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Hands Off Venezuela – In Paris, Chavez speaks of the revolution and salutes the work of “Hands Off Venezuela!” · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Hands Off Venezuela gets props from Chavez in Paris. Topochoblog estimates that there are around 3,000 weblogs in Venezuela and asks his readers what their impact has been so far [ES]. Plenty of ideas in the comment section.


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Hong Kong: BitTorrent Conviction · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Chan Nai-Ming has the dubious distinction of being the first person convicted in Hong Kong for seeding films for BitTorrent P2P file-sharing.  Chatter Garden has thoughts here and here.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Jose Manuel Tesoro


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Images from Japan: Sushi · Global Voices
Paul Frankenstein

“Sushi” by Sekihan
A young woman ponders the display at a sushi restaurant in Tokyo.

author: Paul Frankenstein


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India: Hardtalk with FM · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Chidambaram, the Indian Finance Minister is on Hardtalk, and Nilu has a take on the situation.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Iran: The fundamentalist minority · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Hossein Derakhshan feels very sorry about what the Iran's president has recently said. “But I have to say he doesn't represent the way the majority in Iran think“, he adds.

author: Haitham Sabbah


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Iraq: Palestine Hotel Attack · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Christopher says that Monday’s attack on the Palestine Hotel was not targeting journalists, but a security company in the hotel, according to my sources in the insurgency.


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Israel: Anyone here called Rachel and dead?  · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Levi9909 of Jews Sans Frontieres blog writes: “The good news is that there is a cantata celebrating/commemorating the tragically short life of Rachel Corrie, the International Solidarity Movement activist murdered by an Israeli caterpillar driver.
The bad news is that the sickos at the Zionist Federation are seeing fit to hold a demonstration against the performance at the Hackney Empire.”


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Israel: Fear and loathing in Mideast · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Lisa Goldman of on the face blog says: “We Jews and Arabs, we live side-by-side and we watch each other and we interact (sometimes) but we don't really know each other. We think we do, but we don't. Ignorance leads to fear, and too often fear does lead to loathing.”


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Kenya: colonial portrayal of africa · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

What an African Woman Wants takes non-African authors (Ryszard Kapuscinski, Karen Blixen and Shiva Naipaul) to task on their portrayal of Africa and African life and their “puzzling lack of understanding of the depth of offense and injury” their writings cause to Africans.

author: Sokari Ekine


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Kiswahili Bloggers this week · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Tanzanian Kiswahili bloggers continue to write about the presidential and parliamentary elections taking at the end of the month.  Mwandani comes across an open letter of advice addressed to the “incoming president,” Jakaya Kikwete.
Although Tanzanians have not yet cast their votes to elect the new president, the ruling party’s victory is a foregone conclusion.   Miruko does not understand the meaning of election if the results are known long before the election.  Tanzania elects its president and members of parliament every five years.
Kazonta thinks it is a joke that the Prevention of Corruption Bureau (PCB) conducted a seminar on ways to combat corrupt practices in election campaigns few days before the election.  He does not know why PCB waited this long.
As unemployment becomes one of the main social problems facing young people in Tanzania, Gaphiz reports about an organization using a bilingual website (Kiswahili and English) to address this problem.
Funguajicho, a Tanzanian student in Uganda, discusses Ugandan politics, particularly the the return of the leading opposition candidate, Dr.Kiiza Besigye, from exile in South Africa
Harakati writes a long article about the dangers of Tanzanian “Bongo Flava” artists losing cultural identity by copying everything from America.  “If you are singing and dressed like 50 Cent, why should I listen to you instead of 50 Cent?,” he asks.
Ngurumo wonders who owns the Tanzanian national flag since the Tanzania National Electoral Commission wants to punish Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (the party of democracy and development) for using national flag colors on its campaign materials.
Issa Michuzi posts photos of Dar Es Salaam twin towers and of himself dancing with the Maasai in Arusha, Tanzania.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Kyrgyzstan: Being Muslim · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Damian Wampler, a Fulbright Scholar studying Islam in Kyrgyzstan discusses what it means to be Muslim and who decides who is and is not Muslim.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Kyrgyzstan: Saratan · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Ben Paarman reviews Saratan, a new Kyrgyz-German film, and reflects on the state of Kyrgyzstan after 14 years of independence.


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Nepal: Kantipur FM, Democracy and Media · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The nature of  Government in Nepal has raised a lot of doubts about Nepal's democratic future. The commitment to democracy is questionable given the Media Ordinance of Oct 9 2005. The ordinance imposes heavy restrictions on independent media. This includes banning of publication of materials which could be ‘helpful to terrorists’, increasing the fine on publishers and editors and banning of news broadcasts through FM stations. Amendments were made to Nepal's Radio Act, Press and Publication Act and National Broadcasting Act. A mainstream media news report on the Government's perspective can be read here.
Kantipur FM is Nepal's first independent radio station. FM Radio has been an important part of Nepal‘s mediascape. Since the royal takeover in February 2005, news broadcasts by FM stations have been banned in Nepal. On 21 Oct 2005, there was a ‘visit’ by the Government officials to the FM Station. Democracy for Nepal says
The assault on Kantipur FM premises is a window into what is about to happen. The regime is preparing for a showdown. The clouds are gathering. They first made an illegal visit. Then they made an illegal request. When the Kantipur FM people did not comply, they sent the police to gherao the premises. Finally they backed down.
United We Blog! has an excellent photo-essay on the events of the night. According to their account
Around three dozens policemen who arrived in four vans forcefully entered the building of Kantipur FM premises at around 11:15pm and took away eight servers and all the equipment needed to uplink to satellite for airing programs…
The comment space for that post is brimming with ideas and arguments. There are strong views that the ordinance is contradictory to the constitution of Nepal. Kantipur FM moved the Supreme Court of Nepal. The media community appears to have united for this cause. However,  the Government has issued an ultimatum to the radio station on 26 Oct 2005 according to Legal News from Nepal.
In what looks like a desperate final assault against Kantipur FM radio station, the government Wednesday gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the station to cancel its operating license… The government has said it has given the FM a “chance” to furnish written clarification within 24 hours mentioning reasons, if any, along with the necessary proof establishing the reasons, as to why the station's license should not be cancelled… The Ministry has said that it will cancel the FM's license if it is not satisfied with the clarification or if no clarification is furnished within the 24-hour deadline.
The future of Kantipur FM is shaky. While the petition has been registered in the Supreme Court, the court has not yet issued a stay order and developments are expected on 30 Oct 2005. It is incredible that an ordinance that affects Main Stream Media, is being defended by blogs and the protest has found an online audience. The restricitions on Media in Nepal are likely to impact democratic processes like elections and legislation. And the assault on Kantipur FM is not an isolated event, but part of a larger design to control media and freedom of expression. In an email exchange with Dinesh Wagle, I was told that
Govt. wants to eliminate Kantipur Group since it is the major force that is criticizing the regime. Kantipur Publications (Kantipur newspaper-most influential, the Kathmandu Post, and FM + Kantipur TV). The other two independent big media houses are APKA (publisher of the Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post- nepali daily), and Himal Media (publisher of Himal Magazine and Nepali Times Weekly). Other broad sheet papers have gone to the royalist fold taking money via the govt.'s One Window Advertisement policy.
In solidarity, agitating political parties backing Kantipur FM have called for a strike on the 28 Oct 2005. We will have more on this issue as events unfold.
Update – The Supreme Court issued a stay order on 26 Oct 2005 with respect to the Kantipur FM station case. However the fight is still on. The bigger issue of the Media Ordinance is still in Court. The hearing on Media Ordinance will start from Sunday. A common perception in Nepal is that the courts are influenced by the Royal Palace. (Thanks to Dinesh Wagle for the update.)


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Nepal: Update on Kantipur FM · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Legal News From Nepal on the Supreme Court's stay order in the cause of Kantipur FM in Nepal.


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Nigeria: Ministerial celebrations · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Eseme Udoekong's My Africa gives us the opportunity of witnessing (text & photos) the  ceremony to celebrate the appointment of a Nigerian Minister, in this case Mrs  Helen Esuene, the new Minister of Health.  The celebration was sponsored by the International Christian Chambers of Commerce (ICCC) and Intercessors For Nigeria (IFN)


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Palestine: An Eye for an Eye and a Tit for Tat Attacks · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Sabbah wonders; can’t the media be fair? Or is it Halal for Israelis to kill Palestinians and Haraam for Palestinians to kill Israelis? It's all a Tit for tat, and an eye for an eye, but that's not the right thing to do.


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Palestine: US Entreats Abbas to Kill His Own · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

umkahlil says that the US, in all its constructive chaos glory, once again entreats Mohammed Abbas to preside over the killing of his own people.


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Philippines: Political Ads · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Manila streetwalker Carlos Celdran is stopped short by a set of billboards on a corner — all depicting heirs of famous political families using sex to hawk consumer goods.


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Poland: Hot Water with the EU · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

the beatroot says that Poland's new president's stance on the death penalty and gay rights is causing problems for Poland with the EU.


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Poland: Opinion Polls · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

PolBlog reports on the opinion polling scandal in the Polish presidential election.


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

This week, Abu Hamad has a question to his Saudi readers: “what would you do if Bush and his “junta” decided to invade Saudi?” He thinks that with current state of affairs it is extremely unlikely, but asks his reader not to try to limit their imaginations.
Farooha had a meeting with the Jordanian blogger Ruba Al-Assi. At first, they had a communication problem, so they finally settled for English. According to Farooha, they “had one hell of a time.” And although they had graduated from the same class at the same secondary school in Riyadh, Roba dose not remember Farooha at all, and Farooha remember Roba as “The tall girl.”
Trilancer is disappointed with the low level that Arabic TV shows have reached. He thinks that a major season for TV in the Arab World, such as Ramadhan, only “shows how bad Arabian shows are. From bad to worse, and the only thing new technology has proven is that the problem is with the people, not the resources.”
Nour thinks that Embrace, Cherish, and Care are three magic words that will take Saudis to the top. “If we want to build a nation so strong, bonded by love and respect, all must benefit. We should look at the less fortunate and give them a chance. We the people, not Al-Saud, blame them all you want, it won't change a thing. It won't make any ones life better. (…) Embracing righteous and modestly continuing yet cherishing our religion Islam, all at the same time could never turn against us,” she says.
Prometheus says that religious fanaticism has ruined our lives (Arabic), “and those who promote this fanaticism are ignorant, retarded people,” he added. “We must not follow them and support their extreme opinions.”
Fouad al-Farhan wonders if Google has become the biggest spy in the world (Arabic). On the subject of discrimination against minorities, Jo says “[i]t is one thing to be able to speak your mind and quite another to use your words so that you can incite hatred towards any group of people.” Digital Mind discusses some possibilities to encourage writing books in the Arabic (Arabic) language.

author: Ahmed Al-Omran


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Slovenia: State of the Slovene Blogosphere · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

The Glory of Carniola comments on the state of the Slovenian blogosphere


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South Africa: Jacob Zuma · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

South African blog Commentary discusses the left's support for disgraced South African politician Jacob Zuma,  who is presently on trial for corruption, which they are equating with “real” democracy.


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South Korea: Historical Amnesia · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

At The Marmot's Hole, a lively discussion centering around U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton's comment that South Korea's move further away from U.S. interests reflects a “historical amnesia.”


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Sri Lanka: Burning Questions! · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

More election talk in Sri Lanka at Arvindlk.tk. Maninda or Ranil is the burning question.


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Sri Lanka: Election Decisions · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Election frenzy is picking up – Muddleland on why the votes goes to Ranil.


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Taiwan: Ally Lost · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Coming Anarchy comments on Taiwan's latest diplomatic loss: Senegal now recognizes Beijing.


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Tanzania: Agricultural investment · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Tanzanian blog Agricultural Information posts about a survey of potential investment farmland which will also be used for research & training.  The survey was undertaken in the Kigoma Region of Tanzania.


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This weeks voices from  Nigeria and Ghana · Global Voices
Edward Popoola

Chippla reports on the Belleveiw plane crash in Nigeria last weekend.  He talks about the first few hours after the plane crashed. He gave an account of Nigerian's perception of Bellview Airlines and why Nigerians considered it the safest, until that black Sunday. UKNaija raises questions about the Nigerian search efforts, why the TV station that broadcast the crash site was shut, among others.
TRAE days expresses his view on Nigerians having too much of God in their head. He tells us that hardly will a Nigerian talk without introducing the God sentiments. He gave instances of prominent people in the country that have mentioned God in formal discussions instead of just “talking the talk”
Black Looks reports on Nigerian human rights lawyer, Mrs Hauwa Ibrahim who has won a prize for “freedom of thought”
Abuja City reports on an investigation by the Toxic Trade Watchdog, Basel Action Network (BAN) that  mentioning Nigeria as a digital dumping ground for out of date and environmentally unfriendly computer systems. This entry is an eye-opener, particularly now that the number of computer users is increasing in the country.
Staying with computers, Timbuktu Chronicles  reports on the “self-serving words of a  Microsoft Nigeria spokesperson, Africa has no need for Free Open Source Software “. Why? According to Microsoft ”  You can give people free software or computers, but they won't have the expertise to use”.   For Microsoft Africa is a huge largely untapped market.  It is clear from these statements that they are preparing to battle with open source software provision by FOSS which by its very nature of being free and open has a head start.
Ghana
The Ghana Journal  talks about his recent trip to the Northern part of Ghana. His entry discusses the Ghanaian slum lives and the challenges faced by the inhabitants. He reports on the activities of  the Ghana Homeless Peoples’ Federation, a network of community-led groups in slums across the country in helping the slum populace. He also has some interesting pictures.
Ramblings of an African Geek has a review of “Bloodchild” by African American writer, Octavia Butler.

author: Edward Popoola


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Trinidad and Tobago: Bombs and Media Transparency · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Georgia Popplewell posts about yet another small bomb explosion in Port of Spain and includes a map of the five recent explosions to hit the capitol city. Jacqueline A. Morris wonders why local media did not bring up Trinidad and Tobago's high rating in Reporters Without Borders’ “Third Annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index.”

author: David Sasaki


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Africa: Debt & resources · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Pambazuka News has an essay on “Dispossessing Africa's wealth”  “Exactly how much wealth does Africa lose every year? Third World repayments of $340 billion each year flow northwards to service a $2.2 trillion debt, more than five times the G8's development aid budget”. And then there is the depletion of the continents resources and impact of pollution on the environment.


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Africa: FGM · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Mzansi Afrika reports on FGM  where she believes  “some promising developments have taken place”. One such develoment is “a group of prominent muslim clerics in Somalia have issued a fatwa against female genital mutilation. They have condemned the custom as being against the Islamic religion, and say that it should be a punishable offence”


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Armenia: A Civil Exchange · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Martuni or Bust!!! reports on a civil exchange regarding “cracking” on the metro.


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Armenia: Corruption Skyrockets · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Oneworld Multimedia reports on corruption and construction in Yerevan.


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Bahrain:  Survey: ‘Status’ of Women in Bahrain · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Global Soul made an online survey for Bahraini males only to vote enable to determine how they view and interact with women in the workspace and home.


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Bangladesh: Security Issues · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Rezwan writes about the current status of security in Bangladesh – especially in light of the recent bomb blasts, and the situation of the Bangladeshi security forces.


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Bolivia: Election Crisis · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Jim Schultz hands over his blog to Bolivian activist, Boris Rios who offers his insight into Bolivia's current election crisis.


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Cambodian Blogger Little Sopha Learns How To Rock · Global Voices
Beth Kanter

Blogger Little Sopha with member of Michael Learns To Rock Band, in Russian Market, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
According Tharum the news that the touring schedule of a Danish rock band named Michael Learns To Rock, included a date in Phnom Penh, inspired "a wave of euphoria of younger generation of the country."    According to the article Tharum excerpted from Phnom Penh Post, Michael Learns to Rock's most famous single, "Take Me To Your Heart," was a hit in Cambodia, spawning a locally-produced Khmer language version. (Here's a music video of the Korean version – and here's a link to the Cambodian language version
Little Sopha a Cambodian blogger, posted her wish for winning tickets in the SME lottery and lamented that she like 8 million other Cambodian fans would watch the concert on television (CTN – Cambodian Television Network).  However, Sopha was lucky enough to get the above photo:
"In the afternoon one of the group members and a friend of his made a quick visit to Russian Market, and that is where a miraculous event occurred. My cousin gave me a call telling about their unexpected presence, I then also had a wonderful chance to have photos with them… It was just so nice,  I really can't describe how happy I was at that moment… Hmmm, if only had the three of them been there together… :D … Well, still it was just like a WONDERFUL DREAM COMES TRUE!"

author: Beth Kanter


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China: Shanghai in Pajamas · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

A new blog has an unhealthy obsession: taking pictures of people wandering Shanghai in their pajamas.


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Colombia: “The Narco in All of Us” · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Responding to recent criticism of President Uribe, Parce says that all Colombians have, in some way, indirectly supported the “narco traficantes.”


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Cuba: Disaster in Havana · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Ernesto, a computer programmer in Havana, documents flooding in the city brought on by Hurricane Wilma. With an impresive collection of photos.


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Egypt: Threats Coptic Christians · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Ritzy wonders: “is this heated language going to improve the situation? Did not Pope Shenouda call for reason just a few days ago?”


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Hungary: ’56 Roundup · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Hungarian Accent rounds up discussion of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising in the Hungarian blogosphere.


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Hurricane Wilma Through Monterrey’s Eyes · Global Voices
alan flores

Last week's theme among bloggers here in Monterrey, Mexico was hurricane Wilma. We have all kinds of point of views about the subject. Reading goleech, we have a very valid comparison between what happened in New Orleans and what we have at Cancun, Quintana Roo, and Chiapas because of hurricane Wilma. Goleech says:
We don't have to be negative [in our criticism], but don't you remember how hurricane Stan affected Chiapas? We keep reading that mexican soldiers in New Orleans at least used disposable masks… but we don`t see any in Chiapas.
Ruth tell us that we must remember what happened. She also brings to our attention the condition of Mayan archaeological sites; something we don't hear about in the news. Our presidente, Vicente Fox, asked the Federation for money to build this touristic site again.
Negatorium gave us a link to see some photos of hurricane Wilma that speaks for themselves. At our local newspaper El Norte, we read the opinion of three important people, that are trying to build “paradise” again: Pedro Joaquin Coldwell (ex Quintana Roo governor and ex-secretary of tourism), Carlos Rojas (senator), and Enrique Provencio (ex-member of SEMARNAT). They criticize Seguridad Pùblica (“Public Security”) for its very late response to the people's needs. They think there has to be a big investment to bring back to life all the touristic places. It'll take time. But as we saw at the Mexico city earthquake on september 19th 1985, the people join their efforts even if authorities just keep talking. They have to rebuild the city from dust.

author: alan flores


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Images from India: Churchgate Station in Mumbai · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Photograph by Jackson Lee. This photograph is taken inside the Churchgate Station in Bombay (Mumbai). The station is the starting point of the Western Railway in the Mumbai Suburban Railway, and it buzzes with the movement of commuters who go to the southern part of Bombay city to their workplaces. Add to that the university crowd, tourists and once-in-a-whilers. The pace of the city is best reflected in rush of the railways stations. The Mumbai Railway System carries over 6 million commuters a day.


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Iran: Israel Off the Map? · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Farid Pouya believes that Ahmadinejad and hardliners welcome crisis and sanctions against Iran.
Yasser says: “in west everything against Israel and Jewish be censored and is not surprisingly when all condemned Mr. President! For his comments but they are silent when Israel killed Palestinians. But all of this is not a good reason for Ahmadinejad saying Israel must wiped off the map…”
Brooding Persian argue that the representatives of the reigning imbecility in Iran are now ready to talk. They will want to directly engage the United States and short of regime change, everything will be on the table including the question of recognizing Israel.


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Iran: Woman’s Rights · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Fatima the Iranian girl says… when you wish a good future for yourself and your sisters, it means you have to fight for it, and try hard to change this selfish male theory that says “all high things belong to men and low ones remain women”. This wrong opinion exists in most iranian men's brains! However they will finally have to leave it…


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Iraq: A short Guide to Iraq · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

LadyBird of Baghdad Dweller comments on quotes from A short Guide to Iraq (PDF) written for American soldiers who were stationed in Iraq to prevent Nazis from seizing the country’s oil, as she said.


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Iraq: Who is Mosul’s Real Inhabitants? · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Truth Teller of A Citizen Of Mosul is wondering, are the American Encyclopedias are so ignorant, that they didn't know the real inhabitants of the city of Mosul are Arab? Did the referendum on the constitution had any relation to that issue?


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Japan: Antique Show · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Japundit has an article on Nandemo Kantedan, a 10-year-old TV show that, like the popular U.S. series Antiques Roadshow, values people's old junk and makes their wildest dreams come true.


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Jordan: University debts · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Khalaf has a good analysis on the Jordanian universities debts which seems to be worsening and affecting the universities level of education. There are eight public universities in Jordan, with about 130,000 students studying for their bachelors degrees, 8,700 studying for their masters and 1,400 studying for their doctorate, according to the web site of the ministry of higher education. Public higher education in Jordan is among the finest in the region, as is attested by the success of the graduates of these institutions almost everywhere they go.


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Jordan: Westernized Ramadan! · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Firas wonders: “Well, these decorations are to commemorate Ramadan! Yet they are very westernized! The lanterns are now substituted for a flashing star in a crescent. Some has gone far by decorating their trees with tree lights, but of an Islamic version. So Ramadan now is a season of decorations and flashy things, is this because of Globalization? Or Muslims are simply sick of bigot scholars who are calling for killing anyone, everybody even oneself?“


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Lebanon: Angry Lebanese Bloggers · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

The Lebanese bloggers are all angry with the Arabs’ and the American Left wingers’ reactions to the Mehlis report.
Raja writes in anger: “The whole Arab world is turning against us.“
Lebanon.Profile asks the Syrian apologists: “Where is your righteous indignation? Are you even slightly concerned about the fate of Lebanon?“
Kais Elaborates further: Lebanon vs. Arab failure.
Mustapha wonders: “Why is the Syrian regime suddenly the victim? What's wrong with the European and Arab public opinion?“


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Morocco: Terrorism Threat in Morocco · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Foulla writes that Al-Salafiyah al-Jihadiyah in Morocco Declares Jihad on the Moroccan Government. They issued a statement, declaring that the time has come to announce the “jihad on the government of disbelieving and oppression,” for the heads of government have allegedly “sold the country to the infidels after they cleared the area from the real Muslims who care about the religion.”


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Namibia: Lesbian/Gay rights · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Black Star Journal has a report on “fighting homophobia” in Namibia by the Namibia Rainbow Project which has joined with other groups to lobby for rights in the country.


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Nepal: Media Ordinance · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Legal News From Nepal provides the full text of the Media Ordinance that threatens to severely curtail the power of the media.


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Nepal: Strike call · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Nepal reacts to the media ordinance with a strike called in the city of Khatmandu. Photo-post at United We Blog!


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Nicaragua: Cultural Observations · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Both ¡Pura Vida! and Nicaragua Travels jot down some cultural observations.


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Nigeria: ICTs · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Nigerian blogger, Gbenga welcomes the recognition that the youth in Nigeria and elsewhere are receiving from local technology stakeholders and the birth of a dynamic youth movement around ICT issues in Nigeria


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Pakistan: Earthquake update · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Metroblogging Lahore has an update on the areas hit by the earthquake.


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Poland: Troubled Negotiations · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

the beatroot reports on the troubled negotiations between Poland's Law and Justice and Civic Platform, the latter of which is presidential election runner-up Donald Tusk's party.


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Saudi Arabia: Children’s Rights · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Sabbah writes: “A 14-year-old Egyptian boy faces execution in Saudi Arabia after a flawed trial in which he was convicted for the murder of another child, Human Rights Watch said today.“


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Singapore: Blogger Pleads Guilty · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Huichieh Loy of From a Singapore Angle reacts to the conviction of the third local blogger charged for making racist comments.  Mr. Wang has information about the other players and mitigating factors in the case.


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Somaliland: UN interview · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Inside Somaliland posts an interview with  Maxwell Gaylard, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia


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South Korea: Office Space · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Working in Korea lists seven things he finds different about Korean workplaces.


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Sri Lanka: Train them right · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

LG Journal has an interesting reaction to the news of US training Sri Lankan police.


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The Caribbean Blogosphere: Some observations · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Anglophone Caribbean bloggers have been relatively quiet this week, so I took the opportunity to chat via IM with my fellow Trinidadian blogger Nicholas Laughlin about some of of the trends we've observed in the Caribbean blogosphere. What follows is an edited version of our conversation:
GP: You've been blogging for three years, which makes you one of the Caribbean's longest-standing bloggers, and you also follow the activity in the blogosphere. What are some of the patterns you've noticed?
NL: Well, for one thing, there's no equivalent in the Caribbean blogosphere of the political bloggers who are the public face of the medium in the US.
GP: It's true that much of what Caribbean bloggers are doing couldn't be classed as citizen journalism–
NL: There are Caribbean bloggers who comment on public affairs, but no one for whom political blogging is a raison d'etre. Except maybe CaribPundit–even the name's an allusion to InstaPundit. Though I wonder what kind of an audience she has. I can't imagine her [right-of-center] views can be terribly popular here.
GP: Which also brings up the issue of ideological imbalance. But the thing about CaribPundit is that she scans the Caribbean press very closely and captures many or most of the big stories, which nobody else seems to be doing. In general there's relatively little reference to current affairs, except where people are personally implicated or affected. For instance, in recent times Jamaican and Caymanian bloggers have posted about hurricanes, but in most cases they related personal circumstances. And among the bloggers who comment on tech issues, I'd say only Taran Rampersad and Jacqueline Morris are really looking at things from a Caribbean/developmental perspective.
NL: For most Caribbean bloggers blogs really are weblogs–journals that happen to be online and hence public.
GP: Which I find interesting. Some of the self-exposure we're seeing among Caribbean bloggers seems to go against the grain of our “small island” caution about revealing certain kinds of personal information. Is this a sign of a changing social structure?
NL: On the other hand, so many Caribbean bloggers do it anonymously. Exhibitionism, but behind the safety of a mask.
GP: While several Caribbean bloggers do use handles, I'm sure a good part of their audience knows very well who they are–they're probably more nicknames than Salam Pax-like pseudonyms. But what you've been doing lately and what you were doing in the early part of your career as a blogger is certainly citizen journalism.
NL: Which brings us to this crucial point–both your blog/podcast and my blog are run by people who are, in their professional lives, journalists (of a sort).
GP: That's true. But why aren't more journalists blogging?
NL: Aren't they? Imran Khan in Guyana has worked as a journalist. Keifel Agostini, who now blogs from Tennessee, used to write for the Trinidad Guardian.
GP: You're right. Ryan Naraine is a sports journalist and tech writer. Michelle McDonald from Jamaica also does quite a bit of cricket journalism. Another trend I've noticed in certain territories–Bermuda, Belize–is expatriate bloggers.
NL: It's also worth noting that many Caribbean bloggers don't actually live in the region. Ryan Naraine and Free Trinidad in New York, for example.
GP:  You blogged this week about brain drain: are you concerned that perhaps the “best minds” in the Caribbean aren't blogging?
NL: Well, that raises the question of whether the best minds in the Caribbean should spend their time blogging–or doing something else. The Caribbean blogosphere hardly has a mass audience.
GP: So now we come to the digital divide. It's true that in the Caribbean the best way to reach a mass audience locally is still radio, newspapers, television–perhaps in that order.
NL: Or even live appearances–speeches, performances.
GP: And even before issues of access to technology and computer literacy, there are of course also basic literacy issues, in spite of how things look on paper.
NL: Even then, only a very small proportion of Caribbean people with Internet access are accustomed to reading extensively online. The online editions of Caribbean newspapers, for instance, are read mostly by people in the diaspora. The thing is, I've long believed it's small, relatively remote countries that stand to benefit most from the Internet. Remember how difficult it was just 15 years ago to feel connected with the outside world?
GP: Back in 1996 I met an old Italian artist/revolutionary called Gianni Toti who he told me the Internet would bring more harm than good to countries like mine. He harbored romantic notions about the Caribbean, having been in Cuba around the time of the revolution–in fact he appeared as himself in the film “Memories of Underdevelopment“. I believe he thought it would destroy the sense of community.
NL: And what about the ways the Internet may be helping forge a sense of regional identity?
GP: That is where we're missing out, I think.
NL: How else, for instance, could I read the Guyanese and Jamaican newspapers online? And inasmuch as there is a sense of a Caribbean blogosphere, interconnected and interacting, that's definitely regional–look at the way bloggers link to bloggers not just from their island but from the wider Caribbean.
GP: Tell me now about your “Guyana Project“. You seem to be using your blog to collect/archive information about Guyana, which I know is for a book you're writing.
NL: I'm using the blog as a sort of commonplace book perhaps, an extension of the Guyana research I'm doing, mostly linking to stories that catch my interest, that speak to the aspects of Guyana that fascinate me.
GP: While we're on publishing, it's interesting that The CAC Review [a journal about Amerindian issues] has decided to publish itself as a blog instead of struggling to bring out a print edition.
NL: Do you think a sense of a bigger audience would change the way most Caribbean bloggers blog? Prompt then to be more “useful” or “relevant”?
GP: Jonathan Ali, who blogs very thoughtfully but not frequently–it might spur someone like him on. But I think that the sense of having a small but faithful audience could also be a motivation. To end, however, here's my wish list: blogs out of Haiti and Cuba, the two Caribbean countries it's most difficult to get reliable news coverage about and whose citizens we rarely get a chance to hear speak.
NL: I'd like to see an aggregator site collecting posts from a team of tried-and-true citizen journalist bloggers from across the islands. Maybe the idea that some of these Caribbean bloggers are being linked to at Global Voices and stand to gain a potentially larger international audience might encourage them to look at things differently–and, also, by looking at what bloggers from around the world are doing, expand their notion of what blogs are capable of.

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Turkmenistan: Independence Day · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Like with nearly all things related to Turkmenistan, Independence Day is a surreal affair. neweurasia has the details of this this year's celebration.


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Vietnam: In the Soup · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

On noodlepie‘s suggestion, soup-obsessed No Star Where tries Vietnam's famous noodle soup pho at a pho chain he derided as McPho and is pleasantly surprised.


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Voices from South Africa · Global Voices
Bronwyn

South Africa has been painted as being a political wonder, and our transition to democracy is often described as a miracle. The country tries very hard to present an image of wellbeing and success in order to attract much needed tourism and overseas investment. There is no doubt that remarkable strides have been made, and the democratic era ushered in with relatively little violence and bloodshed. However,  the reality on the ground is that the legacy of apartheid is still with us, and presents a major challenge for government and society.
One of the major problems facing the country at the moment are the deep divisions within the ruling African National Congress (ANC) that have begun to emerge over the past year. These divisions have arisen as a result of a power stuggle for leadership of the ANC and the country when President Thabo Mbeki steps down in 2007. At the helm of this battle is Mbeki himself and his popular rival, former deputy president Jacob Zuma. Zuma was fired by Mbeki earlier this year as he has been charged with corruption and is due to stand trial in 2006. The ANC  gains it strenth from its left wing Alliance partners, the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist party who have come out stronly in support of Jacob Zuma. Mbeki draws his support from the neo-liberal camp and from business leaders. In the meantime, there are concerns that the rift in the party is slowly eroding its capacity to govern. As Commentary. co.za writes:
I have to confess that South African politics has become almost incomprehensible to me. And while most newspapers won't admit it, I'm not convinced they know what's going on either…I've said this before: in a dominant-party state, one of the first casualties is ideology. There is no longer a “party of the left” or a “party of the right”: instead, the ruling party simply becomes “the party of government”. This happened to the LDP in Japan, the Liberal Party in Canada, and it long ago happened to the ANC. This doesn't mean that political conflict goes away – it just gets shifted to the interior of the ruling party, where people can't vote on the outcome. As a result, politics ceases to be a battle of ideas, and becomes a battle of personalities instead.
South Africa Blog expresses the opinion the the Zuma camp is hypocritical:
These Zuma Acolytes, have their talking points set over their cups of coffee in accordance with whatever the Zuma-focused needs of the day prove to be. Give him his day in court, don't give him his day in court. The rule of law is important, except when it's no big deal. Always put the poor first, but never mind. Our constitution is important, except when applied to “Our Boy”. Mbeki is the greatest president ever, but that bastard stabbed us in the back! The media can be used to spin our stories, but not their's!
Indymedia South Africa has emerged as strong voice for grassroots social struggle and civil society groups particularly in the fight for housing and service delivery for the poor. Millions of South Africans live in shacks in informal settlements, and a huge problem is that lives are lost when shacks burn down as people are forced to use candles and paraffin stoves. In the latest incident a one year old boy died in the Kennedy Road informal settlement in KwaZulu Natal province:
Last Friday 16 shacks burnt down in the Kennedy Road informal settlement in Durban. A one year old boy, Mhlengi Khumalo, was very badly burnt and died on Saturday night. This was the third conflagration this month. The fire started when a candle was knocked over. Until 2001 pre-paid electricity meters were being installed in shacks. To get electricity you needed to pay R350 and to be able to represent your case in a certain way. According to S'bu Zikode from the Kennedy Road Development Committee “It all depended on who applied. If you seemed ignorant because you can't speak English you were just told to wait outside.” The eThekwini Metro has since informed Kennedy Road residents that there is a “new policy not to install electricity in informal settlements”.
South Africa recently held its first ever Car Free Day, and the event was much written about in the local blogosphere with most people being of the opinion that it was a complete waste of time seeing that the country has a highly inadequate public transport system. Moral Fiber expresses the general feeling of most South Africans in his post on the topic:
Members of government, including the minister of transport, and other officials apparently used taxis and buses to commute to work this morning. It's so typical of government to launch into one of these PR missions without actually bothering to worry about normal people's concerns. Public transport is in crisis. Encouraging more people to use it will only make things worse. We need government to stop their public relations gymnastics and actually sit down to try and sort out the problem. When the minister builds a public transport system that actually works, then he can start trying to promote its use.
Finally on a lighter note, Cherryflava blogs about a whiskey festival taking place in Cape Town.

author: Bronwyn


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Zimbabwe: demolitions continue · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Sokwanele – Civil Action Support Group - posts on the continued harassement of Zimbabwe's poorest of the poor by the authorities and that  demolitions are continuing, as out of desperation, displaced people return to the orignal sites of their homes to try and rebuild them again.  The group reports that “Operation Garikai” (or “Hlalani Kuhle”) is a cruel deception, no more than window dressing, which to date has not provided one single dwelling to any of those whose homes and businesses were destroyed in the first brutal, unlawful, assault”.


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Croatia: Political Labels · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

The Glory of Carniola, a blog from Slovenia, deconstructs messages on a label from a package of fig spread from Croatia.


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First post from the Israeli blogosphere · Global Voices
Lisa N. Goldman

Israelis who blog in English are mostly native speakers who immigrated to the country as adults. They include non-Jews as well as Jews, represent a wide range of religious beliefs – from secular to Orthodox – and their political opinions run the gamut from right wing to left, with everything in between.
Perhaps due to the recently ended three-week High Holy Day period, the usually lively Israeli blogosphere has been a bit quiet lately. I think that another causative factor is the recently-completed Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
In mid-September, Israel ended its 38-year occupation of Gaza, which is the home of about 1.5 million Palestinians. The Israeli government’s decision to evacuate the 8,000 Israeli Jews who had settled in Gaza over the previous two decades caused an enormous amount of controversy. The rhetoric of the anti-withdrawal movement was very strong, and as a result many feared that the protestors would become violent. Up to and through the actual withdrawal, the domestic media reported almost exclusively on what the government termed the “disengagement.”
The controversy extended to the Israeli blogosphere, with pro- and anti-disengagement people exchanging some rather harsh words in their posts and in the comment sections. One striking example is a post, written by a pro-disengagement blogger, called I Have Seen the Enemy and it is Orange (orange was the colour adopted by the anti-disengagement movement). It was followed up by this post. For an indication of just how much of a hot button issue the disengagement was, read the comments section.
Since the disengagement ended in mid-September, I sense that many Israeli bloggers are wondering what to talk about now – and I think that is one reason why quite a few have gone on a sort of mini-hiatus.
Some interesting recent posts include this one, by an Israeli-Brazilian journalist named Rinat who lives in Jerusalem. Rinat was outraged to discover that the supermarket in which she has shopped for two years recently instituted a new policy requiring female customers to wear a skirt. She has decided that she cannot take life in increasingly ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem anymore, and plans to move to secular Tel Aviv as soon as possible.
Over the past two decades, the ultra-Orthodox Jewish population of Jerusalem has increased enormously, outnumbering moderately religious and secular Jews in many parts of the city. Two years ago, the city elected its first ultra-Orthodox mayor, Uri Lupolianski. Many secular Jews feel that the ultra-Orthodox have too much power in the city, and that they are imposing their lifestyle and values on the rest of the population.
Don Radlauer, a resident of a non-ideological West Bank settlement who defines himself as a political centrist, questions the demands of the evacuated Gush Katif residents. Do they really have the right to demand that financial compensation that would provide them with the same high standard of living they enjoyed in Gaza, a government-susidized lifestyle that middle class Israelis who live inside the Green Line could never afford?
Jerusalem Gypsy writes a humorous account of her recent visit to the home of her new neighbours – who happen to be Messianic Jews, or Jews who believe that Jesus was the Messiah.
Shai writes an interesting entry about the decline of the Israeli Labour party. Labour, the party of the late Yitzhak Rabin, was until recently one of the two most important political parties; it led the country from 1948 through 1977, when it lost for the first time to Likud – then headed by Menachem Begin, and today by prime minister Ariel Sharon. The last Labour prime minister was Ehud Barak, who lost to Sharon in 2001. Since then, the party has been in a steady decline.
At Israelity, a group blog that has a self-imposed mandate to write about life in Israel beyond the conflict, there is a tongue-in-cheek post about the number of celebrities who have visited Israel this month – including Willem Defoe and Bill Gates. Due to the fear of terror attacks, there were very few celebrity visitors in Israel from 2000 to 2004, when Madonna visited the country for a kabbalah conference in Tel Aviv.
Bert, a native of the Netherlands who writes at Dutchblog, reminds us that terror does not distinguish between Jews and Arabs, Christian, Jews and Muslims. One of the victims of last week’s bombing in Hadera, a town in northern Israel, was an Arab-Israeli named Jamil Qa'adan. The physician who pronounced Jamil’s death at the Hillel Yaffe hospital was an Arab Israeli who also happened to be his close friend.
Living in Gaza City is a new blog by Imaan, a Swedish woman who is married to a Palestinian native of Gaza. Recently, they decided to move to Gaza so that their young children would get to know their father's family and learn more about their Muslim heritage. Imaan, who is a 30 year-old convert to Islam, writes about the many difficulties she is experiencing as she struggles to adjust to life in her new home. She also stresses to her readers that she has no political axe to grind, even though it is obvious that her life is often adversely affected by politics. Although she rightly belongs in the Palestinian blogosphere, I mention Imaan here because I became aware of her after she commented on my blog; we exchanged a couple of emails, and I plan to visit her the next time I am in Gaza. (Soon, Imaan, I promise!)
On a lighter note, Anglosaxy - a non-Jewish Brit who is married to an Israeli woman, describes his revulsion upon learning what, precisely, goes into a popular Yemenite-Israeli dish called “leg soup.” (You might not want to know).

author: Lisa N. Goldman


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From the Jordanian Blogosphere · Global Voices
Roba Al Assi

Photography taken in the National Music Conservatory in Amman, Jordan.
“Girl Playing the Flute” by Sabri Hakim
This week marked two celebrations- Jordan's Al-Faisali brought home the first-ever Asian trophy in the history of Jordanian football, and Jordan's first English daily, The Jordan Times, turned 30.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Humeid has a very interesting post about the road Amman's taking to becoming a real city, and he writes about Bill Gates first visit to Jordan. Khalaf dissects the Islamic Action Front's new document outlining their view of reform in Jordan.
Hareega has a quite nostalgic post paying tribute to Amman in winter, Roba Assi of And Far Away is frustrated with a poster spotted at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia by Farooha, and has some pictures of the “entrancing overdramatic use of color in almost every single aspect of display in downtown Amman”.  Natasha Tynes says that she is pleased with the fact that the Jordanian Mamnou channel  chose to take new controversial show al-Shatat off the air.
Move over to Sabbah's Blog to read his interview on Spanish media. He also urges everyone to protest against the Nobel Prize for Aumann and Thomas Schelling.
The Jordanian Blogosphere on breaking cultural borders:
Ryan of “Journeys in Jordan” remarks that “it is interesting how people come to learn lessons” and talks about her experience in trying to understand a different culture. Natasha Tynes reports about “Bridge For Peace”, which featured Israeli, Palestinian, and Jordanian DJs  drawing over 800 people to Jerusalem's dance club Haoman 17, then she says that she believes that “these initiatives should be highlighted in the local and the international press as it shows that in spite of the bloody mayhem taking place in our region we can still co-exist peacefully and even create music.” Lina Ejeilat reports that the Jordanian band RUM will be performing in Tunisia and Syria this week, and urges everyone anywhere close to “NOT MISS IT! Their music is amazing – passionate, authentic, vibrant… and different!”
Rami Abdulrahman meanwhile reports about an Iftar they organized in Sweden, “We sent our class mates an invitation yesterday to fast today and prepare for a night to remember, surprisingly, the number of fasting non-Muslims was far greater than I expected!”
Eman of Aquacool writes about Jordan TV's efforts in its national campaign to relief victims of the Pakistan Earthquake, “For a -relatively- small community like Jordan, I believe the results of this campaign are a big success!”, and points out that Jordan will have an open day for Churches to gather donations for our Pakistani brothers.

author: Roba Al Assi


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Georgia: A Joke · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Oneworld Multimedia has a joke making the rounds in Georgia that reveals quite a bit about politics there.


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India: Bomb Blasts In Delhi · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

On the weekend before the biggest festivals in India – Deepawali and Eid; bomb blasts have been reported in the city of New Delhi. The bomb blasts were in some of the most crowded shopping areas. River's Blue Elephants who was at one of the sites just minutes before the explosion says
We bought stuff for ourselves, gifts for people, had lunch there and left just minutes before an explosion killed twenty people on the spot and injured many more. I don't know what to think.
Sepia Mutiny has some photographs of blasts, and links to Main Stream Media news. Peter has information on helplines and the hospitals were the injured have been taken. An Indonesian student in Delhi writes-
One staff whose home near the blast took place said that he's heard a very strong voices which he thought of a firework [considering Diwali celebration that is the fireworks party, just two days away]
Conspiracy theory, shock and  a chronology of blasts in Delhi. DesiPundit is covering reactions by Indian blogs and bloggers. It's an extremely sad turn of events. Our prayers for those who are affected by this act of terrorism. We'll have more here as the events unfold.


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Kazakhstan: No Change in Sight · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

neweurasia says that no change is on the horizon in Kazakhstan's political system.


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KenyanSphere This Week · Global Voices
Marc

Sidaki has a very interesting analysis of events in America and comes to the conclusion that among the things Americans are reluctant to receive on their soils are British beef, British chicken and most recently, a certain Kenyan politician, Christopher Murungaru who just a few months ago was also curtly informed by the British Government that they did not want him to darken their door.
Murungaru’s star has been on the wane after first getting tangled in the infamous Anglo Leasing scandal, a series of Government tenders that degenerated into an affair of lining pockets, grossly inflating costs and kickbacks between powerful figures in the past and present governments and shadowy figures that have never come to light. At the time Murungaru was the Minister of State for Internal Security which was at the heart of the controversy.
Under growing pressure both from within and without the borders President Mwai Kibaki transferred him, assigning him the less glamorous portfolio of Transport in a move widely seen as straddling the thin line between sacrificing one of his lieutenants and placating a public baying for blood in the oft touted war on corruption, one that the public is unconvinced the Government is committed to.
Murungaru’s bitter cup is far from overflowing. Close on the heels of the American ban is reports that the European Union as well is about to assert “Management reserves the right of admission”.
Ms K paints a heartfelt tapestry of her desire to get married and have kids that is  just the right mix between fantasy and reality.
Bankelele is more enthusiastic about the traffic disruption caused by the annual Standard Chartered Nairobi International Marathon and cheers on the participants, especially those who were actually running.
Udi has a very fitting, very hilarious tribute to a very special, and very famous lady that used to be in his life that has a fitting twist in the tale.
Fishtears, blogging from Botswana, reminisces on friends gone and the difficult task of coping afterwards.
Mutimua comes to the realization that she is another unwitting victim to a powerful addiction — blogging
Wanjiru wonders whatever became of Winnie Mandela, former wife of the towering colossus that is Nelson Mandela

author: Marc


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Pakistan: Blog-o-rants · Global Voices
Omer Alvie

I bring you this post while suffering from acute influenza and excessive body temperature. Yes, I am talking about a cold and fever. Although, I had received sick leave permission slip form the GV Editorial staff (Neha, thank you!) for my scheduled post on Friday, my insufferable and contemptible flu did not allow me to get any sleep, and thus, I hit the internet highway on my trusted Vespa Scooter to bring you a short round-up of Pakistani blogs for your viewing pleasure.
The following is a varied collection of blogs, which I happen to sneeze and cough at during my cyber outing, presented to you in no discernable order. Most of these blog entries focus on the topic of the Pakistan earthquake (understandably), as that remains the most relevant subject matter. But there are some entries with other topics that I have included (as a light sprinkling) to bring some added flavour to the mix.
I theocracy wonders about the safety of Karachi city in an earthquake scenario; Falling Down details a very interesting discussion between a Professor and a student; Minigma highlights a very important eyewitness account from Muzafarabad; Opinionated Voice rants under the heading of Islamic Jihad; FM asks the question, “how much is your blog worth?”; Rambling On has a rather short and eloquent post regarding the generosity of the people of city of Karachi; The Organic Brew writes about his favourite Qawalli; Jammie’s Jar seconds Rambling On’s opinion about the people of Karachi; Glass House examines the performance of the Pakistani Government; and finally, Unaiza also beautifully expounds on the generosity of the people of Pakistan at this difficult time.
As I have been sick as dog (which subsequently caused me to be sick ON the dog), I was unable to write for my own blog this week. I do however want to highlight an old post of mine (from my ‘best of’ collection) that explains the hows and the whys of why I started blogging. I think you might find it interesting.
I better sign off now before the anti-virus software causes my flu-riddled body to be expelled from cyber space.  Until later …

author: Omer Alvie


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Puerto Rico: Hon. Aida M. Delgado-Colón – Our Next U.S. District Judge · Global Voices
David Sasaki

The Puerto Rico Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers appears content with Bush's nomination of Aida M. Delgado-Colón as the next U.S. District Judge of Puerto Rico.


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Puerto Rico: PuertoBlogs – The Community of Puerto Rican Bloggers · Global Voices
David Sasaki

With the help of Afrael and Mauricio, Albizu has launched Puerto Rico's first blog directory, PuertoBlogs.


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Uzbekistan: More EU Sanctions · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

neweurasia‘s Olesya discusses the possibility of more EU sanctions on Uzbekistan.


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A peek into the Bangladesh blogosphere · Global Voices
Rezwan

Bangladesh in the eyes of the foreigners:
Kirstel terms Ashulia, 40 kilometres from Dhaka centre as “one of the nicest and most romantic places nearby Dhaka”.  Robin Mead  of ‘Bangladesh backchat’ posts some beautiful pictures of the largest shopping mall in Bangladesh -The Bashundhara City Shopping Complex in Dhaka.  Jo of Bideshi Blonde feats Banglish.
Bangladeshi life and aspirations:
Bangladeshi rock star cum blogger Maqsood aka Mac writes an essay called ‘Bengali music: of changing times and our robust aspirations’. Gibran discusses how girls treat the average male singles.  Imtiaz is engulfed in the thoughts of living in a dead world.  Mezba takes a nostalgic look at the past and tries to see what's different now.
Burning social problems:
- Shappir writes on Acid attack survivors of Bangladesh. Here is a documentary on the acid victims. Blog-a-Rythm wakes up to the reality of the wide gap between rich and poor in Bangladesh. Salam Dhaka also talks about the rising cost of living in the country. Rifat tells that people are afraid of terrorist attacks while even praying in a mosque.
Movies, music and photography:
– Via Rodentruskel, we get the link of a award-winning young Photographer GMB Akash's photo gallery. Sadiq reviews ‘The motorcycle diaries’. ‘Unheard voices’ & ‘The third world view’ report re-relaease of DVD of ‘the concert for Bangladesh’.
Here is a list of more Bangladeshi blogs.

author: Rezwan


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Echoes from the Tunisian blogosphere · Global Voices
Mohamed Marwen Meddah

Adib talks about bird flu, giving a complete explanation of the virus and it's dangers, as well as how much risk there is that it could reach Tunisia through bird migration, the places that would be affected, and what measures should be taken. (in French)
He also writes about “Operation Monique”, that is being held by his clinic in cooperation with Mme Moniaue Busain, to develop and preserve the ass species in the Kelibia region. (in French)
MMM writes about how he thinks we should listen more to our children and try to think more like them. He's convinced the world would be a better and more beautiful place to live in if we do.
Karim writes about life in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, and how he thinks of fasting as some sort of body control, where you master your body by rejecting all the external elements of your body making your soul more powerful, purifying it and rediscovering the real you.
Jrayda writes about the veil and how the campaign against it is one of the worst contradictions in our liberal world that recognizes human rights. He wonders where the freedom of religious practice and the freedom to choose what to wear is, and why only Muslims aren't allowed to wear the veil, and other types of clothes, or grow a beard. (in French)
Mondher talks about how amazed he is that however cynical we are, the sheer power of our will and creativity can move mountains, referring to Rosa Parks. He thinks the Arab world needs a few clones of her.
Dasdous writes about what she calls the pre-maternal syndrome (P-MS) that women of ages 25 and above go through when they start thinking about marriage.
Dj BouZz, who is the presenter of a radio show called Arabesque on Canadian radio CHYZ FM 94.3 and one of the people behind TuniZika, posts a sound file of a part of one of the shows called “Cordes Sensibles” (Sensible cords), that deals with fusion with Arabic music.
Chouchitou writes about the preparations for the Eid, when it comes to shopping for new clothes, and notices that prices are higher, quality is worse and choice is limited, but people are still buying everything. (in French)
Manichéen writes about the symbolical meanings behind the numbers from 0 to 7, explaining the mythology behind the number 7 and why it figures in so many areas. (in French)
Houssein writes about the Festival of the Arab World in Montreal, Canada. He wonders what the mix between Liu Fang, a Quebecan artist of Chinese origin, and Tunisian Yousra Dhahbi, called the Sultane of Oud, will result in. (in French)
Sami writes and links to an article about the new Rades – La Goulette bridge and how he thinks it will help lighten the traffic as well as change the landscape in the region. (in French)
MetalMad asks how people who don't know him imagine him through reading his blog, and how his image has changed for the people who know him since they started reading his blog. (in French)

author: Mohamed Marwen Meddah


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Images from Myanmar (Burma): Concentration? · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

‘concentration’ by awfulsara
“A young monk by candlelight, brow furrowed in not quite peaceful contemplation.”

author: Jose Manuel Tesoro


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India, Pakistan:  Kashmir Border Opened to Aid Quake Victims · Global Voices
Angelo Embuldeniya

In an unprecedented move, India and Pakistan agreed earlier today to open up the heavily militarized frontier in the disputed Kashmir region to aid. LOC will be opened at 5 crossings. The U.N. humanitarian coordinator in the quake zone, Rashid Khalikov, also welcomed the Pakistan-India accord, calling it “a good step in this disastrous condition. It will open an opportunity to extend humanitarian help to the affected people in the far-flung villages alongside the Line of Control.
The border openings begin Nov. 7. Relief goods can be sent in either direction and handed over to local authorities at the crossings, the joint statement said. Civilians will be allowed to cross on foot, with priority given to families divided by the border.
Procedures for crossing the border would be similar to those implemented earlier this year when the historic bus service between the two capitals of disputed Kashmir, Muzaffarabad and Srinagar, was restarted. People wanting to cross would have to apply for a permit from government officials on either side to verify their identities.
The five crossings would be allowed at the Pakistani-Indian border towns of Nauseri-Teethwal, Chakothi-Uri, Hajipur-Uri, Rawalakot-Poonch, and Tattapani-Mendhar.
Source: China Post via South Asia Quake Help

author: Angelo Embuldeniya


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Indonesian blogosphere: Season of forgiveness, Indonesian poor and parliament member salary increase · Global Voices
Enda Nasution

Next week on Thursday,  millions of Indonesian are going to celebrate Eid ul-Fitr that mark the end of Ramadhan, the month of fasting, this simply the biggest holiday in Indonesia the most populous Muslim country in the world.
On this annual ritual almost all governments and offices will close their doors for business, school will also be in break, family travel a long distance to get together.
New clothes bought, special foods prepared, extra obligatory one month salary distributed.
Blogs, website forum and mailing list groups are full of posting celebrating the day of victory. Emails, SMS and instant messaging broadcasting message to ask for forgiveness, replacing the old way of sending mail card or actually meet the person.
The new modern way, can reach thousands of people at once, making it less personal for everybody.
This year it will be interesting to see if the 60 million people fall in government category as poor and scheduled to receive government's direct subsidy to offset the costs of fuel price increase will feel as festive as we all always seem manage to do.
Duncan Graham at Indonesia Now has posted the 14 government's poor criteria that make you qualified to receive Rp 100,000 (US$ 10) per month paid in every three months sum.
Highlights of the criteria: live in a house of less than 8 square meters per person, eat only once or twice a day, earn less that than Rp 600,000 (US$ 60) a month (US$ 2/day).
This put a lot of perspective on how Indonesia is doing and frustrating at the same time, that 1 in 4 Indonesian still lives like this in a country with abundant natural resource.
I can only guess what 60 million people feel when they hear that in the same period Indonesian House of Representative member will get Rp 10 million (US$ 1000) monthly salary increase, making their total take home pay to Rp 36.806.560 (US$ 3600).
It's a good thing that Eid ul-Fitr (or Idul Fitri as Indonesian pronounce it) is also the season of forgiveness and we have this every year.
(By the way, how much is the Indonesian president, vice president and provincial governor is making monthly? Rp 62.740.000 (US$ 6200), Rp 42.160.000 (US$ 4200), Rp 8.400.000 (US$ 840) respectively)
This week Indonesian also comomorate a big Indonesian struggle history event. Indonesian founding fathers's Youth Pledge (Sumpah Pemuda), on 28 October, 77 years ago.
At the first Youth Nationalist Convention they all pledge together ‘one country, one nation, one language: Indonesia’, a pledge that has become the first milestone and practically gives birth to nationalism.
I hope Indonesian founding fathers are not too disappointed if they can see how their “dream” are doing right now.

author: Enda Nasution


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From the Egyptian blogs · Global Voices
Mostafa Hussein

Some bloggers are angry over the news of the 14 years old kid who is facing death sentence in Saudi Arabia. Freedom for Egyptians and Ritzy are pointing that the kingdom ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child and that Sharia law does not impose capital punishments on minors.
Ritzy highlights the absurd statement that the court sentenced him based on
Sandmonkey stresses the absurdity of the “pubic hair” part and suggests that “we“ nuke Saudi.
Egyptian bloggers continue to discuss the events of Alexandria.
MalcolmiX reports (Arabic) that the church responsible for the play handed out to people on the streets an apology over staging the play.
Karim is organizing a vigil in front of a Basilica in Heliopolis. While Kefaya is organizing (Arabic) a demonstration to support national unity.Africano (Arabic) and a group of bloggers are organizing a day for both Muslims and Christians to fast together.
Tarek reports (Arabic) that the Azhar continues to ban books. A book published by the American University in Cairo Press and Oxford University Press. The book is titled: Wahhabi Islam from Revival to Reform to Global Jihad by Natana DeLong-Bas.
Mohammed posts(Arabic) a long post about the election rallies he have seen from the balcony of his home. He thinks the elections results are tied between the Muslim brotherhood and the NDP. He didn't see any election rally in the street that attracted him to go down and join.
Fustat says that the Arabic dubbed Simpsons cartoon has been successful and will continue after Ramadhan.
Freedom for Egyptians (FfE) is glad that the BBC will launch and Arabic TV by 2007. He says that it will add a fresh perspective. Fustat points that the BBC is funded by a major partner to the U.S. in Iraq. But FfE reminds of the level of proficiency in both the BBCWorld TV and Arabic Radio service.

author: Mostafa Hussein


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Armenia: SOS Yerevan · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian has photos from this weekend's protest against the destruction of Yerevan's parks.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Aruba: Political Ponderings · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Lost in Smallness shows that Aruba still doesn't have complete post-colonial autonomy as the Netherlands “has been making noise” about Minister of Justice, Rudy Croes. Rudy says he'll settle for Minister of Tourism if his brother gets to be Minister of Justice.


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Azerbaijan: The Week in Politics · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

azerbaijan.neweurasia.net reports on this week's parliamentary election news.


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When is Eid? · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Mahmood is betting that Saudi will declare Wednesday as the first day of Eid, and most if not all the GCC countries will follow suit. Does this sound familiar? Of course it does to even the light follower of Muslim affairs. But is it right?, he says.
Farah has a nice photos that shows preparations for Eid in Riyadh. She guesses that Eid in Riyadh this year won't be so bad!
Shereen believes that celebrating Eid abroad is much more fulfilling than celebrating in one owns county.
Najah feels the happiness of people about Eid after she went out shopping for Eid.

author: Haitham Sabbah


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Bangladesh: Market Blues · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Sustenance for one is abundance for another. Money and what it can buy at Blog-a-rhythm.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Brazil: The Gay Kiss Controversy · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Responding to controversy over a kiss by two men in the Brazilian soap opera, “America,” Made in Brazil argues that there is large support for gays in the Brazilian media and posts a link to email the Globo network to air the kiss.

author: David Sasaki


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Caribbean: Reflections on Caribbean Blogging · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Taran Rampersad complements Georgia's conversation with Nicholas Laughlin in his own insightful summary of the state of the Caribbean's blogosphere.


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China: Am I A Journalist · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

EastSouthWestNorth asks: “Am I a journalist?”  His answer: “If I wanted to become a traditional journalist, I would have become one.  Instead, I became an independent blogger by my own choice because the freedom and style appeal to me.”


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Egypt: The Basilica Vigil · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Karim posted some photos of the ‘Basilica Vigil‘, which some described as “an experience of a lifetime.“


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From the African women’s blogsphere · Global Voices
Nish Matenjwa

On 26 October, Togo became the 15th country to ratify the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa thus ensuring the ratification of the Protocol within 30 days, writes Black Looks.
The protocol is  groundbreaking and far-reaching says Black Looks, and protects a broad range of African women’s human rights while reinforcing international law on women’s equality. Other countries that have so far ratified the Protocol are Cape Verde, The Comoros, Djibouti, The Gambia, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Benin. 38 African countries have yet to ratify the Protocol and much work still needs to be undertaken by civil society and African women’s organisations, nevertheless, this development should be viewed as a significant starting point.
Black Looks also honours Hauwa Ibrahim, a Nigerian human rights lawyer who is joint winner of the  Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament together with Reporters without Borders and Cuba’s Ladies in White. The award honours individuals who work to combat intolerance, fanaticism and oppression.  Hauwa Ibrahim, has defended many women accused of adultery and condemned to death in the Nigerian states applying Sharia law.
Helenism writes about religion and the conflict in her mind with regard to wishing to convert from the Eritrean Orthodox Church, the religion she grew up with and Buddhism, a religion she feels a close affinity with and which she feels could be the route to her physical and spiritual awareness.
Poverty, economic mismanagement, political instability and war are ever increasing realities in Africa despite the continent having a multitude of resources, writes Keeper of her thoughts. Keeper says what required “is better governance, stronger institutions and more stalwart systems of management” and more importantly, a willingness of Africans to make governments accountable.
Keeper follows this article with a personal tribute to Professor Wangari Maathai – Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2004, who she says is the African woman at her most heroic.
As an example of when moaning about what needs to be done will not make things done , Bee writes about a story she recently read about a man who travels the desert with a mobile camel library and who “brings the understanding of how the sun sets to others through books”.
Bronwyn takes beautiful photographs and writes poetically about the jacaranda season in Johannesburg:
“When the jacarandas are in season it seems that the air itself becomes infused with a soft purple light. The flowers drift down on to your windshield as you drive and scatter the pavements everywhere as if a purple snowstorm has hit town…..and when the jacarandas are in bloom, you know that the whole summer stretches before you and it just makes you feel happy.”

author: Nish Matenjwa


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Guatemala: Blog de mi Guatemala Anniversary · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Rob Mercatante congratulates Blog de Mi Guatemala, which recently turned two-years-old.


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India, Pakistan: Aid Politics · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Contrapuntal on the politics of media, disasters and aid.


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Iran: Iran vs. Israel · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Dokhtarak from Iran writes about anti-Israel demonstration(in Farsi) in Shiraz and says: “Only less than 10% of people have participated by their own desire. 70 percent were school kids, 15 percent military forces and 5 percent officials. She thinks Iranian people have become a joke in the eyes of the world. She thinks even if one day Palestine make peace with Israel, Iranian continue their demonstrations.”
On the other hand, Zetoun says (in Farsi): “There is no such a difference between Israeli government and Iranian one. Dictatorship, repression…Zetoun writes there are  many rights have been violated in Iran and it is better first we take care of our rights. Zetoun also talks about her dialogue with a 75 years old Jewish lady in a park. This Jewish lady told Zetoun that all her family members left country because of Islamic Republic's pressure. But she wants to die and to be buried in Iran where Jews are living for 2500 years.
While Sibestan believes, like Palestinian authority, Iranian government should try to add Palestine to world map rather to wish to wipe off Israel! (in Farsi)


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Jordan: 1001 Nights · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Rami adds a story to 1001 nights stories when he describes where he comes from. He says: “Jesus was baptised 45 minutes away from my house, Moses looked upon the holy land 35 minutes away from my house, the temple of Zeus is not too far too, Jerusalem is a two hour ride from where I live (if it isn't for the borders!), Bethelehem is a little further, and Nazareth is a little farther. Sodom and Gammourah sank under the dead sea, where we go out for fun on weekends and that is 30 minutes away from my house, the wife of prophet Lout is still enstoned to this day on the eastern bank of the sea, other people with the message of god like Shuaib, Moab and others have their tombs in my country. The Muslims defeated the romans for good not so far away. Ad and Thamod were buried under the sands of Wadi Rum, where people go for camping, partying and ‘four wheeling’ these days… the list goes on forever!”


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Kazakhstan: Win Just Right · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

kazakhstan.neweurasia.net says that in the upcoming presidential election, President Nazarbaev is worried about winning by too big of a margin.


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Kyrgyzstan: Protests · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Claire Wilkinson has photos of and a roundup of news concerning the recent protests for and against the government in Kyrgyzstan.


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Kyrgyzstan: Time Shift · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

The Golden Road to Samarqand reports that Kyrgyzstan handles daylight savings time by changing not simply what time it is but what time zone the country is in.


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Lebanon: Lebanese Vacation · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Fouad on his vacation in Lebanon. He says: “I put my camera strap around my neck, and slowly walked through the streets and alleys of the lower Basta. Brick by brick, cobblestone by cobblestone, I tried to take as much of it in as I could. From the little piece of yellow plastic hiding in the trash behind a stone fence, to the old bent antenna still elegantly waltzing with a branch on the edge of a roof, everything was prey to my starving lens and gaping memory. I kept walking and taking pictures for three hours under the same blazing sun, until my head was a bonfire and my legs two pillars of concrete.”
See the Vertical Gaze, the Kandinsky Umbrella, the Veranda, the Two Windows, the Closed Arch, and much more interesting photos.


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Malawi: Crime and Cost of Living · Global Voices
Ethan Zuckerman

Geeta, an aid worker in Malawi, writes about robberies of expatriates’ houses in Lilongwe, with more than a little sympathy for the robbers, who face rising food costs due to widespread crop failure. Another expat in Lilongwe, Mike McKay, documents the cost of living in Malawi.

author: Ethan Zuckerman


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Morocco: Hoba Hoba · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Foulla thinks that these Hoba Hoba – Rai-Gnaoua-Reggae- artists (Moroccan) band, sing about injustice, pollution in Casablanca, freedom… among other subjects; are great.


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Myanmar: West is Wrong · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

“What we need is a more serious, thoughtful, creative and most importantly realistic method of assisting the blossoming of democracy” — Burma Watch.com agrees that the West's approach to Burma isn't working.


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Nepal: Demonstrations · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Blogdai is not very impressed by a demonstration and articulates what really matters in the current political climate in Nepal.


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North Korea: Crop Failures · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

OneFreeKorea at North Korea zone has information from a Christian aid worker who is reporting widespread crop failures in the hermit state.


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Pakistan: Mixed priorities · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Where are Pakistan's priorities? F-16s or relief for the Earthquake victims asks Reality Cafe.


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Pakistan: The month of Ramadan · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

An interesting perspective on Ramadan. A Christian woman married to a Muslim man on the fasts in the house at Carol: Perpetual Motion.


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Philippines: Monster Ball · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

An aswang is an evil, flesh-eating creature in Filipino folklore.  They are said to infest particular provinces in the Philippines, one of which is now hosting an aswang festival.  Sassy Lawyer writes down her thoughts about the Catholic Church's opposition to the celebration.


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Philippines: Technology Salaries · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Pinoy.Tech.Blog and its readers react to data about information workers’ salaries in the U.S. with the observation that even technicians make 15-20 times more than a technician would be paid in the Philippines: “You can stop wondering about the rising trend in offshored operations.”


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Puerto Rico: History of the Puerto Rico Sun · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Clarisel Gonzalez writes out the history of the Puerto Rico Sun.


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Recently in Argentina · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Diego Sarraseca, an Argentine living in Los Angeles, wrote a trilingual post yesterday entitled, “Today We Celebrate Christmas in Argentina,” referring to the birthday of soccer star Diego Maradona and the prophet-like status he holds in the country. For more context, Altered Argentina has a creative and hilarious post comparing Maradona with his country. Jeff Barry, at first, “couldn't understand why this fat, drug addict with bad hair was a national hero.” But then says, “as I started to see him interviewed on TV (before he had his own show) I came to see a side of him — a certain child-like quality — that is appealing.”
Smart Mobs picks up a story by Fernando Marino-Aguirre on OhmyNews about Argentina's Education Minister, Daniel Filmus’ commitment to purchase between 500,000 and one million low cost laptops from the MIT Media Lab, making Argentina the first Spanish-speaking country to commit to the program. Paula Alvarado, from Buenos Aires, has a post on Treehugger about recent sustainability breakthroughs in Argentina.
The main buzz around the Argentine blogosphere, however, is undoubtedly focused on George W. Bush's upcoming visit to the country for the fourth Summit of the Americas, which will take place in Mar del Plata. Or more specifically, bloggers are focusing on upcoming planned protests against the American president. GoodAirs has covered the series of small bombs which have exploded at U.S. symbols throughout Buenos Aires. Fernando Marino-Aguirre writes on OhmyNews that some Mar del Plata residents “have decided to leave next week for fear of attacks or incidents that might take place during the meeting of the Fourth Summit of the Americas on Nov. 4-5.” Marino-Aguirre also describes a week-long effort of opposition, organized by the Continental Social Alliance, which will coincide with the Summit. Marcos Solis, writing from Chile, offers a brief summary of the Summit of the America's purpose and history and closes with the obligatory anti-Bush photograph. An interesting forum thread has started at Physics Forums, of all places, describing the general state of Argentine anger directed at the Bush. Los Blogueros points readers [ES] to marchacontrabush.com [ES] (“March Against Bush”), which is an impressive collection of news items related to Bush's visit and the protest against it. The march itself, dubbed, “March and Act for Latin American Dignity,” will take place on November 4th at 11 a.m. in Mar del Plata. Responding to news that public employees will not be working on Friday in order to protest Bush's visit, neither Ana Toniolli nor Mirko [ES] understand what good the shutting down of an entire country's public service will do to protest the visit of another country's president.
Finally, a potpourri: And, Yes, I Do Take it Personally explains what a “paseaperro” is. Jorge Gobbi writes about Monte, a small town 110 KM north of Buenos Aires. The Social Science Information Gateway has a useful collection of links relating to the recent parliamentary elections. And finally, Clarin's Weblog About Weblogs informs that Leandro Zanoni and Darío Gallo have started a census [ES] of traditional journalists who have weblogs. More information can be found at Zanoni's eBlog [ES].


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Singapore: Prepping Witnesses · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Mr. Wang recalls his days prepping witnesses as a deputy public prosecutor in Singapore:


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Slovenia: Bad Drivers · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Michael Manske says that a test of European drivers showing Slovenes to be the worst drivers of those tested has not only confirmed his fears of meeting his end in a Slovenian roundabout, but shown that perhaps he should be more worried.


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South Korea: By-Election Report · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Flying Yangban‘s Andy, guestblogging at The Marmot's Hole, looks at the result of the recent by-election.


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Sri Lanka: Eelam Idol · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

ennis at Sepia Mutiny tongue-in-cheek over the selection of a patriotic song. Perhaps a show on the lines of American Idol?


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This Week in Palestinian Blogs · Global Voices
Shaden Abdulrahman

Three major issues forced themselves to appear on Palestinian blogs this week:
1) The so called Gaza disengagement,
2) The discriminatory Apartheid Wall (which imprisons Palestinians in the largest jail humanity has ever known) and
3) The ethnic cleansing of Palestinians by Israeli military forces.
Before you proceed, I'd like to welcome Lisa N.Goldman, the Israeli blogger and GV new author of the Israeli Blogsphere. Welcome aboard Lisa.
In peacepalestine the upcoming group interview with Israel Shamir is your chance to participate in posing and knowing the answers of twenty questions assembled into a questionnaire. Book your question now if you hadn't already. thecutter quotes Alon Liel  discussing Israel’s need of support (or rather its lack of), from the outside world: “The past five years, the years of the Al-Aqsa Intifada, have taught an important lesson about Israel's situation in the international arena: Israel has in effect become immune to international pressure”. “People who still believe that the Israeli-Arab conflict will in the end be solved only as the result of international pressure can forget about it.” Sharon's final solution for the palestinian problem is ethnic cleansing.
Laila  of Raising Yousuf has great news for you, Iman a Swedish convert to Islam who recently moved to Gaza City with her Palestinian husband and three children, now had an English blog. “Its brutally honest and to the point, which also makes it worth reading. If you'd really like to understand what life is like “living in Gaza City” (or even travelling to Gaza City) I suggest you take a look”, says umkahlil.
Haitham Sabbah urges to protest against the Nobel Prize for prof. Aumann and Thomas Schelling . In the sample letter written by the Israeli peace and anti nuclear activist Gideon Spiro : “Schelling ideas were the direct inspiration for US strategy in Vietnam, of indiscriminantly bombing the North in order to persuade Ho Chi Minh to stop supporting the Vietcong in the South” apparently it was an all pain, no gain role. “This strategy resulted in 2 million civilian deaths and was a complete failure in realizing its objectives” and “Aumann uses his analysis to justify the Israeli Occupation and the oppression of the Palestinians.” Sign the statement. In Sabbah's Blog as well, an eye for an eye and a tit for tat attacks is exactly what's been going on in Occupied Palestine for the past few days, “but whose eye, and whose tat was it first? “. Sabbah adds: “everyone is talking about Palestinian crime and how did they break the cease fire. What a joke. What about the crimes of IOF? Can’t the media see those? Or is it Halal for Israelis to kill Palestinians and Haraam for Palestinians to kill Israelis? “.
In Baqa'a Refugee Camp,  “Landscapes of Hope and Despair” is a book that chronicles the experience of Palestinians living in the camps of Lebanon from the perspective of place and space, and how these parameters have affected their identity.
Rafah Pundits report that IDF is attempting a new propaganda tactic, “In a new move against Palestinian resistance groups, Israeli military helicopters dropped thousands of leaflets on Beit Hanoon and northern areas of the Gaza Strip, encouraging local residents to report on names and the whereabouts of those operating Qassam rockets”. Rafah Pundits has a copy of the leaflet which is written in Arabic and below it you a translation in English. IDF is also “plans to create ‘a military restricted zone’ around the Gaza Strip. The new plan involves setting up several missile-firing positions”. “Initial information indicated that the Israeli army consider choosing specific high locations in order to enable the missiles to reach any target, wherever it is in the Gaza Strip and at anytime”. Moreover,  Israeli air raids continued in Gaza, since the morning hours, Israeli F-16 air fighters have launched at least three air strikes in north and east of the Gaza Strip. One Palestinian was killed and three wounded in the attack. Israeli air strikes in Gaza and Rafah started on the 25th of this month.Now tell me, what kind of disengagement is that?  Gaza Strip is still occupied! And no, I can't see where and why is the ceasefire!
Israeli soldiers and schoolgirls in East Jerusalem, by farfuglinn
In umkahlil:
In electronicintifada, Israel assassinates two Palestinians in Tulkarem. From International Solidarity Movement: Palestinians and ISMers stand down Israeli military in the olive harvest.. And more settler attacks in Hebron (Khalil)  while soldiers and police watch: settlers attacked a school girl near Qurtuba School, three internationals who rushed to aid her and the Palestinian child had been removed from the area by the police.  The three internationals were released afterwards leaving Israa (the schoolgirl) behind them while the charges against her if any remain unclear. Settlers in Hebron also chanted “death to Arabs” while they helped the soldiers into forcing a group of Human Rights Activists into a shop.ISM reports that olive harvest was blocked in Yanoun by police and settlers.
In Palestine Blogs, Three Cities Against the Wall: Ramallah, Tel Aviv, New York. “Three Cities Against the Wall is an exhibition protesting the Separation Wall under construction by Israel in the Occupied Territories of Palestine. This project involves groups of artists in Ramallah, Palestine; Tel Aviv, Israel; and New York City. The show will be held simultaneously in all three cities in November 2005.”

author: Shaden Abdulrahman


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Vietnam: Construction · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Virtual-Doug watches a house being built in Vietnam.


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Yemen: Yemen Hit the Media · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Abu Aardvark says that the last time Yemen erupted in protests, the government predictably went after the Aljazeera cameras.
On the other hand, Stacey says that the attack was on Al-Arabiyya during their crew coverage of workers strike in Sana'a, when police and government strike out at press.


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· Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Kenyan poet, Mshairi has a “poetry block” but still manages to produce a short poem on “writers block”  - nothing, no words, no phrases, no expressions, my inner muse has fled, along with her companion, creativity, and the verse?

author: Sokari Ekine


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A look at the blogosphere in the Horn of Africa and Sudan · Global Voices
Vandu

The term Horn of Africa in this report represents Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia.
Ethiopian bloggers have been busy assessing the political situation in their country following general elections held there in May 2005 which the ruling party of Prime Minister Meles Zewani reportedly won. Ethiopundit in an article entitled Politics is the Continuation of War by Other Means rebukes the Ethiopian government for the manner in which the elections were conducted and the killing of protesters in June this year among other things.
Ethiopian Paradox re-echoes a similar message to Ethiopundit's but this time focusing particularly on the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Ethiopian Paradox appears very discontented with Mr. Zenawi's move to repeal the immunity rights of opposition MPs, addressing the Prime Minister as a “vicious dictator” who seeks to “stifle the Opposition and to reign fear and terror among his own appointees.” Often employing a poetic form of writing in some of its blog write ups (for instance as in Revolution of a Mind), Ethiopian Paradox seems all out to question practices by the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
Looking at other issues in the Ethiopian blogosphere, Friends of Ethiopia reports on a demonstration by Ethiopian Jews, known as Falasha Mura, in Jerusalem over the failure of the Israeli government to bring their relatives to the Jewish state. Friends of Ethiopia also peeks at the Ethiopian-Eritrean border dispute and what the international response has been.
The Passion of the Present, a blog aimed at providing a forum on how to stop the genocide in Dafur, Sudan, tells of a Canadian MP, David Kilgour who has been pressuring the Canadian government to increase aid to Dafur and pressurize African countries and NATO to do more for the embattled region. The blog also presents an interesting interview with Salva Kir (conducted by Uganda's New Vision, the largest daily newspaper in Uganda), the first vice president of Sudan, and a founding member of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement.
Sleepless in Sudan, authored by a “female aid worker” tells of a leadership conference being held by the SLA rebels in Sudan, and presents a picture of the hassles of life in Dafur.
Yvette Lopez's Inside Somaliland is full of interesting stories about life and politics in Somaliland – a country struggling for international recognition. Yvette reports on recent elections in Somaliland. Somaliland may have its own government, laws and constitution but the rest of the world still views it as part of Somalia. Somalia has not had a functional central government since 1991. Somalilanders in diaspora are also busy blogging about their homeland. Check out Ahmed Quick's blog The Voice of Somaliland Diaspora – Ottawa.

author: Vandu


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Africa: islands of enlightenment · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Zimbabwean Pundit guest writer, Eddie Cross asks whether African is going through a period similar to the European “Dark Ages”.  However he states that despite   the poverty and decay the continent is experiencing there are  “islands of englightenment”.   “You can find such places by visiting our private schools where dedicated teachers and administrators are maintaining a small but effective system of education that continues to produce outstanding athletes, sportsmen and women and fine academics. Above all they produce achievers – men and women who go out into the world and succeed wherever they go.
”


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Bahrain: Halloween · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

After all, Halloween is also celebrated in Bahrain.


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Brazil: Poverty, Money, and Guilt · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Sangroncito describes the guilt of coming from relative privilege compared to the low monthly wages and high unemployment of Salvador, Brazil.


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Cambodia: SMS Use · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Lux Mean at Cambodia Blog reports that short message service or SMS, a.k.a. text, is catching on in Cambodia — as long as the texts don't discuss politics.


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Chile: Legal Workshop for Bloggers · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Claudio informs us of the Legal Workshop for Bloggers, sponsored by Derechos Digitales, which will take place at the brand new Santiago Library on November 12th. More than 300 have registered.


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China: Back Dorm Boys · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Bingfeng Teahouse points us to the blog (Chinese) of the Back Dorm Boys, the art students whose video lip-syncing a U.S. boy band has become an Internet sensation.


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China: Media Debate · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Asiapundit and Bingfeng Teahouse engage in a spirited debate over Westerners, the media and China.


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China: Subway as Metaphor · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

On his daily Beijing subway ride, Austin Arensberg has a miniature epiphany: the daily struggle for seats on the train is a metaphor for all of China.


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DRC: Terrifying anarchy · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Travelling blogger, Rezendi (Jon Evans)  is presently reporting from Goma in the DRC which he describes as the “wild East” .  A personal perspective on the chaotic existence of life in Goma, it's relationship with other countries in the region such as Rwanda, MONUC (UN forces) and the “hordes” of NGO's operating in the region.  What's left?  ” somewhere between a libertarian paradise and terrifying anarchy”.


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Egypt: Amr Star · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Zeinobia says, Amr Khaled and Amr Mussa were not danger and they are not danger on national security but regime Security.


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Ghana: GIA · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

The Trials and Tribulations of a freshly arrived-Denizan reports on the launch of Ghana's new national airline to be known as GIA (Ghana International Airways) – whatever happened to Ghana Airways?


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Guyana: Google Earth and Burning Trash · Global Voices
David Sasaki

zulauf.us responds to readers asking where Guyana is located with a link straight to the small island of Wakenaam where the author lives. Also, a post on the dangers of burning trash during the dry season.


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Hip hop: Rosa Parks · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Obifromsouthlondon has his own rememberance of civil rights activist Rosa Parks “Everyone move to the back of the bus”


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India: Sex Education · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Lives in Focus on the issues of public morality and the challenges they pose in sex education.


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Indonesia: Bridge Blogging · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Dom Elson at The Lucretius Plan observes how, after a bridge on a key road in Flores, Indonesia is washed out by flash floods, locals still manage to devise ways to get minibuses and motorcycles across.


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Indonesia: Reactions to Beheadings · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Macam-Macam does a quick roundup of blog reactions to last week's beheadings of three Christian schoolgirls in Poso on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia.