balkhi reports that the Taliban militias attacked a convoy of stationary and burned over 80,000 textbooks, which were to be delivered to the secondary schools of the northern Afghanistan.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Africa: Big Brother Africa III “Updates” · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Big Brother Africa III “updates” from Bazanye: “Because I have no TV (ref Crime Rate) I cannot offer updates of Big Brother Africa III. Not unless I make them up, as I shall now proceed to do.”


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Angola: New blog covering the elections in English · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Angola Elections News is a new blog covering the elections in Angola. “Through this forum we encourage you to talk to other media people, ask questions, post links to other interesting stories, research, facts or information that will help journalists cover the elections from a broad range of angles”. Don't miss the interviews in the audio archive, some of them in English.


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Argentina: Neuquén Blog Community · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Neuquén is a province in Western Argentina at the northern end of the Patagonia.  A community called Neuquén Blogs [es] attempt to collect the many blogs from this region.


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Bahamas: Open Competition  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Preventing competition in support of the select few hurts the majority”: Rick Lowe at Weblog Bahamas wants the government to take a hands-off approach.


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Bangladesh: The poor and banks · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The 3rd World View on the banking industry, the poor and the idea of microfinance.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Bermuda, Grenada, U.S.A.: Poor Pick in Palin?   · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Bermudan blogger By Any Means Necessary is not at all impressed by John McCain's pick for his running mate, while Grenadian Blah Bloh Blog says: “There is something I can't put my finger on about this woman that fascinates, irrationally horrifies, and violently enrages me.”


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Bolivia: National Electoral Court Suspends Referendums · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The National Electoral Court of Bolivia suspended the various referendums originally scheduled for December 7, including the one that would seek approval of the new Constitution. Mario Durán of Palabras Libres [es] has a roundup of the breaking news.


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Brazil: A tatoo shows violence banalization · Global Voices
Paula Góes

PE Body Count [pt] brings a picture which shows how much violence is amalgamated with daily life in Brazil.

author: Paula Góes


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Brazil, Egypt: The first day of Ramadan · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Barbrinha [pt], a Brazilian blogger living in Egypt, is writing a Ramadan diary. On fasting for non-muslin people, she says: “I fasted several times before I was converted, and it has always been my purpose to God, it was me and him and nobody else, I won't write here what religion says, cos I think pleasing God doesn't need to be written in any book, it has to be in your heart, your good attitudes towards the world, this is to please God.


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Brazil: When the newspaper decides for the electorate · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Daniel Florêncio [pt] can't believe a piece in a newspaper which states that, for the electorate of of Minas Gerais, Brazil, there is no doubt that a certain candidate is the best choice – and this was not an op-ed. “What the hell is this sentence there? Is the newspaper now to put their opinion in the middle of news pieces?”The blogger has made a short film about the media bias in that state.


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Cape Verde: Pictures of a trip · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Redy Wilson Lima [pt] publishes beautiful pictures of a trip through Cape Verde, going from the capital Praia to Assomada and Tarrafal.


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Caribbean: Hurricane Gustav  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

It's that time again – hurricane season – and while 2008 has produced a motley crew of storms in three short months, Gustav is the one that stands out.  At least so far.  The storm, which was initially formed to the south-east of Port-au-Prince, was categorized as a hurricane on August 26.  The system quickly moved across several Caribbean territories, hitting Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Cuba, before heading towards the United States.
Bloggers were bracing themselves for anything.  Mighty Afroditee was busy with preparations for the approaching storm, especially after the Caymans’ experience with Hurricane Ivan four years ago:
As we sit with abated breath, enjoying the last remnants of the electricity, water, and basic amenities, praying for the best, but prepared for the worst…Gussin’ Gus makes his way forward, anxiety and uncertainty preceding his unwanted visit, and all I can say is…well shit! I am flicking fed up of this hurricane business.
From Grenada, Blah Bloh Blog‘s thoughts went out to her fellow bloggers:
Prayers and thoughts are with Stunner and Mad Bull as T.S. Gustav is currently over JA and heading slowly to the Caymans.  Keep safe and let us know you are OK. It’s amazing to realise that Gustav is the thunderstorm that passed over Grenada last Saturday.
Every island in the storm's path was preparing for the worst, but Haiti seems to have got hit hard.  Pwoje Espwa kept readers up-to-date with daily posts:
Rivers are overflowing as the denuded mountains cannot absorb the rain. We are hearing of many more people going to the hospital with sick babies, that many have lost crops, than there will be fewer children going to school this academic year. Haiti did not need this at this time. Food and fuel prices have gone through the roof giving cause to the political manifestations which can so easily turn violent.
A day later, the news was not much better.  Pwoje Espwa‘s photos highlighted the level of damage Gustav wreaked:
Just had another mini-storm with wild wind and rushing rain. Many homes have been lost; tons and tons of agricultural products have been flooded; over 60 Haitians have died in these past few days. Haiti is old news now as folks focus on Jamaica and beyond.
Jamaica's new government, in the meantime, was busy reassuring citizens that the country's emergency services were well prepared for the storm – YardFlex.com noted that the Prime Minister was “guardedly optimistic that the storm will not cause the island to suffer much damage”.
This was, unfortunately, not to be.  Reports of flooding, damage and loss of life started coming in from bloggers all over Jamaica.  Abeng News Magazine said that as many as nine deaths were unconfirmed; A Fe Me Page Dis Iyah thought the storm flew in with a fury, Francis Wade admitted that Gustav gave Jamaica “a good and proper ‘mash up'” and Annie Paul was fooled into thinking that he was “a gentle soul”:
He's been here a few hours now. i don't mind him…compared to Emily and Dennis. Or Ivan. Ivan was terrible.
It was not long before she realised her error in judgment:
Gentle soul? couldn't have been more wrong. Gustav was a killer, insidiously creeping across the country, causing rivers to burst their banks and washing away homes and lives. Not much to choose between Ivan and him.
Hello World also confessed to being “tricked by tropical storm Gustav”, while Stunner's Afflictions echoed his sentiment:
What seemed to have been a walk in the park with Gustav going north of Jamaica and only delivering some rain to the island has certainly changed!
Stunner also took time to post video of the storm's effects on Kingston, the capital city, while A Fe Me Page Dis Iyah was hoping the floods would wash away all of the country's criminals.
Then there was the aftermath, which Annie Paul describes quite poetically:
There is something so newborn and fresh in the air after a hurricane leaves—don’t tell me Gustav wasn’t a hurricane when he visited here; it’s like insisting someone is 19 when they’re turning 20 tomorrow. The atmosphere seems to have been cleansed, purged of all the humid, hot and evil vapours that have been oppressing us for months now. A zephyr-like breeze whispers idle threats and the sun sparkles as it shines on the moist landscape. The riddim track to Marley’s Natural Mystic is blowing through the air.
Blowing through the air, perhaps, in much the same way that Gustav continued along his path to the Cayman Islands and Cuba.  In the Cayman, Mighty Afroditee was suffering from cabin fever and Mad Bull was rejoicing over the fact that he still had “light, water, TV and the internet!”
Cuba did not fare so well.  Black Sheep of Exile got news that “the devastation in the Isle of Pines is just beyond words”, while Havana-based blogger Yoani Sanchez, who wanted to post updates about the arrest and subsequent release of Cuban punk rocker Gorki, was practically imprisoned by the storm:
Because of Gustav the weather situation in Havana doesn’t allow me to leave the house to connect to the internet in a public place.  On my balcony, fourteen floors up, we already have strong winds, and have started to close the windows and protect the plants.  Today I am called on to face another cyclone.
Today, Hurricane Gustav began to rage over Louisiana and Trinidadian diaspora blogger Afrobella‘s heart went out to the city of New Orleans:
This weekend marks a horrific anniversary for the cradle of jazz, and three years later almost to the day, there’s a carefully planned city wide evacuation in the face of the category-four Hurricane Gustav.  I can just imagine the fear and panic and emotion swirling in the hearts of Nawlins natives today, for whom the devastation of Katrina is a recent nightmare. I just wanted to offer support to everyone in New Orleans and up the coast all the way to Alabama. Be smart, stay safe, and our prayers are with you.


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China: Collective Punishment · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Michael from the Opposite end of China highlights the human rights report about collective punishment practice in parts of Xinjiang.


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Costa Rica: Living in Cages · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

La Jaula en la que Vivo [es] (The Cage in Which I Live) is a new blog that posts photos of houses behind bars, which is a common sight in Costa Rica due to security concerns.  The author writes, “we hope that this phenomenon of living in cages ends once and for all.”


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Costa Rica: National Films Gain Positive Reviews · Global Voices
Jenny Cascante Gonzalez

An interesting, yet important storm of audiovisual productions is shaking Costa Rica’s attentive eager audience this year. Costa Rican bloggers provide their thoughts to the new cinematic offerings.
Miguel Gomez and his film El Cielo Rojo (The Red Sky)  debuted at the beginning of August getting favorable reviews from experts and general viewers.  Cristian Cambronero of Fusil de Chispas [es] delivers a short, yet detailed review of the premiere of El Cielo Rojo on his blog:
Miguel escribió varios diálogos brillantes, absolutamente creíbles para nosotros, su público meta, los espectadores costarricenses. Yo, y estoy seguro que le pasará a muchísimos de quienes la vean, me reconocí a los 17 años en muchas secuencias, y mi mamá, y a mi abuela, y a las vecinas.
Miguel wrote a brilliant script, absolutely believable for us, his target audience, the Costa Rican viewers. I (for the many others that will see the film) recognized myself at 17 years old in some scenes, and I also recognized my mother, my grandmother and some of my neighbors.
Trailer of El Cielo Rojo
Another director,  Isthar Yashin recently contributed to the national cinema with El Camino (The Road)   which received important awards and recognition in foreign Film Festivals. Inspired by El Camino’s intended message searching, Sergio Pacheco from La foto salió movida [es] writes:
Siempre me he reconocido migrante en mi propio país. Nací fuera de la capital y desde hace diez años estoy en la urbe (si a San José se le puede catalogar de tal forma). Muchos nos movemos dentro de nuestro país, entre países, entre mundos, entre el mundo, y el común denominador de ese movimiento es la búsqueda. El resultado es para todos diferente y para mí nunca estarán en el paralelo ganar- perder, si no en el de sobrevivir, que es un fluir.
I’ve always felt like a migrant in my own land. I was born in the countryside and ever since ten years ago, I live in this large city (if we can call San Jose as one). Many of us move around inside our country, between countries, between worlds, among the world and the common denominator of this movement is the search.  The result is different for all, and for me it will never be about winning-losing, but about surviving, which is always in movement.
Trailer of El Camino
Both Gomez and Yashin, intend to portray cultural and precise characteristics that may be considered as part of the distinct innermost nature not only of Costa Ricans, but all habitants of Central America.
The party is not over.  Last week Bisonte Producciones offered a warm invitation in the form of a Two-Day Film Festival that exhibits different short films produced in its majority by students and amateurs whose lives, imagination, and reality have been seduced entirely by the audiovisual production. Latin America has always fostered the development of artistic expressions that expose one of the richest cultures regarding way of thinking, feeling and doing.  Without a doubt, this is just the beginning.

author: Jenny Cascante Gonzalez