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Serbian Blog Roundup · Global Voices
Ljubisa Bojic

A house at the Golija Mountain – by Bogdan Cirovic
At English section of Serbiancafe discussion board, Toshiba blogs out:
Village of Rudno at Golija mountain is at altitude of 1200 meters. You would need four hours from Belgrade to get here by car. Beauties of one region are not the creeks and the forests, those are people. Golija people welcome all. True kind hearted hospitality is manifested at every step of the way. When they see you first time, they will be high in spirits, ready to share a good joke. When I get up in the morning I usually bump to ten bags at my doorstep. Somebody brings freshly baked bread, kajmak, white cheese, meat… When I ask around nobody would tell me whose present those goodies were. They care about me and other visitors. It illustrates dimension of friendship and general hospitality of Golija people. They know I am a city guy in a outlook for contact with nature.
[…]
Production of the first-class potato in this area is supervised by the Dutch. To get all the standards required for export of potato peasants undertook special training in Holland. A week before a trip to the Netherlands many had to take drugs to be able to sleep. They were overexcited because number of them has not left the region ever. They all got to the Serbian capital city of Belgrade. I remember a picture from downtown restaurant that night. Half of the village salutes the other brevier half for gaining courage to get aboard of an airplane headed to Amsterdam.
[…]
When I tell them about plentiful tourism opportunities, peasants look at me as if I suggest them to cheat. They have to get hard work sweaty to perceive earnings as honest money. I would like to see government involved to protect life in that area. I would love to see their kids after university studies to come back thus contributing native region as future doctors, agronomist and managers. If you defend the life in the area of Golija, you would be successful in preserving the whole nation. […]
***
In her personal notepad, a young Serbian actress Bojana Maljevic posts another travel account (SRP):
I am back from Banja Luka. Evening before “the agreement” [about strengthening of bonds between Serbia and Republic of Srpska] was signed I acted in theatre play called “Ship of Love” at their National theatre. Representatives of that lovely theatre and representatives of Zvezdara theatre also signed an “agreement”. (I have not signed anything except a wage receipt:)….
Well, it was really beautiful. The theatre was packed full with people, we preformed as if we didn’t take a month long break before, we were rewarded by a long applause, our hosts were kind hearted. […]
I am sure papers are flooded with headlines about [visit of] three hundred [Serbian] entrepreneurs and various presidents [to mark signing of multilateral accord]… Except great crowd and neat weather election campaign marked my stay in this city.
Once I was in Slovenia days before general elections nobody could tell ballot vote was to be held on Sunday. Political campaigns in that state are very discreet as citizens are not interested in politics and election period (similar to other happening in Slovenia) goes pretty smooth and boring. Slovenians can’t spell out names of country’s ministers, not to speak about their deputies and wives…
In Slovenia politicians are not TV show celebrities. They are not celebrities at all. I asked around why is that. They all told me they don’t care about who would win elections as there would not be much difference common people. […]
Banja Luka is quite other way around. Something similar can be seen and felt in Serbia during any election campaign. [A real battle] starting at finding better place to put billboard and ending when activist engage in arranging concerts to entertain different tastes. Not to mention children cheering to welcome party officials and Big Brother alike awaking we had this morning [by a loud car announcing ] […]
***
Chris Farmer ironically focuses on Serbian constitution drafting. His short story probably roots in a latest buzz that all political factors across the nation are debating whether to support the draft:
“If you will excuse me, I REALLY have to hurry.” There was a small crowd gathered in front of the Serbian parliament this afternoon and I had to elbow and head-butt my way through the few but stalwart people blocking my path. “There is not much time,” I protested. “I have to get them to look at my DRAFT CONSTITUTION!” Silence fell. Suddenly I was the cynosure of all eyes. “Constitution,” the word of the day, cut through the opposition like a hot knife through kajmak. […] “My proposal,” I orated, “is a simple one. This constitution was already been written many years ago and is still used all around the world. This draft brings order to chaos.” […] The Rules of Monopoly. I stood up straight again was preparing to read (a few of the onlookers had dived in to scoop up a few handfuls of play money). Clearing my throat, I looked around and saw, to my surprise, that the crowd had listlessly turned away and was heading back to the parliament building entrance. “Hang on!” I cried. “Will no one listen to my idea? Why shouldn’t the rules of this game apply to the country? Are we not all being bought and sold every day by a handful of extremely rich players? Are not the properties of the country being traded, merged, and bankrupted by a group of nine or ten people?” […]
***
Serbian blogers joined the mainstream media in a widespread discussion about the country’s brands. B92  News  reports  on the national gourmet product:
[…] Leskovac-style grilled meat is protected as a brand by the Intellectual Property Bureau. […] The initiative for protecting the brand was started and financed by officials representing seven private butcher shops in Leskovac, with the help of local self-administrations. The Leskovac “Grill-Off” is an annual barbecuing festival held in the city every year and will he held once again this year in between September 4–10.[…]
Pitchweis from Kikinda exposes people’s ignorance when brand talk is on (SRP):
Have you noticed word “brand” is widely misused last few months. After hearing all that fuss we can conclude Serbia has a great brand potential. […] I read one scary thing in local newspaper. Our town mayor or someone else stated that mammoth is Kikinda’s brand!?! I wonder how mammoth  can be our local brand without being showcased on town square to be hailed and greeted by our citizens?!? […]
Bg anon quotes Blic daily newspaper article titled “foreigners afraid of large portions”:
[…] Welcoming people, atmosphere, nightlife, restaurants, bars, river boat(s) cafes, girls – they are the things most foreign tourists find attractive about Serbia. […] The [British] are keenest on the rivers Sava and Danube, river boats and night life, the French are interested in our architecture and museums, the Germans both of the above and the Italians are interested in our fashion (yes, this surprised me too) and they often seek Serbian designer clothes and Serbian girls […] Some tourists complain that portions are too large in our restaurants. Often they are double the size of what you receive in Western eateries – Jovanov laughs.
Dejan Stankovic gains a lot of reader’s reactions to his brand inspired post. He says (SRP):
I have never seen “made in Serbia” label. I realized that when I noticed made in Lesotho printed at the bottom of my shirt’s label. […] I remembered watching one American giving a statement for news. He was arguing Serbs have to reach up to their potential and can’t get into commodity of being [shortsighted] because our nation has plenty to offer. He started listing: amazing raspberries, strawberries… than he got confused  and repeated: beautiful raspberries and (he added) blackberries … so he switched to another topic. […] Few days ago, in downtown Lisbon, I discovered delicacy shop selling white cheese, ajvar, sauerkraut, […] – and everything was made in Bulgaria, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, Croatia… […]
Misha replies:
[…] Our tractors are super popular in China. Italians are crazy about not being able to enter their market. […]
Lionsgate:
My friend’s wives used to head to Belgrade just to buy apparel designed by Dragana Ognjenovic. It would be great if she could open stores in every business hotspot of the continent, because those black costumes are ideal for a business woman. Except that, for the price of one Armani garment you can buy four to five of her dresses […]
Kiko:
[…] To some extent Serbia can be associated with food and night life so we should invest more in tourism to make our night-out authentic brand. If you are looking for some “made in Serbia” product that can be recognized by a huge world market chances are you won’t find it. [Ratko] Mladic [accused by the Hague tribunal] is main Serbian brand. […]
VanjaGator:
1. I know people from English language part of the globe who are so fond of “No problem” bars. […]
2. Voda Voda has a pass for sure. Even NSF certificate was granted to them.
3. We have nice music scene, some of the bands could go international (Darkwood Dub, Popecitelji…)
Dejan Stankovic:
Meaning of marketing(branding) was well put by [Henry] Ford in his well-known joke – Duck lays eggs discreetly, on the other hand chicken makes noise so the whole estate could hear. […] The whole world eats chicken eggs, just few use duck eggs. […] The question is – which eggs are nested by us? When we brand those eggs the question may be raised – what was the upheaval all about?
Bladerunner:
Only product we can glorify is healthy organic food. We are an agricultural country, no doubt about that, so why not use our potential to its fullest. Mick Jagger and his friends all turned to organic and maggot food. As long as there are worms, its OK. […]
VanjaGator:
In the society of rich it is good to play cards of healthy foods and diet. Perhaps we can invent some kind of Serbian diet?
Float Like a Bu:
[…] There are some nice stuff dating from communism time ([when we lived in] SFRJ) pushed into history only because negative association with abandoned system. […] One designer from West Germany got a nice idea to patent semaphore from East Germany. He made it to an annual profit of 3 million euro. Even Berlin officials decided to place back those traffic-lights blueprinted in old fashion across the whole city . […] Maybe we could dig deep to find value and inspiration in our past. For example some unique icons from the era of socialism can be relived and proudly labeled by our country.

author: Ljubisa Bojic


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Singapore and Hong Kong: ban FEER · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The Far Eastern Economic Review's editor blogs about the decision of singapore government to ban the magazine:  “It has explicitly warned that not only is the Review Publishing Company forbidden from importing or distributing the Hong Kong-based monthly, but Singaporeans will also commit a criminal offense if they import or reproduce the magazine for distribution.”
Simon world gives his readers more background.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Oiwan Lam


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South Africa: gay marriage debate · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The man who wants to become the next president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, believes that gay marriages are ungodly and unAfrican, via Reluctant Nomad.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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South Africa: the Homeless World Cup · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

In an African Minute writes about the Homeless World Cup in South Africa: The Homeless World Cup ‘is an international street soccer tournament. Teams from 48 countries, comprising homeless, vulnerably sheltered and other marginalised men and women, are taking part in the tournament.


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South Korea: history of prostitution · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Robert Neff writes in detail about the history of prostitution in Korea (Chosun), it is one of the oldest profession.


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Tajikistan: Dushanbe-Moscow Train · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Vadim of neweurasia writes about the ill-fated Dushanbe-Moscow train and the hardships faced by those who take the journey.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Trinidad & Tobago, Bahamas: The Bahamas at Carifesta · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Nicolette Bethel has a series of posts (1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5), reporting on the experiences of the Bahamas contingent at Carifesta, the Caribbean arts festival taking place in Trinidad and Tobago this week. She posts some nice photos as well.

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Vietnam: Caring for Parents · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Virtual Doug in a post titled Filial Piety talks about the differences in parent child relationship in Vietnam and the US.  “The American and Asian cultures are very, very different in the ways they look at honoring Mom and Dad.  My Vietnamese students made it very clear that merely sending money to their parents was not considered to be caring for them.  To my students (mostly female) “caring” for one’s parents meant cooking for them and being physically with them at all times.  Of course, the concept of a nursing home is almost unheard of in Việt Nam.”

author: Preetam Rai


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Voices from Central Asia and the Caucasus · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

After a busy summer, we bid you welcome to a new roundup of notable online conversations from Central Asia and the Caucasus, brought to you by neweurasia and read out loud to you by the headmaster of a school in southern Kyrgyzstan's Sary-Moghul. There is not all too much being written on Georgia, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan this time around, but if you think we're wrong, please send us a link to blog posts on the countries omitted in this roundup.
Armenia:
Onnik Krikorian continues posting on his recent visit to Georgia, where he visited the Yezidi minority. Of Kurdish descent, there is a sizeable community of Yezidis in Armenia, and a smaller one in Georgia. On his Oneworld Blog, Onnik provides interviews, photos, and background information on the problems facing the minority in both Caucasian countries. Among a set of new contributors on Blogrel is Observer, who in his latest post discusses new data by the World Economic Forum on Economic Competitiveness in the Armenian context. Ara on Martini or Bust!!! has some questions about the recent death of a political activist – whereas the authorities give a ‘broken hip’ as the reason.
Kyrgyzstan:
PC blogger Trent Milam has a list with things the Kyrgyz people love, among them Mike Tyson, the donkey from Shrek, and everything ‘Useful for the Health’. Ceilingfan, an Englishman travelling in Kyrgyzstan, has an amusing post on how not to ride on a Bishkek marshrutka, a local minibus. A recent New York Times article about a giant swastika near Naryn made of trees prompted Ennis on Sepia Mutiny to argue that it might not be a piece of forestry by German POWs but ‘stranded Buddhist time travellers who were trying to signal their spacecraft’. On neweurasia, Yulia posts about lie detectors to clean up Kyrgyz bureaucracy and a new incident on Bishkek's airport involving an American aircraft, whereas Ben posted some photos of a recent trip to Sary-Moghul, a village in Kyrgyzstan's remote Alay-valley. Mirsulzhan Namazaliev, youth activist from Bishkek, has recently started his English blog, besides his Russian Livejournal.
Kazakhstan
Blogging has made it into the classroom at one of Kazakhstan's most prestigious universities. Frederick Emrich and his students at KIMEP all use blogs to discover new information technologies and share their experiences using them. Sean Roberts continues his excellent coverage of Kazakhstan on his Roberts-Report. The latest post introduces a worthy contender to the upcoming “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan”. Nomad, a 40-million-dollar production sponsored by the Kazakh government, should be released at the same time than Sasha Cohen's film, argues Roberts. The WEF competitiveness data has sparked a post on the recently-reactivated KZBlog, written by an American government consultant based in Astana. There is simply no real interest in only marginally-profitable businesses, resulting in a lack of customer-oriented services. On neweurasia, Leila ponders whether it is good or bad that blogs will be considered as mass media, and Ben has some thoughts on the recent mining tragedy and only muted criticism from the government afterwards.
Tajikistan:
Following up on Vadim's ‘Fly Tajik Air’ post recently, Craig and Simon of the Silk Route Project went through the ordeal of buying a one-way ticket from Khorog in Gorno-Badakhshan to the capital Dushanbe. The spectacular flight compensated for the tedious and Kafkaesque ticket purchasing procedure. On neweurasia, Alexander thinks that the upcoming presidential elections will be free and fair because incumbent Rakhmonov has no opponent to fear. On the same blog, Highlander reports that golden teeth are about to get outlawed in Tajikistan.
Turkmenistan:
In a blog only recently set up, Turkmen blogger Karakum explains his vision for this new project, Akmy-Garamy?. As he explains, he wishes this new blog to be a forum where Turkmens can participate actively in discussing the development of an alternative future for their country. Turkmen blogger Paikhas has also used the blog platform to collect more resources on the study of Turkmenistan. Sahypalar is a compendium of links to sites and blogs taking Turkmenistan as their primary theme, while Federativnaya Respublika Turkmenistan is more specifically political and, as the title suggest, deals with issues of federalism in Turkmenistan and beyond (all links in Russian). At neweurasia, Peter recently wrote about John Deere's latest successfully concluded contract with Turkmenistan. The U.S. agricultural machinery firm has apparently taken Turkmenbashi's spiritual opus to heart and promises to give it pride of place at its company museum. neweurasia's Turkmen blog also covered the chaotic fall-out that seems to accompany every cotton-picking season in that country.

author: Ben Paarmann


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Chilean Blog Update: Woman’s Talk · Global Voices
Rosario Lizana

There are two very popular 100% womens isues blogs in Chile. Men, fashion, concerns, boyfriends, relations, thoughts, all center on women's interests: Zancadas (ES)  and nuestroclubdelulu (ES) . In the last post of Zancadas, Ana Paula Do Brasil wrote about the moment just before we are about to go out at night:
Estoy segura que aquí todas tienen una lista o por lo menos una canción especial para el momento de la “preparación” para el carrete. Son aquellas canciones que, mientras una se maquilla, se viste o va manejando para una fiesta, parecen traer un mensajecito a más, tipo: “hoy incorporo el espíritu Madonna y nadie me hará parar de bailar”, o “finalmente voy a salir a carretear después de tanto tiempo vuelta loca en la pega”, o “por fin una noche onda ‘Sex&The City’ con mis amigas” y por ahi va.
She continues sharing a list of the songs she has for the moment. Of course, all the comments on this post are from women,.
Another group blog by women and for women is  nuestroclubdelulu (ES). “Demand” is the title of the latest post and refers to the limits in a couple's relation. The one befor that was about Boyfriends with children.
As the time passes, it is every day more difficult to find a partner without a past and without responsibilities such as son or daughter.

author: Rosario Lizana


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Iran:Ayatollah Khomeini’s letter and nuclear bomb · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Kamangir talks about Ayatollah Khomenii's letter that was published after 18 years. We read in media, a letter from 1988 in which Iran's top commander says Iran could need a nuclear bomb to win the war against Iraq has come to light in Tehran. The blogger adds I do not blame them; Iraq was using chemical weapons against Iranians. I say, let’s be honest; Khomeini never issued a Fatwa against nuclear weapons, or at least he did not really mean nuclear arsenal is as bad as pork is.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Turkey is Typing… · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

As that transition from the lazy days of Summer turn into Fall, a gloomy spell has fallen over the Turkish bloggers this week…and actually, I can agree with them myself.  Murat from American Turk writes about the frustration of the day to day mundane of the office:
I'm unhappy at work, more than anything else. So many missed deadlines, dropped balls, failures to communicate lately that I am hating not only my job but also my performance. It's hard to be your best when it's so [sic] thankless and uninspiring to exceed expectations.
And in a post inspired by Murat's, Me and Others laments over missed deadlines:
last night i didnt even touch the translation which should have been finished this morning. this was quite expected, because i hadnt slept the day before and regardless of my nick name suggest i am not a super hero. i am actually very angry with myself for once more playing the game with their rules. i just cant determine the deadlines yet. well it is me who determines the deadline in the end, because it is me who is going to finish the job, but this feeling of crossing to the untrustworhty side really kills all my mood.
It isn't all gloom in the Turkish blogosphere this week, but there is a definite sense of waiting and reflection. Athanasia's Daily writes about her lack of posting lately due to her trying to make a major decision for the path of her life and her plan to travel to Sultanahmet (in Istanbul) to take part in Ramadan celebrations. Farid, a Turk living in Azerbaijan, writes of his impressions of Ramadan on his blog “Don't Dream Your Life Away…”:
Nobody seems to care. I think, Soviet Union has affected our religion a lot…People talk about it less and nobody is really excited here…
I was feeling Ramadan more in USA than here…
Metroblogging Istanbul has posted up photos taken from walking around town (in Istanbul) that show a sense of general dissatisfaction with the world, from Muslim charity advertisements to aid children in Lebanon to invitations to protest meetings being held after Friday prayers.
Idil from Ignore Me If You Can wrote about the shock of the coup in Thailand and muses on if something similar happened in Turkey:
What I’m wondering is, will Turkey ever come to the point where they want out of the current government and will they ever be forced to take them down like in Bangkok.
I have to admit I don’t want AKP or any similar party to have any kind of power in Turkey but the answer isn’t a military coup. I’m not sure it should even be a last resort even though I’d be pretty happy to see them gone for good.
I’ve always had a huge sympathy for the Turkish Army. For some reason, I feel more secure knowing they’re around.
Talk Turkey wrote an excellent piece this week on his 10 recommendations on needed change in Turkey.  His ideas range from giving up on the EU, allying more with the U.S. and Israel, giving Cyprus back, becoming and accepting the role of modern Islam, to a slightly unorthodox idea of buying an NBA franchise in the US to capitalize on the larger number of Turkish basketball stars.  While I highly recommend the article (and the developing comments dialogue), I can't copy the whole thing in this post, but I will show you his conclusion:
Do you have a Top 10 worthy of consideration? What about reducing the role of the ‘generals’ while cutting the defense budget by 25% and eliminating the mandatory army. What about being the first country, instead of always following others’ lead, to enact some ‘serious’ and meaningful human rights practices those others can emulate for their own. Reform the justice system, educate the illiterate, teach the ‘press’ to be more newsworthy and not play into the emotions of our culture. Help ‘westernize’ our people. Invest in the US. Join with Hollywood and find a cause to fight for, even if it's only for great publicity. Create more ‘branding.’ Become more ‘visible’ in the US, as well as Global Affairs. Do not materialize petty differences but focus on the new world order. Don't be afraid of God but be wary of organized religion. Modernize Islam. Bring an effective end to our obsession with sex and violence. Give women a real chance. Study the past and prepare for the future. Respect the customer and instill proper customer service.
Interesting links:
1.We are the Turks- blog devoted to biographies of notable Turkish-Americans.
2. Erkan's Field Diary has linked to an article from Sabah News about the rise of blogging in Turkey (in Turkish).
3. More of a teaser than a link, but next week I am planning a Turkish Food Blog extravaganza for this weekly.

author: Deborah Ann Dilley


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Ukraine: Lviv is 750 Years Old · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Dominican Cathedral in Lviv, built in the late 18th century. In the Soviet times, the building housed Lviv's atheism museum, which has now been transformed into the museum of religion; also, organ music concerts and religious services are being held in the cathedral. (Photo by Lyncis/Cyril Kalugin.)
The wonderful Western Ukrainian city of Lviv is celebrating its 750th birthday this week. Various anniversary shows, exhibitions and other events are drawing crowds both from Ukraine and from abroad. Below are several Ukrainian bloggers’ reflections on what the city feels like on ordinary days, when the spotlight isn't as intense as it is now.
Kyiv-based Lyncis – Cyril Kalugin, 24 – made a flash-trip to Lviv (UKR) in mid-September, with his friend and his camera:
We were feeling bored and so decided to go to Lviv. Not for the whole weekend, but just to drink the Lviv coffee and to absorb some of the tranquility of the Old City. (I have to note that I tried to make a trip there last week, but there were no [train] tickets whatsoever.)
We made up our minds at the end of the week, and Lenka booked the tickets nearly right away. It took me two minutes or so to get packed ([my EOS 300D in a small biking backpack, plus my jacket]). So on Saturday, at 9:40 PM Kyiv time, we were inside the train car for half an hour already, enjoying the taste of Lvivske beer that we had bought in advance. And this seems to be a tradition – because our compartment-mate was also drinking Lvivske, and on our way back, our neighbors had Lvivske, too.
And at 8 AM we were already in Lviv. By the way, it feels strange to have so little luggage – at first, I felt somewhat uneasy, but then I realized it was way cool – a super-light journey. It was so good – the sun had just risen, its bright rays fell almost parallel on the empty streets of Lviv, and the walk through the parks was marvelous, despite the morning +12 Celcius. Breakfast at the empty [Puzata Khata chain], coffee at the empty Dzyga – the Lion's city was just beginning to wake up, and I must say that by the end of the day it was so awake, it was impossible to find a vacant coffee table – anywhere. (We didn't have much time – until 7:35 PM, but we did cover our minimum-program. […])
Anyway, there was nothing new, but we had a really great time just walking the narrow streets in silence and sitting on the sidewalks with beer […] – and there, when you look at the life that surrounds you, you realize that it's not passing you by, that you are part of it – part of the Lviv Tranquility. […]
But Lviv, as any other great city, can show only its ugly side to the visitors, if it so wills. LJ user antirog, currently based in Poland, re-visited Lviv in early July and wasn't pleased with what he saw (RUS):
Two days in Lviv. Lots of interaction and impressions. Most emotions are negative. […] On the one hand, a huge number of expensive cars, on the other – total poverty and shabbiness in courtyards and streets. Prices are close to those in Europe, and incomes are in the miserable tens of dollars. Superclubs for the children of zarobitchany [those working in Western Europe], who are spending all the money earned by their mammas on drinks, and – eateries for the needy workers of budget-funded organizations. Streets are completely dark, and – the sparkling night clubs and VIP hangouts. Lack of water, and – super-comfortable resorts […]. Halychyna, I think, is still looking for its true master. […] Because they can't manage by themselves. […]
[photos]
There is as much realism in antirog‘s Lviv pictures as there is in his words – and these pictures are so overwhelming that another blogger, LJ user dedugan/mankurt, a Lviv resident, re-posted them on his site and wrote this about his beloved city (RUS):
LOVE ME THE WAY I AM…
I was looking through my friends’ journals and saw antirog‘s sad photo story about Lviv from two months ago. I looked at it – and copied it here.
Love me the way I am and maybe one day I'll grow better. I don't know whose thought this is, but it's a wise thought. We love Lviv the way it is, and we are genuinely happy about every new, and good, outfit it gets.
I understand the feelings of the story's author (by the way, there are also photos of Warsaw at his site, and only garbage containers look neat on them) – of course, everyone who arrives in Lviv through the Western border, notices the paint peeling off the buildings, heaps of garbage and anti-Semitic and anti-Russian slogans written on the walls and fences.
The former is just yelling about our poverty, and the latter is a sign of the obvious presense in the city of mean and foolish people. We also suffer from this poverty, especially since it all too often spreads from the walls into our plates. As for the latter, well, let the resident of a city that doesn't have the mean ones and the jerks, throw the first stone into my computer screen.
I myself am not as annoyed by the peeling walls and the dirt – I'm used to this already (and, honestly, it wasn't any better under Communists) – it's nothing but a sign of poverty. I am disturbed by the new monuments – most of them are […] amazingly tacky […]. Ah well, after all, in 1917, the revolutionary sailors and soldiers were [peeing] into antique vases at the Winter Palace, too…
Everything passes and this will pass as well. Only Lviv will remain, the city we love. The city that, despite it all, is getting better every year. We believe in our city.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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China: Blogger-poets · Global Voices
John Kennedy

In Qian Zhongshu‘s (钱钟书) 1947 novel Fortress Besieged (围城), one of the greatest works of twentieth-century Chinese literature, protagonist Fang Hung-chien attempts to build a career with a fake degree from an imaginary American university. As seen in a post yesterday [zh] from Bullog blogger Fang Zhouzi, life does still imitate art, seventy years later, and at even the highest levels in Chinese society:
吴征“博士”失母校：巴灵顿大学关门大吉
在中国很著名的美国“大学”、吴征获得其博士学位的巴灵顿大学（又写做巴林顿、柏林顿、百林顿大学）在2004年被美国总审计局特殊调查办公室认定为属于标价贩卖文凭的“文凭制造厂”（diploma mill）。
巴灵顿大学于1998年9月14日在阿拉巴马州注册，查阿拉巴马州政府公司登记资料，该“大学”已于今年4月19日解散。
其网站barrington.edu也已关闭。
吴征“博士”没有母校了。
不过吴“博士”不要伤心，中国还有一些高管是他的校友，例如中国汽车系统股份公司董事局主席、首席执行官陈涵霖在其简历中称自己“毕业于美国Barrington大学的MBA”。
Corporation  D/C 198-198
Legal Name:   Barrington University Incorporated
Place Of Inc:   Montgomery County
Date Of Inc.:   09-14-1998  Dissolved.: 04-19-2006
Reg Agent…:   GIBSON, SHIREE
801 EXECUTIVE DRIVE  #204
MOBILE, AL  36606-2811
Prin Address:   MOBILE, AL
Capital Amt.:   100 Authorized  — Paid In
Nat Of Bus..:   OPERATION OF A CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL/DISTANCE LEARNING
Names Of Inc:   EWING, RICHARD
(XYS20060930)
Late last month Journal of Selected Poetry editor Zhao Lihua (赵丽华) found herself on the sharp end of the Chinese blogsphere when several of her old (and admittedly poorly-written) poems were dug up, posted viral, mocked and spoofed to no end. First bringing Chinese poetry back to the forefront of public consciousness, the incident then led to discussions over the value of destructured verse seen in Zhao's poems. One of the more prominent has been the blog battle between author, musician, race car driver and voice of those born post-1980 Han Han and 1990s grassroots literature sensation Shen Haobo, with the younger writer taking the conservative stance [zh]:
现代诗和诗人怎么还存在
前两天这里在争吵诗不诗的问题，没看，觉得奇怪。因为我的观点一直是现代诗歌和诗人都没有存在的必要的，现代诗这种体裁也是没有意义的。这年头纸挺贵，好好的散文，写在一行里不好吗？古诗的好在于他有格式，格式不是限制，就像车一定要开在指定路线的赛道里一样，才会有观众看，你撒开花了到处乱开，这不就是交通现状吗，观众自己瞎开也能开成那样，还要特地去看你瞎开？这就是为什么发展到现在诗歌越来越沦落。因为它已经不是诗，但诗人还以为自己在写诗。
Shen's retort and those following  [zh] pulled no punches, dissing Han in language so elegant as to render it untranslatable. A post [zh] written on September 28 mocks Han's having dropped out of high school, poor car racing performance and Han's funding of his own album after being ignored by several music companies. Posts over the last several days have seen a series of increasingly insulting poems—written in Zhao's destructured style—blogged back and forth between the two men.

author: John Kennedy


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Hispanic Blogger Union · Global Voices
Milton Ramirez

This a new project started by Carmen, a Spaniard with a healthy interest in the development of Spanish-language blogging.  It began randomly collecting a few blogs that were called to her attention and by now the list has passed one hundred.  Not only are the numbers impressive, but she's thinking of moving to a dedicated hosting service.  It is in the interest of all Hispanic Bloggers to keep the project rolling.
Union de Bloggers Hispanos  claims to be tired to be browsing only English language blogs:
Pues yo estoy cansada, y por ello quiero crear este blog para que todos podamos colocar en él nuestros blogs y navegar por ellos entender lo que decimos, poder dicutir con otros miembros que hablen en nuestra lengua, en fin entendernos.
So we are, and thanks to GVO  you can get this piece of information.  The blogs that belong to the Hispanic Blogger's Union (UBH) are classified by categories in agreement with the blog's author but you might want to check the whole list in here or participate in an old way to get noticed by search robots through this meme.

author: Milton Ramirez


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Iran: National interests first · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Jomhour says that Iranian leaders should take care of our national interests rather than sacrificing them for the interests of other countries. The blogger says Hamas leader after receiving all financial help from Iran, called Turkey as a model for Palestine[Fa].


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Latest Voices From Swahili Blogosphere · Global Voices
J. Nambiza Tungaraza

The big question in Swahili blogosphere remains: who deserves government assistance and how should the Tanzania ‘s government assist financially all eligible higher education candidates?
Recently, sudents at the University of Dar-Es-Salaam held public demonstrations to protest against their colleagues who were dropped from the Higher Learning Students Loan Board (HLSB) list of beneficiaries, delayed disbursement of their loans, and the poor state of key social amenities at the university.
Charahani is of the opinion that the new system of granting loans to higher learning students is discriminatory, therefore favoring the rich.
The story gets even bitter. While tuition keeps increasing, the government keeps reducing the amount of loan  and therefore creating a huge financial burden to students, most of whom come from peasant and working class families.
Mjengwa views the new higher education loans system as a betrayal to the ideals that Tanzanians have held for the past forty-five years when access to education was a national priority. He cites a popular nationalistic song the protesting students were singing, “Kama si Juhudi Zako Nyerere” (Were it not for your efforts, Nyerere), to remind those in power of Nyerere's vision of education for all. The song pays tribute to the efforts of the first President of Tanzania, Mwalimu Nyerere, in building a nation based on his humanist vision of justice and equality, particularly for the poor.
He argues that if it were not for government's help, those in power today would not have entered college:
Today, those who were young people in the 1970s are holding important positions in the government. Most of the members of parliament and ministers including the current President, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, have college education. Although most of them are children of poor workers and peasants, it was because of efforts by Mwalimu Nyerere and the government at the time, that they were able to receive education.
Writing about the same issue (students’ loans), Kitururu wonders whether Martin Luther King's speech “I have a dream” is relevant to Tanzania. He comes up with his own “I Have a Dream”:
I have a dream that one day Tanzanians will be able to receive education regardless of their family or financial background.
Dar es Salaam-based popular photoblogger, Muhidin Issa Michuzi, writes in English and Swahili about the violent murders of two Tanzanian students – Walter Mazula (28) and Vonetha Nkya (27) in Detroit , Michigan. He also posts their photo.
Reporting from New York about the incident, Michuzi writes: “Tanzania's Ambassador to Washington, Mr Andrew Mhando Daraja, confirming the reports here last night named the deceased as the late Walter Mazula and Vonetha Nkya. Mr Daraja said the two met their violent deaths in the East side of Detroit late Saturday afternoon.
Ndesanjo Macha reminds those who did not  listen to Ted Turner's interview with Reuters (UN: Will they listen?) to read Rebecca's piece.
Swahili bloggers’ works are not immune from copyright infringement. Ndesanjo writes about a recent incident involving a food blog, MiRecipe, and a news and entertainment website in Tanzania, Dar Hotwire.  Dar Hotwire published content (text and photos) from MiRecipe without her permission.
He discusses copyright laws, media ethics, the Berne Convention and emphasizes the need to respect bloggers’ works.
He writes:
It is illegal and unethical to use literary works without permission even if those works are in a blog. It is possible that there is a general assumption that copyright laws and media ethics do not apply to blogs. This assumption might lead some to believe that bloggers’ works such as photos, poems, stories, and feature articles can be used by anyone without seeking permission or giving credit. We will not allow this to happen.
A Boston based Swahili blogger, Chemi Che Mponda writes about a Tanzanian model and author, Tausi Likokola. Tausi has modelled for famous brands like Gucci and Christian Dior. Chemi reckons that Tausi will be a positive role model for many young Tanzanian girl:
Apart from modelling, Tausi has been helping AIDS victims through her non-profit, Tausi AIDS Fund, which she started after many of her relatives and friends got infected.
Tausi plans on bringing together people and resources to help those affected by HIV/AIDS.
Harakati doctors a photograph to show that the former Inspector General of Police in Tanzania, Omar Mahita, is a school-age kid following a civil case against him for abandoning his child.

author: J. Nambiza Tungaraza


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Vietnam: Xangsane in Vietnam · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Tuan in Hue, Central Vietnam reports on the typhoon Xangsane, the strongest to hit Vietnam in 10 years. “You can not imagine how teribble it was this morning. From this early morning, around 3.00 or 4.00 AM until 4.00 PM today, the wind was very strong. Most of the trees on my street were uprooted and corrugated irons were flying like papers. All the advertising panels were broken. And then, heavy rain.”


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Africa: beyond Afropessimism · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

“Discourses about Africa continue to be infected by what we used to call in the 1980s and 1990s Afropessimism, the belief that Africa is irredeemably doomed to backwardness and chaos. Afropessimism embodies two tendencies—vilification of African experiences and valorization of Euroamerican engagements with Africa, that Africa is incapable by itself of historical progress and that any progress evident there is the result of Euroamerican interventions,” continue reading.


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Africa: nakedness as a source of political power · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

What has women's nakedness got to do with political activism in Africa? And are there lessons for the women in the US? Read “Nakedness and Power” in My Heart's in Accra.


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Africa: power and politics in Africa · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Jamaa Poa posts a feature article, The Strong Shall Always Be the Weak, by Onyango Obbo, the Nation Media Group’s managing editor for Convergence and New Products: “The authoritarian politics of the likes of Banda, which was the rule in most of Africa in the 1970s and 1980s, also gave rise to another irritating feature of African politics – the long speech. A speaker needs to take his audience for granted – or to hold them to a degree of fear – for him to bludgeon them with a dull speech for hours without protest.”


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Albania: Highway Roundabout Construction · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Our Man In Tirana posts photos and an update from one of the capital's construction sites: visitors pass it as they enter Tirana on their way from the airport.


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Albania: Ismail Kadare’s Novel · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Wu Wei reads Ismail Kadare's novel, The Successor: “The Successor is about the ways totalitarian leaders keep their colleagues in check, by invoking the good of the Party.  Or perhaps the ways in which the colleagues keep themselves in check by their own fear, having given their leader all power.”


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Algeria: Tamazight and French · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Perhaps the single biggest problem of some branches (certainly not all) of the Tamazight (Berber) movement: they talk about developing Tamazight, but they talk and write and think in French, Lameen Souag said.

author: Haitham Sabbah


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Apocalypso Now: T&T bloggers on last Friday’s earthquake · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

FEW THINGS say more about a nation's character than the way its citizens react to a natural disaster, potential or otherwise. Some would suggest that Trinidad and Tobago's bloggers aren't truly representative of the national community, but I'd like to make the case for the contrary, in the form of the following review of the responses of the country's online scribes to the earthquake that rocked the twin-island nation on Friday morning.
The original dispatch from the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Unit reported a “preliminary magnitude” of 5.5, though reports from other sources said it could have been as high as 6.2. All most bloggers knew, however, is that at 9:08am on Friday the place began shaking like crazy. . . .
SANG FROID
A few bloggers managed to relinquish for a moment the Trinidadian love of the byzantine and posted fairly concise and straightforward accounts of the incident. Oddly enough, I was one of them. At the computer writing an e-mail to the Global Voices editors’ list when the ‘quake began, I was able to to post to my blog within minutes:
Just felt the strongest, longest earthquake I’ve ever felt in my life. The house felt like it was rocking from side to side. Haven’t checked as yet for damage, but I’m certain that less sturdy buildings than this must have sustained some. It also took the power out. . . .
Hottie Hottie was quick on the draw as well, and brought a few hard facts:
Initial reports are that it measured 6.2 on the Richter scale and its centre was located 26 miles of the coast of Charguaramas. Several parts of the country are without power, including Port of Spain and Arima. Details are sketchy but initial reports coming in state there has been significant damage to several buildings with at least one report of a house being destroyed.
Also offering a measured, almost literary, account was Global Voices author Nicholas Laughlin, who posted the following at 5:23 that afternoon:
Friday, just after 9 a.m. I'm standing in the kitchen with a cup of coffee in one hand and a cordless phone in the other, talking to A. At that hour of the morning I'm often a little tottery, so I hear it before I feel it: that deep, sickening rumble like a continent's bones grinding. Earthquakes used to frighten me when I was a child, but for years now I've been nonchalant about them–part of my own personal myth of it-can't-happen-to-me invulnerability. I step calmly into the doorway as A., a couple miles away in Cascade, asks, “Do you feel that?”. . . .
Sirius, also benefitting from hindsight, posted this on Saturday:
In a country used to small tremors, initially the first jolt was a surprise but nothing to worry about; but then it got stronger. I was in the motion of rising from my chair to lean against the seperator for my desk and talk to someone, so I kept rising and looked around. With the building swaying, I knew this was definately the big one. I knew it, but I was still calm; just looking around for a safe place to go. Head for a doorway? No, too far. My desk would have to suffice. It was at that moment, as the quake grew ever stronger, that everything took a turn for the worst.
APOCALYPSE NOW!
Start telling a Trinidadian about your trials and tribulations and he or she's likely to respond by telling you that his or hers are far worse. Friday's ‘quake also brought out the doom-and-gloom raconteur in a few of the nation's bloggers. Manicou captured the emotion of the moment in Trinidadian dialect:
That was the news report, now hear what really happen.
I sit down my desk, I just finished replying to comments left on the blog, and I was in the midst of writing a post on a story I had just read in the Guardian, when I feel like the house shaking. 1 second later I realize it was an earthquake. So I say, ok it must be one of them jokey 4.0 earthquake we does get so I will sit it out. Then all of a sudden thing get strong. The whole house start to shake like mad. Allyuh I was actually hearing the rumbling. Then all of a sudden I hear things downstairs start falling and crashing. [ . . . ] Because not only is the earthquake strong, but it going on forever. We sitting there and is like the thing just won't end. It just kept rumbling, and rumbling. You hearing children from the primary school nearby bawling for dear life. I began thinking about recent earthquakes in Turkey, Iran and Pakistan and I start wondering just how bad is this thing going to be? Is this the big one?
“It's funny,” Manicou continued, “but the first thing that came to my mind following the quake was ‘I have to blog this’.”
Also genuinely unnerved was SmallIslandGirl, especially when an aftershock hit around 2:30pm:
Scary stuff i hate being home alone when these things happen.
Then the other one hit a few minutes ago and i was in the mall and that was even more scary people started screaming and running and ah can't lie i ran for the nearest exit too and took a taxi straight home and now i'm searching the net to see what is the right thing to do during a quake because i suspect that the way the weather has been these few days we would be having a lot more of these.
Seche remained concerned well into Saturday:
I was home when around 2:20pm, I experienced an aftershock which was 5.5. I was very scared. I was home alone. Imagine we are being told that we have to prepare for THE BIG ONE. I am so scared. An earthquake bigger than a 6.0???
AND THEN THE LAUGHTER BEGAN. . .
But one of the overriding aspects of the Trinidadian character is an outsize appreciation for the absurd, and wasn't long before the humour-laced accounts started rolling in. saucydiva opened her take on the events with a shriek: “Yes allyuh I survived the earthqauke! (sic)”:
So I was on my way to the office, stopped for gas at the station at Barataria and as I came around the roundabout by Maritime Plaza I rush a lady to get in the lane of traffic, all of a sudden I feel the car shake, I say “ay ay the bitch bounce meh!”. Only to realise the shaking not stopping! The asphalt started moving like maracas waves, and me there feeling like I am in the bocas! I sent down my window, asked the guy in the car next to me if he was feeling that and he replied that it was coming over the radio…earthquake!
Weighing in after the electricity in her district returned, Karen Walrond wrote:
. . .  Since getting back online, I've been reading rather scholarly summaries of the experience, with Richter scale numbers like 5.5 (no way) to 7 (probably not that high, but it certainly feels believable) being bandied around. Also, this one felt like it lasted forever. However, because I'm no seismologist, the only way I can describe the experience is like this:
(“Oh, wow,” I think, “an earthquake!”) (“Damn,” I think some more, “this is an earthquake…”)  (“…okay, it's stopping now…”)  (“HOLY SHIT!” — at which point I run out the door outside)  (I'm outside, quietly freaking out) . . . .
Even non-Trinidadians got into the act, with Bahamian Nicolette Bethel taking the opportunity to engage in some chest-thumping for the Bahamas contingent that was in Trinidad for the Carifesta arts festival: “Is it coincidence that at the same time the Bahamian contingent is here, T&T are feeling some of their strongest earthquakes in years?”
NO MAJOR DAMAGE?
While initial reports stated there was “no major damage or injury”, the news emerged the following day, however, that that one person was fatally injured and several rushed to hospital. The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Unit reported a further aftershock at 6:03pm on Friday.


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Arabic Gems · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

This blog is an attempt to present to the reader points of benefit concerning various aspects of the Arabic Language, with the aim of encouraging the non-Arabic speaker to embark upon his learning voyage, or to guide the current student through its various seas that may not have yet been explored, for the sake of deepening their understanding and appreciation of the miraculous nature of the Qur’anic language.


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Argentina: Kirchner’s Contradictions · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Robert Wright tries to make sense of President Kirchner's recent statement that the constitution should be reformed so that the President serves for 6 years without the possibility of an immediate re-election.

author: David Sasaki


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Armenia: Corruption · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Burnell at Blogrel is happy that salaries for state employees are rising in Armenia because the costs of corruption have been on the rise recently.


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Armenia: Yezidi Wedding · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian has photos of an Yezidi wedding in Armenia.


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Bahamas: Culture as “light fare” · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

A Jamaican newspaper article about the pan-Caribbean arts festival Carifesta confirms Nicolette Bethel's view that Caribbean governments fail to take culture seriously.


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Bahrain: Freedom of choice · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

“What is it about men not wanting or allowing their wives and such to be themselves? Is it that they want these women stupid? Is it control? Is it all in the name of religion? I think many use religion as an excuse! Or is it that girls, some girls, take it too far? Is it that they aren't in love and married because it was arranged and don't like the controlling natures of the men? Do men, in the ME, become much more aggressive or jealous once they get married?” an American lady married to a Bahraini said.


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Barbados: Marketing to US tourists · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Barbados Free Press asks why Barbados’ efforts to market to American tourists are failing; Linda Thompkins provides an answer.


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Bosnia & Herzegovina: General Election · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

East Ethnia writes about an interesting twist in the Oct. 1 Bosnia and Herzegovina: “It looks increasingly likely that Zeljko Komsic from the non-nationalist SDP might be elected Croat member of Bosnia's three-member presidency, with a substantial chunk of his vote coming from ethnic Bosniaks.”


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Brazil: Cardoso on Brazil’s Military · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Given a chance to ask former Brazilian president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso a question at a recent presentation at the University of Austin, Vikrum Sequeira compares Brazil's global presence with Russia, India, and China and asks: “Do you think Brazil position in the world would be stronger if its military capacities were similar to those of India's? When you represented Brazil abroad, did you ever feel that Brazil would have more bargaining power if the military were stronger?” Find out how Cardoso responded.


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Brazil: Elections · Global Voices
David Sasaki

A.M. Mora y Leon has an overwhelmingly thorough roundup of roundups on yesterday's Brazilian election (ES).


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Brazil: Lula faces run-off · Global Voices
Jose Murilo

In a good election roundup, A.M. Mora y Leon at Publius Pundit reports: “Brazil’s voters have sent a message tonight – Lula, we love you, but not quite the way we used to! You’ve got to change!”.

author: Jose Murilo


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Brazil: Lula’s Risk of Losing it All · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Ricardo Carreón, based in Sao Paulo, takes a look at “How Lula lost his chance to win on the first round and is now in risk of losing a second term.”


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Bulgaria: Tripoli Six Update · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Declan Butler posts an update on the Tripoli Six case and links to blogs involved in the campaign to free five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor facing execution in Libya.


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Caribbean: 5 Questions with poet Adrian Castro · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Geoffrey Philp continues his series of Five Questions with Caribbean writers — this week he chats with Caribbean/South Florida poet Adrian Castro.


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China: golden and chemical moon cakes · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

October 6 will be the mid autumn festival, Hung Huang tells her readers why she hates moon cakes.


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China: in memory of Traditional Chinese cartoonist · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The Chinese cartoonist Liao Bingxiong passed away on 22 September 2006. ESWN translates an articles from the Southern people weekly about the end of traditional Chinese Cartoon style with some typical Liao's political cartoons.


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China: shanghai social pension fund · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The Shanghai corruption case was related with the abusive use of social pension fund. Lang Xianping was among the first person to point that out. ESWN has translated an unpublished interview with Lang.


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China: the dead don’t have vacation · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

October 1 is the national day of People's Republic of China. Han Song is brainstorming about his new science fiction storyline: if the deads become alive again, what would they have done during the one week vacation? (zh)


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Costa Rica: Julia Ardón · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Liz Henry gives a brief introduction to Costa Rican blogger, Julia Ardón and her various online projects and weblogs.


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India: Child Prodigy · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

A reader's words on a child prodigy of the 1930s. “Among the early popularizers of music in India was Master Madan, a child prodigy who died at the age of 15 in 1942. Few of his recordings survive, though he was a precocious and prolific performer.”

author: Neha Viswanathan


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India: Documenting Temple Murals · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Temple murals, while an important aspect of heritage fades fast thanks to negligence. Nina Paley points to an online initiative to document murals in Tamil Nadu temples. “he is behind an ambitious project to digitally archive the ancient temple murals of Tamil Nadu. Many of these murals depict stories from the Ramayana. “


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Iran:Condom Israel · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

View from Iran has published an image from Iranian TV where you can read Arab States urge UN to condom Israel. Click here to see the photo and do not miss comments.The blogger adds this image illustrates why I tell my foreign friends never ever to use spellcheck.


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Israel: Yom Kippur, Tel Aviv Style! · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Yael went to the Kol Nidre service last night with some friends, but left after about an hour. It was so not happening. In New York, London, and anywhere else she've been to Yom Kippur services and the places were packed to the gills. This beit-knesset was one of many big ones they've got in Tel Aviv. It was absolutely not filled to the gills last night. Outside on the streets though, it was fun. It was really really fun. And it was inspirational, she said.


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Jamaica: Belonging · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

“I love being honked at by people I barely know. I enjoy feeling that I belong to something even when the guy selling newspapers, and the one hawking hub-caps, and the nearby gardener all ask me for school-fee money for their kids,” writes Francis Wade of the daily interactions that remind him that “I now belong to this Jamaican fabric” — and which he finds dramatically absent on a recent trip to New York.


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Jamaica: Finding a balance · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Geoffrey Philp touches upon the complicated relationship Jamaicans have with the land, and how it influences the country's ability to find a balance between “economic progress and a healthy ecology”.


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Japan: English education · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Debito reports that the new Japanese Cabinet opposes primary school English education. The new education minister Ibuki believes that Japanese language ability is going down and they should work on their mother tongue than foreign languages.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Japan: Madonna’s tokyo trip · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

David Weber blogs about Madonna's concert in Tokyo in Japundit.


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Japan: no girl allowed · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

JP in Japundit reports that the new Abe Cabinet announces that the Japanese Imperial law needs to be revised in order to “ensure a stable male-line succession of emperors.” Although the public poll shows that 63 percent of Japanese favor revision of the Imperial House Law, with 72 percent supporting the concept of female emperors.


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Jordan: Jordan is having rude awakening! · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Hatem Abunimeh wonder whether the gripe by the federation of the labor unions is something that will have some grave consequences on the long run, or is it going to end up being just a tempest in the tea pot.! “Getting wrangled in legal proceedings can be very arduous thorny & costly process. I'm not even sure that Jordan has the wherewithal to withstand standing up to these giant labor federations and their highly paid elite lawyer,” he said.


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Kazakhstan: The Truth About Nomads · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

KZBlog has a detailed post about Nomad, currently appearing in theaters in Kazakhstan. The movie, as the blogger explains, is based on one part of a larger book telling the story of the creation of the Kazakh nation.


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Mali: Geekcorps ICT projects in rural Mali · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Sociolingo writes about Geekcorps in Mali,
“Geekcorps Mali has done sterling work here in rural communities developing sustainable ICT solutions through radio stations improving content creation and delivery. They have also given technical assistance to local NGOs and USAID partners. Their results have been impressive.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Mongolia: Education in Flux · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Alexa writes that Mongolia's education system is expanding for the first time so that students will be able to start at younger ages.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Nepal: Celebrating Dashain · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

On the occassion of Dashain, United We Blog! had a wonderful post outlining Hinduism and ethnic realities in Nepal in order to understand the secular nature of society and culture.


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Nigeria: anti-corruption internet database · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Africa Unchained writes about the Anti-Corruption Internet Database in Nigeria, “This website is part of a multi-media outreach campaign which aims to educate Nigerians on the systems and processes that exist for the budgeting and accounting of public funds, Inform the public on government’s efforts and shortfalls in managing these vast funds and Empower all citizens to demand their basic rights to see these funds spent on their needs…”


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Oman: Keeping The Devil At Bay · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

It's said that during the Ramadhan period, that the Devil clan is chained up, sent to Hell behind locked doors until the end of the month.
Literally looked at, it's an excellent opportunity for anyone who has sinned during the past to ask for forgiveness and remorse on what is upcoming. But to what end is it really true that a person's devious personality is hidden for a full 29/30 days? Sleepless In Muscat asks.


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Pakistan: What concerns us · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Whisk on what concerns Pakistanis and what doesn't quite make the list.


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Palestine: Internal Clashes · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

How bad is it going to be? Where is this heading? Naj explains some factors of the recent clashes between Hamas and Fatah.


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Palestine: Urgent Appeal For Help From Palestinian Youth Organisations · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

It is the season to pick the olive crop. There is a race of time in Palestine as Israeli settlers and troops destroy the groves, making it impossible to harvest the rich crops.
If you are a visitor to the region, if you live here… this can be your biggest boost to International Solidarity DesertPeace said. “Don't allow the crop to fail…“


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Poland’s Pulse in the Blogopshere · Global Voices
Jordan & Maria Seidel

We’re looking through the Polish language blogs first, this time, as the political situation in the country generated a lot of heat in the blogosphere, as well as managed to get the world’s attention for a while.
Here's the low down… After the break up of the coalition, the ruling PiS scrambled for majority. While courting PSL – “the other farmers’ party” in the parliament – they openly appealed to former partner’s MPs to leave Samoobrona and back up the government. Andrzej Lepper was swift to punish the few opportunists – he pulled out promissory notes which he apparently had each party member sign upon joining, and promised to execute the “debts” as penalty. Populists’ leader also told the press that ruling party members were approaching his MPs with “corruption offers.” Two journalists of the private TVN channel decided to follow the story. They came in contact (sources differ on “how”) with Samoobrona’s Renata Beger – a controversial MP with a pending court case for election fraud – and got her cooperation in taping two important PiS politicians negotiating her defection.
The Beatroot offers an English transcript of the secretly taped meeting. Among the demands that they were prepared to meet were: securing Beger a high post in the Ministry of Agriculture and mandates in local elections for her family members. “Negotiators” also suggested that they could help Ms. Beger with her legal problems, and pay off her promissory note with a special fund created with parliment's money.
Bloggers differ in opinion which offer was more outrageous.
Kurczeblade says:
Considering Ms. Beger qualifications – or rather lack thereof – it cannot be called transfering responsibility for a certain area of public administration. The post of the Secretary of State is then meant as a form of material gain, promise of prestigious and profitable function – a bribe for supporting the government.
Radecky is more upset about the nepotism, while Grzesiek sees the worst offence in this:
Minister Lipinski offered covering Samoobrona defectors’ “debts” from the Parliment funds. As the Parliment doesn't generate any profit, said money would be coming from our taxes. This way all of us would be paing for certain MPs stupidity. Except for the MPs themselves, of course, as they don't pay taxes.
Switching linguistic gears to the English-language bloggers in Poland… Uplifting blogging from Boo, as she notes graffiti exchanges in a local elevator.
Each time I went up and down in the lift, I berated myself for having forgotten once again to bring any kind of cleaning supplies. It stayed for a couple of days and then someone a little less forgetful than me cleaned it off. I was happy to see it [anti-semite graffiti] gone, and then surprised when it was replaced with this:
Raw Translation: “All anti-semites are pitiful creatures with complexes, you are (backward?) too. Long live all races.” – by Becca
And writing is on the wall for Poland's coalition government, according to Edward Lucas. Unfortunately, the wall could be mistaken for Humpty Dumpty's as the coalition might be in an irreparable state.
RICKETY, ineffectual and quarrelsome, Poland's coalition has broken apart. If it cannot be glued back together, an election will be held, probably on November 26th.
And ballots may have a few less names on them in November over the potential fall-out of a Watergate-style scandal shaping up, according to The Warsaw Station:
I'm beginning to wonder whether PiS won't find a way out of this one. The fact that Lipinski is offering positions in the government – which we hear here – is hardly surprising. In fact, it's to be expected. From this American's point of view, this seems to be how parliamentary politics works.
However, even more scandalous for Warsaw Station is the threat of financial retribution by one of the coalition Party for members who abandon the cause:
Lipinski says he could find a way for the Sejm to pay the “penalty” (worth several hundred thousand zloty) that the deputies leaving Self-Defense will have to pay for deserting their party.
And while there aren’t too many pretty faces in Polish politics, Kinuk manages to remind us that the Miss World pageant was held recently in Poland.
That’s the Poland blogopshere update! Until next time – Do widzenia i powodzenia!

author: Jordan & Maria Seidel


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Post Coup Developments in Thailand · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The latest in Thailand is the swearing in of the new prime minister, retired General Surayud Chulanond.  General Sonthi's Council For National Security – CNS (formerly known as Council for Demorcratic Reform) is still active and will continue to advise the new prime minister
Agam's Gecko says
Gen. Sonthi vows that the CNS will not interfere in the operation of the new government — as long as things proceed smoothly — but will serve the PM in an advisory role in national security matters. However, the constitution retains the military council's power to sack the PM should things go haywire. It's the reason for not wishing to institute an all-powerful PM position, apparently, until the checking and balancing systems, and independent oversight bodies get repaired in the next permanent constitution. That will be a project for the next 6 months or so.
The blogger adds
It's a shame that this ultimate role will be retained, because it will surely be played up by the foreign media as a point to discredit the next government. But it probably doesn't matter much, because acceptance will only come after our next elections anyway. The Generals are showing that they prioritise national interests above foreign opinion, and I suspect most citizens would agree with that.
In a follow up post, the same blogger analyses the new constitution and counters some of the claims made by the media.
In respect to the role of President of the National Security Council, several foreign media have reported that Gen. Sonthi will retain the right to remove the Prime Minister or any members of the Cabinet. This is not accurate. This is how that power is described in Article 14:
The King has the prerogative to remove the Prime Minister from office as advised by the President of the Council for National Security and the King has the power to remove Ministers from office as advised by the Prime Minister.
The CNS has the role to advise HM regarding the Prime Minister, but the PM retains authority over his cabinet. The perogative in these matters rest with the King.
Some reporters seemed surprised that the new PM appeared in a fancy military uniform at the palace ceremony.
Agam's Gecko says
Reporters seem to also be having difficulties with the scene yesterday of PM Surayud Chulanont at the palace ceremony, where it was noted that he wore a fancy uniform. Implications were being made that this demonstrates a continuance of military dictatorship, or something.
Perhaps these reporters might check pictures of Thaksin's swearing in ceremonies, or of Chuan Leekpai, the former PM from the Democrat Party. Fancy white uniforms with gold braid etc. are the standard for these formal occasions. During June's 60th Coronation anniversary celebrations, Thaksin and all his ministers were wearing them when they met foreign dignitaries. Heck, if a schoolteacher is running for elected office, her campaign posters (more often than not) will feature the candidate in this same formal dress. Sheesh, get a grip, journalists!
A Thai election poster showing the candidate in a seemingly military uniform.
Don Gilliland at thingsasian.com writes about new rules for soldiers in a post on Bangkok's public transport.
Meanwhile, the Council for Democratic Reform – which is the official identity of Thailand’s new Military-backed interim government – has announced new measures to combat over-exuberant fans of the recent coup. According to newspaper reports, the CDR “has told soldiers it will not allow dancers to perform near tanks, nor can they give their weapons to tourists to handle” when posing for photos.” You gotta love it. Only in Thailand!
Bangkok residents bored with the coup now have a new tourist attraction to interest them. Richard Barrow at Thai-Blogs.com visited the new Bangkok airport.
With the withdrawal of the tanks from the Royal Plaza at the weekend, people of Bangkok had to look for another new attraction. They found one with the newly opened Suvarnabhumi Airport. The latest and biggest tourist attraction in neighbouring Samut Prakan. According to a television report that I saw early Sunday morning, officials were pleading with the public to delay visits to the airport. The number of sightseers were outnumbering the passengers. Traffic jams were being reported on the spacious airport roads and families had been spotted inside the terminal having a picnic of som tam!
[som tam is the spicy thai papaya salad]

author: Preetam Rai


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Republic of the Congo: In Search of Political Heroes · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Congo-Brazzaville is repatriating the remains of Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, the French-Italian colonialist, and interring them in a mausoleum built at the government's expense.  Togolese blogger, Kangni Alem, rebukes those would defend de Brazza and call him a “good colonizer,” quoting one historian's take on why Brazzaville would decide to venerate such a controversial figure: “There is no politician in the Congo worth considering, and so for the Congolese, it's only normal that out of an inferiority complex, they would love a foreigner, a foreigner who was a colonialist…” (Fr)

author: Jennifer Brea


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Regionalism and Dissent Mark the Start of Run-off in Brazil · Global Voices
Jose Murilo

More than 125 million Brazilians went to the polls Sunday to vote for president and to select governors for all 26 states and the Federal District, as well as all 513 Federal Deputies of the lower house and 27 of Brazil's 81 Senate seats. By the end of the day, in a breathtaking counting process that held the nation in suspense waiting for the results, President Luiz Inacio ‘Lula’ da Silva missed a first round victory falling 1.4 percentage points short of the 50 per cent he needed to avoid a runoff on October 29. The numbers are the main facts, but the bloggers diverse narratives and interpretations of the results are just the start of a debate that promises to get hot.
“Houve uma surra de Lula no Norte e Nordeste, e uma surra de Alckmin no Sul e Centro-Oeste, enquanto a região Sudeste está dividida”, afirmou. Isso aconteceu, segundo Amorim, porque as regiões Sul e Centro-Oeste, em que o agronegócio tem um peso importante, “estão em recessão”. As economias do Norte e do Nordeste cresceram acima da média nacional, impulsionadas pelos programa sociais do governo e pela redução no preço dos alimentos possibilitada pelo dólar baixo. Já o Sudeste vive uma situação mista, com atividades que estão sendo beneficiadas e outras que estão sendo prejudicadas pela atual política econômica.
Divisão de voto ‘refletiu economia regional’ – Actualidade – OrangEye.com
Após uma legislatura marcada por escândalos sem precedentes como o do mensalão e o da máfia das sanguessugas, a população mandou de volta para casa quase a metade dos atuais deputados. Dos 513 deputados, 48,7% não voltarão ao Congresso no próximo ano.
Renovação na Câmara – Blog do Noblat
Se o PFL é o grande vitorioso no Senado, com a eleição de 6 representantes, o PMDB é o grande derrotado. O primeiro partido passa a ter a maior bancada, com 18 membros. Será seguido pelo PSDB, com 16. O PMDB ficará reduzido a 14 senadores. Na hipótese de reeleição de Lula, a Casa lhe será bastante inóspita. Juntas, as duas legendas da oposição têm 41,97% do total… Com os 4 do PDT e 1 do PPS, atinge-se a maioria (50,6%). Se Alckmin for eleito, a tarefa na Casa se torna mais simples. O tucano não teria trabalho em atrair ainda 3 do PTB e Francisco Donelles, do PP-RJ. Assim, um Senado que daria trabalho a Lula seria simpático a Alckmin.
Quem dará as cartas no Senado – Blog do Reinaldo Azevedo
Desde 1990, quando as eleições estaduais no Brasil passaram a ter a possibilidade de 2º turno, já houve 17 “viradas” quando o segundo colocado acaba se tornando o primeiro e acaba vencendo a disputa. Hoje, esse é o sonho dos tucanos e o pesadelo dos petistas… Da 17 “viradas” entre 1º e 2º turnos em eleições estaduais, só 7 ocorreram quando diferença entre os dois candidatos no 1º turno foi superior a 7 pontos (a distância agora entre Lula e Alckmin). Nos outros 10 casos (a maioria), os dois candidatos já foram para a disputa final muito próximos. O que isso quer dizer? Quer dizer que estatisticamente o caso Lula X Alckmin não está dentro dos padrões da maioria das “viradas” entre 1º e 2º turnos –embora já tenham sido registrados casos semelhantes em que esse tipo de reviravolta aconteceu.
O padrão das viradas no 2º turno depende de como cada candidato entra na disputa – Blog do Fernando Rodrigues
A existência do segundo turno é uma derrota para Lula e uma vitória para Alckmin. Mas o PT, ao mesmo tempo, elegeu a maior bancada da Câmara Federal. O povo não vetou o PT. Além disso, nas eleições para governos estaduais, o partido ganhou no primeiro turno na Bahia, foi para o segundo no Rio Grande do Sul, causando surpresa em todos – até nos mais esperançosos militantes. E se cumpriram todas as expectativas onde era favorito (como em Sergipe, p.ex.).
Qual foi o recado das urnas? – Imprensa Marrom
The first event in the run-off campaign was the appearance of both presidential candidates in press conferences. The general perception is that Lula is now lessened by the 1st round's surprising result, and that Alckmin seems more ready for the confrontation believing himself capable of keeping the trend growing. The many possible messages derived from tallying the election numbers are bouncing through the blogosphere, and the debate is just starting.
Lula e Alckmin deram entrevistas na tarde desta segunda. Foi a primeira manifestação formal de ambos depois da proclamação do resultado das eleições de domingo. As diferenças foram pontuadas nas respostas que os dois deram às perguntas relacionadas ao dossiêgate. “a sociedade brasileira está esperando as respostas”, disse Alckmin. “De quem é o dinheiro [R$ 1,7 milhão]? Quem é o dono das contas [bancárias]? de quem é dólar? Como entrou no país? O povo brasileiro quer respostas, que ainda não foram dadas”. São respostas que Lula ainda não tem. Em privado, o presidente rumina a suspeita de que os petistas “aloprados” que tentaram comprar um dossiê contra políticos tucanos caíram numa armadilha montada pelo próprio PSDB. Na entrevista, suas suspeitas foram insinuadas: “Fico pedindo a Deus que não me aconteça nada até desvendar esse mistério. Não é apenas a questão de dinheiro ou de onde vem o dinheiro. Quero saber quem arquitetou essa obra de engenharia para atirar no próprio pé. Peço a Deus para viver até o dia que possa dizer: foi tal pessoa que articulou”.
Começa o jogo: Lula se defende – Alckmin ataca – Josias de Souza
Sob o impacto da notícia de que haverá segundo turno, Lula revelou o desejo de alterar os rumos de sua campanha. Mostrou-se surpreso com o percentual de votos obtidos pelo tucano Geraldo Alckmin, acima dos 41%. Avalia que o adversário tornou-se uma ameaça concreta aos planos da reeleição. Numa primeira análise dos resultados, o presidente atribuiu o segundo turno à exploração que os adversários fizeram do dossiêgate e à sua ausência no último debate dos presidenciáveis, promovidos pela Rede Globo na última quinta-feira. Para Lula, suas chances dependerão das respostas que for capaz de dar às dúvidas que giram em torno daquilo que o ministro Tarso Genro (Relações Institucionais) chamou de “Operação Tabajara”: o envolvimento de petistas lotados no comitê reeleitoral na tentativa de adquirir por R$ 1,7 milhão um dossiê contra políticos tucanos. O presidente antecipou que, no segundo turno, vai comparecer a todos os debates televisivos.
Lula vê risco de derrota e quer redefinir campanha – Josias de Souza
Confirmando os movimentos da manhã, a Bovespa fechou em alta expressiva (1,67%) e foi uma espécie de comemoração da ida de Alckmin ao segundo turno. Operadores disseram que empresas privatizáveis ou já privatizadas tiveram valorização. Ou seja, o pessoal acha que, com o tucano, a privatização volta, sim, à agenda – e privatização é ótimo negócio para as Bolsas.Sabe-se que o mercado trabalha por antecipação. Mas parece que neste caso estão exagerando. De todo modo, anote aí: em 2002, parte significativa das elites e dos meios econômicos foi com Lula, encantada com a proposta de ajudar os pobres, atacar a desigualdade. Hoje, essa parte está claramente decepcionada. A maioria esmagadora das elites econômocas, dos operadores, dos investidores, empresários de variado porte e executivos – vai todo mundo com Alckmin.
02/10/2006 – Carlos Alberto Sardenberg
O dilema não está em reeleger Lula ou eleger Geraldo Alckmin: é escolher entre a economia da solidariedade e a supremacia do mercado. Enfim, conforme os norte-americanos Greg Davidson e Paul Davidson (na abertura de seu livro Economics for a civilized society, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., New York, 1988), a diferença entre o amor e a prostituição é simples: o amor não tem valor de mercado.
A Lula o que é de Lula – Tita Ferreira
With 4 weeks more of campaigning ahead, Brazilians will have more opportunity to dive deeper into the debate. But it will also be another month of political garbage and sensory overload.
Campaigning in Brazil can be painful. The television assaults that we are used to seeing in the United States probably aren't as common, but overall, it's complete sensory overload. You have people trying to hand you little pieces of paper saying to vote for this party or that party for deputy, governor, president, etc. That would be fine if the papers told you the candidates’ positions, but they don't. They just say, “press number XXXX” (here, voting is electronic, and remarkably simple). As a result, you get poor people hired by elitist parties handing out leaflets that are immediately thrown on the ground because nobody wants them, being fed up with all the political garbage, and the urban pollution skyrockets in the weeks before the election.
Brazilian Elections, Round One – AlterDestiny
As the digital and electronic age mix with the passions of politics it seems that some things will never change. Yes there is garbage in the airwaves and on the ground and in the backrooms, but there is also the powerful desire of the Brazilian people to achieve a political house cleaning that will be a benefit to all.
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Russia: Georgia Crisis · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Alex Harrowell writes on the Russian-Georgian conflict for A Fistful Of Euros.


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Senegal: Illegal Immigration · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

On illegal African immigration Senegal Diaw (Fr) writes that “the reasons that push young, able men to risk death to come to Europe…are many and complex, and are not necessarily linked to [Senegal's] poverty,” but are rather a product of a country that is not advancing fast enough, whose youth can only look forward to a “bleak future.”


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South Africa: health minister should be prosecuted · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Nervous Voter would like to know when the South African Health Minister, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, is going to jail for her “garlic can save your life (from Aids) nonsense”. The Nervous Voter writes,
“What we need is a good class-action lawsuit from the families of AIDS victims against the government followed by a criminal investigation into culpable homicide (for negligence) against the Health Minister.”


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South Asia Blog Buzz · Global Voices
Rezwan

The latest from the South Asian blogs:
Bangladesh:
- Rehan of Unheard Voices: Drishtipat Group Blog celebrates the religious freedom in Bangladesh.
- US expat Yoli Maya Yeh has fabulous pictures of some Bangladesh tourist attractions.
- Internationally acclaimed photographer Shahidul Alam muses on the duel of corporate profit versus the poor in Bangladesh.
Bhutan
- South Asia Biz informs that getting you car repaired in Bhutan means trouble.
India:
- Amardeep of Sepia Mutiny writes about Delhi's alarming water crisis.
- A Time to Reflect reflects about the sights of Delhi at night.
Maldives:
- Pass the roti on the left side criticizes democratic India, which is arming Maldivian autocratic government.
Nepal:
- United We Blog posts an insightful article justifying the declaration of Nepal as a secular state and the abolition of the ‘Hindu State’ in the upcoming constitution update by the reinstated parliament.
Pakistan:
- Bilal Zuberi of All Things Pakistan has an interesting post about why date is termed as the Ramzan fruit.
- S. A. J. Shiraji of Light Within informs that two proxy sites (pkblogs.com and indblogs.com) that were used to access banned blogspot hosted blogs from Pakistan are now taken down. He poses the question, is this the end of the blogging era in Pakistan?
Sri Lanka:
-  Hell's Dire Agent is skeptical about Sri Lanka’s current peace process.
- South Asia Biz warns that the Dengue fever is becoming a serious concern in Sri Lanka too.

author: Rezwan


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South Asia: Bush and the World · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Or how I learned to stop Worrying on war, Bush, Iraq and the World. “We are where we are because of Mr. Bush’s “order”.We are living today in the chaos of Mr. Bush’s war.”


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South Korea: expats blogging · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Michael Hurt explains why it is good for foreign expats in South Korea go blogging.


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Taiwan: what does the red mean? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The colour of depose Bien campaign is red. So what does the meaning of red in Taiwan political context? Chen Kuan Hsing tries to read into the meaning. The Chinese original version is at inmediahk.net and a translated English version is at interlocals.net.


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Tajikistan: Boycotted Vote · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Alexander Sadikov reports on the decision of Tajikistan's three most powerful opposition parties to sit out the upcoming presidential election and the decision of four smaller ones to field candidates though it is obvious the current president will be reelected. The decision of these four parties to compete, he says, is likely a display of loyalty to the government because their decision provides a democratic facade for the election.


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Tajikistan: Gold Teeth · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Candide says that the news that Tajikistan's president is going after gold teeth in the country, while seemingly a quirky decision, is a very bad sign for the country.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Carifesta post–mortem · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Jeremy Taylor assesses Carifesta, the pan-Caribbean arts festival which ended in Trinidad on Oct 1.

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Trinidad & Tobago: Power to the . . . who?? · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

“The alarming thing about this document is the amount of extra power it concentrates in a president's hands,” writes Jeremy Taylor, reviewing the scary new draft constitution being proposed by the Trinidad & Tobago government.


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United Arab Emirates: Girls walking in peace! · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Dubai Sunshine grew up in the UAE. “It's kind of sad when you realise that most girls end up growing accustomed to getting stared at, no matter what they are wearing. This behaviour, as despicable as it is, is a fact of life here in the Emirates,” she said. But what's even more despicable is when the staring turns into acts of lewdness. Read some stories!


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Voices from Zimbabwe · Global Voices
Zimpundit

Years after the first commercial farms were invaded by marauding war veterans and supporters of the ruling ZANU-PF, a new wave of farm invasions has hit the country merely weeks before planting for the upcoming agricultural season is supposed to begin.  The Bearded Man has picked up on the story:
So what else is new in Zimbabwe – Mugabe continues to bully the population, the government continues to chase white commercial farmers off their land, while the Zimbabwean economy is in a permanent nosedive with the local currency not faring very well against all other currencies
The government has passed a new law extending them greater liberty regarding how much leverage they can put on commercial farmers who own land the government wants to annex.  What is surprising about these new invasions is that the government has announced the end of farm invasions several times over the past year.  In fact, there has even speculation that the government was offering land back to farmers who'd lost it during the redistribution excercise.  So much for that.
After its members where deported upon arrival at the Harare airport, AFL-CIO blog is shining the spotlight on the Zimbabwe government.  First, documentation of police brutality:
“Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) President Lovemore Matombo and First Vice President Lucia Matibenga were among trade unionists badly injured during the government’s Sept. 13 attack on a peaceful demonstration by the nation’s unionists. AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy, who traveled to Zimbabwe says “the police just went crazy” in their attack in the capital Harare.
Lucy described his experience today during a meeting with union members at the AFL-CIO building in Washington, D.C., where he showed a 12-minute video of the Sept. 13 assault given to him on their trip. (Note: The date of the attack is incorrect on the video. The attack occurred Sept. 13.)
Watch the video here.
After that, the AFL-CIO blog blasts Mugabe for endorsing police brutality of Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions members for attempting to hold a protest march.
President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has joined the ranks of the worst anti-union goons by saying Zimbabwe’s union leaders who were severely beaten by police at a Sept. 13 demonstration deserved the beating.
Mugabe’s comments followed his country’s refusal Friday to allow a delegation of U.S. trade unionists, led by AFL-CIO Vice President William Lucy, into Zimbabwe to meet with injured leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).
Despite the gloomy reality in Zimbabwe, Zimpundit manages to find a silver lining in the hope that Zimbabweans will one day rise up fearlessly like the Civil Rights marchers:
We cannot forget the plain reality here; at just 7 years of age, the MDC has attained heights scaled by no other opposition party in Zimbabwe. And despite Mugabe's constant belittling, the NCA and ZCTU are still out there for the people. Don't forget the other civic activists braving assured police torture on a daily basis either.
As for the Bull Conner like government, their time is fast approaching. They too, like their infamous predecessor will realize that the most violent beatings, the most inhumane punishment, and the most demeaning things they can do and say will not take away from the people of Zimbabwe that which the government didn't give; our God-given right to freedom and dignity. Pretty soon, the people will have nothing left to fear anymore.
Puzzled to find that Mugabe is able to enter the U.S. to attend the opening of the 61st session of UN's General Assembly, This is Zimbabwe wants to know “Why is Mugabe allowed to go to America?”
Finally, GVO's own Ethan Zuckerman recently took a vacation in Zimbabwe.  Ethan has posted several insights on his blog, My Heart is in Accra from his experiences in Zimbabwe.  Here's my favorite excerpt on why Zimbabweans haven't poured out on the the streets en masse,
But Zimbabweans may also be avoiding the demonstrations because it’s just so hard to keep their families sheltered and fed. Operation Murambatsvina may have displaced as many as 2.4 million families from their homes; bread shortages are forcing the government to release hard currency to import wheat; petrol shortages make transport so expensive that some people can’t commute to work any more. These privations might inspire revolution in some countries. In Zimbabwe, it inspires people to “make a plan”.
The phrase is said as a single word – “makeaplan” – and reflects the incredible resilience of the Zimbabwean people. Power cuts mean the kids cannot study their books? Send the kids over to one house and light lamps, conserving expensive lamp oil. Can’t afford transport to your village? Trucks leaving Harare stop and load passengers on top of their loads, taking money to help with petrol costs. People who can’t afford prescription medicines – in short supply because of the currency crisis – make friends with people who travel to South Africa, who can smuggle medicines over the border.
Walking into town one morning, trying to find a taxi, I find myself in step with two young men walking to work. They tell me the taxis don’t come by here any more – it uses too much petrol to cruise for passengers – and encourage me to walk for another half an hour, into downtown, where I might find a cab. “It’s good exercise,” they tell me. “Look how strong we’ve become,” they say, laughing.
It’s amazing what you can accomplish by making a plan. My friend Kennedy Mavhumashava talks about a story she recently wrote for a Panos website. Despite AIDS donors deciding to cut programs in Zimbabwe, HIV prevalence in Zimbabwe is falling, both in the adult population and in mother to child transmission. What’s astonishing about this is that Zimbabwe spends much, much less on HIV care than other countries. Well-funded nations like Botswana spend $74 per patient per year – Zimbabwe spends $4.
You can read Ethan's posts here, here, here, here, here and here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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author: Zimpundit


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What Salvadoran bloggers are saying — death squads and golf courses · Global Voices
Tim Muth

The brutal killing on September 25th of Salvadoran Catholic priest, Ricardo Antonio Romero, has prompted much comment in the Salvadoran blogosphere.  Fr. Romero's body was found bludgeoned to death on a roadway 40 miles west of San Salvador.   The slaying was added to the daily murder tally(es) at 100 Days in the Republic of Death.
The blogger Hunnapuh notes that there are two operative theories(es)
about the motives for the slaying of the priest.  Either he was killed by gangs operating in the region, or he was killed by a death squad because of his work in solidarity with the poor in the region of his parish.   Hunnapuh sounds a note of alarm, admonishing those who would dismiss the possibility that “escuadrones de la muerte”, backed by wealthy interests, have returned to El Salvador.
Tepezcuintly, who also blogs with Hunnapuh, has no doubt(es) about the return of death squads and who is backing them.   Along with similar blogs, he heaps scorn and hatred on the ARENA government and President Tony Saca.   His comments are mirrored on blogs like Chichicaste(es), El Trompudo(es), and Samuel's Blog(es), which are virulently anti-government and anti-American and make their points with satire and parody.
The cutting down of trees at the El Espino estate close to San Salvador has prompted several bloggers to comment.   El Espino has one of the largest blocks of forest close to the capital city, and trees are being felled to make way for a highway,  a golf course and shopping centers.  Aldebarán finds that this situation shows that Salvadoran society   lacks a common vision(es) of what is meant by “development.”  He fears that a consumption-based view of development is driving such projects without any concern for sustainability or environmental impact.    Picking up that theme, Ligia at Que Joder writes that development which focuses on road-building(es) does nothing for the vast majority of Salvadorans who have no car to use the highways to get to the shopping centers (much less play golf).
In what appears to be a partial response to the outcry, the government plans to acquire a sizable block of the El Espino forest and dedicate it as a permanent preserve.  But El Visitador predicts bad results(es) from the government plan.   He scorns the idea that the government could do so in a competent fashion (his regular theme is a preference for private enterprise and free markets to act) and foresees the preserve being overrun with squatters and environmental degradation following.
The Spanish language Salvadoran blogosphere has expanded greatly in the past year.    Soy Salvadoreño shows some of the growth in his running commentary on Salvadoran blogs(es).   The Hunnapuh collaborative blog(es) has a lengthy list of Salvadoran blogs in its right hand column.

author: Tim Muth


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Belize, Guatemala: Mayan temple videos · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The Belize Jungle Dome Adventure Travel and Vacations Blog has posted two videos showcasing Mayan temples in Belize and Guatemala.


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Africa: a tip for African leaders · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Kenyan Entrepreneur knows want it takes for an African leader to be remembered: “If your an African leader who wants to be remembered in history, you either have to be a complete nutcase like Idi Amin or Emperor Bokassa or you have to be a complete hero like Nelson Mandela. There is no middle ground. That's why Moi will never have a movie made about him–he was neither a nutcase nor a hero. He was just a below average dictator who presided over another poor African country.”


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Armenia, Azerbaijan: Airliner · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian reports that an Azerbaijani airplane has landed at Armenia's main airport for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and that it might be a sign of momentum for a peace deal between the two countries.


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Barbados: Ethanol · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Barbados Free Press says that sugar cane ethanol is the latest panacea being bandied about by a Barbados government intent on ignoring economic realities.


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Belarus: Music, Literature and Politics · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

TOL's Belarus Blog writes about the Accordion Party at Minsk YoYo Club; privileges installed for certain government officials; and the temporary closure of a literary journal that was publishing “some political analysis as well.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Belize: Maaga season · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Lee Vanderwalker muses on life in Caye Caulker, Belize in “maaga” season, where “tour guides are fighting over customers, getting the police involved.”


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Biracial in Nazi Germany · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Musengeshi Katata writing at the Congolese blog, Forum Realisance (Fr), reviews the film Neger, neger, Schornsteinfeger, an illustration of “racism and its social and ideological absurdity” based on the true story of the son of a German nurse and a Liberian diplomat who grew up in Nazi Germany to become a prominent “Afro-American journalist.”


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Bolivia: A bad day for Evo and for Bolivia · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Miguel Centellas describes what was “a bad day for Evo.” Miguel Buitrago quotes a report from the International Crisis Group on the deteriorating political environment in Bolivia.


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Brazil: More Election Analysis · Global Voices
David Sasaki

The amount of commentary on Brazil's Sunday elections is staggering. In addition to Jose Murilo Junior's excellent collection of translated excerpts from Brazilian bloggers, Colin Brayton produced a podcast from Brazil on election day and posted a video of Geraldo Alckmin's acknowledgement of support from the Orkut social networking community. Boz offers his standard post-election talking points. Luís Afonso Assumpção claims that Lula's campaign manager, Marco Aurelio Garcia will end up hurting the incumbent's chances in the second round because of Garcia's liberal ties.


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Bulgaria: Chalga/Turbofolk · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Illyrian Gazette writes about Bulgaria's version of turbofolk.


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China: internet in rural area · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translates an article concerning how internet help to faciliate knowledge flow and development in rural area.


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China: women empowered by divorce · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A citizen report at Ohmynews about the history of marriage law in China and the recent trend in divorce.


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Colombia, USA: Ugly Betty · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Lots of opinions about last weeks US premier of “Ugly Betty,” Selma Hayek's adaptation of the hit Colombian TV show for a North American audience. VivirLatino declares “Ugly Betty is beautiful fluffiness while Andres Duque divides his review between “the good, the bad, and the ugly.” Colombian-born Logtar writes, ” I watched the Soap Opera called pretty much the same thing “Betty la fea” (Betty the Ugly) a couple of time and it seems to be a pretty accurate adaptation.”


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Consumerism in Madagascar  · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Madagascar Croissance muses on consumerism in Madagascar: “Madagascarans are fond of clothing and hi-tech products…the affluence of Chinese stores in Behoririka and the shopping centers show that despite all the apparent poverty, everyone likes to induldge themselves and hide their misery in a blanket of materialism.”


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Cuba, USA: Swiss cheese embargo · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

“The embargo has more holes than a chunk of processed Swiss cheese,” concludes Luis M. Garcia, as he analyses some of the facts and figures behind the commercial embargo imposed upon Cuba by the USA.


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Czech Republic: Metro Station · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

My Czech Republic Blog posts pictures of a Prague metro station that “has a retro look.”


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D.R. of Congo: run for Congolese women · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Run for Congolese women, via Congo Voices.