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The Global Voices Valentine’s Day poetry contest: let the judging begin! · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Many thanks to all who submitted entries for the Global Voices Valentine's Day poetry contest. We had 28 submissions in all, including some fine doggerel, plus one entry from an actual dog!
As this contest was a spur-of-the-moment idea cooked up on the GV mailing lists, a few things fell through the organisational cracks. Among the more notable of these was our failure to announce how the winning entries would be determined. This was easily remedied, however, as the only person who seemed to notice this omission also happened to be highly qualified to judge the competition.
It is my great pleasure, therefore, to introduce our esteemed contest judge, Nicholas Laughlin, Global Voices author and editor of the Caribbean Review of Books (he's also a published poet, by the way).
As a professional, Nicholas is going to have to be a little harder on those who didn't follow the contest rules, which means that some of your favourite entries may be out of the running. So we've also decided to open a separate round of voting to you, our dear readers.
For the People's Choice Award, all 28 entries qualify, even those submitted after the contest closing date, with one caveat: we could not facilitate the translation of foreign language submissions submitted after midnight PST on February 14, 2007.
Here's how you can help determine the winner of the People's Choice Award:
- Review the 28 entries at this page
- Go to  the form at the end of this page (or, failing that, clink on this link) and vote for your favourite entry .
UPDATE: Please note the change in the voting method. Thanks to a brilliant suggestion from Marvin Chery, it's no longer necessary to leave the site in order to vote, and the poll now lists the name of the poem as well. Duping the system also now requires a little more work. I have moved the votes from hanna and chtonia, who placed their votes prior to this change, over to the new system.
The contest results will be announced in these pages on .

author: Georgia Popplewell


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A Week in the Saudi Blogosphere · Global Voices
Global Voices MENA

False assumptions of a Saudi threat to US campuses, a bald Britney Spears, two new Saudi air carriers, Valentine's day, and the infamous “burqini;” all that and much more is in this week's roundup.
I noticed many Saudi bloggers referring to the recent happenings in Jerusalem. As it turns out, last Friday, February the 16th, was the Jerusalem Blogging Day. According to Saudi blogger ماشي صح (translates to “On the Right Track”), it was the fruit of joint efforts by bloggers Nuzha and Mohammed Lachyab. A new website is also dedicated to the cause.
Two new airlines in Saudi were launched recently. Until recently, Saudi Arabian Airlines were the only air carriers operating in the Kingdom. In one of his posts, Yazeed said that “Sama recently operated their first flight within Saudi, and plan to expand into the Middle East soon.” Feras talks about NAS Airlines in one of his posts, and mentions something very interesting about the airlines:
You might find this a bit funny, the CEO of the company Captain Peter Griffiths flies the companies planes!! Just goes to show you…
This past week, Saudi bloggers have also observed Valentine's Day. It is a well-known fact that as a result of efforts by the Saudi religious authorities, mainly the Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (a.k.a. Religious Police), red roses are banned from being sold on Valentine's Day; a day which, according to our lovely lesbian couple in the Saudi blogosphere, Two Dykes and a Closet, is “the day that the single people love to hate, and the in-a-relationship people love to love.” However, according to an article posted by Crossroads Arabia, red roses were still sold out due to the huge demand by young Saudis, who have been defying the Kingdom's official ban year after year. Furthermore, Crossroads Arabia suggests: “Perhaps we can start to do what we recommend to others: ‘Judge people by what they do, not by what they say.’ ” If you want to hear it from someone who is not Saudi, but happens to be living in the Kingdom, you should visit Chris’ take on V-Day in the KSA.
Now, for the latest in Islamic sportswear, the burqini (burqa + bikini = burqini). Designed by Lebanese Australian, and mother of four, Aheda Zanetti, it costs between 135 and 150 US dollars. It has already been seen at Sydney’s Cronulla Beach, worn by the likes of 20-year-old lifeguard Mecca Laa Laa, according to a post by Khloud. “The two-piece, body- and head-concealing swimsuit” has also received honorable mention in one of Sheikh Dot's recent Q & A sessions; a must-read if you enjoy the sting of sarcasm.
Russian president Vladimir Putin's first visit to Saudi Arabia, and the one-of-a-kind warm welcome he has received in Riyadh, seems to have disturbed many bloggers. Mohammed Al-Shehri, a Saudi who blogs in Arabic, has formulated a very simple equation to explain what is going on:
It's a very simple equation: Russia is a nuclear country with a nuclear excess, and Saudi is an oil country with an excess in its budget. And solving this equation, thought it might have taken years, is easier now than ever.
Other Saudi bloggers, were disturbed by the series of activist arrests the Saudi Arabian government has been making. Aya ponders the question “do Saudis have the right to request reforms?” and posts about the case of the arrested activists, which was picked up by Human Rights Watch.
Saudi Jeans (a.k.a. Ahmed Al-Omran) has posted recently about taking part in Bitter Lemons International's weekly issue. According to a post by Crossroads Arabia, Bitter Lemons is “a non-profit organization designed to provide new avenues for thought, discussion, and understanding of the Middle East and its problems.” They produce a weekly online magazine and the focus of their last issue was the Arab blogosphere.
Since I'm a Saudi college student in the US, I should emphasize the significance of the following to me. Crossroads Arabia has recently published a very insightful post about a newly released article by CNSNews.com, the Cybercast News Service. The article hypes fears of the large number of recently-admitted Saudi students in the US. The post responds to the article, which put more emphasis on spin than content:
This is a fine piece of Saudi-bashing put out by the Cybercast News Service. The organization, born as the ‘Conservative News Service’ tends to represent the more fringe-y elements of conservative America, putting more emphasis on spin than content. This piece, for example, tries to suggest that the students mentioned are somehow related to either the 9/11 attackers or are part of a new Al-Qaeda plot. What's the substance of the link? The students’ Saudi nationality.
Now, to wrap up…
Feras threw in his two cents on Saudi Post, the Kingdom's mailing services provider. Ibraman posted about the dawning of a new threat in Saudi; the massive increase in population. And Yazeed shared a YouTube video in which Britney Spears was spotted bald and getting a tattoo.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Global Voices MENA


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Bahrain: The Truth About the Temple Mount Dig · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini blogger eMoodz puts one and one together and digs deep to learn the truth about the Temple Mount dig in Jerusalem here.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Cameroon: painting the African childhood · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Mshairi writes about Cameroonian artist, Florence Béal-Nénakwé: an ‘artist-painter who paints the reminiscences of the African childhood’.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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China: MTV · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

An interview with a Hong Kong MTV director, Kahing Chan, who works in China MTV now. The interview touches about issues such as MTV style, censorship, future trend.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Egypt: Gay Dilemma · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Blogger egYptianist is in a dilemma, especially after coming out of the closet.  “Sometimes i think of leaving the country, but then how would this ever happen, and do i really have or want to live in a country other than mine?..Sometimes i wish i was never born to live such a life, i never have the courage for suicide and whenever i think of it i know i wouldn't really have the courage to actually do it, but i simply wish i wasn't born, or maybe born anything but human,” he writes.


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Egypt: PETA Vs KFC  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) staged a rally against Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), in Cairo, wrote Issandr El Amrani in The Arabist.


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Egypt: Spy Update · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger Zeinobia has updates on the Egyptian-Mossad spy here.


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Hong Kong: Chinese people news’ angle  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translates an excerpt from a book Traveling through war-torn lands by Suzanna Cheung Chuiyung, which talks about Hong Kong editors’ news angle.


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Kenya: political dynasties · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

A blog dedicated to the 2007 general election in Kenya, A Political Kenya in 2007, has a post about Kenya's political dynasties, “Political dynasties have become a fairly permanent feature in Kenyan politics and this year’s election is not without its long list of members of the same family seeking electoral office.”


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Korea: Lunar New years · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Robert Neff from Ohmynews writes about traditional Korea Lunar New years custom: Kites, stone battle, etc.


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Lesotho: a prayer for Lesotho · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Rethabile writes a prayer for Lesotho where counting of votes is underway following the general election on Saturday:
“Dear Deity… now what? This country of about 2 million people, independent since 1966 from England, with a 30 to 35% rate of HIV infection, one nation with one language and one culture, with a lot of water to sell in the form of electricity or just plain water, this country with some of the biggest diamonds in the world, this country is one of the poorest countries in the world, this country that is often described as “tumultuous” when it comes to politics, has seen its sons and daughters die for it, this country called Lesotho, surrounded entirely by another country, having the highest low point of any country on the planet…”


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Nigeria: US Marines in the Niger Delta · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Black Looks blogs about the connection between US Marines and the Niger Delta, “It took a 5 minute scan of their website to figure out that they were an American military and intelligence outfit undertaking contracts for the US government – check out the “leadership” – all ex US military of some sort.”


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Syrian Blogsphere in a Week · Global Voices
Yazan Badran

We start off with a very special goodbye from Brian Anthony…
Brian has lived, taught, and blogged from Damascus for more than two years, he returned to the US a couple of months ago… We all want to wish him the best of luck.
This was his last goodbye post on his blog, In The Axis…
In writing this blog, I've tried to present a personal view of everyday life in the Middle East. With few exceptions, I tried to steer clear of politics and to focus on the human element, that which is so regrettably missing from the sometimes unrecognizable caricature of the Middle East we get through our politicians, our media, and our own cultural assumptions. I don't claim to have been right about everything, just honest about what I saw. I hope you found something here worthwhile, and that my experiences encouraged someone somewhere to take a deeper look.
Moving on to Middle East politics…
Ammar, is explaining why he an “Unreasonable Heretic”. Why Democracy and Development are the real national cause…
A friend told me not too long ago that some people tend to find my position on the Assads to be somewhat unreasonable. After all, some of their stands and policies, especially with regard to the peace process and the Arab-Israeli Conflict seem to reflect how the majority of people in Syria and elsewhere in the region and the world feel and think. So why we not support them on these matters? Wouldn't this be the patriotic thing to do, regardless of how we feel about their internal policies?
While Philip I, posts another insight about the rarely discussed internal policies in Syria. This time, discussing Syria's 10th five-year development plan (2006-2010).
The aim of the programme is to address mounting social and economic problems in the country and, in particular, reduce poverty and regional disparities. The key targets of the programme are to:
1) improve governance
2) improve transparency and accountability
3) create a participatory democratic society
4) create a socially responsible economy
5) generate sustainable economic growth
6) generate higher employment to improve human development and reduce poverty
The Syrian Brit, posts about, yet another reason that makes him proud to be Syrian. How Syria, and Syrians were always the safe place for refugees… and Iraqis, the latest of those…
Pride, because Syria has ALWAYS offered all it has, to share with anyone who needs it.. Even in the midst of the worsening Iraqi refugee crisis, Syria and the Syrians were willing to open their homes, and their hearts, to refugees from another neighbour.. The Lebanese were given the same welcome.. the same hospitality, if not more…. Amazement, because most Syrians are struggling to make ends meet in their everyday lives.. never mind sharing what scarce resources they have with others!!.. I have heard endless first-hand accounts from relatives of Iraqi friends about the hospitality of the ordinary Syrian people towards the Iraqis.. I will not bore you with such tales, amazing and incredible as they are… but, hey.. that is the Syrian way.. throughout the ages.. so, perhaps, I shouldn't be amazed!..
Abu Fares’ newest kitchen post is guaranteed to win back the appetite you lost reading about politics. Sayadieh bi Samak (Roasted Fish and Rice), is one of the most famous dishes around the Syrian coast. And as he says, Very simple, Very delicious…
In Tartous and in all coastal cities around the world no doubt, fish is an important part of our diet. There are so many ways to prepare various types of seafood that nobody can truly claim any one particular recipe. In my opinion, when it comes to cooking fish, the simpler the better. The sea provides us with the most delicious source of animal protein. Little manipulation is needed to enhance or to bring out the taste of the already scrumptious white meat. Besides, the purpose of this post is to get anyone to be able to go out to the local supermarket or better yet a nearby fish market, grab some fish, rice and a few ingredients and get down to eat a most delicious plate in a little over an hour.
Ayman has done some research, and guess what? The Ice Cream Cone is A Syrian Invention!
Yes! And the one behind it is Ernest Hamwi, a young Syrian immigrant from around Damascus, who was selling Arabic pastry at a trade fair in St. Louis, Missouri in 1904. Next to Hamwi in the fair was an ice cream vendor, who was making good sales that at some point he ran out of cups. Hamwi came to his aid by rolling the ice cream in crisp wafers that he used to make zalabia (known in Syria as ‘awwameh).
Finally, Omar shares his feelings about The Joubrans musical trio, and how they present themselves…
I was impressed with those three young men as an establishment. I wasn't impressed with their music at all (which is problematic since they presented themselves as musicians).. but I was very impressed with the clever marketing and image they created.. the scenography (from scene choreography) was very impressive, although full with exaggerated gestures, annoying facial expressions and erratic head movement. However, their presence on stage: three young men, all dressed in black, and all looking the same (they look remarkably alike) added some ritualistic aura to the performance. and the fact that those Ouds they were playing were made by one of the brothers, and that their father was an Oud Maker, and the fact that all of them still live in Ramallah… well…the myth outdid the reality and people go to see this phenomenon differently..

author: Yazan Badran


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Abu Aardvark: The Relationship Between Islam and the West · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Abu Aardvark, aka Marc Lynch, has just recorded “a bit for BBC Newshour on a new 27 nation survey of international public opinion on relations between Islam and the West.” For more on the survey and its results, read his post.


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Albania: Colorful Tirana · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

At Stepping Stones, photos of Tirana's colorful buildings – and a discussion in the comments section on why outsiders love it and locals hate it (there's even a comment from TulipGrrl, a blogger who lived in Kyiv during the Orange Revolution and blogged about it).

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Albania: Election’s Eve · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Our Man in Tirana reports on the two last days of campaigning in Albania's capital – here and here.


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Arabisc: Pictorial Tour of the Middle East · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Fed up of all the politics in the Middle East? Me too. This week we will take a pictorial tour of the region, making stops in Qatar, Bahrain, Tunisia and Lebanon, to name a few. There are real amazing photographers out there and the scenery and mood quickly changes from one country to the other.
With each picture summing up the worth of more than a thousand words, get ready for the adventure, which can fill the pages of books. Oops.. I mean cyberspace.
Our first stop is in Casablanca, Morocco, where what you see is not all what you think you see. A Moroccan in Washington posts a picture  sent to him by a first. At first instance, you would think it is a riot.
“Throngs storming a new phone company shop that offers some great deals on new cellphones.The crowd reminds me of the Black friday sales in the US ,but the latter is a bit more orderly,” observed Adil R.
Still in Morocco, Laila Lalami takes us with her to the Casablanca Book Fair here.
From Morocco we move to Lebanon, where Manamania allows us to peek at how some Lebanese chose to mark the assassination anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafiq Al Hariri. There are more pictures on this site as well as on numerous other Lebanese blogs.
Hungry? Let's stop for a quick meal at a Mc Donald's in Bahrain, where blogger Yonis brings us this hilarious picture of a horseman, placing a take away order! He aptly entitles it: Drive Thru: Bahrain's Way!
When Yonis took this picture, he was on his way home from the desert, where many local and expat families in Bahrain put up tents and rough it out in the desert, enjoying the early spring.
Qatar Living posts a picture of a desert tent in Qatar of course here (picture seen above). The site has excellent pictures from Qatar, which I would browse through if I had a moment.
While on the topic of deserts and horses, let's stop in Libya where blogger A. Adam brings us action from the horse races in his country.
From Libya, we move on to Tunisia, better known as Green Tunisia, for this reason: blogger Saied Dardour posts amazing pictures of the countryside, where you see the sheep grazing and some of the country's flora in bloom.
Hungry again? Dardour posts a picture here of what I presume is a kiln of some sort, used for baking traditional Tunisian bread. Anyone from Tunisia out there?
Our last stop is again in Bahrain, where blogger Mohammed Zainal takes us back to 1961, with a host of photographs which he has no captions for.
Let's all head there to play the guessing game.


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Argentina: Assimilation · Global Voices
David Sasaki

After taking a look at Eduardo Galeano's writings about housing for the poor in Buenos Aires at the end of the 19th century, Jeff Barry ponders if today's Bolivian and Peruvian immigrants will be able to eventually assimilate as successfully as the Italian, Russian, and Spanish immigrants a century before.

author: David Sasaki


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Armenia: Banana Republic Party · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Kronstadt has started the Banana Republic Party to heap ridicule on Gagik Tsarukian’s Prosperous Armenia party.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Armenia: Dangers for Motorcycles · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Blogster, a blog about motorcycling in Armenia, lists the most dangerous road hazards for motorcyclists in Armenia.


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Bahrain: Any Student Bloggers Out There? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Do you know of any student bloggers? An American teacher wrote to Bahrain-based blogger Haitham Sabbah asking for support in a project aimed to bridge the gap between the East and West.


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Bahrain: Improve Your Vocabulary · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Want to improve your vocabulary? Bahraini Rants has just the solution for you here.


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Bangladesh: How men are oppressed · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

a bengali in TO tickles my funnies with this post on how Islam oppresses men. “And we men can't even spend 200 bucks on the Nike basketball shoes because all that is required from us is to be covered from navel to the knee (as if I am some Greek slave). And meanwhile, the wife is going “honey, does this abaya make my ass look big?” Well Islam wants me to tell the truth, darling …”

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Belarus: Internet Restrictions · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

TOL's Belarus Blog reports on new restrictions imposed by the government on internet cafes and other public access sites: “I hope that our bloggers are smart enough to think about their security before one of them is imprisoned…”


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Bolivia: Rain, Rain, Go Away … At Least Before Carnaval Starts · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Carnaval is in the air, as Bolivians enjoy a four-day weekend.  Much of the nation’s focus is on the Carnaval of Oruro, perhaps the most well-known in the country and declared by UNESCO as Mankind's Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.  During the anticipation of this festival approached, one of the few bloggers in Oruro, Hugo Miranda, worried some of the inter-departmental transport would take advantage and raise prices, even though it was prohibited by law.  In addition, heavy rains also have arrived in Oruro, and Miranda worried that the weather would cause grave difficulties for these important dates.  In his blog, Angel Caido [ES] he posts some videos of the standing water that had invaded his city.
Heavy rains attributed to the El Niño phenomenon also affected other parts of the country.  In Santa Cruz, rains would also affect many citizens as documented by Willy Andres in his flickr account.  The rains would also affect one Santa Cruz blogger directly. Claudia Peña Claros writes in her blog Inutil Ardor [ES]:
Mi casa está destruida. Podría ingresar a lo que de mi casa queda, buscar un retazo de nubes en el cielo, y fotografiar los muros derruidos, para decir que alguna vez estuve en la guerra. La semana pasada llovió, y la saliva escurrida de las paredes exacerba ahora el dramatismo de lo inequívocamente roto.
Even as many are dealing with the harsh climate, Bolivians cannot escape Carnaval.  In Tarija, located in the southern part of Bolivia, Marco, author of the blog Pandemónium [ES], writes that even though Carnaval may differ in various parts of the country, that most of them have in common of celebrating “Compadres,” which comes from the combination of the words “Como = like” and “Padres=Father”.  In the practice, one gives a present to a friend indicating that he is very important.
Pero ojo, no cualquiera es compadre. La regla indica que sólo a aquel amigo(a) por el que sientes un alto aprecio y lealtad a prueba de fuego puede ser tu compadre, este regalo es un símbolo casi de hermandad, desde la palabra: com-padre = como padre comadre= como-madre; por ello los hijos de tu compadre son tus ahijados
Alfonso Gumicio a Paceño blogger at Bitácora Memoriosa [ES] talks about a tradition in his hometown of the “Pepino”, which is a dubious Carnaval character that may come from Italian origin.  The character looks very similar to a clown, but also captures some of the characteristics of native Bolivians proving that there still remain a blend of the various cultures.
The excitement over Carnaval did overshadow some big news, when President Evo Morales visited Brazil to renegotiate the price of gas exported to its neighbor.  Sergio Asturizaga, who currently lives in Brazil and blogs at Así Como Me Ves Me Tienes [ES] talks about the contracts signed by previous governments that allowed for low prices to Brazil even as world prices for this resource was significantly higher. President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva agreed to the new price that would provide Bolivia up to 144 million dollars in additional revenue per year, in what Asturizaga would call a “fair price.” Andrés Pucci, a consistent critic of this government, thinks that this is a step in the right direction, as it is “a large increase in a small market that gives an interesting total, it is not that I agree and say excellent to the 11% increase, but it is a step towards a more fair price.”
This time, last year:
Some bloggers continued to discuss the selection of recently elected President Morales’ cabinet and the curious choice of Casmira Rodriguez, as Minister of Justice.  As a former domestic workers, but who also rose to prominence as an activist for the rights of the domestic workers, Ramirez was heavily criticized as being unqualified.  However, some bloggers defended her selection with testimonials and experience working with her.

author: Eduardo Avila


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China: Lunar New Year Evening Gala · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Weiai Xu from Ohmynews explains about the social and cultural meaning of CCTV Lunar New Year Evening Gala in mainland China.
While ESWN translates an article from Southern Metropolis Daily on the decline of the Gala: The Impossibility of the Spring Gala Festival to Please Everyone Reveals A Changing China.


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China: post-Deng 10 years · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Han Song blogs about the unresolved issues 10 years after Deng Xiao Ping's era (zh), including of democratization, polarization of rich and poor.


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Colombia: Blogs Hacked · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Álvaro Ramírez Ospina tries to stir up support in the Colombian blogging community [ES] for the four bloggers whose websites were hacked and content erased this past weekend. Jorge Gobbi had written about a similar spurt of attacks in the Spanish-language blogosphere two months ago.


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Deadwood cabinet stokes the fire of public ire in Zimbabwe · Global Voices
Zimpundit

Facing unrelenting pressure for change, Zimbabwe's beleagured leader, Robert Mugabe, reshuffled his cabinet two weeks ago, but  did little to aleviate the suffering of a nation that has been ravaged by a porous leadership and failing economy. The reshuffle, which wasn't much of a reshuffle, only saw one minister dismissed, and has now been appropriately dubbed a “deadwood reshuffle.”
Right on cue, Zimbabwe's longsuffering people took their disapproval of the new cabinet and hyperinflation to the streets during valentine's week.  First it was the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) and their male counterparts that took Zimbabwe's baton happy police by surprise with a demonstration on the eve of Valentine's.  The last four times they held their Valentine's day march, it has been on the 14th of February.  This was the first time that men joined WOZA in the march.
In Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city, around a thousand people turned out for the demonstration which went uninterrupted until the end when the police pounced on the demonstrators with their usual brutality.  In Harare, where the crowd was twice as large, there was a little more drama.
The peaceful demonstration then moved on to Parliament, singing in Shona, ‘your term is up – you have stayed too long’. As the group neared the entrance, riot police fired tear gas canisters into the crowd. Initially the crowd retreated but then bravely regrouped, stood their ground and threw back the tear gas canisters; hitting the Parliament walls and sending those watching from the parliament balcony scurrying back into the building.
Almost 250 people were arrested as a result.  Most of these have since been released without any charges.
Just two days later, a loose coalition of MDC supporters and members of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) were back out on Harare's streets.  These last two demonstrations are unique in that in both cases demonstrators retaliated against police violence,
One of the demonstrators said: “What happened was as we were approaching XIMEX Mall near the main Post Office, the police pounced on MP Madzimure and then as we were trying to rescue him the police tried to resist and we had no option but to inflict a bit of pain so that they would release him.”
He elaborated; “What they had done to the MP is exactly what we did to them. Unfortunately, maybe they felt more pain than our MP.”
This is the second time this week that angry protestors have retaliated against police brutality. On Tuesday the pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) staged mass protests in Harare and Bulawayo marking their 5 th Valentines Day and distributing the People’ Charter. WOZA coordinator Jenni Williams, who was with the protestors in Harare said they were confronted by riot police who fired teargas canisters at them but the activists threw the tear gas canisters back in defiance.
People in Zimbabwe are not happy about the status quo.  Mugabe's government is dealing with a nation in which doctors, nurses, teachers, college students, and the opposition have either been on strike or have staged street demonstrations in the last weeks.  The tide is certainly turning.
All this culminated in an on again-off again rally by Morgan Tsvangirai and his faction fo the MDC on Sunday afternoon in Harare's Highfield suburb.  Certainty on whether the rally was going to happen was up in the air until the last minute as the MDC wrangled with the police over whether they could have the rally.  Under the oppressive Publice Order and Security Act (POSA), it is an offense to hold a public gathering without prior police sanction.  The lastest information on hand is unclear as to whether rally went on or not.
As if his problems at home are not enough, Robert Mugabe also endured two incidences that confirmed his increasing isolation among the world's diplomats.  First was the Chinese premier who skipped Zimbabwe on his whirlwind tour of Africa meant to solidify China's business relations with the continent. This despite Mugabe's touted “look east policy” which has seen Mugabe seek to economic help from the far east after western nations cut off much of their aid to his government.  As if that was not enough, it emerged late last week that France did not invite Mugabe to the France-Africa summit in Cannes.
This government is in dire straits.

author: Zimpundit


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Egypt: Book Launched in UK · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger Ibn Al Dunya reports that Yaqoubian Building, a book by Egyptian author, Alaa al Aswany, has been launched in the UK.


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Egypt: Succession Dilemma  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Issandr El Amrani says the whispers are getting louder in Egypt where everyone is asking: who will succeed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak?


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Fiji: Solving Traffic Problems · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Gilbert Veisamasama offers some suggestion on his blog to solve the age old traffic problem in Fijian capital city.

author: Preetam Rai


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Guatemala: Emigration · Global Voices
David Sasaki

The Guatemala Solidarity Network on Guatemala's “great migration paradox.”


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Guyana: Carib Soca Monarch · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

MediaCritic has two posts (one, two) about the Carib Soca Monarch competition in Guyana, and a few photos (one, two, three, four) as well.


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Haiti: A Rising Sun Themed Carnival in Memory of Painter Tiga · Global Voices
Alice Backer

The official site for Haiti's carnival explains  (Fr) the Solèy Leve [Rising Sun] theme of this year's carnival: “The theme was chosen to pay homage to the Saint-Soleil Haitian artistic movement. The logo, a woman embracing the sun, is taken from a painting by Prosper Pierre-Louis, one of the artists of the movement.” The site and carnival committee salute Jean-Claude Garoute (Tiga), one of the founders of the Saint-Soleil school, who passed away last December.

author: Alice Backer


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Haiti: Live Carnival Online · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Haitistream.com, belradio.com and sakapfet.com broadcast Haiti Carnaval 2007 live starting at 4pm today and tomorrow.


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Haiti: Tourism and poverty · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Clubsodaandsalt is put off by an American tourist's reaction to poverty in Haiti: “Don’t get me wrong — no-one wants to think about poverty while on vacation. Still, this just struck me as callous. I mean, not thinking about the starving children over the fence at your resort doesn’t make them not exist.“


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India: Microfinance in Rajasthan and Maharashtra · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Trivial Matters has a wonderful photo-essay on rural microfinance and microenterprise in Rajasthan. “The women inside of the mud walled room are filled with a new found sense of empowerment: through their small self help co-operative they have successfully found a voice and a hand to change the society they live in and with that they have earned a reason to be proud.” On a similar note, Kiran goes to rural Maharashtra and discovers more about microfinance. “Chetna said street vendors are among their most reliable clients, and also the biggest demographic (close to 50%). From experience, she only lends to women as their repayment rates are higher.”


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India: On the Indian Television Industry · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

To Each Its Own points to the launch of a new blog – DesiDabba. “It is an effort to be your one-stop guide into one of the world’s most lucrative entertainment market – The Indian Television Industry.”


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India, Pakistan: 66 people killed on the “Peace Train” · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

66 people were killed on the Samjhauta Express with homemade bombs last night. According to Wikipedia,
The Samjhauta Express is a bi-weekly train — Tuesdays and Fridays — that runs between Delhi and Attari in India and Wagah and Lahore in Pakistan. Until the reopening of the Thar Express, this was the only rail connection between the two countries.
Both Pakistanis and Indian were killed on the train. Some of the initial and early reactions in the blogosphere appear to indicate that bloggers find themselves confused as it was mostly Pakistanis who died, making it difficult to blame Islamic militants. But this terrorist attack comes at a time when Pakistan is already on high alert because of similar attacks recently. All Things Pakistan says
Pakistan has recently seen a spate of bombings in its major cities, and even before this some in government were pointing towards a ‘foreign hand’ in these bombings. Both countries have long played this game of ‘blame the foreign hand’, including in the recent tragic train bombings in Mumbai. The impulse to do so at the first sign of trouble is a natural one in the sub-continent. Given the deep distrust that exists between the two, it may even be understandable. But irrespective of the short-term political gains such finger-pointing might gain, it is not a very useful way to deal with deep tensions.
Some blogs like Pass The Roti are concerned that the investigation process may not be free of bias, and that the death of the passengers will probably be used for political mileage in both countries. Despite the obvious animosity between the governments of the two countries, there are people who have half their family across the border, or have experienced the other country and are worried about the threats to the relations between the countries. Nothing Adds Up says
This is personally distressing also since I was aboard one of the first Samjhota Express trains to run after it was resumed in January 2004, when I visited New Delhi for an Economics Conference in early February 2004. That train ride was one of the highest points of my life, full of hope and excitement, and I hope they don't cut back or cancel it, just ratchet up security.
Meanwhile, Pacific Empire reminds us that we're increasingly numb to acts of terrorism and the death of people.
There was a car bombing in Baghdad that killed more than 60 people today, as well, but I guess the media consider that normal. There were also waves of simultaneous bombings recently in Algeria and Thailand, and a courtroom bombing in Pakistan, not to mention smaller bombings in Afghanistan, St. Petersburg, Mogadishu, Uganda and even an ineffective mortar attack on US forces in Japan. How did we get to the stage where that level of world terrorism is nothing out of the ordinary?
At Retributions, the blogger wonders if Pakistan is being absolved of its responsibility by the media because Pakistani nationals died in the attack.
Even more strangely, CNN-IBN is parroting President Musharraf’s line of India and Pakistan being equal victims of terror-just because a few Pakistani nationals were also killed in the attack. While any loss of life is regrettable, Pakistani role can’t be ignored just because it’s nationals were also killed. Despite proclamations to the contrary, it continues to support anti-India terror organizations.
whatz in my mind outlines the usual outcome of such incidents.
1) VIPS visit the spot.
2) Media will be covering the scenes exclusively. Interviewing survivors/victim's family/politicians.
3) Government/Police suspect X or Y terrorist groups involvement.
4) Opposition blame the government for not being pro-active.
5) A special commission will be formed to investigate the case.
The involvement of Hindu fundamentalist groups isn't ruled out either. At a forum called World Affairs Board, one person writes
From media news, it is clear that it was a planned terror attack. But, interesting thing to note would be if govt explores possibility of hindu terrorism. Considering the fact that majority targetted were pakistanis.
At the Bharat Rakshak Forum (Consortium of Indian Defence Websites), one of the persons writes –
It is important to have some clues as to the composition of the passengers. i.e. were they majority Shia/Ahmediya going back after observing some religious occasion ?? Is there any link to Afghan/Iranian Intelligence, who are determined to attack Pakistan both within and outside their borders ?
One thing that is absolutely sure is that *this is not intended to hurt any so-called peace process* because it gives pak politician and UPA the perfect opportunity to claim *peace process irreversible onlee* slogan…esp UPA since pak civilians have been killed in India. To investigate ‘Company hand’ is mandatory anyways, goes without saying…


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Iran Flooding Archaeological Sites · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Ancient archaeological sites dating back to the pre-Islamic invasion era are about to be flooded in Iran, writes Lebanese blogger Publius Pundit. The writer urges readers to sign an important decision to halt the destruction.


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Iraq:L Prison Torture Testimony · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Iraqi blogger Faiza Al-Arji posts a transcript of a chilling testimony of an Iraqi prisoner, who was held at the notorious Abu Ghraib Prison here.


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Kazakhstan: Exile for Aliyev? · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Sean Roberts discusses the sudden appointment of the son-in-law of Kazakhstan's president as ambassador to Austria and the OSCE, speculating as to whether or not he has been exiled for recent scandalous behavior just as was believed to be the reason for his appointment to the same position in 2001.


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Kazakhstan: Memorial Demonstration · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

neweurasia reports on a recent public demonstration marking the first anniversary of the murder of opposition leader Altynbek Sarsenbayev and calling for certain officials to resign and for government organs involved in the murder to be disbanded.


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Kyrgyzstan: Kokboru · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Nikki of the other side of the world posts photos from a game of kokboru in Kyrgyzstan. The game, which is also known as buzkashi or ulak, pits two teams on horseback against each other trying to get a goat or sheep carcass into a goal.


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Latvia: The Roma Community · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Marginalia writes about the Latvian Roma – some of whom are his neighbors: “they’ve been taking advantage of things like free computer courses and small business loans, and they’re thrilled. They are active in one of the NGOs. The sad fact is that despite their abilities (including knowing Latvian better than any minority except the Livonians, who are practically extinct), ca. 98% of Latvia’s Gypsies are unemployed.”


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Lebanon: Can Politicians Fast? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Lebanese blogger Liliane is wondering whether politicians can fast or stop doing what they love for the 50 days of Lent.


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Lebanon: Observing Lent · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Lebanese blogger Rampurple is observing Lent this year.   “Let the countdown begin. 49 days left until Easter and until I have chocolate and burgers again.  Those are what I am craving for right now.  Let’s see how long I will last.  It is the first time I fast completely,” she writes.


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Lebanon: The Ship in the Bottle · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Ever wondered how the ship got into the bottle? Lebanese blogger Mark shows us how here.


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Liberia: Liberian national police · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Kevin In Liberia blogs about the rule of law and the Liberian national police, ” According to the Manager of Police Statistics, a member of the LNP himself, and a man I spoke to for twenty odd minutes in Robertsport over the New Years, Liberian National Police Officers earn $90USD/month legitimately. Those who chose to ‘earn’ extra income through using their position of power illegitimately, earn a fair bit more than that.”


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Mexico: Campesinos Protest Gold Mine in Guerrero · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Mark in Mexico dedicates two posts to the recent protests by villagers in Guerrero, Mexico who are demanding 90,000 pesos per hectare per year for rent of the 700 hectares used by Luismin, a wholly owned subsidiary of Goldcorp.


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Nepal: On Blogmeets · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Deepak's Diary on a blogmeet in Nepal. “I often thought that blogging will be limited in virtual space that we have created and at the end of the day you relish your own writing and the comments from the readers. Now, I know how wrong I was. Here we were a bunch of Nepali bloggers discussing passionately, planning our moves and future courses, sharing experiences.”


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Panama: Design Across Cultures · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Panamanian web designer Jorge Arango introduces his newest project, Design Across Cultures [ES].


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Russia: St. Petersburg McDonald’s Blast · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Lex Libertas is in St. Petersburg now, staying at a hotel about 300 yards from the site of yesterday's explosion at a downtown McDonald's; he posts some pictures. Europhobia remembers the past and admits to fearing the worst.


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Senegal: Poor Working Conditions for Workers at a Chinese Owned Factory · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Blog Politique du Sénégal  outlines (Fr) poor working conditions for Senegalese workers at Henan Chine,  a chinese-owned factory in Senegal: “Holidays are not paid, social contributions are not made even though they are withheld from salaries.” Adds the blog: “Can things be any different  given the rights (or non-rights) of workers in China?…I don't see why [the Chinese] would treat Senegalese workers better than they do their own.”


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Soviet Union: History Syllabus · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

J. Otto Pohl posts his third “imaginary” syllabus: “Introduction to the History of Kazakhstan and Central Asia Under Russian and Soviet Rule.”


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Tajikistan: Blogosphere Roundup · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Vadim takes readers on a tour of the Tajik blogosphere.


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Thailand: Bangkok Street Food · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Doodee's Thailand introduces  Bangkok's street food stalls.


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Thailand: Bomb Attack in the South · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Bangkok Pundit  is running a update on latest wave of coordinated terrorist attacks in Southern Thailand.


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Thailand: Pronouncing Thai Words · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Realthai has a post on Thai pronunciation and transliteration to get your food orders right in Thailand.


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Thailand: Questions on Thai Economics · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Thailand Jumped The Shark asks why the new Thai government that keeps blaming the former prime minister Thaksin for bankrupting the country is itself having a hard time balancing the budget.


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Tonga: Mobile Phone Upgrade · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Samiuela LV Taufa is looking for a higher paying job in order to have the latest mobile phone that everyone seems to be carrying in Tonga.


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Tonga: Upgrading Mobile Phone · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Samiuela LV Taufa is looking for a higher paying job in order to have the latest mobile phone that everyone seems to be carrying in Tonga.


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Touring Libyan Blogs  · Global Voices
Fozia Mohamed

Equality among sexes in Libya? Yes, because now you have to pay attention to Libyan female pickpockets! This is what Khadijateri discovered yesterday when she went into a shop to buy some clothes. But Khadijateri was lucky indeed as she realized what was happening and used common sense.
“Now, I know for a fact that as a rule Libyans like to touch one another. They shake hands and kiss when they meet, but in public, with strangers, they avoid touching as much as possible. I said to Jenna ‘These women are not OK’ and I stepped back, immediately looking down at my purse. Of course the zipper was open and my wallet was gone.”
See how she did it here …
On another topic Anglolibyan has written a post about our great Lebanese diva Fairuz, he calls her ‘Ambassador to the Stars’. For you fans out there, he has made an extensive compilation of videoclips and photos and dowloadable mp3 songs. Lucky Anglolibyan, he had the opportunity to see Fairuz in live concerts !
“The concert was held at the Royal Festival Hall besides the river Thames, we arrived on time but there was a slight delay because Fairuz had to be interviewed for the BBC 6 O'clock News because she actually broke the British recorded for the highest price paid for a ticket in British history, the record holder used to be Frank Sinatra who's tickets were sold at £600 each at the black market, Fairuz's tickets at the black market were selling at £1000 each! [sic]”.
Last week was of course Valentine and  Libyan  blogs  were not immune from the love bug. Our literary and beautiful Libyan Sereeb provided us with a touching example from her highschool days. Sereeb went to a mixed school in Libya in the 1980s and that was rare, but what is even rarer is for your teacher to encourage you to fall in love. Yes you heard that right!
“And our teacher says: “the shortest way to heaven is to fall in love. Fall in love kids, fall in love.”
The girls giggle shyly and the boys shout enthusiastically: “Oh yes, oh yes. You are right teacher (as if they really know, hehe), please tell us more.”
Damoon  is over the moon about her fiancee, Mashallah !  She cannot believe that she picked up the winning ticket in the lottery of men and her love object turned out to be such a romantic and wonderful man. To see the card he made for her, go to her blog DaMoon  I'm sure you will join me in congratulating her and wishing them the best in life.
“to tell you the truth; I've alwayz had problems with the word “love” whether there is true love or not and up to day I don't believe in “Romeo and Juliet love”, what I believe in is loving someone means understanding, appreciating, accepting differences, working together to become better people, making mistakes and learning, being your complete self with your soulmate, and connecting in a different level. so in my case alhamduliallah meeting my fiancee made me fully experience the above feelings. I guess it all comes down to one thing, “soulmates” completing one another.
here is the card my fiancee got me… made me melt big time ..awwww..lol gurly stuff I guess!! so Valentine's day or not Valentine's day I know how much I love him :o)”
Highlander took the time to inform us that in Libya Valentine's day is celebrated despite the tips when measures were taken to prevent that. She also has put up her favourite Valentine's Day posts from the blogosphere.
“I was listening to Allibiya FM two days ago and they were urging people to celebrate ‘the feast of love’ WOW !
I could not believe it; there was a time where the florists were prevented from opening on the 14 of February (can't remember which year exactly). It was a different regulation than in KSA where someone actually had a fatwa!( yes that's true). But the reason put forth in Libya was that it was not a celebration deriving from our traditions.
Anyway in Libya lovers and friends did not bother, girls wore red and guys brought them teddy bears and other stuff…”
Lebeeya brought up an interesting topic, hair ! Most Libyan females complain about how mshafshaf  (dry frizzy) their hair is. The conversation was heated about the best way to remedy this; even the Libyan guys pitched in with their advice to cut it short.
“My hair, when blow dried correctly (by a professional) looks sparkling. However, every time I attempt to blow dry it myself, it just looks like a mess. I just don't understand. I mean I was there, I saw her, I know what she did.. I am doing that too.. why doesn't it come out like hers? Instead, my hair literally blows up, all mshafshaf and out of control. It becomes a battle.”
It's also great to see Libyan bloggers meeting up, this time it was Libyano and A. Adam of Flying Birds. Evidently  the Libyan bloggers are forming a big family of  like minded people, some are young others young at heart, but they all have one thing in common an enthusiasm to let their voices be heard and to sharing themselves with the world. Isn't that what Global Voices is all about ?
I'll leave you to enjoy what  Libyano and A.Adam  thought about each other here and here.

author: Fozia Mohamed


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Trinidad & Tobago: What happened to J’ouvert? · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Mark Lyndersay wonders what happened to the J'ouvert (the early-morning festivities which traditionally kick off the Trinidad and Tobago carnival) he once knew.


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Ukraine: Languages and Cars · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Pass The Paska! talks to Ukrainian schoolkids about languages spoken in Canada (not Canadian and American, but English and French), and about the cars they (Canadians, not the blogger) have in Canada.


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Ukraine: Potebenko Gets Yaroslav the Wise Award · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Taras Kuzio gets sarcastic following president Yushchenko's decision to present a former infamous prosecutor general with an important award – a piece of news Kuzio thought must've been a joke: “Yuriy Krawchenko should be awarded a posthumous medal for his dedicated contribution to transforming Ukraine’s police force into a professional force, to the Party of Regions for its incessant devotion to upholding the concept of free elections, to Viktor Medvedchuk for his single-handled contribution to expanding media freedom, to Volodymyr Lytvyn for his campaign to remove plagiarism, to Leonid Kuchma for his contribution to enriching Ukraine’s language and, we should not forget, to Viktor Yushchenko for his contribution to stressing the importance of punctuality and decisiveness in the lives of Ukrainian citizens.”


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Ukraine: Taranka · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukraine isn't just about salo, it's also about taranka: “While riding the bus in Ukraine, it is a common site to see a guy gnawing on a whole dried/salted fish.” More at Ukraine Update.


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Ukraine: Truskavets and Lviv · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Olechko writes and posts pictures of the Western Ukrainian town of Truskavets, as well as Lviv and its Opera House.


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Vietnam: Singapore Leader’s Advice to Vietnam · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Diacritic blogs about Singapore's former prime minster Lee Kuan Yew's advice to Vietnam on how to accelerate its growth.


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Africa: Manifesto for the United States of Africa · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Le Pangolin  posts (Fr) a Manifesto for the United States of Africa written by the Working Group of African Students in France. The document was presented to Alpha Omar Konaré, the President of the African Union Commission, in March 2004 and was inspired by other country unions around the world created after the fall of the Berlin wall.


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Albania: Observing the Election · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Our Man In Tirana writes about observing the election in a “chaotic” town of 80,000 people, where “strangers are a rarity.”


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Anguilla: Unethical lawyers · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

idmitch, who has been using a blog to tackle corruption in Anguilla, takes up a challenge from the island's chief minister and starts asking questions about corruption in the legal profession.


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Bahrain: Kuwait Blogging Show · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif, along with a group of Kuwaiti bloggers, are being interviewed for a Kuwaiti television programme on Blogging in the Gulf, wrote Al Yousif.


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Bangladesh: International Mother Language Day · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Rezwan on the International Mother Language Day. “21st of February is the International Mother Language Day, an annual event in UNESCO member states to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. This is mostly the international recognition of Language Movement Day called ‘Ekushey February’, which is commemorated in Bangladesh since 1952, when a number of Bangla-speaking people were massacred by the Pakistani police and Army in Dhaka.”


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Bangladesh: On corruption and the economy · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Journal of a Disturbed Mind plays the devil's advocate in the case of of corrupt politicians and businessmen being arrested. “No matter how unwilling I am to defend the apprehended businessmen charged for corruption, it is true that they were also contributing to the society before their arrest. Some of them generated employment for the people, tax for the government and investment/consumption for the growth of economy.”


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Barbados: Kensington re-opens · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Robert Frische at Cricketwukup.com reports on the opening of the newly refurbished Kensington Oval cricket ground in Barbados. Kensington was one of several Caribbean cricket grounds to undergo dramatic renovation in preparation for the 2007 Cricket World Cup, which takes place in the Caribbean starting March 11.


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Barbados on YouTube · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Barbados Free Press reports on some of the Barbados-related offerings on YouTube.


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Barbados: The beautification of Bridgetown · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Titlayo has good things to say about the government's efforts to beautify Bridgetown, Barbados’ capital city.


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Belize: Ara Macao · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Belizean – Only in Belize! features an interview with the man behind Ara Macao, one of the largest tourism development projects ever to be undertaken in the country. One of the questions the interviewer asks is “Is Ara Macao simply too big for Belize?”


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Bosnia & Herzegovina: Raffi Gregorian Interview · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Finding Karadzic posts an excerpt from an interview with Raffi Gregorian, the current Deputy High Representatives in Bosnia.


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China: alternative voice about Tibet · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Granite Studio blogs about a debate about the historical status of Tibet: professor Ge Jianxiong from Fudan University argues that despite the continuing official stance of the CCP, Tibet has in fact not always been a part of China.


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China: Pearl River Cancer zone · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Onemanbandwidth retells a story about a victim of cancer in Pearl River Delta, a most industrialized area in China: Like the Mississippi Delta, the Pearl River Delta is in the midst of a class four silent storm. It is a cancer zone. It is the dumping ground for every industrial success above it: a slow moving sewage system for dozens of cities.


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China: The Apprentice  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The Beijing version of The Apprentice is upcoming in summer. According to Bill Zhang from DANWEI, the show will cater more to the tastes of the Chinese audience than other reality shows.


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Croatia: Hitler Sugar · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Neretva River posts a photo of “Hitler sugar” produced in Croatia.


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Croatia: Photos of WWII Zagreb · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Photos of Zagred during WWII – at Neretva River.


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Cuba: Pastelitos de guayaba · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Marta Darby posts a recipe for Cuban/Latin American pastry pastelitos de guayaba.


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Cuba, USA: Cuban Memorial · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Marc Masferrer visits a Cuban Memorial in Tamiami Park in Miami: “. . . we are called not to remember the number of Cubans lost to Castro — whether 10,000 or 100,000, or greater — but to remember that each cross represents one victim, one family, one story.“


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Czech Rebublic: Prague Hotels · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Arellanes.com recommends hotels in Prague.


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Did Hizbollah Rebuild Itself? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Issandr El Amrani posts a question by a reader on the point of the summer war on Lebanon if “Hizbollah can build itself back up to pre-war capabilities after just six months.”


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Dominica: Carnival Monday · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Flickr user wendoes has a lively photoset featuring photos of the Carnival Monday festivities in Dominica.


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D.R. of Congo: art of war · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Art of War is a work in progress at the Académie des Beaux Arts in the Democratic Republic of Congo.


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Ethiopia: ethnic cleansing · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Ewenet Means Truth in Ethiopia writes about the plight of the Afar people: “The Eritrean government is ethnically cleansing the Afar people and pushing them into Ethiopia. A Canadian humanitarian worker who went to the Afar region in Ethiopia tells of their plight in his 7 part travel diary series titled: Update for Assayita, North Eastern Ethiopia.”


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Guadeloupe: Burning “Vaval” King of Carnival · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Vert-Tige Tropical posts pictures of Guadeloupean Carnival and adds (Fr):”The parade starts with a float carrying the King of Carnival ‘Vaval’ who will be burnt at the end of the 3 partying days “


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Guinea, Senegal: Lansana Conté Must Leave if He Loves His Country · Global Voices
Alice Backer

At Pourquoi l’ Afrique Claudique, Senegalese novelist Ndické Dieye tells (Fr) Guinea’s embattled head of state: “Lansana, leave if you have even an inkling of conscience or patriotism left! Leave to avoid an unnecessary blood bath! … I ask the police … to refuse to execute any illegal order given by Conté. ” The writer is pained by “the aiding and abetting silence of the international community” and is confident that Guinea’s intellectual elite can bring peace and development to the country.


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Hungary: A Podcast on Ciaran Tobin Case · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

An expat who killed two children in a car crash in Budapest has escaped punishment – Further Ramblings of a N.Irish Magyar writes more about the case after the childrens’ father contacts him, “detailing what steps the family plans to take next.” He is also featured in this podcast at Budacast.hu.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS


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Hungary: “Seven Magyar Wonders” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Further Ramblings of a N.Irish Magyar discusses candidates for the Seven Magyar Wonders.


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India: In conversation with Ameen Sayani · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Kamla Bhatt Show talks to a living legend – Ameen Sayani in her podcast. “Legendary broadcaster Ameen Sayani talks about his early days, his brother Hamid Sayani and Bournvita QUiz Contenst in this first part of our conversation.”


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India: On maps, thumbs and sexual harrasment · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Known Turf on a recent exercise with the Blank Noise Project. Helping map experiences of street harassment in Delhi. “This was the idea. Mapping the city. Getting women to fill in the blanks – create their own letters to strangers, based on their own experiences. Involving them in ways that is not possible if they only look at us.”


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Indonesia: Fair Deal for Jakarta’s Chinese · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Indonesia Matters writes about Jakarta's governor wanting his city to end discrimination by making it easier for the Chinese to get official papers.


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Iran:War with USA? · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Hoder, a Canada based blogger, says if USA attacked Iran,despite all his problems with the Islamic Republic, he would go back to fight against USA.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Nepal: Maoists with guns and Maoists · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Blogdai on the problem with guns. “They are attention-grabbers. So much so that ineffective organizations like the UN feel they can score major credibility on the world stage by pretending to effectively deal with weapons issues.”


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Palestine: Life in a Refugee Camp  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian-German blogger Philip Rizk spent his 25th birthday in a refugee camp in Gaza, Palestine. Read about his experiences here.


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Russia: Sheltering Karadzic? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Radovan Karadzic may be living in Russia: Finding Karadzic has more on the rumor.


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Saudi: Man Kills Wife · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Whisper of Madness posts a link to a video, allegedly showing a Saudi man pushing his wife from the third floor. The woman reportedly died later in a hospital in Jeddah.


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Sri Lanka: Numbers and Deaths · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Cynically Yours on numbers and dead soldiers. “I'd love to be able to say that when I hear 5 soldiers are dead I feel sad, but I don't. All my life I have heard about soldiers dying. After the first few years it just stopped affecting me. If it is a big number I would take a minute to pause and give it some thought but it was a long time ago that I stopped remembering the fact that every soldier is another person.”


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Taiwan: being foreigner at lunar new year · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Holly blogs about his experience of being foreigner at Chinese new year: big dinner, red pocket, video games and majong.


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The Balkans: “Trading Genocide for Independence” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Bosnia Vault reports that “the EU has become much more lax over demands that Mladic be sent to the Hague; in exchange for Serbia not blocking Kosovo's ‘independence’.”


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Trinidad & Tobago: Adventures in energy · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The Liming House posts a part-allegory outlining Trinidad and Tobago's adventures in the energy trade.


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Uganda: best of blogs awards · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Jackfruity announces the voting for the 2006 Uganda Best of Blogs awards, “Nominations for the Uganda Best of Blog awards are in. Voting will take place between now and midnight on Saturday, March 10. Awards will be presented at the Happy Hour on Thursday, March 15. Vote, tell your friends to vote, and check back to see how your choices are doing.”


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Uganda: Ugandan troops in Somalia · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

In An African Minute explains why sending Ugandan troops to Somalia is a good idea, “Last week, the Ugandan Parliament approved President Museveni's request to send 1,500 Ugandan troops to Somalia for peacekeeping, food aid distribution and supporting the transitional government. There are several reasons why this was in the best interest of Uganda and the region, and why those who oppose the troop move are misguided.”


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Venezuela, Dominica: Chavez visits · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

From Billy's breathless, stream-of-consciousness post about Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez's visit to Dominica: “military helicopters fly in and out of the airport. television crews are arriving en masse. feels surreal. some say it is an historic occasion. well it is just a man coming to open some oil redistribution plant that will supply cheap gas and oil for the caribbean. lots of controversy surrounds this venture and this visit. . . . “


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What Salvadoran bloggers are saying — unable to escape the past · Global Voices
Tim Muth

The ghosts of El Salvador's twelve year civil war continue to surface in the news from  El Salvador. First there was the story of Will Salgado, mayor of the city of San Miguel. On January 29, the Washington Post ran a cover story on the aftermath of the civil war which started with these attention getting sentences:
José Wilfredo Salgado says he collected baby skulls as trophies in the 1980s, when he fought as a government soldier in El Salvador's civil war. They worked well as candleholders, he recalls, and better as good-luck charms.
The skulls were taken from corpses of the El Mozote massacre victims in Morazan province which took place in December 1981.  Salgado gave an interview to the periodical El Faro, in which he denies ever making such statements, but the Washington Post reporter is sticking to the story.
Blogger Jjmar has no doubt that Salgado made the statements in question, and wonders what that says[ES] for his country that such a man can be a popular mayor of a major city and is being considered as a presidential candidate in 2009.  Ixquic looks at Salgado and sees a politician with populist appeal[ES], a “Robin Hood,” who has sold himself to the electorate and the people have bought his sales job.  It doesn't seem to matter whether the news about him is good or bad.
Tepezcuintly wants persons like Will Salgado, and the military leaders from the war, not to be giving interviews[ES] to the press, but to be assisting in bringing out information about the whereabouts of thousands of people still missing after the war. The plight of persons still missing was the subject of a visit to El Salvador by envoys from the United Nations on February 5.  They are part of a UN working group which specializes in looking at forced disappearances in nations in conflict.
The mastermind of many disappearances and death squad killings during El Salvador's 12 year conflict between guerrilla forces and the government was former Major Roberto D'Aubuisson.   That was the conclusion of a UN Truth Commission report in 1993.  Fourteen years later, the ruling ARENA party in El Salvador planned to introduce a measure in the legislature to name D'Aubuisson a “Son of Highest Merit” of the nation.    Salvadoran bloggers, along with NGO's and the Human Rights office of the Catholic church in El Salvador rallied to protest the resolution.
Hunnapuh's reaction was typical:
Bueno amigos, tal parece los señores de ARENA no desean que este sea el año de la paz, sino que sea el año de la verguenza, del asco, de la infamia.
Protesters converged on the National Assembly on the morning the resolution was to be considered.  Many of the protesters were holding pictures of assassinated archbishop Oscar Romero, whose killing had been ordered by D'Aubuisson. (Romero's progress towards sainthood is tracked on the Positio Super Martyrio blog). Confronted with these protests, the measure was withdrawn rather than facing a vote.
Finally, Solava, writes about a different kind of criminal. He describes the cheapening of life[ES] in the overcrowded courts of El Salvador. A reckless driver can be released from criminal charges for running over and killing a child with a payment of $1000 to $1500, and this might be in the form of payments of as little as $5 per month to the family. In the situation where there are some 28,000 cases pending in these courts, the prosecutors and magistrates pressure the families into accepting these settlements, resolving both damage claims and criminal liability.

author: Tim Muth


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” Africa Paradis”: A Film on Immigration · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Le Pangolin posts (Fr) the synopsis of new film “Africa Paradis” (Fr), a film about two struggling Europeans attempting  to migrate to a mythic, rich, future Africa. He also posts an english synopsis.


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Armenia: Barekendan · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

The CRD/TI Armenia Election Monitor 2007 blog has photos and a report on Barekendan, a traditional Armenian festival comparable to Mardi Gras or Carnival that many activists, including a considerable segment of the Armenian blogosphere, have revived to try to mobilize people to take an interest in the coming parliamentary election.


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Bahrain: Terror Training Camp · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Silly Bahraini Girl is wondering whether there is an Intifada in Bahrain, following Press reports of the
discovery of a terror training camp in the kingdom.


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Bangladesh: Celebrating the Mother Language day · Global Voices
Rezwan

Today is the International Mother Language Day, an annual event in UNESCO member states to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. This is mostly the international recognition of Language Movement Day called ‘Ekushey February’, which is commemorated in Bangladesh since 1952, when a number of Bangla-speaking people were massacred by the Pakistani police and Army in Dhaka.
Shawon68  proudly says:
Ekush is Bangla for 21, and Ekushey means 21st. In Bangladesh, ‘Ekushey’ is synonymous with ‘Ekushey February’, the day when Bangladesh celebrates its Bangla Language Movement and honors those who sacrificed their lives in its name on 21st February, 1952.
Pinaki lists the fallen heroes and the contributors of the language movement.
A bit of history: In August 1947, dividing India, a new state called Pakistan, comprising two far-flung wings (1600 kms distance) in the west and east separated by India, emerged on the world map. The ideological basis of that strange phenomenon was the absurd and pernicious two nation theory of Mohammad Ali Jinnah that ignored such basic elements as language and culture and considered religion as a bond strong and sufficient enough to transform a people into a nation. The language of the people of eastern wing of Pakistan, and they were the majority, was Bangla. It had a rich tradition of literature of over a thousand years. The Bengalis also had a highly developed culture that had little in common with the culture of the people of western wing of Pakistan. When in 1952 the neo-colonial, power-hungry, arrogant rulers of Pakistan declared that ‘Urdu and Urdu alone would be the state language of Pakistan, the people of East Pakistan underwent an uprising known later as the Language Movement. (Source 1, 2 )
To commemorate this movement and the fallen ones, Shaheed Minar, a solemn and symbolic sculpture, was erected in the place of the massacre. The monument is the symbol of Bangladesh Nationalism. Each year on 21st February, starting from early morning, hundreds and thousands of people walks in bare feet to pay their respect to the martyrs singing remembrance songs with garlands in hand at the Shaheed Minar. The men and women wear only black and white cloths.
Jahangir Alam posts some pictures of how Ekushey February is celebrated in Bangladesh.
The Ekushey Book Fair which has become a part of Bengali culture and tradition is arranged in the Bangla Academy premises in Dhaka city every February since 1972 in observance of the ‘Ekushey February’. Ershad posts some photos of this year's Book fair.
About 27 percent of the world's languages are threatened to be extinct. The Foundation for Endangered Languages says 83 percent of the world's languages are restricted to single countries, making them more vulnerable to the policies of a single government.
The theme of International Mother Language Day in 2007 is the linkages between mother tongue and multilingualism.
Global Voices Online also supports and promotes the diversity of languages. It is getting prepared to establish own translated pages of its main English site contents in Bangla, Chinese (simplified and traditional), French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish languages. This will enable people writing/speaking in one language being read and heard by speakers of other languages.

author: Rezwan


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Bangladesh: On beards and Islam · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

a bengali in TO presents a woman's take on beards. “Call me a firebrand, but I think beards are just ridiculous when they are worn as a sign of being a Muslim. Hijaabs as a gauge for your “Muslimity”, I understand and approve. I understand the moral and practical reasoning and I have seen the wonders it does for you (bad hair day masks). But let's take beards. Why do Muslims feel this compulsion to sport a beard, which btw, is NOT fard.”


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Bangladesh: Painted with my brother’s blood · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying on the song of freedom, love and loss. “There is a song that every Bangladeshi knows. It is a song that defines us as a people. It is a song about love and loss. The song in Bengali is called Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano and it means “Painted with my brother’s blood”. The refrain from the song is “Painted with my brother’s blood is February 21st. How can I forget.” The song commemorates the events of February 21, 1952.”


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Cameroon: youth is a state of mind · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Mwalimu George Ngwane discusses youth and politics in Africa, “Language experts, psychologists and political observers would want to give the word ‘youth’ an elastic definition of. ‘Youth is a state of mind’. It is indeed such a blanket definition that has motivated political Methuselahs to stay in power in Africa even after their political menopause.”


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China: 65k for a baby · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Jacky translated a video script of a woman from Shanghai who said that she would be a surrogate mother for US65k in order to study abroad. According to the comment, the average market price is USD$6.5k to 13k.


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China: new year trash · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

According to Peijin Chen from Shanghaiist, during the lunar new year, Shanghai produced 12,000 tons of daily trash. And the rural migrant workers have to take care of that.


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Czech Rebublic: Havel in D.C. · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

An Alaskan Abroad writes about former Czech President Vaclav Havel's appearance – along with other dissidents – at the award ceremony in Washington, D.C.: “On the war in Iraq, Havel, while saying he was not against the use of force in some instances, warned against attempts to export democracy by military force. Although originally supporting the invasion of Iraq, Havel has repeatedly spoken against the war recently.”


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Egypt: In the Name of America · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Sandmonkey entertains us with the tale of an Egyptian university professor who wrote In the Name of America (as opposed to In the Name of Allah) on a board in one of his classes. I really thought blackboards were obsolete. Never mind!


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Egypt: Military Tribunal for Policeman · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

An Egyptian policeman has been referred to a military court because he refused to guard the Israeli embassy in Cairo, writes Issandr El Amrani in The Arabist.


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Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood Bloggers · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Blogger Abdulmonem Mahmood lists a number of Muslim Brotherhood blogs which have sprung up in Egypt recently here.


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Egypt: Vatican Visit Planned · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

A top Egyptian clergyman, Shaikh Mohammed Tantawi, has
accepted Pope Benedict XVI invitation to visit the Vatican,
reports Egyptian blogger Ibn Ad Dunya. He said the mini-
summit “will hopefully help ease up some of the tension between the
religions.”


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Estonia: Food · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Hello Estonia reviews Estonian cuisine.


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Guatemala: Food Photos · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Antigua Guatemala Daily Photo (recently nominated for a 2007 photobloggie) has two mouthwatering shots of local cuisine.


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Guatemala: Linux Beginners Conference · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Summing up today's newbie conference on Linux in Guatemala City [ES], “El Profe” laments the low turnout of students, but says those who did show up were impressed by Beryl on Gentoo.


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Hong Kong: First Joss Sticks headline · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Letters from China notices that a most popular local newspapers, Apple Daily, has put the “first joss sticks at Wong Tai Sin Temple” at the headline news for lunar new years for three years! No news in Hong Kong?


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Hong Kong: teaching Chinese writing course in English · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Hegelchong complains about the universities’ language policy in Hong Kong. High ranking university officials have made the decision that from next term onward, all courses should be taught in English, no matter whether it is about Hong Kong society or Chinese modern history. Well, he is teaching a group of local students Chinese writing… because of this language policy, he is supposed to use English for this course!


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Hungary: News Roundup · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Pestcentric covers the following topics in the most recent posts: the complexities of the Hungarian language; Hungary's “Turkeygate” scandal; Hungarian pseudo-terrorists posting videos on YouTube – here and here; construction of Central Europe's biggest shopping center in Budapest.


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India: On Corporate Political Responsibility · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The Indian Economy Blog on corporate political responsibility. “But where are the think-tanks, the public policy schools, the social science research endowments and sponsored professorships? To its credit, corporate India has foundations working on setting up village schools or improving rural infrastructure. While these are commendable, they are no substitutes for the industry applying sustained pressure on government to do its job well.”


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Iran:Watch Ahmadineajd talking about nuclear energy · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Sheltering Sky has translated and put subtitles in English for a very hot video film in Iran.In this film, Ahmadinejad says,in his speech, that a 16 years old teenager girl goes to market and comes back home with a few purchased goods. Then she “discovers” nuclear energy.


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Israel: Anglosaxy’s Job Trouble · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Israel-based blogger Anglosaxy continues to battle it out with his boss (who apparently is trying to push him out of a job) here. He even found an advert for his job on his department's server!!!


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Israel: Did You Know.. · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Israeli blogger Yael K gives us interesting information tidbits here, including how Hebrew was a required language at all American universities as the “Puritans who settled the U.S. saw themselves as the “new Israelites” and the United States as the new Zion–and thus the hebrew language requirement.”


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Jordan: Caricature Expo Planned · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Brazilian cartoonist Carlos Latuff will hold an exhibition in Jordan, thanks to the efforts of Palestinian blogger Izzi, among others. Latuff himself blogs about it here.


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Kazakhstan: Gathering Evidence · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

The Atyrau Informant reports on the story of a woman tormented by a gang of criminals in Kazakhstan. The police refused to look into the matter, citing a lack of evidence. That is, they refused until she started videotaping the people harassing her.


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Kenya: the battle for Africa Online · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Bankele writes about the battle for Africa Online, “Telkom (South Africa) looks to emerge the winner in the battle for Africa Online after the African Lakes board (parent company) have accepted Telkom (SA)’s bid of £9.72 million (£25 per share) beating out Africa Telecoms Company (ATC) [which comprised Wananchi Online, Schneider Media and East Africa Capital Partners] who had offered £5.04 million (£18.50 per share).”


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Kuwait: Bidding Eight Years of Fun Goodbye · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Kuwait's Desert Girl has sold her car – after “8 years of fun: of donuts in
the desert; of boys chasing us; of us out-driving boys to the point
where they gave up after endless laps around roundabouts and mall
parking lots; of maniacal driving on the way to/from chalets, camps
and farms; of getting stuck in sand and looking pitiful until help
arrived; of little kids saying how pretty she was; 8 years of
rebellious anti-traditional female behavior in a fast, flashy car. 8
years of refusing to sell her to anyone.”


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Landing at the Iraqi Blogodrome · Global Voices
Salam Adil

Let me clear it up for any moron with lingering doubts: It’s worse. It’s over. You lost. You lost the day your tanks rolled into Baghdad to the cheers of your imported, American-trained monkeys. You lost every single family whose home your soldiers violated. You lost every sane, red-blooded Iraqi when the Abu Ghraib pictures came out and verified your atrocities behind prison walls as well as the ones we see in our streets. You lost when you brought murderers, looters, gangsters and militia heads to power and hailed them as Iraq’s first democratic government. You lost when a gruesome execution was dubbed your biggest accomplishment. You lost the respect and reputation you once had. You lost more than 3000 troops. That is what you lost America. I hope the oil, at least, made it worthwhile.
Riverbend on the security situation in Iraq
With a new security plan under way in Iraq and and a major oil law being pushed through parliament, politics is the order of the day for this post. But read to the end and learn something new about Iraqi jokes and the difference between Iraqis and Americans.
If you read no other post this week read this one…
Ishtar just does not get it… “I can't understand this American mentality which obliged all world people to love what they love and hate what they hate as if they are the only perfect model on this earth and all the other people come after them” she writes.
For four years now, I have not heard the US administration declaring any strategy to deal with its internal affairs, in the contrary, it has devoted all its time for Iraq, as if Iraq is one of the US states… but why all of a sudden when the US administration began its cowboy compeign to revenge from those who blown up the towers, the first people to begin its revenge with was the Iraqis.
I have asked this question to a US General in Iraq, he could not give me an answer because he himself did not know why when the US wanted to fight the terror the choice was the Iraqi people and the battlefield was Iraq…
If the matter stopped to this level, we would accepted, but if any wise man takes a look about the bunch of men US picked up from the exile and brought down to rule Iraq, could feel the scale of the damage this administration caused to the Iraqis, they have chosen the worse people in the world and the best example to that was Saddam's execution… A set of sectarian politicians who could not set up such a big event in a proper way and were dancing on Saddam body like monkeys and moreover when they wanted to justify that they said it was a habit by the Iraqis which was to dance on the body of their enemies, they wanted to amend their ugly picture by putting this on the shoulder of the Iraqi tradition which has nothing like that.
more
Its an oil thing
Al-Ghad had an exclusive publishing, in full the draft Iraqi Oil Law for the first time. And, according to one blogger, “scooped the New York Times”. This is something of a scandal as such an important law is being passed by the Iraqi government without a whiff of public scrutiny.
Raed writes on the implications: “This law legalizes PSAs (production sharing agreements) in Iraq. Iraq will be the only country in the Middle East with such contracts privatising Iraqi oil and giving foreign companies crazy rates of profit that may reach to more than three fourth of the general revenue.”
Iraqi Mojo publishes an analysis of the law by Muhammad-Ali Zainy of the Centre for Global Energy Studies:
I am really surprised why this hurry in making this law. … Violence in Iraq is worse than ever, and I really do not believe that force alone (i.e the latest Maliki/Bush security plan) will solve the problem… In the absence of a political solution, therefore, the ongoing bloodshed and strife will continue in Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq, and the [international oil companies] will not come to Iraq any time soon because they are not prepared to risk the lives of their personnel under such conditions.
Then is it that the Iraqi government is under pressure from the American administration and have to hurry up with this law. For us, oil and gas people, we could realise with a single glance at the oil and gas articles, that something was seriously wrong. In addition to the pervasive vague language, the inexplicable bias towards the region and governorates, it is beyond belief to see that one of the articles allows the federal government to participate with the governments of the region and producing governorates in the oil and gas management of only the present fields (what is the definition of present fields?) to the exclusion of future fields!! What is the reason for this exclusion is beyond my comprehension, other than to leave Iraq's future oil and gas riches, which are, by the way, about twice the size of the presently proven reserves, to the custody of the self-interested region and weak and competing governorates, who could very easily be cornered and overcome by the IOCs. This is not withstanding CORRUPTION, which can play havoc with the Iraqi people's only remaining assets.
Al-Ghad's own analysis agrees and adds, in a detailed critique that makes essential reading:
The U.S. policy has failed in Iraq. Though they succeeded in destroying Iraq and driving a wedge between its countrymen, their power was not strong enough to apply their imperialistic schemes. Now they found themselves forced to find an “honourable” exist strategy from Iraq that could “save their face”. The U.S. Administration believes that it is the right time to pass the oil bill. They do not have enough time to wait, particularly with the domestic U.S. pressures… As far as the Americans are concerned, this dismal situation could help pass this law, particularly if the process is shrouded in secrecy. …
Bush wants to achieve a strategic victory through passing a law that could lead to the end that brought him to Iraq regardless of the reasons he declared. Despite his military and political defeats, he will get oil. Enacting the oil law and translating it into signed contracts must be a fact before the termination of his term in office. The contracts may not get into force now, but the law ensures the implementation later. This is why the duration articles in the Federal Law were made lengthy and flexible so that they could be extended. Besides, the law must be passed through the current government and parliament. The Americans might need to replace the government, if the crackdown fails, which is quite expected. When the chips are down, a national salvation government will be declared. It will abolish the constitution, declare two-year martial laws, and dismantle the parliament, just like Ayad Allawi said on American TV. When that happens, there will not be a legal cover to pass the law. … This reminds us of a Sunday Star Times editorial, which said, “For the international oil companies, Iraq is the uncaught gem on the Middle Eastern crown.” We think Bush and the American oil companies will not be able to get THE PRIZE or the GEM. The law they want to pass under such conditions would harm Iraq’s interests and Iraqi’s oil processes-related expertise. Passing the law cannot be done at a time Iraqis cannot decide their own and the next generations’ fate under the rule of the occupation, with insecurity, poverty and corruption spreading like wildfire. Therefore, Iraqis will work hard on abolishing it regardless of all the criminal disputes the occupation has hatched.
Security, Security, Security
Iraqi bloggers have given the new security plan cautious support. Iraqi Atheist reported that for four days last week Baghdad was at its calmest since the war began:
Even bullets are not being fired into the air, people respect the Iraqi army and government. Is that even possible?
Life is back into Haifa street, people who got forcefully evacuated from Sunni areas in Al Karkh are going back, and no one is daring to threaten them. Again is that even possible?
I just want time to fly so that we know if the plan is actually working or if the terrorists are hiding and waiting… I don't really know what to feel. Happy to know the violence is going to end? Scared that it could very well continue from where it left off? or sad because deep inside I think I know it will?
Iraq the Model believes the defence ministry statistic that attacks were down 80%: “It’s a reality I live in nowadays, at least in my neighborhood and its surroundings.” writes Mohammed. Iraqi Pundit even tells the story of how relatives were able to return to their home after being previously forced out of the area by terrorists threats. “Will the thugs eventually come back? I don’t know… But for now, my relatives, their neighbors, and the piece of Baghdad of which they are a part can live in hope again” he writes.
But, Baghdad Connect warns us not to believe the hype:
Many ‘big gun’ western media, either due to hidden agendas or a mere jacking-up of circulations, are joining the circus to speak about how the militias are going into hiding…
The Militias (from all sects) haven’t gone into hiding or withdrawn from Baghdad. Right next door there is a lurking militia and for the past 8 months, which today they probably are watching TV from the comfort of their home! Why they are not working? Simple, their bosses at the Green Zone have gone into hiding and withdrew from Baghdad. And therefore, there are no orders to follow!
Once the confrontation with the resistance subsided the militias will report back to work – when their bosses are back to the GZ, and will be business as usual. Bear in mind, for the past few days the militias did roll a few car bombs in areas where it is supposed to be securely sealed, how did they get their? ONLY GOD KNOWS, amongst others!!
And Finally…
Konfused Kid gives us the essential lowdown on Iraqi jokes..
This article will try to discuss how jokes against various ethnic/sectarian denominations have developed and evolved through the course of years.
The major targets in an Iraqi joke are (arranged by popularity):
1. Kurds (Before I was born)
2. Dulaymis (1999 – present)
3. Shroogis (60s – present)
4. Maslawis (??)
5. Nassiriya (??)
6. Sectarian (??? but heightned after 2006)
Together with some fascinating insight to how jokes were part of the previous regimes propaganda machine:
I once had a friend who was the son of a military intelligence member… one thing he said one day caught my attention: ‘Man, we sell these jokes’, the Ba'ath regime has a competent propaganda machine that steered something whenever they feel like it.
And Baghdad Connect has a chat with an American in Iraq called George:
He is a man of 57 years old from the USA. I have heard about him from a colleague who praised him as ‘different from the rest’. So we have invited him to a late lunch… And George was promised to try Kubat Hamudh; they’re rice pasta honed into small circular shapes; rolled and stuffed with minced diced meat and cooked in somewhat tangy tomato paste. They’re delicious!…
George, who works for a contracting company, said he was American but from ‘back east’! Which was quite puzzling. And when I enquired about ‘back east’ he said most Americans are proud of their east coast origin. He says that long ago he’s ‘moved out west’ and got married and then got an ugly divorce.
… As time progressed I realized that I just could not figure him out. There is this man who is American but from back east. Moved out west and got an ugly divorce. His family moved around somewhere and his friends are either people he ran into or he used to know!!
George is an ace in what’s going on in both Las Vegas and Reno (apparently it is another gambling place) He knows all the hotels names and their proprietors! His face lit up when he expounded, for half an hour, his endeavours in those two cities. And to be frank I lost him there.
George loved ‘this good stuff’ – Kubat Hamudh, which reminded him of some Turkish food he tried long ago; and when I explained to him that some of our cuisines are derived from Turkish origins he said ‘really, I’ll be damned’!!
When the Iraqi tea was served I began to sympathize with George. It must be hard living like that, and I honestly was looking for ways to make him talk about some nice things that he has done in his life. And when I asked him what does he do when he wants to relax he said he would ‘get away from it all’ and leaves his wife at home and ‘travels up north’ with his dog to fish in a lake by the name of Tahoe. And when I asked him why go there all alone he said so he could have peace of mind! Which it turned out to be even sadder and it felt so creepy.
When George left I thought what if the Iraqis would lead a life similar to that of George with no families, relatives or friends in Iraq? and I said no way. And then I suddenly realized that we have in fact commenced to live just like George!
And I laughed bitterly and I said in English ‘I’ll be damned’!

author: Salam Adil