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Cambodia: Social Network For People Living with Disabilities · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Cambodian blogger Heng Phan has created a social network for People Living with Disabilities in Cambodia.

author: Preetam Rai


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Caucasus: 2007 Blog Review · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

With 2008 less than a day away at time of writing, it seems only appropriate to take a look back at the blogging highlights in the Caucasus for 2007. Certainly, although blogging is still largely underdeveloped, the year has seen some major highlights, especially with regards to stories that also made headlines worldwide. In the past this has not been the case, but the signs for Armenian and Georgian blogging look very promising indeed, and not least because the first two months of 2008 will see crucial presidential elections take place in both republics.
Although the same might be true for Azerbaijan as its presidential election scheduled for late next year looms closer, the elections seem to have encouraged citizens, activists and journalists to blog. Other high profile events also seem to have pushed more bloggers to engage in online discussion on key issues, especially in the arguably more evolved Armenian blogging scene. Interestingly, however, the first major blogging event of the year came on 19 January 2007 when journalist and editor, Hrant Dink, was murdered in Istanbul, Turkey.
Although Dink was a Turkish citizen and resident in Armenia's neighbor to the West, he was also an ethnic Armenian and prolific in his calls for reconciliation between Armenians and Turks. His views might have alienated himself from the larger Armenian Diaspora who consider that Genocide Recognition is the most important issue facing Armenians today, but the point was that his assassination shocked the world, including many Turks in Turkey itself as well as those with no links to Armenian circles at all.
Such a reality was reflected in the blogosphere with many more non-Armenians blogging and commenting on Dink's death. As I wasn't writing for Global Voices Online at the time, I tried to include links and quotes to as many voices as possible on my Oneworld Multimedia blog. Indeed, the first major reaction came from Turkish bloggers. One of those was The Infidel.
Hrant Dink was murdered in a heinous and cowardly way, most likely, by some brainless and lost ultra-nationalist Turkish young man, who I hope will be brought to justice as soon as possible. I am deeply saddened by Hrant’s death because I believe that he had good intentions for Turkey and the Turkish people. Although I don’t agree with everything he said and wrote, it is clear that he was a peaceful activist voicing his norm-opposing views to raise awareness, which is the bread and butter of any democracy. No human being should be persecuted for his/her opinions in any country, but especially in Turkey.
[…]
Turks cannot and should not under any circumstances ignore Hrant’s or any other journalist’s assassinations. This is a shameful act in light of our country’s image and will only be held against us as a whole if the assailant is not pursued and brought to justice adequately.
Indeed, even though after his murder most Armenians only started to think of Dink as one of their own, especially when in the past many had ignored his calls for reconciliation, the amount of conversation in the Turkish blogosphere exceeded by far the amount in its Armenian counterpart. Even a vigil staged in Yerevan was eclipsed by his mass funeral in Istanbul on 23 January 2007.
As more and more Armenian bloggers started to react to the news in more detail as well, Global Voices Online's Deborah Ann Dilley put together a digest of reaction which soon spread to well outside the Armenian and Turkish blogospheres. For once, perhaps, the conversation truly became global.
To much surprise (which I will show in a few more paragraphs) citizens of Turkey took to the streets chanting “We are all Armenians, We are all Hrant Dink”. Erkan's Field Diary reports of widespread Turkish condemnation of the murder and also points out that Dink is the 62nd Turkish journalist that has been assassinated since the founding of the Republic of Turkey.
[…]
The death of Hrant Dink is not just a Turkish issue, but one of concern to many. Michael Levy writing for the Brittanica.com blog sprouts an excellent comment discussion between Turkish and Armenian bloggers with his post:
The discussion continued a week later. Actually, it continued for long after that, with the most recent news being that Dink was posthumously made World Press Freedom Hero by the International Press Institute in December. Dink's untimely death continues to be a focus on my blog and that will likely continue to be the case for 2008. Regardless, while this event marked the first major blogging event in this region, Dink was resident outside of the Caucasus.
Instead, and as befitting the former Soviet Union, the first real event of note inside came with the 12 May parliamentary election in Armenia. Again, not writing for Global Voices Online at the time, my coverage of arguably one of the most important defining elections in Armenia's short history as an independent post-Soviet State was on my own blog. However, unlike past elections, and even the more recent constitutional referendum held in 2005, there were others as well.
In particular, a new blog, The Armenian Observer, became established in the Armenian blogosphere, and media outlets such as Internews started to incorporate elements of blogging in their election coverage via sites such as E-Channel. However, with the traditional opposition lacking support in society and widespread apathy among the population as well as a relatively clean bill health from the international community, the potential for blogging during elections was not yet realized.
Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2006
Nevertheless, Mary Joyce, Zephyr Teachout and Solana Larsen's Election Blogging Guide was translated into Armenian and made available online just in case. However, another issue first made international headlines and again pushed the Armenian blogosphere global. As was the case with Hrant Dink's murder, an eventually aborted attempt to have the 1915 Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey recognized as such by the U.S. Congress took center stage.
With other related concerns such as the supply and safety of U.S. troops in Iraq at stake, the conversation became louder and more detailed outside of the Armenian and Turkish blogospheres.
It's not often that Armenia makes international headlines across the globe, but when it does it's usually because of one issue that remains fiercely debated until this day — the massacre and deportation of as many as 1.5 million Armenians from Ottoman Turkey in 1915-17. 22 countries recognize the events that occurred towards the end of World War I as genocide, a charge that the modern-day Republic of Turkey refuses to accept even though the term was devised by Raphael Lemkin in 1943 with the Armenian and Jewish experience in mind.
[…]
Yet, given that the resolution first and foremost concerned Armenia and Turkey, two countries which share an albeit closed border and which have not established diplomatic ties mainly because of the international campaign for Genocide recognition, the bulk of posts on this subject primarily came from American and English bloggers. To begin with, this was because prior to the vote by the House Committee, U.S. President George W. Bush attempted to intervene to prevent its passage.
With the 2008 presidential election in Armenia scheduled for 19 February, it is hoped that next time there will be more activity in the blogosphere and it has to be said that this looks increasingly likely. In part, this is because the election appears to be more polarized than ever before and there is an urgent need for alternative voices to make themselves heard in between the pro-government and pro-radical opposition media.
Aram Sarkisian and Levon Ter Petrosian, Opposition Rally, Liberty Square, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2007
Such a situation has now emerged after the return of the first President of the Republic of Armenia, Levon Ter Petrosian, in September 2007. However, it was not until October when the former head of state held his first public gathering in nearly 10 years that his candidacy for the 2008 presidential election in Armenia was confirmed.
In what can be considered one of the most important political developments in the short 16-year history of Armenia as an independent former-Soviet republic, the country's first president, Levon Ter Petrosian, announced his intention to run again for office in the presidential election to be held early next year. Ter Petrosian had been forced to resign in 1998 by his successor and other high-level officials apparently over what was then considered a concessionary peace deal to resolve the conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh.
What is most significant about Ter Petrosian's political comeback is that had anyone asked most Armenians about the former president's return as recently as two months ago, many would consider that it was unlikely. Now, a day after an opposition rally during which Ter Petrosian announced his candidacy, it is a reality. However, while various media outlets sympathetic towards the former president estimated the crowd at the rally to be between 20-40,000, bloggers such as Observer reckoned it was more like 10,000.
As Artur Papyan reported for Global Voices Online, political tensions naturally increased when opposition activists were taken into custody but later released. However, in another post, Global Voices Online reported that the reaction in the Armenian blogosphere was divided.
Without a doubt, the most significant event this winter has been the return of the first president, Levon Ter Petrosian, to the political scene in Armenia. Resigning in 1998 and living virtually as a recluse, Ter Petrosian came out of self-imposed retirement on 21 September — the 16th anniversary of Armenia's independence — to launch a blistering attack on the government and his successor as president, Robert Kocharian. Most observers took the criticism as indication that Ter Petrosian intended to again run for office.
On 26 October, at his first public rally, he confirmed such speculation by declaring that he would indeed run, but not everybody was happy. While considered an educated and formidable politician and statesman, many Armenians still hold Ter Petrosian responsible for the dire economic situation they found themselves in during the early to mid-90s when electricity shortages were commonplace, and corruption and cases of political persecution sky-rocketed.
Opposition riots, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia © © Davit Rostomashvili
But as the potential for blogging as an alternative source of information from Armenia became clear, it was Georgia that soon captured the headlines for democracy related events in the Caucasus. On 7 November, Georgian police used tear gas and more force than was necessary to disperse an opposition protest in Tbilisi. A State of Emergency was declared and democracy in the former Soviet republic which had already experienced a “democratic revolution” in 2003 was once again under international scrutiny.
It couldn’t have come at a worse time with all three republics in the South Caucasus gearing up for elections to be held next year. Georgia, considered a beacon of [relative] democracy in the region until today, has set an unfortunate precedent given that the opposition in all three countries will protest leading up to the respective votes as well as afterwards. Even the November 2003 Rose Revolution that brought the Georgian president, Mikhail Saakashvili, to power was peaceful in comparison to crackdowns by the authorities in neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan.
An early presidential election has now been scheduled for 5 January 2008, and if the Georgian blogosphere had been previously quiet and rather small in comparison to its Armenian counterpart, that soon changed. In particular, TOL Georgia established by Transitions Online soon became an invaluable source of information on events, and a human rights lawyer, Anna Dolidze, set up Resistance Georgia, a blog which is now quoted from by the mainstream international media. Other notable blogs from Georgia include This is Tbilisi Calling, the blog of BBC journalist Matthew Collin, and Georgia Ink, the blog of cartoonist Vladimer Shioshvili.
If anything, even though still limited in terms of number, the quality of blogs on Georgia soon outstripped that on Armenia. Indeed, even the Georgian press started to examine the role of the Internet in the democratic process and included reference to Global Voices Online as well.
You can say what you like on the internet. Some interesting unsolicited material has been circulating as a result of the current situation in Georgia. The political crisis has prompted people to send e-mails to THE GEORGIAN TIMES , and posts to various internet sites, adding their twopennyworth on the unfolding events.
[…]
Bloggers have of course been busy. The ‘Resistance Georgia’ blog (http://resistancegeorgia.blogspot.com) has reported that Levan Mikeladze, Georgia’s ambassador to the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Mission of Georgia to International Organizations in Geneva, has resigned from his post as he can no longer support a government which uses force on the opposition. Joshua Keating, an editor of the journal ‘Foreign Policy’, writes a blog at http://blog.foreignpolicy.com. Thursday’s entry is entitled “The sad end of the Rose Revolution” and includes quotes by people who were beaten by police. This identifies the people wearing black clothes and balaclavas as police. […]
TOL Georgia (https://blogs.tol.org) carries an article by ‘jibs’ headlined “Georgia: Democracy in Crisis.” This is one of a number of articles under the heading ‘Saakashvili’ that have been building up during the week. One of these directly quotes the GEORGIAN TIMES. Another blogging website is Global Voices (www.globalvoicesonline.org). This is a “non-profit global citizens’ media project founded at Harvard Law School’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society, a research think-tank focused on the Internet’s impact on society.” […]
[…]
Internet activity gives people who have no other outlet the chance to express their views to the world. Every view under the sun is therefore likely to appear. The tone of the internet activity visible so far is resolutely opposed to the government’s actions against demonstrators, and its arguments are based primarily on this occurrence rather the wider range of concerns expressed by government and opposition and in print media.
All in all then, a promising year for blogging in the Caucasus although the lack of activity from Azerbaijan is unfortunate. Even so, if elections in Armenia and Georgia are starting to put blogging on the map in those two republics, the presidential election scheduled for late 2008 might well do the same for blogging in Azerbaijan. The example set by Georgian and Armenian bloggers in January and February 2008 might well prove an important catalyst for that.
It's also worth pointing readers in the direction of an unprecedented action both online and offline by four Armenian bloggers towards the end of 2007. Anyway, here's hoping that increased quality activity from bloggers on the Caucasus continues, but in the meantime, Happy New Year from the Caucasus section of Global Voices Online.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Onnik Krikorian


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China: Ant Farmers’ Open Letter to Hu Jintao · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Zoula has reposted Luliang Ant Farmers’ Open Letter the State president Hu Jintao (zh). The farm said that local government had to be responsible for the bankruptcy of Yilishen and they demanded for throughout investigation on the issue and the return of guarantee fund.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Guangxi Nailhouse · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Zhaumu blogged photos of a most spectacular nail house in Guangxi.


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Colombia: The Discovery of a New Gold Mine · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

A new gold mine was recently discovered in Colombia and can place the country in the top 10 producers in the world writes Proyecto Colombia.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Dominica: Bhutto’s Son  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Living Dominica is touched by the words of Benazir Bhutto's son and wonders “what the world would be like today if American leaders had spoken words like this in the wake of 9-11″.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Egypt: Arabic Books  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger Eman recommends reading the following Arabic books.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Egypt: Medical Myths · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Mostafa from Egypt reviews seven medical myths in this post.


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Egypt: Murad and the Freedom of Speech · Global Voices
Tarek Amr

Judge Murad lost his case and the court ruled in favour of freedom of speech. The Administrative Judicial Court issued a sentence in Case No. 15575 / 61, which was brought by Judge Abdul Fattah Murad calling for banning the 51 websites on the Internet in Egypt. You can read the Sandmonkey's post about it here, as well as the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRINFO) press release here.

author: Tarek Amr


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El Salvador: Deportation in the News · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Tim's El Salvador Blog lists many examples of stories about immigrants and deportation in the media.


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Haiti: Prayer for the New Year  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Pwoje Espwa bids 2007 farewell and welcomes the New Year with a prayer.


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Hong Kong: Top News in 2007 Blogosphere · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

As the year end is approaching, local blogger sidekick has her picks of “Top News in Hong Kong 2007 Blogosphere”. She also calls for more comments and suggestions for the year end round up. Below is a translation of her selection:
《Why we blog》－香港第一本有關blog的結集 (Jan 2007)
香港新浪網、Why 出版合作出版的《Why we blog》，內有數篇blog的探討文章、blog教學及工具介紹、中港台blog大事表、38篇精選文章、62個網誌簡介、6位blogger訪問，是香港第一本有關blog的結集。
Hong Kong Sina.com and Why Press jointly published “Why we blog“. The book has several articles on the nature of blog and blog as education tools. There is also a table on major events in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China blogospheres, together with 38 featured articles, 62 introductions of blogs and 6 blogger interviews. The book is the first collection about blogging in Hong Kong.
部落偉哥 (Jan 2007)
《Why we blog》一書推出後，引發了blogger們對香港blog現況的爭論。
有資深的「公海」blogger發表文章，他們認為由商業機構設立的 BSP(Blog Service Provider)，在營運、宣傳、及社群經營的手法上，會影響了會員的Blogging習慣；例如會令會員為了迎合自己身處的社群而多寫易受歡迎的軟性文章、加倍努力的在自己及別人的blog留言，而留言亦多為附和、問好、聊天等，於是，就漸漸的失去自我。
由於這幾篇文，都或多或少的提到《Why We Blog》這本書，而遣詞用字亦頗為強硬，實在很易令mysinablogger對號入座而覺得不快，因而有這「一本書引發的爭論」。
延伸閱讀：
Blog you: Why We Blog?
The publication of “Why we blog,” has triggered some debates on blog culture in Hong Kong.
Some experienced bloggers argued that commercially ran BSP (Blog Service Provider), because of their strategies in management and promotion, would affect the habit of bloggers. For example, member bloggers may try to fit in the community by writing popular posts on soft issues, or may leave more friendly or greeting kind of comments on others’ blogs. Eventually, the bloggers may lose their own characters.
As the discussion is around the book “Why We Blog” and some of the wordings were rather tough, some mysinabloggers became defensive in the debate.
Extended reading: Blog-you.com: Why we blog?
Blogger 見證回歸十年 (April 2007)
4月6日，明報港聞版的《回歸十年蛻變》專輯，標題是“我Blog故我在”。
此專輯訪問了幾位香港blogger；包括moliuOLOGY的Hang、香港仔公國的公園仔、王維基的網誌、香港獨立媒體的朱凱迪，與及Sidekick。（更多資料）
同年6月，blog you 亦舉辦了《回歸十年，驀然回首》串聯活動。
April 6, local newspapers Ming Pao has organized a series of features called “Metamorphosis after the 10 years of reunification”. One of the topics is “I Blog, therefore I am.”
The news feature has interviewed a numbers of local bloggers, including Hang from moliuOLOGY, Parkson from Duke of Aberdeen, Ricky Wong, Chu Hoidick from inmediahk.net and Sidekick. (More information)
In June, blog-you.com also organized a bloggers joint series on “Looking back at the 10 Years Return“.
萬人重考「檸檬茶」 (May 2007)
短短不足一星期，本地網民已經取得共識，萬人集作「檸檬茶」。各大網絡社群如 Xanga、Yahoo!、Sina、高登以至獨立博客群體，不論界別背景，紛紛扮演可憐的應屆會考生角色，簡簡單單以「檸檬茶」為題撰文寫作，甚至標示上所用時間和篇幅字數，各自（重考）表述，互相評論。（來源：speechlessness.com）
延伸閱讀：五師兄字：人人檸檬茶(204篇)
Extended reading: Ngshihin: Everyone has lemon tea (204 articles)
福佳始終有你 (June 2007)
為了慶祝回歸十年，官方製作一主題曲「始終有你」在不同場合及平台播放，不過有民間團體將歌曲改頭換面，泡製了多個不同的民間版本。其中一個「褔佳」六四版本，點擊率超過60萬，在youtube網站大熱。另外更有加入七一遊行元素的版本，實行諷刺一番。（來源：傳媒春秋：2007傳媒大事回顧）
To celebrate the 10 years anniversary of reunification in Hong Kong, the government composed a theme song “Always with you”. However, a number of civic groups had changed the lyrics of the song into various folk versions. One of them is the June 4 edition of “Folk guy's always with you”. The song’ video got more than 600,000 hits in youtube. There is also another folk version with more image clips on July 1st Rally. (Source: Media Watch: media event of 2007)
回歸十年的八九六四 (June 2007)
回歸十年，亦是「六四」十八週年，blogger 們並沒有忘記！
在del.icio.us 的tag: 8964，收錄了近400篇有關8964的文章！
2007 is the anniversary of 10 years Return, but local bloggers haven’t forgotten that the year also marks the 18 year anniversary of June 4 incident in 1989. There are more than 400 articles tagged with 8964 in delicious.
Free Oiwan Lam (July 2007)
香港中大學生報新增了情色版，引起一番討論，在此同時，一位網民因為「在文章中擺放色情網站連結(hyperlink)」被香港政府依觸犯《淫褻及不雅物品管制條例》，而罰款 HK$5,000。為了抗議這種「放成人超連結竟然有罪」的法律，Oiwan 在香港獨立媒體網的一篇文章中(內容已移至這邊)，放上了一張從 Flickr 上找來的裸體藝術照片。然後….就被控告了。這其間香港政府影視處和Oiwan (文中的藹雲)的對話，以及她挑選這張圖片的原因和界限，可以在《違反日常經驗的官僚／道德審裁》這一篇中一探究竟。(來源：終極邊疆：Free Oiwan: 這是自由的香港嗎?））
The erotic page in the student magazine of the Student Press of the Chinese University of Hong Kong had generated much discussion. At the same time, a netizen was prosecuted by the Hong Kong government under the “Obscene Article Ordinance” and was fined HKD5000 because he had posted hyperlinks of a pornography website in a forum. In order to protest against the prosecution based on hyperlink, Oiwan Lam posted an article at imediahk.net (the article has been moved here), with an artistic nude picture linking to Flickr. Then… the article was sued (Editor note: The article was classified as indecent and subject to further prosecution.) Her dialogue between the staff of Television and Entertainment Authority and Oiwan, and the explanation of the picks for this photo can be found in this article: Bureaucracy’s moral judgment against daily experience. (Source: the ultimate frontier: Free Oiwan: Is Hong Kong Still Free?)
周瑮事件 (July 2007)
2007年7月17日，周瑮在明報副刊發表題為「Just Do It」的文章，字裡行間諷刺色情影片上載者nike，並將nike上載分享AV的行為扯上青少年風化案泛濫的社會情況。其後文章於本地各論壇內廣泛流傳，並引發極大的迴響。
其後有人查出周氏私人網誌的位址，遂儲存及轉載內裡的相關照片，更群起於周氏網誌內留言討伐，猛烈斥責她對nike 所下的妄論。（來源：香港網絡大典）
July 17, 2007, Chau Li wrote an article “Just Do It” in Ming Pao Daily’s column page. The article made mockery of a netizen called “Nike” who was an uploader of pornographic video. Chau drew co-relation between nike’s uploading of AV (adult video) to the recent moral crimes of youth in Hong Kong.
The article was re-posted in many internet forums and triggered huge controversy. Some netizen had tracked down Chau’s IP address, saved her photos and invaded her blog with very harsh comments against her prejudice on Nike. (Source: Hong Kong Internet Directory)
博客抄文出書取獎事件 (July 2007)
「頭條網」自行挑選站內博客的文章輯錄成「我們的博客城」一書，豈料其中一人的入圍文章是抄襲的（其blog內更有其他抄襲文章）；事件揭發後，當事人的這句：「即使我copy & paste，都未必會照版煮碗，我都有我性格。我是經過思考過濾的。」實叫人嘆為觀止！
延伸閱讀：新春秋：頭條網女博客抄文取獎出書兼歪理連篇
HKHeadline.com published a book, “Our blog city”, by selecting blog posts from its website. However, one of the selected post was a plagiarized writing (and several other posts in the blog were also plagiarized writings.) When the issue was exposed, the blogger still defended by saying that  “even if I copy & paste, the product is not exactly the same, I have my own character, I have filtered others’ works.” The whole issue is very amazing!
Extended reading: Pandemonium : HKHeadline.com Female blogger steals article with absurd argument
Blog 而優則書 (Aug 2007)
今年的香港書展，可謂是 blogger 當道的一年，各出版社紛紛為知名 blogger 出書；星屑醫生、尹思哲、葉一知、渣估、Tina Ko 的新書，有的是 Blook（即是 blog+book，將blog內容整合成書），有的是全新內容。（更多資料）
Bloggers were very visible in this year's Hong Kong Book Fair. Many publishers had published books for well known bloggers, such as The doctor is In, Wanszezit, Diumanpark, Charcoal and Tina Ko. Some are Blooks (that is, book+blog), some are new writings. (More information)
Blog You 考慮關站 (Dec 2007)
關閉的意思是限於它必須要人力資源去維持的部份，因為結束的主要原因是我已經沒有能力和時間去做一些推動Blog全面化發展的事和維持一些需要人手操作的事，例如聯播和網誌目錄。至於整個網站是否會以某種形式存在，我是持開放態度，也會考慮到一眾網友的意見。（來源： Blog You：談完結）
The closing parts would be those sections that require human resources for maintenance. The main reason is because I no longer had the capacity and time to promote the development of blog and maintain operations such as joint blog cast and blog directory. As to whether the site will exist in some other forms, I am open to that and will listen to friendly netizens’ advice. (Source: Blog-you.com: About the end)
香港blogger 獲「2007全球華文部落格大獎」年度最佳教育應用部落格首獎 (Dec 2007)
「英文由F字學起」得到了2007「全球華文部落格大獎」「年度最佳教育應用部落格」首獎！
「英文由F字學起」本來只是個由香港人寫給香港人看的網誌，題材圍繞香港的英文教育，而且教學短片都以廣東話解說。它竟能在全球八千個參賽的中文網誌中突圍而出，實在是我意想不到的。（來源：英文由F字學起）
Learning English from the aphabet “F” won the award of “the Best Educational blog” in the “2007 Global Chinese blog Award”.
Learning English from the alphabet “F” is a local blog written for Hong Kong people, it discusses about Hong Kong’s English education and all its video are in Cantonese. It is out of my expectation that it can win over 8,000 nominated Chinese blogs in this highly competitive global award.  (Source: Learning English from the aphabet “F” )


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India: Baghdad Burning on stage · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Known Turf on watching a dramatic reproduction of the blog – Baghdad Burning on stage.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Is Kenya turning into a police state?  · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

How would you describe the political situation in Kenya? White African uses three words to describe millions of Kenyan voters following the announcement that the Mwai Kibaki has won by 200,000+ votes: disappointed, angry and jaded. :
Those are the words that describe millions of Kenyan voters.
Disappointed at their current president, Mwai Kibaki, for playing Moi-politics.
Angry at their ministers of parliament, voting an unprecedented number out of office.
Jaded by the election results – wondering if bothering to come out for the next elections is even necessary.
Of the three, I would suggest that citizens being jaded is the most harmful for the long-term. Why bother voting if you can’t have the confidence in your government to count them openly and honestly?
Daudi of Mental Acrobatics chose one word to describe the mood: uncertainty;
Uncertainty is the word I would use to describe the mood around Kenya this morning in contrast to fear and anger last night.
Kenyan bloggers have been covering events in Kenya as they unfold after it was announced that Mwai Kibaki won the presidency. Here is a short roundup. As events are changing rapidly, you may also visit Mashada and KenyaUnlimited.
Ory writes about the total media blackout on her blog, Kenyan Pundit:
have no news to report. It’s a total total blackout. Watching TV feels like watching TV under some crazy dictatorship. I mean we all know that the country is on fire, but KBC is airing Just for Laughs. WTF???
I, however, remain committed to keeping whatever news I can flowing so keep the info coming (even though it might sit in moderation for a while). And hopefully I’ll have something updates tomorrow from what is now for all intents and purposes my bunker.
The Media Council of Kenya has denounced the on live broadcasts:
- Media Council has strongly denounced the ban on live broadcasts. I suspect that media houses were caught off-guard and are just now trying to find their footing. I’ve been told that KISS fm has been doing a good job with updates. Also hopefully print media will be back in full force tomorrow (if we can get to somewhere where we can buy papers that is).
NTV and KTN now broadcasting news updates every hour.
Thinker’s Room reaction to the ban on live broadcasting:
Try harder. You can’t silence the truth.
Where Madness Resides reports:
KTN is not broadcasting its Prime Time News. Instead, it streaming CNN feed. Channel 1 has switched off Aljazeera and is broadcasting Christian music videos. There's a preacher on KBC 1, while Citizen is broadcasting a premier league match
Kenya is turning into a police state, Ory writes:
All live broadcasts have been suspended by the government. The order was released as ODM was addressing their press conference.
This is now officially a police state.
So we have no idea what ODM is saying, and what the security situation is around the country.
Cold Tusker wonders, “Is Kenya reverting to a police state?”:
•	The Election Commission of Kenya bans access to all independent media houses except the government/state mouthpiece KBC when announcing the general election results.
•	The ECK declares kibz as the winner… fine… that is their mandate but what is pissing me off is NOT Raila's “loss” but the “state of emergency” that has been declared in citoes like Kisumu soon thereafter!!! Nairobi has been under siege all evening.
•	john “the home guard” michuki has clamped down on the independent media. Live broadcasts have been banned as has coverage of politics. BULLSHIT…
•	The police, GSU & army are being deployed all over. The bloodshed has started as many opposition supporters have been killed already.
Ory sees the role of social media, particularly the video-sharing site, YouTube, in a situation like this:
If I was ODM, I’d jump on Youtube right now. But I suspect that the internet and mobile phones are next so don’t be surprised if I go quiet (it has been a good ride folks).
Where are the ODM pentagon members?, asks Daudi Were, following rumours that top ODM officials have been arrested and one shot:
Last night’s report that they had been arrested and shot have been rubbished by the police. The police say they have not arrested any pentagon members. Which of course leaves the possibility that they were apprehended by another branch of the security forces for example the army. What I do know is that many senior opposition figures are attempting to contact them with no success, which in itself is pretty scary. Of course this could all be part of an elaborate plan to keep the location of the ODM Pentagon secret, especially from those of us outside the inner circle such as myself.
Those of us in Nairobi with a network of information are lucky. The further you get from Nairobi the wilder the rumours. For example, in Kakamega in western Kenya, the story circulating is that all the members of the Pentagon are in jail for treason/sedition and their lives are in danger.
According to Kumekucha, the rumours have been denied:
Police have denied claims that Raila Odinga has been arrested.
Interestingly they have said nothing about the other Pentagon members.
Police have also declared this afternoon’s planned ODM meeting and swearing in of President Raila Odinga and his parallel government illegal.
Daudi also writes about clashes between rival political gangs in Nairobi:
For those who know the area, the area around Mimosa court was the scene of fighting amongst rival gangs, pro and anti government. Ngong Road earlier today was also a no go area.
Kibaki’s political dilemma:
Kibaki’s Party of National Unity only has 37 MPs most of who are from his Central Province. Logic suggests that there is no way you can have the president and vice president from the same tribe. In addition Kibaki needs to bring in many more political parties to have any semblance of a working parliamentary majority. This probably means that ODM-K are being courted heavily at the moment. Kalonzo, the leader of ODM-K and third in the presidential race, will probably demand nothing less than the Vice Presidency in return for his political support. This would not go down well with people who have been with Kibaki since day 1 of these campaigns.
Gerald Baraza claims that the armed forces and the para-military forces are against Mwai Kibaki:
Although on the surface Kibaki appears to be backed by the military generals, the truth of the matter is that many of our men and women in the armed forces and the para-military forces are against Kibaki’s unpopular move and they are going to join the people of Kenya in forcing Kibaki out of his self-proclaimed second term as the president of Kenya.
Daudi learns from a credible source that the Kenyan army is divided:
Planning an alternative inauguration can be interpreted as treason which would explain the security forces heavy approach (if this is true). During the press conference Raila introduced an army Major who stated that the armed forces are behind Raila. Our military is divided.
This is unverified. It is from a source who has been credible thus far.
Previous we had heard that Raila was “under the care of the army for his own safety” and that Raila would spend the night at the US Embassy due to concerns about his safety.
In “I Cry. My Beloved Country Has Been Robbed,” Thinker's Room writes:
Rumours going round are to the effect that Raila Odinga and William Ruto have been arrested, and William Ruto has been shot. Reportedly this is after ODM announced their intentions to name a parallel government, a move, I must confess, is not entirely wise given the current situation.
More as I get it.
Thinker’s Room summarizes his feelings:
I feel that the people of Kenya have been completely robbed of everything they have gained over the last 40 years. We lacked few things but at least we were generally a fair people.
I feel that the change we thought we had in 2005 was just an illusion.
I feel that all the time (3+ years), love, devotion and attention I dedicated on Mzalendo.com, sleepless nights sacrificed, hours of my time and resources have been pissed away in just a few days.
I feel that Kenyans have been robbed of something that can never be valued — their electoral process.
I feel challenged even now to respond to the question I had been asked earlier in the day — “Is there any point voting?”
I feel cheated because the same cabal that has been in power since independence is still in power.
I feel cheated that an administration rejected by the ballot can somehow find itself into the presidency.
I feel sad that Kenyans optimistically queued on the 27th thinking they could control their destiny and the very people they entrusted spat on their good faith and goodwill.
I feel angry that my house has just been stoned.
I feel angry that my friends’ shops have been looted and burnt.
I feel shocked that on comparing Kibaki to Moi, Moi comes out on top because he actually walked away when he lost.
I feel amazed that the ruling party in no way shape or form is representative of the country.
I feel insulted that people can rig the elections and believe that we are dumb enough not to see through it.
Gerald Baraza predicts the worse:
Masses of Kenyans have started uprisings across the country and it’s just a matter of time before the whole country becomes ungovernable. There is a real inspiration among the seven provinces that overwhelmingly voted for change especially among the youth. We are on the ground and we will keep you posted on the developments here!
Emotions are running high:
I’ve had to moderate comments for now and will only allow comments that are sending information about what’s going on on the ground – too busy to focus on controlling the emotions of people on both sides.
Gerald Baraza threatens to take up arms:
I am assuring President Kibaki and the Electoral Commision Chairman Mr.Samuel Kivuitu that if they rig the elections and impose Kibaki on the people of Kenya, I am going to the bush with my people and we will fight them to the bitter end. It may seem like it is ugly right now, but it is going to get uglier! We will not rest until the will of the people is respected. We will fight to the bitter end. We will die for this cause.
Farm Gal warns against bloggers inciting violence and asks the administrators of Kenyan Blog Webring to remove Gerald Baraza blog from its aggregator:
I would like to condemn the post done by one Baraza (on kbw blogroll somewhere) who called for all ODM supporters to go to war. I wrote a comment on the owner of kbw’s blog to ask him to remove it from the aggregator for inciting violence:
I thought the KBW team does not entertain that kind of rubbish….obviously not. I remember one person was kicked out for calling a certain president some sort of name. Now if the kbw team does not condemn people using KBW as a platfom to incite people to go to war, and especially from the comfort of their houses in America. Then trully the rules have changed since the last time someone was kicked out of the KBW aggragator. Correct me if am wrong!!!
Anyway, I wanted Kibaki to win and he has. I didn’t vote, and I hear that there was rigging. I don’t have proof so will not bother going into it.
Right now I pray for peace in Kenya!
Gerald Baraza responds to criticism:
Let no one lecture me on democracy and writing responsibly. I have been lectured on these vital issues by very respectable professors. I have also lectured on it. For your information, I am a student of Presidential studies. No democratic president who is responsible and peace-loving rigs an election!
It's just a matter of hours before we move in full-scale and show Kibaki what a determined people can do!
Yes, African countries are uncivilized, argues Cold Tusker:
No wonder African countries are often portrayed as being UNCIVILISED… I do not care to be politically correct… If this is how the government acts then YES, WE ARE UNCIVILISED… Just watch the news. That which gets past the censors. It would not surprise me if the police & GSU are in the middle of murdering 100s of Kenyans.
•	Is 2007's Kenya any better than 1992's Kenya?
•	Is 2007's Kenya any better than mugabe's Zimbabwe?
I want to believe that we are BUT… I do not think so… unless someone proves me wrong. I wish I am wrong.
Mimmz defends Kikuyus. Mwai Kibaki is a Kikuyu:
I was told it's Kenya against kikuyus… I guess we are no longer Kenyans.
That we have been stacking up for ourselves for far too long. Need I remind anyone that a kikuyu has led Kenya for 5 out of the last 29 years?
That we are greedy, we are all over Kenya. Last I checked it was a free country. And next time you want to accuse kikuyus of being rich because they steal, think about the fact that they are “everywhere” as you call it. It is how they get rich. They see an opportunity and they follow it. And you? You? You get mad and remain poor.
Did you know Indians don't have shops in most central province townships? The kikuyus have learnt the art of business and have run with that knowledge. Is this the same for your hometown? if not, ask yourself what the implications of that are.
About that they have old money, who owes you an apology that they settled in the highlands because they are farmers by nature,suffered the greatest personal losses from colonization, reaped the benefits of education from the same colonialists, fought for their freedom and took back their lands with enough knowledge to farm; in a primarily agricultural economy, prospered and continued to build themselves up. How do you feel that you have been wronged by this?
Did you know there are poor kikuyus?
And that we are not all related to Kenyatta?
And taking to stoning and burning investments in your local area when aggravated and wondering why there is never any progress is not smart. Rebuilding is costly and that money could have been used for prosperity..
What is happening in Kenya, notes Mimmz is a step away from Rwanda:
Why would I post about kikuyus and apologies? Because I wish everyone would stop pretending this isn't a tribalistic situation. Actually it's a step away from Rwanda. This is not about Kibaki or his government. This is about the kikuyu tribe. Which explains why the local kikuyu has already had their business burnt and perhaps their home and is probably in hiding as we speak. let's attempt open dialogue for a change. It might improve things.
I'm ashamed at the extent of educated, I would have thought sophisticated persons, calling for or condoning or quietly supporting calls for war.
Go to war. Let it rid you of kikuyus. Then you can all sit in that country, all 41 tribes of you, and love each other. You will always trust each other. It won't be over, the liaison that is; after the common enemy is gone. Nooooo. You'll all always be friends and can get along great forever and ever.
There ends the fairy tale.
Kumekucha writes about violence in Mombasa where one blogger was beaten:
Meanwhile the usually peaceful Mombasa city has degenerated into a no-go zone in most areas. Kumekuchan Danileve was stopped by a huge violent mob thus morning in the Kisauni area of Barsheba near Mwandoni as he was looking for a Cyber café from which to send in information to Kumekucha from. They robbed him of cash and valuables but amazingly did not take his cell phone which contained amongst other things photographs of poll violence at the Coast which we will publish later.
The mob beat him badly and only stopped when they confirmed that he was NOT PNU or a Kikuyu.
He discusses Kibaki’s plan to rig the election and his “terrible miscalculations”:
Yet the signs have been there for a long time. The harmless grand father seated inside State House was asked by a BBC journalist 3 days ago whether he would hand over power peacefully if he lost the elections. His reply was in Swahili and so rude that many Kenyans reading this will still not believe that it is Mwai Kibaki. He said: Wacha Kuniuliza swali ya Upumbavu. (Stop asking me a stupid question.)
Tracing back Mr Kibaki’s actions leading up to the events of yesterday it is clear to see his thinking. He made a big issue out of appointing as many new Electoral Commissioners as possible. Just hours to the general elections he appointed new judges.
The plan was simple. To rig the elections after which he expected ODM to seek redress in the courts where he would be ready for them and besides petitions can be made to last 5 years or more by which time he would have completed his fraudulent second term.
Big time miscalculations. Kenya has changed and the State House should have seen that clearly from the way Kenyans countrywide voted. The thinking within State House is that ODM is a Luo political party with pockets of support from Kalenjins.
Where Madness Resides writes, “The battle is not over”:
The ODM has announced that it will form a parallel government and give the people their president tomorrow. I wondered at first why it was Ole Ntimama who read the statement rather than Raila himself, but when he spoke, I realised how upset he was.
I can see how. He's been working towards this most of his life, and then when he thinks it's within his grasp, someone comes along and snatches it away from him.
The Election Observation Mission of the European Union has just released a statement that calls into doubt the final result.
Kenyans are bracing themselves for the worst. My phone is full of text messages warning me not to leave my house tomorrow. I wasn't planning to.
Following the call by the opposition for a recount, Kenyan Jurist argues that there is no law allowing for a national recount:
My further thoughts after listening to the contestants;
•	There is no provision in our laws for a national recount as requested by Raila. Once this door is opened we might as well tear all the laws down.
•	I would like the Attorney General to come out very clearly and state what the law requires.
In another post, Kenyan Jurist notes that all sides do not seem to understand electoral laws:
Anyway, it is now becoming clear to me that neither the ECK officials. candidates nor their agents, including some lawyers of experience, have familiarised themselves with the provisions of Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Rules which govern the conduct of elections. If they had, some of these problems would have been avoided.
•	The only was to challenge an election or the result of an election is through and election petition filed in the manner provided by the National Assembly and Presidential Elections Act. The election process cannot be stopped or stayed in any manner.
When the rules were amended, it was contemplated that the polling station was to be the focal point of all matter concerning counting. The candidates agents would then assume an important position in ensuring that all the votes cast were valid and properly counted. Furthermore, this would reduce the inherent problems in counting a large number of ballots from the whole constituency. Notwithstanding allegations of rigging, I think the party's must take some responsibility for failure to invoke the proper process. Writing letters or press statements while the ECK is delivering the results is neither appropriate nor proper. I wonder why parties have legal advisers.
While I understand that the fact that there has been an increase in the number of voters and candidates, they has been clearly a failure of candidates agents and some ECK officials to take their work seriously. Similarly, the ECK has failed to clearly inform or educate the public on the proper legal process that is applicable to the situation such as one we face.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Jamaica: Friends for Life · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Moving home to live in Jamaica has revealed to me that American friends are for a reason, but Jamaican friends are for life”: In Francis Wade‘s experience, West Indians and North Americans approach relationships very differently.


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Jordan: Debut Post  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian Mohammad Azraq announces his debut post covering the Jordanian blogosphere at Global Voices Online here.


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Kazakhstan: President Eyes Oilfield Dispute’s Resolution · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Steve LeVine opines that Kazakhstan's president Nazarbayev seems to have signaled an end to the Kashagan dispute by calling together the oil companies for a meeting with him next month.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Kenya: Total media blackout · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Kenyan Pundit on total media blackout in Kenya: “I have no news to report. It’s a total total blackout. Watching TV feels like watching TV under some crazy dictatorship. I mean we all know that the country is on fire, but KBC is airing Just for Laughs. WTF???”


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Kuwaiti Publisher in Court · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Kuwait authorities levied charges of libel against Dr. Saad bin Tifla [translate], the publisher of the first online newspaper in the Gulf – Alaan – citing their Press & Publications Law of 2006, reports Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif.


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Lusosphere: Wishes and hopes for 2008 · Global Voices
Paula Góes

The new year is inevitably soon arriving and the Lusosphere is booming with posts about traditions, resolutions, wishes, and reflections. Here is a short roundup of Portuguese speaking blogs from Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Mozambique and Portugal – although countries far apart, they share the language and hopes for a better future.
Francisco José Viegas, from Origem das Espécies [pt], puts together a comprehensive retrospective of 2007, to remember the bad and the good, in A to Z format. Miradouro Online [pt] picks out the best and the worst Mozambican public personalities in 2007. Other bloggers talk about what 2007 brought them and reveal what they hope for 2008.
From East Timor, Fábrica de Blogs [pt] hopes for better days for the young country that has a troubled past and only achieved independence in 2002:
Há sempre algo dentro de nós que nos permite agarrarmo-nos à esperança e é essa a única coisa que segura os timorenses ou qualquer outro povo do mundo. Repare-se que pela nossa parte estamos fartos de andar de frustração em frustração, estamos cansados de que nos enganem e precisamos de continuar a acreditar em coisas que se concretizem. Precisamos de acreditar no nosso país, livre e independente, com tudo aquilo de que o presidente fala mas também com muita justiça. Queremos que 2008 nos traga tudo isso e seja melhor.
There's something inside us that enables us to attach ourselves to hope and this is the only thing that holds together people from East Timor or any other nation in the world. Note that, for our part, we are tired of going from one frustration to another, we are tired of being deceived and we need to carry on  believing in things that can come true. We need to believe in our country, free and independent, with everything that the president speaks about but also with much justice. We want 2008 to bring us all this and to be better.
In Mozambique, Armindo Milaco [pt] from Maputo looks at the bright side of 2007 and also hopes for a better 2008:
Reina apatia, desinteresse e medo de perder o pão como se justificam, mas na realidade o tal pão está seco e cheio de bolor. Espero que o 2008 traga muita força e determinação, coragem e entrega para o bem desta nossa bela nação onde pedra a pedra destruiremos as inconstituicionalidades, as mortes misteriosas, doenças endêmicas, desemprego e pobreza.
Apathy, disillusionment and fear of losing the bread rule, but in fact this is just a stale and moldy bread. I hope that 2008 brings greater strength and determination, courage and commitment to better our great nation, where little by little we will put an end to unlawfulness, mysterious deaths, endemic diseases, unemployment and poverty.
Juliana Helena [pt], a very young Brazilian blogger, makes a quite long retrospective of 2007 explaining why it was a different year for her:
…porque, principalmente, cada ano é único e especial. Um ano nunca é igual a outro, assim com um dia não é igual ao outro. 2007 pode ter sido um ano em que aconteceram séries de coisas ruins, mas que também nos trouxe tantas outras coisas boas. Eu não tenho pressa que 2008 chegue, curtirei o máximo possível o restinho de 2007 que ainda tenho. Porém, tenho certeza de que o ano que virá nos trará muito mais de bom e de proveitoso. Afinal, é assim que andamos: sempre torcendo e fazendo com que o amanhã seja melhor para todos nós!
…Mainly because each year is unique and special. One year is never exactly like another, inasmuch as one day is not the same as the other. 2007 may have been a year in which a series of bad things happened, but it has also brought us so many other good things. I am not in a hurry for 2008 to arrive, I will enjoy as much as I can this little bit of 2007 left that I still have. However, I am sure that next year will bring us many more good and fruitful things. After all, this is how we go: always hoping and making the future better for everyone!
From Aveiro, Portugal, Maria do Rosário Fardilha [pt] publishes the image below, by Portuguese sculptor Jorge Vieira, and explains her relationship with an upcoming year:
(Jorge Vieira)
Eu gosto de olhar para trás, não consigo sequer não o fazer. Mas também espreito o futuro, tentando adivinhar, com ou sem ansiedade – depende da alma dos dias, o que vou olhar e enfrentar. Por isso este desenho de Jorge Vieira.
I like looking back, I can't help looking back. However, I take a peep at the future, trying to guess with or without anxiety – what I will see and face depends on the soul of days. Hence there is this image by Jorge Vieira.
Also from Portugal, Gilberto Pereira [pt] wonders why people celebrate the end of a year and the beginning of the next, and reminds us that last minute resolutions can be useless:
É preciso chegar ao dia 31 de Dezembro para se lembrarem que há algo para fazer que já poderiam ter feito há mais tempo? Mas porquê?? Porque é que se desperdiçam os dias sem tirar deles o máximo proveito possível, sem viver o dia inteiro e ficando constantemente à espera que algo nos dê uma bofetada de realidade na cara? Resolução para 2008: “Este ano vou começar a viver a vida”.
Do we need to get to December 31 to remember that there is something to be done that should have already been done earlier? But why? Why is it that days are wasted without us getting the most out of them, without us living the entire day and waiting constantly for something to throw reality in our face? Resolution for 2008: “This year I will start to get a life”.
On the other hand, De Olho na Praia [pt], from Cape Verde, has resolved to be happy every single day:
Quanto ao novo ano e planos novos, prefiro pensar em dia novo, e que podemos fazer e refazer planos novos todos os dias. Temos a obrigação de ser felizes todos os dias e sim, passar para o novo ano, numa festa saborosa!
As for the new year and new plans, I prefer to think on a new day, and we can make and re-make new plans every day. We have an obligation to be happy every day and indeed, move on to the new year's celebrations, a delicious festival!
C Valente [pt] takes us through the New Year celebrations’ main dishes, deserts, drinks and rituals in Portugal and publishes the  “2008 Harmony Cake” recipe, whose ingredients are:
Amor e Amizade
Esperança e Harmonia
Fraternidade, solidariedade e generosidade
E todos os outros ingredientes que cada um quiser juntarem.
As quantidades são em conformidade com o número de pessoas e o seu coração.
Love and Friendship
Hope and Harmony
Fraternity, solidarity and generosity
And all the other ingredients that each one of us would like to add to the mixture.
The measures are in accordance with the number of people and your heart.
Carola [pt], from São Paulo, Brazil, writes a balance of her life in 2007 and leaves us with a text by Brazilian poet Carlos Drummond de Andrade:
“Quem teve a idéia de cortar o tempo em fatias, a que se deu o nome de ano, foi um indivíduo genial. Industrializou a esperança, fazendo-a funcionar no limite da exaustão. Doze meses dão para qualquer ser humano se cansar e entregar os pontos. Aí entra o milagre da renovação e tudo começa outra vez, com outro número e outra vontade de acreditar que daqui pra diante vai ser diferente”
“Whoever had the idea of cutting the time in slices, to which was given the name of year, was a brilliant individual. This industrialized hope, making it work within the limits of exhaustion. Twelve months are enough for any human being to get tired and throw in the towel. At this point, comes the miracle of renewal and everything starts again, with another number and another will to believe that from there on it will be different”

author: Paula Góes


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Malaysia: Getting The Page Rank Back · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

5xmom is happy to get her google page rank back and swears to stay off paid posts. “No more selling text links, no more paid posts on the these three blogs until Google define what I am allowed to do.”


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Mexico: Giant Crack in Ice Rink · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

A huge crack appeared in the middle of the ice rink that was set up in the zócalo of Mexico City.  Isopixel [es] has the latest photo.


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Myanmar: On Sanctions · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Kalvin makes use of some algebra to show why sanctions are not working in Myanmar.


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New Bloggers Use Poetry to Describe Their Communities, Feelings, Friends · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Originally posted on Rising Voices
We can assume that ever since language was first given physical form, poetry (from the Greek poiesis, “making” or “creating”) has been a vehicle to express our saddest laments, our giddiest joys, and our most enigmatic secrets of love and mourning. Though there is no shortage of concern that the tradition of poetry will be lost among the bits and bytes of a digital age, there is also a growing mountain of evidence (in the form of blogging poets, or poetic bloggers) that the aesthetics and muse of prose can now reach farther and wider than ever before.
The new bloggers of Rising Voices outreach projects in Colombia, Bolivia, and Bangladesh are more than just up-and-coming citizen journalists. They have also discovered the power of prose to reveal glimpses of the human emotions that bring us together and the local differences that make each of our communities unique.
Poetry is always the most difficult of texts to translate and for this reason we have left the original Spanish and Bangla text followed by our best attempts of English translations.
Tribute by Carmen Elena Paniagua of HiperBarrio:
Homenaje
Con este breve poema quiero expresar mi gratitud a una vieja amiga.
Canción ausente
No llores cuando me marche y tenga que dejarte sóla en el rincón de siempre;
no olvides que mi voz quedó grabada en tu vientre;
no olvides que mis huellas están por todo tu cuerpo.
Ya de memoria sabes entonar nuestra melodía;
tu tristeza y mi llanto se confundieron muchas veces en acordes menores y mis lágrimas caían sobre tus cuerdas, apagando violentamente el eco de tus lamentos.
No te angusties por mi ausencia; deja que tu cuerpo esbelto repose, hasta que una noche regrese y juntas entonemos nuevamente la canción de siempre.
Absent song
Don't cry when I depart and must leave you alone in the corner of forever;
don't forget that my voice remains recorded within your abdomen;
don't forget that my footprints are all over your body.
And of memories, you know how to sing our melody;
your sadness and my crying have been confused many times in minor chords and my tears fall about your strings, violently halting the echo of your laments.
Do not distress for my absence; let your slender body rest, until one night I return and together we sing once again the song of forever.
We Are Women by Sharmin Chowdhury Shikha of Nari Jibon:
আমরা নারী
জেগে উঠ আজ, জেগে উঠ
বসে থেকো নাকো
সময় হয়েছে গো, সামনে যাবার
কেন বসে থাকো?
কেন ভিরু লাজ?
সামনে অনেক কাজ,
কেন বসে আছো, আধাঁরের ঘরে?
কেন কাটিয়ে দিচ্ছ জীবন, ধুঁকে ধুঁকে মরে?
বিশ্ব আজ আলোকিত, চারদিক উচ্ছাসিত।
তুমি কেন আধাঁরে, হয়ে আছো নিপতিত?
বেরিয়ে আস ঐ ঘর থেকে
তাকিয়ে দেখ নারী বিশ্বের দিকে।
বসে নেই তারা হাত পা গুটিয়ে
বাহিরে আসছে আধাঁর কাটিয়ে।
উন্নত দেশ, উন্নত বিশ্বে
নারীরা আজ অনেক শীর্ষে।
জ্ঞান চক্ষে তারা করছে অনেক ভালো
পালিয়ে যাচ্ছে সকল আধাঁর কালো।
হে মহীয়ান নারী
গর্জে উঠে একবার বল
আমরা পারি, সবই পারি
আমরা নারী।
Announcement by Diego Ospina of HiperBarrio:
Anuncio
Te cambio una palabra por un beso mujer hermosa.
Es un buen trato teniendo en cuenta que el beso estremecerá a mi alma, dará tal alegría a mi corazón que saltará aceleradamente y el dulce sabor de unos húmedos labios abrazarán los míos; la palabra que yo acrezco una vez sea escuchada cambiará por completo la percepción antes tenida de la vida; la verdad, el sufrimiento y la muerte tomarán un sentido tan pleno como el que da una revelación maravillosa.
I'll trade you a word for a kiss beautiful woman.
It's a good deal keeping in mind that the kiss will shake my soul, will give such joy to my heart that it will leap acceleratively and the sweet taste of moist lips will embrace my own; the word, once heard, will completely change the perception of life; honestly, the suffering and the death will make the sense of that which inspires a marvelous revelation.
Once a Day by Zannat Ara Amzad of Nari Jibon:
কোন একদিন
অজানা, অচেনা হয় যদি চেনা-জানা
কোন একদিন……..
তুমি, আমি ডানা মেলা
যেদিন আকাশ হবে নীল।
চোখে চোখে কথা বলা
না বলা যত কথা হবে সেদিন,
যেদিন হবে তোমার আমার
প্রণয় মালার দিন।
দিন-ক্ষণ জানি না,
সময়-অসময় বুঝি না,
কোন বাঁধা মানি না-
যদি না বাজাঁও ভালোবাসার বীণ ।
Talking eye on eye
All never said things would be divulged
When you and me
Would tie the knots
I don’t know the time-date
I don’t bother about the convenience
I won’t accept any deterrent
If you don’t play the tune of love.
From the Heart of the Andes by Juan H. Apaza of Voces Bolivianas:
Desde El Corazon de los Andes
GRITOS DE DOLOR ATAÑEN
LA SANGRE DERRAMADA CLAMA
CINCO SIGLOS DE AUSENCIA CALLADA
UN CORAZON RECLAMA PRESENCIA.
Screams of pain from
the spilt-over blood cry out
five centuries of silent absence
a heart reclaims presence
DESDE EL MAS PROFUNDO SURCO DE LOS ANDES
HAY UN ESPIRITU DE LA TIERRA
REFLEJO DE ARMONIA ,RESPETO Y VIDA,
AYNI ,RECIPROCIDAD Y AGRADECIMIENTO
UKAPINIU SARSTWA.
SE HA CUMPLIDO EL PACHACUTI,
UKA JACHA URU JUTASTA
DANZAN LOS TARIS Y LAS TRENZAS
SUENAN LAS PANKARAS
SICUS Y THARKHAS EXCLAMAN:
EL CORAZON DE LOS ANDES A VUELTO (BIS)
The heart of the Andes has returned
PARTIERON TU CUERPO A LOS VIENTOS,
LO ARRASTRARON POR CALLES Y PLAZAS,
FUE LLEVADA TU CABEZA EN PICOTA…
Y TU CORAZON CONVERTIDO EN WACA.
Y NO PUDIERON MATARTE…!
HA VUELTO EL CORAZON DE LOS ANDES,
Y LATE EN MILES DE ESPIRITUS,
TU CORAJE ESTA LATENTE ,JILATA…
JULIAN APAZA ….TUPAC KATARI
Friend by Jesmin Ara Amzad of Nari Jibon:
বন্ধু
বন্ধু মানে ভালো লাগা
দুটি হৃদয়ের ভালোবাসা।
বন্ধু মানে একটু আশা
মনের মাঝে স্বপ্ন বাঁধা।
বন্ধু মানে একটু ছোঁয়ায়
পরশ লাগে যত।
বন্ধু মানে ছুটে চলা
জোড়া শালিকের মত।
বন্ধু মানে উদার আঁকাশ
মেঘলা রোদের ঘর।
বন্ধু মানে স্নিগ্ধ আলোয়
শিশির ভেজা ভোর।
বন্ধু মানে বেজায় খুশি
একটু অভিমান।
মনের মাঝে কোথায় যেন
একটু খানি টান……
Translations by Rezwan and David Sasaki.

author: David Sasaki


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Pakistan: Benazir Bhutto’s legacy · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The news of Benazir Bhutto's death seems to have finally settled in. Bloggers are now focusing their attention on what Bhutto's legacy might be. Bhutto comes from a powerful family of sorts, and as is often characteristic of politics in South Asia, a lot of the controversy ow is directed towards discussing the consequences for the family and the Pakistan Peoples Party.
Baithak points out that that Bhutto's last will shows a hint of nepotism.
While there are more eligible candidates in the Bhutto clan, she did not mean them, but her own son Bilawal Zardari, 19 who promptly and publicly consented to change his name to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari…. Today, greed won – injustice won – nepotism won- once again – and you, me and Pakistan lost.
Chapati Mystery takes this line of reasoning further, and talks of the element of fedualism in the political realm in Pakistan. Where powerful families ensure that they remain in power, without letting leaders from other backgrounds emerge.
There is no democracy outside of the party, no reason for it to exist within. One can call this a reflection of the feudal structures left untouched by many a pseudo-revolutions; one can point to the long history of the pir/spiritual guide’s extension into the political realm; one can blame lack of political education and access to corridors of power for the members of PPP; and one can acknowledge that the military regimes have sufficiently retarded all venues of political legitimacy, such that there simply cannot be any alternatives to the once-future leaders – Bhuttos, Jatois, Bugtis, Sharifs. Whatever the case you wish to make, reality is that “politics” in Pakistan has, and will, remain a hereditary, charismatic domain built around cults of personalities – until and unless electoral politics takes firm roots.
The death of Bhutto in such violent circumstances also seems to have resulted in selective memory. People appear to have forgotten about the corruption charges against her, and there is the assumption that she was better than the other political leaders in Pakistan. Crow's Nest has more on this issue.
But more than that whenever someone dies he or she is always cast into a very heavenly light forgoing all their misdeeds and misgivings in their life. Benazir and her husband plundered this nation during her rule in the 90's, but when time came of her death 144 million people of this country forgot everything bad about her and started showering all kinds of praise as if she were an angel bestowed on this country.
As stated in Bhutto's will, her son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has been appointed the new chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party, preferred over other experienced politicians in the party. Bilawal is a nineteen year old boy, studying at Oxford in the UK. All Things Pakistan says
More that that, I wish (even though I know it was unlikely) that the Party would open up its leadership and internal democracy process. Also, there is the fear that if he is anointed many will try to manipulate him and he will be turned into a “puppet prince.” I do hope that none of this will happen.
Meanwhile, what of the other aspects of Bhutto's legacy. Bhutto returned to Pakistan after a period of eight years. The Pakistan she knew had completely changed. Her death resulted in violence on the streets, looting and rioting. Metroblogging Islamabad talks of these consequences and loss of public property.
We, the people of Pakistan, murdered around 50 humans in last 3 days. We burnt 170 banks. We completely destroyed 18 railway stations. And the list is long. And we say we are mourning. Is this the way to mourn? Its good being emotional, but we should not let the reason get out of our way. Apart from the loss of lives, which cannot be measured for cost, we caused monetary loss to the national exchequer, we have destroyed businesses and private property.
Further, why did these riots start? Who were people angry with? Who are the ones actually responsible for killing her? There is also strong evidence of a cover-up, as the Pakistani government insists that Bhutto didn't die of gunshot wounds, but that she died trying to duck the gunshot, and hit her head on the lever of the vehicle's sunroof. Pakistani Spectator discusses why riots erupted after Bhutto's death.
This is simply un-believeable that lever of sun roof of her vehile took her life. And mourning statements of ex-MNA Kashmala Tariq of PML(Q) and Altaf Hussain (MQM) are just rubbish.Surely people had that badly that a leader is killed publically but the situation created by the news of her assassination worked as a pressure relief valve for economically distressed nation and gave a chance to loot some money and grains for days to come. So people started looting ATMs and banks and then setting them on fire to eliminated proof of looting. This scenario also created the environment to ignite old enimities as no rule of law exists.


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Peru: Controversy in the Vote for Best Blog 2007 · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Peruanista [es] objects to the vote for “Best Peruvian blog of 2007″ held at the blog Utero de Marita [es], saying that there is a huge difference between best blog and the most popular blog, among other reasons.


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Peru: Traveling and Photography · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Luis Yupanqui Mesías of Peru Viajero [es] recounts some of the sites that he visited and photographed in 2007 and thanks his readers for accompanying him along the way.


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Philippines: Sweet Treat · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Eating Asia has a pictorial post on how people in rural Philippines  work out a sweet treat with a stick and a can of molasses.


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South Korea: DLP Leaders to be Resigned · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

CINA pointed out the Democratic Labour Party has the greatest loss in the Presidential election as their sympathizers/members had voted for the right wing candidate Lee Hoi-chang. The mainstream had reported that the DLP leadership is to be resigned.


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Sri Lanka: In 2008 · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

groundviews attempts at predicting what is in store for Sri Lanka in 2008.


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St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Windies Beat South Africa · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“This victory is so huge given the history of South African tours”: Abeni is thrilled that the West Indies cricket team have finally won a test match.


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Taiwan: Demos Chiang · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Demos Chiang is the great grandson of Chiang Kai-shek, the KMT dictator and he started to blog. ESWN translated local report on Demos Chiang's move and his blog post on Dec 27, about his political viewpoint on the anti-Chiang political process and blue-green politics.


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Tajikistan: Reactions on the Bhutto Death  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Vadim reports that the assassination of Benazir Bhutto was accepted in Tajikistan as a great sorrow.


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Thailand: Censoring Thaksin · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Bangkok Pundit comments on Thai officials attempts at censoring former prime minister Thaksin's appearance on Thai media.


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Uruguay: Fusion of Tango and Electronica · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

For fans of Tango, From Uruguay introduces readers to Bajofondo, a Uruguayan-Argentinean group that fuses tango and electronic music.


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Zambia: We need Enlightenment to end this instanity · Global Voices
Brenda Zulu

Zambian blogosphere continues to grow and bring diverse voices and opinions online. New Zambia writes about education in Zambia in his post, “Educated but poor”:
A majority of youth in Africa today have completed more years of schooling than their parents did but have limited opportunities in employment and remain poor, according to the The World Youth Report 2007.
He also writes about the Open Thread – NCC Allowances :
Some interesting comments / reports on the National Constitution Conference (NCC) allowances in the media this week. The Post on saturday reported the extent of the proposed allowances: The NCC delegates are entitled to a sitting allowance of K500,000 persitting and subsistence allowance of K650,000 per day. They are also entitled to transport allowance of K100,000 per day and transport refund of K300,000 for those who reside outside Lusaka.
The National Constitutional Conference (NCC) was held to prepare for a new Zambian constitution.
Issues Over Matters discusses the state of Zambian economy and politics:
Whatever happened to that age-old gem of wisdom that we always spat out when we realised someone was about to take advantage of us as youngsters in playgrounds in Kitwe: takuli kuliilana amasuku pamutwe guys in Bemba.
In the Zambian society today, ukuliilana amasuku unfortunately has become part of the national culture, and if anybody at any level for that matter, manages to eat fruit from someone else’s head, he assumes heroic status and the victim is deemed ukupwalala or sleepy.
A good example is the way former President Chiluba who is appearing in court for various offences allegedly committed while in office, is today seen as a victim rather than what he should be treated, as in The people Vs Chiluba.
Politicians in government, politicians outside government, senior civil servants, junior civil servants, private and parastatal company chief executives, junior employees, NGO leaders and just about everybody, including tuntemba owners, are fleecing and want to fleece everyone else.In short, crime in general and corruption in particular, is endemic in the nation. The dominant criminal element in society has impoverished everyone else to a point where being “clean” is considered abnormal.
When I was a student just over two decades ago, we used to band about statistics in Kalingalinga and M’tendere taverns that 95 percent of the nation’s wealth was in the hands of five percent of the population which was then associated with UNIP.
Two decades later and 17 years of the MMD in power, I am sure the statistics have shifted: 99 percent of the wealth is in the hands of only one percent of the population.
The recent contest for the ANC presidency between the South African president Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma drew a global attention. Zambian blogger, Ndlovu, writes about the contest in a post titled THABO BRUISING A LESSON FOR AFRICA. He writes:
The election of Jacob Zuma as ANC leader is a good sign for Africa, that democracy can prevail even in ruling parties across the continent used to leaders who grow roots in the seats of power. Not that Zuma is the best man for the eventual job of South African president, but Thabo Mbeki is to blame.
ICT Journalist looks at the state of ICT infrastructure and policies in Africa in the context of the Africa Telecommunications Day:
The lack of main energy supply in many rural and remote areas is a major obstacle to deploying telecommunication infrastructure.
When we look at the theme for the Africa Telecommunications Day whose theme this year is “Applying emerging technologies to empower rural communities towards attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),” we see the digital divide between rural and urban area.
To bridge the rural digital divide there is need to strengthen human and institutional capacities to harness information and knowledge more effectively. Africa needs to address the following key issues to reduce the digital divide that exists.
When we look at content package on the Internet, it is all in Africa’s foreign languages which are either in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish or Japanese to name but a few. There is need for African communities to locally adapt content and contextualise it. Also there is need for the communities to share content that will build on exiting systems to address diversity.
Rural dwellers however will also need capacity building on the importance of ICTs and how they can benefit from them. It is also important for the rural communities to partner and participate in the World Summit on information Society (WSIS) process.
It is also time for the rural communities to have a realistic approach to technologies and work on the high cost and financial sustainability. Hence, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Community Based Organisation (CBO) and civil society’s role should also help increased awareness of ICTs in rural Africa.
The fact that globalisation and the new technologies (ICTs) are fast transforming all aspects of development and how information is shared is the problem that makes rural societies in Africa to lag behind. Communication is now a priority for an international community, which makes rural societies in Africa increase the need to improve the flow of information.
GRACE Research Zambia is a blog that looks at the nexus between the  women, development and mobile phone service provision in Zambia:
This Research Project aims to explore the various factors involved in the dynamics of provision of the communications service, the Research Process involved probing the effects of the service on the communities which had previously not had the technology, observing the cultural, social and economic changes which have been observed and can be related in a way to the provision of the service.
The project also intends to find the place of women in the process by questioning their position at the various stages of provision or decision-making. The following sectors have been a major focus of the research: Government, Interest Groups (Ruling and the opposition Parties), Civil Society, Mobile Cellular Phone Service Providers and Ordinary Mobile Cellular Phone Users.
Mwankole kumushi Kulishani asks, “When will Zambia attain the age of enlightenment?”
The lack of rationality in the manner Zambians continue to view both their constitution and national resources might evoke the question – how long before our nation attains the age of enlightenment?
How long before the correlation between the individual and the state is widely appreciated?
There is perhaps no better demonstration of the popular expression “insanity is doing the same thing over and over yet expecting different results each time” than Zambia’s constitution review process. We have had the
i) Mvunga constitution review in 1991,
ii) Mwanakatwe constitution review in 1996,
iii) Late Lucy Sichone’s call for a constituent assembly,
iv) Mung’omba constitution review in 2003,
v) Levy Mwanawasa’s Indaba 2003
vi) And now National Constitution Conference.
I expect at this point, that an eminent citizen like John Mwanakatwe or Wila Mung’omba would spearhead an intellectual movement of the Enlightened and advocate reason as the primary basis of authority and straight talk to average Zambians to end this insanity!
We know what Zambians want and expect in their constitution, why should an authoritarian president continue to trample on the greater rights of common Zambians.

author: Brenda Zulu


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Azerbaijan: Benazir Bhutto · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Marilisa Lorusso's blog sounds a warning following the recent assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan. In Azerbaijan, for example, the potential rise of Islamic fundamentalism is very real which is why the blog says there has been very little discussion of other possibilities for who might be responsible for her death.


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Bahamas: Annus Horriblis  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Craig Butler, blogging at Bahama Pundit, recalls the highs and lows of 2007 – both in his personal life and in the life of the world around him.


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Barbados: Technology Gap · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“I think the computer and the Internet rank high amongst those inventions that have revolutionized our lives”: Living in Barbados is fascinated by the ability to interact through technology.


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Jamaica: Mob Rule?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As three men are killed by a mob after attempting to steal a goat, Francis Wade suggests that part and parcel of moving back to Jamaica includes the ability to accept shocking news.


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Japan: Top blogger calls it quits, again · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

Asiajin reports that Wakatsuki Chinatsu, Japan's top blogger, who in late November declared that she would take a break from blogging only to change her mind [ja] shortly thereafter, has decided to call it quits for real this time.

author: Chris Salzberg


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Korea: Top Ten News in 2007 · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

Korean bloggers are busy saying farewell to 2007. While most of them look back at what they gained and did for 2007, a netizen bizbatik summarized the top ten blog news in Korea.
1. 이명박 당선..10년만에 정권교체.
한나라당 이명박 후보가 12월 19일 역대 대선 사상 최대 표차로 17대 대통령에 당선됐다. 이 당선자는 총 1,149만2,389표(48.7%)를 얻어 2위 대통합민주신당 정동영 후보를 531만여표 차로 이겼다.
이로써 1997년 김대중 전 대통령의 당선 이후 10년 만에 정권이 한나라당으로 다시 넘어갔다. 이 당선자는 대선 기간 내내 지지율 1위를 달렸으나 막판 BBK 의혹 등으로 위기를 맞았다… 대선 투표율은 63%에 그쳐 역대 최저를 기록했다.
2. 제2차 남북 정상회담 평양서 개최
남북의 두 정상이 7년 만에 평양에서 만났다. 당초 8월말로 예정됐던 회담은 북측의 수해로 10월 2~4일 열렸다. 노무현 대통령은 군사분계선(MDL)을 걸어서 넘은 후 육로로 방북 했고, 김정일 국방위원장은 평양 시내 광장에서 노 대통령을 맞았다. 두 정상은 ▦서해평화협력특별지대 조성 ▦안변ㆍ남포 조선협력단지 건설 ▦한반도종전선언 위한 3, 4자 정상회담 추진 ▦경의선 철도 도로 개ㆍ보수 ▦문산_봉동 경의선 화물수송 ▦백두산관광 실시 ▦총리회담 개최 등 풍성한 성과를 담은 10ㆍ4정상선언을 발표했다.
3. 태안 앞바다 기름 유출… 자원봉사의 힘
12월7일 인천대교 공사 작업을 마치고 경남 거제로 가던 해상크레인이 예인선과 연결된와이어가 끊어지면서 충남 태안 앞바다에서 홍콩 선적 유조선 허베이 스피리트호와 충돌했다. 사고로 원유 1만900톤이 유출, 태안과 서산의 어장 5,159ha, 해변 167km가오염됐다. 하지만 사고 2주째인 지난달 20일까지 15만4,000여명의 자원봉사자와 주민 등 30만명이 기름제거에 나서‘태안의 기적’을 만들어 가고있다. 정부의 미숙한 사고 대응과 부풀려진 국가방제능력이 도마에 올랐다.
4. 아프가니스탄서 23명 피랍 ‘불면의 여름’
7월19일아프가니스탄 가즈니주에서 경기 분당 샘물교회 목사등봉사단원 23명 이무장단체 탈레반에 피랍됐다.
정부는 노무현 대통령이 미 CNN 등을 통해 인질 석방을 촉구하는 긴급 메시지를 발표하고, 대통령 특사와 국정원장까지 현지에 파견했으나 인질석방 협상 과정 도중 배형규(42) 목사와 심성민(29)씨가 무참히 살해됐다.
피랍 42일만인 8월28일 나머지 인질 21명이 모두 석방됐으나 한국 개신교의 무분별한 해외 선교 방식을 놓고 한동안 논란이 끊이지 않았다.
5. 김용철… 김경준… 삼성•BBK ‘쌍끌이 특검’
11월16일 BBK 주가조작 사건의 주범 김경준(41)씨가 국내로 송환되면서 이명박 대통령 당선자의 BBK 연루 의혹은 정점으로 치달았다. 검찰이 이 당선자를 무혐의 처리했지만 여진은 계속됐고 급기야 특별검사제 도입이 결정됐다. 이로써 김용철 변호사가 폭로한 삼성 비자금 사건에 대한 특검과 함께‘쌍끌이 특검’이 새해 정권 교체기를 강타할 전망이다. 삼성 특검은 수사대상에 경영권 승계는 물론 노무현 대통령의 당선축하금까지포함, 참여정부의 단죄 여부도 관심사다.
6. 진보•보수세력 갈등 속 한미 FTA 타결
우리 사회를 진보와 보수세력의 충돌로 이끌었던 한미 자유무역협정(FTA)이 협상 출범 14개월만인 4월 2일 극적으로 타결됐다.
거대 경제권과의 첫 FTA 결실이었다. 이를 계기로 군사ㆍ외교 동맹에 머물렀던 한미 관계는 경제동맹이라는 새로운 시대를 열었다. 하지만 양국 모두 정치적 상황에 밀려 아직 비준 절차를 마치지 못한 미완의 상태다.
7. 신정아•변양균 스캔들… 잇단 가짜학위 파문
7월 초 불거진‘미술계의 신데렐라’ 신정아(35•여) 전 동국대 교수의 가짜학위 파문은 김옥랑•윤석화씨 등 또다른 문화예술계 유명 인사들의 학력위조까지 무더기로 폭로되는 계기가 됐다. 특히 신씨 사건은 미 캔자스대 학•석사와 예일대 박사학위 위조뿐만 아니라 변양균(58) 전 청와대 정책실장의 비호 의혹까지 겹치면서‘권력형 스캔들’로 확대돼 세상을 떠들썩하게 했다.
신씨와 변씨는 직권남용 등의 혐의로 10월 말 구속 기소돼 현재재판이 진행 중이다.
8. 60여년 만에 전시작전통제권 환수 합의
한미 국방장관은 현재 한미연합사령관이 갖고 있는 전시작전통제권을 2012년4월17일 한국군에 넘기기로 2월에 합의했다.
이로써 한국전쟁때미국에 넘긴 군사작전권을 60여년만에 되찾아 군사주권을 회복하게 됐다. 한미군사동맹도 대등한 협력관계로 바뀔 전환점을 마련했다.
9. 김승연 한화 회장 보복폭행… 특권의식 경종
김승연(55) 한화그룹 회장은 3월8일아들을 때린 술집 종업원들을 찾아 직접 폭행,‘ 사적 복수극’의 주인공이 됐다.
한 달 뒤 경찰이 내사에 착수하자 김 회장 측은 이를 무마하기 위한 전방위 로비를 했고, 그 결과 수사팀이 교체되는 등 경찰 고위층의 은폐 시도가드러났다. 빗나간‘부정’(父情)에서 촉발된 이 사건은 재벌의 특권의식에 경종을 울리는 계기가 됐다. 또 최근에는 최초 수사 담당자를 겨냥한 경찰청의‘보복성 표적수사’ 논란으로까지 이어지고 있다.
10. 주식형펀드 열풍… 주가 2000시대 열어
7월 25일 종합주가지수가 2,004.22로 마감돼 주가 2,000 시대를 열었다. 1980년 100으로 출발, 89년 1,000을 돌파한 뒤 17년 만이다. 세계적인 증시 호황 덕도 봤지만, 비로소 우리 증시가 고질적인 저평가 시각에서 벗어나 한단계 성장했음을 알리는 사건이었다.
펀드로 대표되는 간접투자 바람은 증시의 든든한 버팀목이었다. 주식형펀드 규모는 올해에만 150%(67조원) 가까이 늘어 재테크 문화를 ‘저축’에서 ‘투자’로 바꿨다.
2. The Second North-South Korean Summit in Pyongyang.
The two leaders of North and South Korea met in Pyongyang after 7 years. The meeting which was supposed to be held in late August was delayed to the second and fourth of October because of floods in North Korea. South Korean president, Roh Moo Hyun, crossed the MDL (Military Demarcation Line) by walking and visited North Korea. Kim Jung Il, North Korean leader welcomed Roh Moo Hyun ata Square in Pyongyang. The two leaders announced the 10.4 Summit Agreement which was to establish cooperative complexes for shipbuilding in Anbyeon and Nampo, to designate a joint fishing area in the West Sea, to continue the third and fourth summits in order to declare an end to the war, to open freight rail services between Munsan and Bongdong, to carry out tours to Mt. Baekdu, to reconstruct the Gyeongui Railway, and so on.
3. Spilled crude oil in the water near Taean… power of volunteers
On the seventh of December, super tanker Hebei Spirit, the Hong Kong-registered vessel that was located at the Taean region in Chungcheongnam-do, was hit by an industrial barge which was on the way back to Geoje in Kyungsangnam-do after finishing a construction job for Incheon Bridge. Due to the accident, 10,900 tons of crude oil was poured from the super tanker. 5,159ha of fishery at Taean and Seosan and 167km of the seashore have been contaminated. But passing the twentieth day after the accident two weeks ago, 300,000 people including 154,000 volunteers and residents have been making the ‘miracle of Taean’ to get rid of oil. Immature reaction of the government and exaggerated control of the nation have been criticized a lot.
4. ‘Sleepless summer’ for 23 hostages in Afghanistan.
On the 19th of July, 23 missionaries from Saemmul Church at Bundang were kidnapped by the Taleban at the Ghazni province in Afghanistan. The government and the president Roh Moo Hyun sent the urgent message to ask the release of 23 hostages through CNN. The Special envoy of the president and the chairman of the National Intelligence Service were dispatched and negotiated for the release, but Bae Hyung Kyu(42) and Sim Sung Min(29) were killed. On the 42nd day after the kidnapping, which was on the 28th of August, the rest of hostages were released, but there have been endless arguments and debates about thoughtless missions of Korean Protestantism.
5. Kim Yong Chul…Kim Kyeong Joon… Samsung and BBK ‘two special investigations’
On the 16th of November, Kim Kyung Joon(41) as the principal offender of the BBK stock price manipulation case was sent back home. The implicated relation between Lee Myung Bak and BBK has been a major issue. Even though the prosecution cleared Lee Myung Bak of suspicion, the suspicion was continued and, in the end of the election, the special investigation was applied. Therefore, two special investigations, including a special investigation about the Samsung corruption scandal that a lawyer Kim Yong Chul disclosed, will hit the period of changing political power in the New Year. The investigation about Samsung will include the succession of the right of management, money to celebrate the election of the president Roh Moo Hyun, and the involvement of the current government.
6. FTA between Korea and the U.S. in the middle of conflicts between the Conservative and Progressive
The FTA that caused conflicts between the Conservatives and Progressives in our society finally was agreed on the second of April after 14 months when the negotiation started. It was the first time to make the agreement with a big economy. Starting this, the military and diplomatic relations between Korea and the U.S. will be expanded to an economic alliance. But due to political situations of the each country, it has not gone through the ratification.
7. Scandal of Shin Jung-a and Byeon Yang-gyun… sensation of fake academic degree in succession
Fake degree scandal of Cinderella of art field in the early July and professor of Dongguk University, Shin Jung-a (35), became the beginning of a series of fake degree scandals of other celebrities. In particular, the Shin scandal of fake degrees, BA and MA degrees from Kansas University and PhD degree from Yale University, became more famous as the ‘authority scandal’ because she had private relations with Byun Yang Kyun (58) who was deputy minister of the Blue House. Both of them were arrested on suspicion of wrongful exercise of authority in the late October.
8. Getting back the wartime operational control after 60 years.
In February, the ministers of National Defense at the U.S. and Republic of Korea agreed that Korea will get back wartime operational control of South Korean troops from the US forces from the 17th of April in 2012. This means that Korea will get back the military authority from the US forces after 60 years. The military alliances between Korea and the U.S. will turn to be cooperative and equal relations….
9. Revenge attacks of Kim Seung Youn, Hanhwa chairman… alarm to the priviledged classes
On his own, Kim Seung Younn (55), Hanhwa chairman, assaulted bar employees who beat his son on the 8th of March. A month after the attack, the police started investigating and he committed the omnidirectional lobby in order to cover it up. As a result, some investigators were switched and the attempt that high positions of the police tried to hide the truth was dislosed. The incident that was caused by erroneous love from parents became the alarm toward the priviledged consciousness of the wealth.
10. Hot wind of stock funds—stock prices 2000 period
On the 25th of July, the composite price indes of stocks closed with 2,004.22 and stock prices 2,000 period has been opened. In the 1980s, it started from 100 and in 1989, it surmounted 1,000. As well as to the stock boom in the world, Korean stock overcame low estimates and grew fast. Indirect investment, such as funds, became the strong support of the securities market. The size of stock funds increased 150 percent this year and the tendency of financial technology has been switched from ‘saving’ to ‘investment.’

author: Hyejin Kim


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Saudi blogger Alfarhan detained for violating rules not related to state security · Global Voices
sami ben gharbia

Responding to repeated requests for comment with a brief cellphone text message, a spokesperson for the Saudi Interior Ministry, confirmed yesterday that blogger Fouad Alfarhan was being held for “interrogation for violating non-security regulations.”

author: sami ben gharbia


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Trinidad in Tobago: An Artistic Year  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Thebookmann marks noteworthy moments of the year in art in Trinidad and Tobago.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Caribbean Books of 2007 · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Antilles posts a list of the top Caribbean books of 2007, as decided by the editors of The Caribbean Review of Books.


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25 years of the Internet · Global Voices
Paula Góes

In January 1st 1983, 25 years ago, the  Internet was officially defined as a network using TCP/IP. André Lemos [pt] publishes links to the piece of news and comments on  the many changes the Internet has undergone, from ftp to Web 2.0. “May the web carry on being impartial and collaborative!”.


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Armenia: New Year’s Eve · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The Armenian Patchwork posts photographs looking for scenes “that represent our New Year’s spirit” a day before 2008 was ushered in.


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Bahamas, Haiti: Cultural Traditions · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Dan Schweissing mixes traditional New Year's festivities with Caribbean cultural traditions, “making for a truly cross-cultural celebration.”


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Bangladesh: Lessons from Pakistan · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Voice of Bangladeshi Bloggers reflects on Bhutto's death and what lessons it holds for Bangladesh.


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Bangladesh: On Dynasties and 2007 · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

imperfect world 2008 on 2007 as a bad year of dynasties – rounding up political events from South Asia.


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Bolivia: Use of the .bo Domain · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Hugo Miranda of Angel Caido [es] writes about the usage and cost of the .bo domain in Bolivia.


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Brazil: Milton Ribeiro on the blogosphere · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Milton Ribeiro [pt] publishes an interview that Luís Carmelo [pt] made with him back in 2006 about the blogosphere. “On the Internet, any individual who wants to exercise their freedom of speech will find another individual exercising their freedom of information. This is freedom. This is democracy. This is a right that must be guaranteed”. It is worth reading again.


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Brazil: On the polemic campaign against AIDS · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Alda Inacio [pt] on the withdrawal of an European campaign against AIDS showing two men having sex, on the grounds that the images were too explicit. “I believe that this disease does not belong to any class and this unfashionable mentality should have been abolished by those who made these posters”.


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Chile: Interview with Politician Interested in OLPC · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Luis Ramirez interviews Sergio Bitar [es], head of the Democracy Party in Chile, who was very interested in the One Laptop Per Child project when he worked in the Ministry of Education during the Ricardo Lagos administration.


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Chile: Predictions for 2008 · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Notas Al Margen [es] dares to list some predictions for Chile in 2008.


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China: 47,000,000 Blogger · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Blogsir from Bokeebao refers to the latest research by CNNIC, which shows that  by the end of Nov 2007, there are 72,820,000 blogs and 47,000,000 bloggers in China, which means there is a blogger in every 30 Chinese, or in every 4 netizens. 36% of the blogger population is active (zh).


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China: Aisa and Woman Politician  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The murder of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan has shocked Xin Haiguang and he realizes that women have played a very special role in Asia politics. Most of them pick up the mission of their fathers and husbands and become symbols of reform, however usually end in exile or death (zh).


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China: Erotic Film Banned from Movie Awards · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The Chinese censorship board body, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), has banned producers of erotic movies, including their directors and leading actors, from participation in domestic film awards. —  more from Kenneth Tan from Shanghaiist.


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China: Net Eye · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translated an article from Southern Weekend explaining their success in getting news from the internet.


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China: Where is the Victim? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Li Yin he comments on the recent news report on the crackdown of indecent and obscene publications and performances by raising a question: If all the people involve are voluntary, where is the harm? and where is the victim? (zh).


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Dominica: Year of the Frog · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Dominica's “mountain chicken” is now on the endangered list.  Steve's Dominica links to the story.


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Georgia: Happy New Year · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The MFR Photoblog posts pictures of revellers seeing in the New Year in the Georgian capital. The blogger says that more than 15,000 Georgians took part in the celebration held in Tbilisi's Freedom Square.