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Armenia: Post-Election Revolution Scenario? · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

That there would be mass demonstrations immediately after the presidential election held last week in Armenia was known long ago. Many observers also figured on yet another attempt by the radical opposition to stage a colored revolution of the type seen in Georgia and Ukraine. However, few expected it to succeed, but a week after the 19 February vote, the situation is now gearing up for what might be serious confrontation between opposition supporters and the authorities.
At the heart of the post-election dispute lies the issue of succession to the incumbent and outgoing president, Robert Kocharian, who is unable to run for a third term in office under the constitution. Indeed, the 19 February presidential election was seen by most critics of the government as merely a formality for Kocharian to pass on power to his trusted lieutenant, prime minister Serge Sargsyan.
The radical opposition put its hopes on the return of Armenia's first president, Levon Ter-Petrossian.
However, with many such as The Armenian Observer believing that Sargsyan would be unable to pass the 50 percent + 1 threshold to win outright on election day, a second round was expected by most independent observers. Analysts and journalists alike were all convinced of that eventuality.
I still see Serzh Sargsyan as the front runner – he might have close to 35% of voter sympathy. […] I have a feeling, that excellent PR and aggressive campaigning finally did it – and Levon Ter-Petrossian now has perhaps 20% of vote. […]
But while most polling stations were reported as calm, albeit with international observers reporting “bad” or “very bad” problems with the vote and count in 16 percent of polling stations, civil society received many complaints of violence, intimidation and ballot box stuffing on polling day. Working in the newsroom of Internews, The Armenian Observer received many such complaints himself.
[…] Complaints and information on various violations kept pouring in. The situation was apparently several times worse in the Regions. Our journalists visited several sites of violations and noted the boldness with which those were being carried out: ballots stuff, voters intimidated, journalists hindered from their work. Reports […] give me enough background to state, that the authorities most coldheartedly raped the concept of free and fair elections and might as well get away with it.
It wasn't long before videos of ballot box stuffing and other disturbances soon found their way on the Internet. Faced with a generally positive verdict on the conduct and outcome of the election by international observers, however, it was no wonder that the final results did not change much by the time they were confirmed at the weekend.
Of course, the final results — 53 percent to Sargsyan and 21 percent to Ter-Petrossian — didn't surprise most election observers. Even on the day of voting, The Armenia Blog wasn't expecting the presidential election to be fair.
Ah yes, today is the day where corruption, blind nationalism, and fraud all come together in the form of Armenia's Presidential Election! Who will win? Who will lose? One thing's for certain, this is not going to be a demonstration of democracy and whoever is elected will first and foremost get himself rich, then those near him, and whatever is left will be spread among the lower individuals in power.
The blog later commented on the post-election mass protests.
It seems tens of thousands of people unhappy with the results of the election have decided to take to the streets in protest. It appears that this minority isn't happy with the fact that Serge Sarkisian received the majority of the votes in a landslide election or that Russia and the OSCE have approved of the election and its results. […]
All of which didn't really concern the radical opposition much. Since the day after the 19 February presidential election, protests were being staged daily in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, and pulled large crowds averaging about 30,000 in terms of attendance. On 21 February, Ter-Petrossian's supporters announced round the clock demonstrations which included occupying Yerevan's Liberty Square. The Armenian Observer spent a night with demonstrators.
…and all that time I couldn’t help feeling guilty and responsible for everything that’s happening now. We all are responsible, aren’t we? But some are brave enough to stand up and fight, some, like me – look for excuses in not liking Levon or supporting Vahan – and some openly admit they are being raped by Serzh, and they even like it.
[…] Anyways – I’m not here for Levon. I’m here, because I deeply sympathize with these people. I always feel emotionally attached to people who sincerely believe in their cause. And I feel guilty for not supporting Levon – but, I just can’t! I dislike him. I don’t think he has ever done anything right! […]
Now I just really want to sleep. What was I doing out there all night anyway?
Such demonstrations are not new to Armenia. However, what has made the past week's turn of events somewhat different is the consistency by which that part of the opposition led by Ter-Petrossian has managed to gather tens of thousands of people on a daily basis in Yerevan's Liberty Square.
Unzipped reports that several officials and diplomats, albeit those mainly linked to the former president, either joined protesters or resigned their positions in a show of solidarity.
Four senior Armenian diplomats […] have resigned in protest of the conduct of presidential election and in support of opposition movement led by the first president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan. This information has just been confirmed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ruben Shugaryan was Armenia's first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan's press-secretary in 1992-1993, before (1991-1992) he was Ter-Petrosyan's aide.
Regardless of conflicting news of support by some high-rank officials in government, judiciary, military etc (some of them confirmed, others – not), it is clear that Levon Ter-Petrosyan has loyal group of supporters in governmental structures, who even after 10 years of him not being in power, retained their loyalty [and] joined the protest movement which is evolving to become a movement for democracy.
Moreover, to date there has been no attempt by the authorities to violently disperse protesters and that's even though they have simultaneously held marches through the city center which have disrupted traffic and have not been sanctioned by the municipality. More significantly perhaps, faced with a lack of coverage by the mainly government-controlled broadcast media, the marches were a powerful tool in conveying a message on the streets.
[…] one foreign correspondent at yesterday’s march by a few thousand female supporters of former president Levon Ter-Petrossian remarked that the move was a smart one. It was perfect for foreign news, he said. Another Western journalist agreed, specifically pointing out that riot police are less prone to violent suppression of such rallies when there are young women present.
[…]
Ostensibly, the march was to protest the lack of coverage of Ter-Petrossian’s protest rallies by Armenian Public Radio and Television, but to be honest, the reason wasn’t important. What was is that Ter-Petrossian’s team managed to score a publicity coup by giving both local and foreign media exactly what they needed. It was also a way to highlight to society that his movement, regardless of its real size, has diverse support.
Ter-Petrossian, an academic who rose to power riding high on dissent within Soviet Armenia at the end of the 1980s, is also a skilled orator and considered a master at exploiting such situations. If anyone possesses the ability to destabilize the situation in even the most authoritarian of environments, it's him.
[…] Just watching him gesticulate and promise everything to the crowd is quite different than being present at a speech by the prime minister and president-elect, Serge Sargsyan. When people say that Ter-Petrossian has the ability to mobilize and retain the interest of his supporters with his presence, it’s true.
The rallies, such as one staged today, have encouraged many of Ter-Petrossian's supporters, and especially those now living outside of the country. Even though more and more key allies of the former president are being rounded up in swoops staged by masked National Security Service (NSS) agents, their mood is optimistic. One of them is Artmika at Unzipped.
Never before (in a decade or so) Yerevan saw such a big rally and such a huge protest against falsified elections, in support of their right to vote and the chance for democracy in Armenia. […] Ongoing arrests and detentions of a number of opposition supporters did not manage to intimidate people. Quite the contrary. […]
[…]
Whether current ruling regime will eventually manage to break down these protests, remains to be seen. They can only do it by imposing Stalinist methods (they already started – arrests, Bolshevik style propaganda…).
The fact that they lost already is out of question.
Archuk's Blog is a little more reserved and and says that reliable information is scarce.
Last few days I've been trying to figure things out before writing anything, because the information coming from Armenia is so contradicting, it's impossible to say what's true and what is not. My own friends in Armenia have divided in two camps, each one of them saying that are definitely going to come out victorious.
In a sense, The Armenian Observer agrees, but says that if Ter-Petrossian's demonstrations turn into a genuine pro-democracy movement, events can hardly be criticized. As a result, the blogger concludes, perhaps its now time for every Armenian citizen to take sides.
There is a lot of confusion in Armenia today. Information and misinformation flows follow each other – it is becoming harder to distinguish truth from lies. Protests continue in Yerevan’s Freedom Square, where opposition candidate, First President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrossian’s supporters demand recognition of their candidate’s victory, although there was no objective indication throughout the electoral process, that Ter-Petrossian’s claims are true.
[…]
A very large part of voters, who are fed up with the incumbent authorities […] are still not ready to support Ter-Petrossian either, but would otherwise support anything that is an expression of opposition to the current regime and condemnation of election fraud. […] In this respect, I guess it would have been a wiser move, if Ter-Petrossian stopped claiming his dubious victory, and instead demanded justice and new elections – I mean – who can be against justice, even if calls to restore it come from a controversial figure like Ter-Petrossian?
[…]
Everything indicates, that as the opposition protests continue, undecided people are faced with the challenge to make a choice, and join one of the two opposing sides. It is becoming exceedingly hard to stay indifferent. In fact, it can no longer be justified.
A week after the 19 February presidential election in Armenia, that appears to be the situation with Ter-Petrossian hoping to attract the greater part of society, fed up as it is with high levels of corruption despite record economic growth, to his rallies. Meanwhile, as both the opposition and government apply pressure on officials to side with them, the scenario of post-election revolution in Armenia looks closer than its ever been.
However, when and how this will end is still not yet known. For now, the advantage appears to lie with Ter-Petrossian even though the international community and media does not appear to support his attempt at post-election regime change. On the other hand, bloggers such as The Armenian Observer still fear that it might all end in violence with a state of emergency being declared in the country.
Even so, the blog casts doubts on the ability of the authorities to control the situation later.
People have awakened, and Serzh Sargsyan, even if he manages to tackle this somehow, will never be a president with real power, authority and legitimacy. Even if Ter-Petrossian doesn’t become president (and I still see his chances as rather vague), he has already won.
Marilisa Lorusso's Blog calmly assesses the situation and says that how post-election events play out is not yet certain.
[…] It’s hard to say that in the last 10 years Ter-Petrosyan made the general public regret too much that he was no longer the President, and that a overwhelming majority of population is ready to follow him in his “struggle till the end”. […] Those who backed his run stand by him, but it’s hard to foresee, with international recognition of acceptably free and fair elections, if such a strategy can lead to a stroke, as he seems to expect.
But, as the first president and radical opposition leader appeals to the Constitutional Court, and as the authorities show signs of resorting to more draconian methods to stop opposition protests, some observers expect this week to shed light on what the eventual outcome might be. Interestingly, unlike past elections in Armenia, that will undoubtedly be first discussed on the Internet.
Photos: © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2007-8

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Barbados, Jamaica: Abortion Debate · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Blogging from Barbados, Gallimaufry draws attention to the issue of legalising abortions in the Caribbean.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago: Regional FBI?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago raises the question of a regional policing body, Barbadian blogger Notes From The Margin says: “When you look at the implications of a Caribbean Law Enforcement agency, it’s not as simple as it might appear at first blush.”


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Brazil: Sexual tourism, dreams-come-true, sour goodbyes and illegality · Global Voices
Daniel Duende

Sandra Paulsen writes[PT] from Stockholm at Blog do Noblat[PT] about Swedish sexual tourism in Brazil and Tailand and sad stories about Brazilian women that travel back with their “boyfriends” to their home Sweden, just to face a hard and bitter break-up and illegality in a foreign and lawful land. Blog do Noblat is a famous Brazilian blog written by Ricardo Noblat, Brazilian mainstream journalist, and some collaborators.

author: Daniel Duende


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Chad: Eyewitness acounts of violence · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

This is an eyewitness account of violence in Chad: ““For over 7 hours we heard that battle rage. We felt afraid, wondered which part of the body to try to get under a 24 x 20 inch table. Was it more important to save the head or the chest? The legs? Did I want a bullet in any part of my body at all? Then, a grenade was lobbed into our yard but didn't go off. The soldiers cordoned off the area. People were running in the street trying to get away from the fighting but seemed to get blocked between the 2 factions.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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China: Call for the Abolition of Household Registration System · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Wen Yun Chao posts a joint signature statement by Chinese public intellectuals, which calls for the abolition of dual social structure (rural and urban household registration) in China (zh).

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Photoshop Era · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Wangxiaofeng talks about the coming of Photoshop era and how such tool is serving the redistribution of interest (zh).


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China: Temporary Residential Card · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

In order to prepare for the Olympic, all residents without permanent household registration in Beijing will require to apply for a temporary residential card, even if they have their own apartment in Beijing city. Liu Xiao Yuan points out that the regulation is outdated and should be abolished (zh).


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Cuba: Raul’s Speech  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The Cuban Triangle shares some thoughts on the recent change of leadership in Cuba.


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Czech Republic: Markéta Irglová Gets an Oscar · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Reference Frame posts a note on Markéta Irglová, the first Czech female Oscar winner.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Czech Republic, Slovakia: 60 Years Since Communist Takeover · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Reference Frame writes about the 60th anniversary of the Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia.


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Czech Republic, U.S.: Visa-Free Regime · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Czech Daily Word and The Reference Frame report on the signing of a U.S.-Czech agreement on visa-free regime.


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Ecuador: My Mobile Voice and Citizen Journalism · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

In an outlying neighborhood of Quito, Ecuador, a brightly-covered mini-van sets up shop for a day in order to teach about the world of citizen journalism.  Inside the van, called “Mi Voz Móvil” (My Mobile Voice), there are long benches and even a desk, just perfect enough to accomodate a budding journalist.  Laptops with mobile cards are also used in conjunction with these workshops so that participants can upload their content directly to the web.  This project is sponsored by the newspaper Ultimas Noticias [es],   (Latest News) which is part of the larger El Comercio [es] media company.  Here is a short video and explanation by Ultimas Noticias Editor, Leonel Bejarano.
As the site says:
Todos los días te encuentras con hechos que se pueden convertir en noticias. Sin embargo, no siempre hay un periodista cerca. Si tú presenciaste algún evento que consideres puede ser de interés para Últimas Noticias, tanto en su edición impresa como digital, no dejes de escribir tu historia o capturar una imagen (vídeo o fotografía). Últimas Noticias podría publicarla y hasta designarla y premiarla como noticia/imagen de la semana o del mes…. Envía los textos a través de tu celular (SMS), las fotos o videos (MMS), o por correo electrónico.
Ahora tú haces el periódico
Every day you come across events that can become news.  However, there is not always a reporter nearby.  If you witnesses an event that you think would be interesting to Ultimas Noticias, in the printed or digital editions, write your story or capture an image (video or photo). Ultimas Noticias may publish it and may even designate it as the article/image of the week or the month…Send the text through your cell phone (SMS), or via photos or videos (MMS) or by e-mail.
Now you can make the newspaper.
What may set this apart from other similar projects is that the news and content created by the citizen journalists called Vecinos Reporteros (Neighborhood Reporters), is that their by-lines are side by side with the paid professional staff.  In fact, they also work closely with the staff at Ultimas Noticias to fact check, develop the story a little more and standard editing. The Vecinos Reporteros are given the satisfaction of seeing their byline on an article.  They can also compete for a weekly and monthly cash prize, but that it is not a real motivation for most, says Editor Leonel Bejarano, as some even never bother to claim the prize.
Ultimas Noticias receives contributions via email, but also accepts text via written letter or at different drop boxes around the city. In an interview with Editor Leonel Bejarano, he told me about one of the most memorable stories provided the Neighborhood Reporters.
A military recruit named Diego Ortiz, who was performing his mandatory military service had been severely beaten and mistreated.  The military wanted to keep the story under wraps and prohibited the press from interviewing the soldier and only allowed relatives into the hospital room.  A relative was angered by the condition of his cousin that he decided to submit a story to Ultimas Noticias with exclusive stories and photos.  The Neigborhood Reporter Omar Patricio Ramos Silva wrote this first story [es] and continued with updates:
Ingresa el 16 de Noviembre con un diagnóstico de politraumatismos debido según ellos a una caída, entre ellos una fractura de la pelvis y con derrames internos, cabe señalar que en el transcurso de estos días los Padres de Diego han tenido que pasar muchas penurias ya que son personas analfabetas y de escasos recursos económicos.Debido a ésto y dadas las condiciones en las que se encuentra Diego han tratado de mil maneras de arreglar con la familia para que el caso no salga a la luz, incluso el mismo agresor Cabo Castillo estuvo en la mencionada casa de salud con la intención de amedrentar a Diego, al encontrase con una persona que lo supo poner en su lugar lo único que supo decir es que venia a pedirle disculpas a Diego y al encontrarse con los Padres no tuvo más remedio que retirarse y se logró que se le prohíba la entrada.
He was admitted on November 16 and diagnosed with multiple traumas due to, according to them, a fall, including a fracture of the pelvis with internal bleeding.   During the course of the past few days, Diego's parents had to go through a lot because they are illiterate and with few economic resources.  Due to this and due to the condition that Diego has been in, they had tried to fix things with the family so that the case was not made public.  Even the same person that caused the injury, Cabo Castillo was present in the hospital trying to threaten Diego, and that when he found a person that could put him in his place, and he said that he just came to ask for Diego's forgiveness and when he saw his parents that all he could do was leave and that he was no longer allowed to enter.
For these stories, Ramos Silva received the prize of Golden Rooster, which is given to the article/photo of the week.  Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this story is that Ramos Silva is a member of El Comercio's Finance Department, who wanted to contibute to the newspaper and continues to write other stories for the paper.  This is what the newspaper hopes to continue, find individuals that may not be journalists by training, but who have the desire to share something that is meaningful to them or or their community.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Estonia: National Identity · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Itching for Eestimaa marks Estonia's independence day (Feb. 24) by writing about Estonian national identity.


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Fiji: Digital Politics – A Review on Presidential Election · Global Voices
May Hnin Phyu

Jonathan Segal, a Fiji-American, blogs about his views on the current American election. “If I was living in the US, I’d be sick and tired of hearing about the elections all day… While in Fiji, however, I can explore in my own time without experiencing the political-fatigue commonly associated with listening to candidates speak.” He also makes a good review of how each candidate uses digital media to convey their message across.

author: May Hnin Phyu


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India: Gandhi and Bhopal · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Law and Other Things on the survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy in India using a Gandhian method to demand justice.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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India: History and Shivaji · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Indian Muslims Blog on the distortion of historical figures to benefit extremist opinions.


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India: The Male Gaze · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The Culture and Politics of Tamil Cinema on how actresses in Tamil film industry are subject to the male gaze off screen.


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Is President Bingu Malawi’s “Moses”?  · Global Voices
Victor Kaonga

Some artists read the times and strategise accordingly. A popular song titled Mose wa Lero by Joseph Nkasa makes many Malawians sing along even if they did not want to because of the way the artist has related the biblical Moses to Malawi's president Bingu wa Mutharika. In the song which is on Mutharika's blog, the artist Nkasa says Mutharika has led Malawians move out of Egypt where they had hunger and different problems. The artist further says the Malawians just like the Israelites would not want to back to Egypt ironically referring to the former president Bakili Muluzi who announced his intention to contest as president during the 2009 presidential elections in Malawi. The president now bears the name Mose wa Lero (modern Moses) in all campaign works.
While on politics, recently Malawi's president made a cabinet reshuffle which saw health minister Marjorie Ngaunje left out paving way for Khumbo Kachale. As you may discover, because of name similarity, it was easy for the only eye specialist in Malawi Dr Khumbo Kalua to be mistaken that it is him that got the top job at the Health ministry especially that he got an sms about the appointment. He blogs about his missed opportunity to be an honourable cabinet minister:
The reaction to the message was with mixed feeling; firstly why did the big boss not communicate to me /or tip me before electing me; and that if this was true then what would happen to my community job as an eye specialist.
I looked at the reasons why possibly I could have been considered for the post and they looked to be many; I have worked in the ministry of Health and have over 12 years experience as doctor; (I) am a specialist Dr, and possibly I am rightly qualified. Factors against me being elected were that I am non political, non partisan and I stick to my profession ethics and have difficulties in following bureaucratic ministerial procedures. Overall I considered it was going to be a good opportunity for me to be a health minister; (get) the six figure salary, the Mercedes Benz with the personal driver, the games played in parliament….. I thanked the one (whoever it was) who had suggested my name to him who appoints. Yes I was ready to cancel my flight and get back to Blantyre Malawi and this time on a business class ticket. Well after many years of hard work my life seemed to have been transformed overnight.
Challenges of African universities
A Malawian studying in Bostwana, Benett Kankuzi, complains about the challenges that researchers in Africa are facing. In his post titled The challenges of doing academic research in Africa, he laments at the lack of support from governments which provide inadequate funds. He says as a researcher visiting other countries he cannot rely on the hosts to take care of him
because normally host institutions do not have funds for these expenses. This is because most universities in Africa are funded by their governments and definitely the funding is never enough. Of course its understandable since the governments have “priorities within priorities” in their national budgets. The governments have to fight for national food security, clean water, infrastructure development etc for the masses and funding academic research would never make it into the priority list.
However, this situation might lead others to conclude that there is no academic research being done in Africa which is not necessarily true. Unfortunately, world university rankings take research publications into account. So you better not be surprised to see many African universities not faring well in the rankings!
Scanning through the fifty or so blogs by Malawians, it seems many have not been posting in the last few weeks but Malawi's Internet discussions have been awash with the politics at home, in Kenya and US road to White House.

author: Victor Kaonga


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Jamaica, Bermuda: Rogue Children  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“A Bermudian member of parliament…is convinced that when you have ‘bad bruk pickney’ you must punish parents as it is the parents whose responsibility it is to ensure that children are socialised properly”: Jamaican Lifestyle hopes that “the sentiments of one man won’t be the basis of a policy that could have long lasting negative effects.”


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Japan: Evil Mickey Mouse Invasion · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Edo from Pink Tentacle introduces an old propaganda animation (1934) about the future (1936) invasion of evil mickey mouse. The film is available in youtube.


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Jordan: Double Victory · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordan Rainbow achieves a double victory in class. Click here to read why.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Kenya: Democracy as a spiritual battle · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Wheels of Hope in Kenya takes a spiritual path to heal the nation: “The battle for Kenya is a spiritual battle: a battle waged by the forces of darkness against the nation and fought in the spiritual realms. Demonic spells were cast over different cities in the nation in the run up to the elections and many a political leader sought the powers of the occult to gain favor with the electorate. Spiritual doors were therefore opened that have consequently plunged our country into chaos and that must be closed on the spiritual front if we are to reclaim Kenya for Christ.”


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Kenya: Msafara Initiative · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Pastor M introduces Msafara Initiative in Kenya: “The Msafara initiative continues to gather momentum. Check out the new website www.msafara.co.ke to learn more about how you can be involved. Many churches across Kenya have signed on to Msafara and many more are signing on! Churches involved so far come from Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Naivasha, Thika and Voi.”


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Kosovo: Implications for Other States · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Pestcentric believes that “Kosovar independence has really opened a can of worms, the full extent of which has yet to manifest itself.”


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Kosovo, Serbia: A Roundup · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Update on Kosovo/Serbia: Belgrade 2.0 sums things up; East Ethnia discusses the possibility of partition; Csíkszereda Musings writes on the meaning of Kosovo for Romania's Székelyföld autonomy; Greater Surbiton re-posts his article on what's “at stake in the struggle for Serbia”; Steady State writes on the implications of Kosovo for other “frozen conflicts”; The Reference Frame comments on the NPR interview with Serbian students; Scraps of Moscow reviews reactions to the comment made by a Russian TV host on Zoran Djindjic's “much-deserved bullet.”


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Kuwait: Celebrating National Day through Art  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

5roofa, from Kuwait, posts the art works of students from the class she teaches to mark her country's National Day.


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Latvia: Kārlis Ulmanis · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Marginalia writes about “every Latvian's favorite dictator, Kārlis Ulmanis.”


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Morocco: Blogger Quits  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

A popular and well respected university professor and blogger, Pr. Mohamed Drissi Bakhakhat, decided to stop blogging out of fear for his safety after what happened to Fuad Mourtada, writes A Moro in America.


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Myanmar: Mandalay YadanarPon Market Fire · Global Voices
May Hnin Phyu

This week, while many bloggers are out exploring and anticipating whether to participate or not  at a photo contest. Others take the opportunity to present their live shots from Mandalay's YadanarPon Market fire outbreak to the world.
Yadanarpon market is located on the coner of 32st and 78 St and famous Manadlay MICT park (computer city) , Skywalk shopping complex, Orange Super Market, relax Snookers and restaurant and thousands of shops are located in that market. Yandanarpon is the second biggest market after Zaycho market and was opend in 2000 and contributes significantly. [#]
Photos via Aung Chan Lin blog.
komoethee blogs about the intensity of the fire and helplessness of firemen.
The fire continue to burn until now (8:00 AM – 9:55 AM) as thousands of people and shop owners watch hopelessly. The market was just opened when the fire broke out at 8:00 AM and blamed for wire shocks and fire fighters were afraid to go inside due to smokes and watch from outside.
Kaungkinko posts a video report of fire out break at Yadanarbon Market Mandalay.
Photos via Aung Chan Lin blog.
A few onlookers worried about the lack of standards safety procedures in such huge markets and doubted that there is any organized arrangements in case of fire.
According to unofficial report, it's been noted that two people died during the outbreak.
“At least 2 people die and I think there will be more because the escape route in Yadanabon Market is insufficient and people tried to run using the stair ways which are very narrow as you know. So, I am guessing the number of the dead could be more and many will suffer from the fire burn,” she continued.
Some people jumped off from the building and some were stepped by other people while they were running, she added.
Reaper's Blog compiled a list of news on Mandalay fire and also reported another fire outbreak at Yangon.
In Myanmar's main city Yangon, a fire erupted at a tea shop in the Hlaingthayar industrial area early Monday and spread through the surrounding neighbourhood.
Firefighters spent more than two hours putting out the blaze, which destroyed 200 homes, many of them small shacks, authorities said.
Mizzima News states that “Nearly 3,000 people in Rangoon’s suburban Hlaing Tharyar Township are homeless after a fire broke…1,260 women and 1,709 men from the 768 houses that were consumed by the fire”.
A lot of people are sadden by both fire in Yangon and Mandalay and send their condolences via their blog posts.


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Nigeria: Election petition against president dismissed · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Nigerian Times writes about the results of presidential election petition in Nigeria: “The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja, Tuesday, dismissed the petition of former military ruler, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, because he could not prove his case against the election of “President” Umaru Yar'Adua in the April 2007 presidential poll in Nigeria.”


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Nigeria: Public Nudity Bill · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Jeremy posts copies of the Bill for an Act to Prohibit and Punish Public Nudity, Sexual Intimidation and Other related offences in Nigeria.


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Poland, U.K.: Football and Anti-Semitism · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The beatroot examines whether the UK and Polish football fans are the “most anti-Semitic in Europe.”


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Russia: 1977 Fire at Hotel Rossiya · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis writes about “the Big Fire” at Hotel Rossiya in Moscow in 1977.


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Serbia: Ambassadorial Discontent · Global Voices
Sinisa Boljanovic

While some of the foreign embassies were being set on fire in Belgrade in protest to the unilateral proclamation of independence of Kosovo, Serbian embassies in Belgium and Russia were having diplomatic activities of a different kind – and Serbian bloggers took interest in them.
On Feb. 24, B92 blogger Jelena Milic wrote about a scandalous report by a Russian state TV host Konstantin Syomin about the 2003 murder of prime minister Zoran Dindic:
[…] Today I've read in Kurir the contents of a protest note by the Serbian embassy in Moscow, which, on recommendation by foreign minister Vuk Jeremic, was sent to […] the national television and its editor instead of Russia's government.
Protest note of Serbian embassy:
“Belgrade – yesterday, on request of foreign minister Vuk Jeremic, the Serbian embassy in Russia sent a protest note to the editor of national television “Russia” because of the insulting statements by one of its news hosts, announced Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It says in this protest note that the actions of journalist Konstantin Syomin, who had insulted Zoran Dindic and justified his assassination, are absolutely unacceptable for Serbia.
The note also expressed disappointment  because of the comment on the Russian national television, especially at the moment when Serbia was facing the problem with the sovereignty over Kosovo. Serbian embassy demands that “Russia” TV Channel publicly dissociate itself from journalist Syomin and familiarize the Russian public with the contents of the protest note.”
[…]
In Belgium, the Serbian embassy is demanding apologies from a Flemish TV station. Goran Miletic used the incident to discuss double standards in Serbia's treatment of certain issues:
It would be nice to write about president Boris Tadic's statement that hatred, which was followed by ruining of property, aren't part of “the right Serbia.” That, simply, is not true because at least several thousand young people (of 300,000-500,000) threw at least one stone or did something more than that. But the ugly picture that went to the world hurt the majority. It is the same with war crimes. It's not a problem that Serbs had actually commited them […], not a problem how many times and in which way they had commited them, nor is it a problem that we've been hiding war criminals for so many years. The problem is that the ugly picture about it went to the world. In both cases – Yes, we are guilty. That can be the only right message to one's own people.
[…]
Here's what happened in Belgium yesterday:
“The Flemish television (VTA) should send an apology to the Serbian embassy because of the way of it portrayed Serbs in a program about the Eurovision [Song Contest].”
This TV station broadcast two make-belief characters, two Serbian girls named Mirjana and Milena, who were drinking vodka, smoking, looting mobile phones, then hiding them under fur caps. This program provoked protest of Serbian residents in Belgium and an official protest of the Serbian embassy.
[…]
I believe that the majority in Serbia were horrified by this news. However, the same Serbs are not horrified when people are talking in Serbia that Roma are thieves and dirty people, Albanians are always ugly people, separatists and terrorists, gays are people who spread AIDS and ruin the healthy Serbian beings. […]

author: Sinisa Boljanovic


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Serbia: Charges Against Two Looters · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

East Ethnia reports on the charges against two young Serbian women “whose little looting adventure made them internet celebrities for one brief, greasy moment”: “And we know that they are about to be charged with theft, a crime which carries a sentence of between one and eight years. This will give them the dubious distinction of being the only people to be charged with anything after a long night of vandalism, looting, physical attacks on police officers, arson and manslaughter.”


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Sharing music for free is not a crime, in Spain · Global Voices
Daniel Duende

Miguel Caetano, who faithfully writes at his blog Remixtures, blogs about[PT] the relative freedom to share music non-commercialy through P2P enjoyed in Spain, and compliments Spanish judges for their fine understanding of the net and it's social dynamics.


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South Africa: Garlic, showers and prostitutes · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Lesbian Rules writes about odd suggestions to problems in South Africa: “So there you have it ladies and gentlemen. To be cured from aids, eat garlic and beetroot. If you don’t want aids, take a shower, and All we have to do to stop the electricity crisis is to go to bed early so we can grow and be cleverer and rapes only occur because people don’t have access to prostitutes.”


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South Africa: Is this anti-democracy? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Was it right to bar white South African journalist from the forum of black journalists: “This forum of black journalists is so anti democracy and transparency. I listened to all their excuses for barring white journalists and they did not make any sense. The truth is they are making us look like uneducated savages who are comfortable with being repellers of change.”


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South Africa: Where are black bloggers hiding?  · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Inside Candy wonders where South African black bloggers are: “I realise that this is a potentially loaded question, but where the hell are all the black bloggers hiding?  To date, I’ve only met one (I repeat, one) black South African blogger – Obakeng, “The Chief” of ONC Today.”


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Sri Lanka: Kosovo and After · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The situation in Kosovo could have some lessons for Sri Lanka. More at Transcurrents.com.


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Sudan: Boycott anything Danish · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

“This is so utterly silly,” writes Sudanese Thinker after the Sudanese president orders people to boycott Danish goods: “Okay so let’s see. First, a Danish newspaper prints a bunch of cartoons depicting the Prophet (which is nothing new). Next thing we know, Islamists mobilize anger and all hell breaks lose, to the point of making you wonder whether these guys actually worship God or his Prophet. Fast forward more than a year later, and some Muslim nuts get caught in Denmark plotting to kill the cartoonist, to which the response is a symbolic middle finger in the form of a cartoon republication.”


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Taiwan: Polls on Hsieh-Ma Debate · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Michael Turton comments on local reports and polls after the televised debate on budget plan between two presidential candidates: Frank Hsieh and Ma Ying-jeou.


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Thailand: Thaksin’s Return · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Siam Sentinel talks about the chaos when the former prime minister returns to Thailand from his exile.

author: Preetam Rai


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Thailand: Traffic Via Twitter · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Keng is keeping up to date with Bangkok traffic via his Twitter feed. (via Gen Kanai)


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Ukraine: Missing Children · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Orange Ukraine writes about Ukraine's missing children.


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Ukraine, Russia: A Gas War, Again · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Leopolis reports on what looks like yet another Russian-Ukrainian gas war.


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Yemen: Gaza, My Grandmother and Candles · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Yemeni blogger Maysaa Shuja has written a profoundly thoughtful post about candles, electricity, and the possible introduction of nuclear energy to her native country – a country which cannot supply a steady stream of electricity.
And while the outpour of sympathy for Gaza and its electricity problems continue, Maysaa Shuja talks about how her enterprising grandmother, may Allah rest her soul in peace, taught them the value of candles at their greatest hours of need.
Maysaa explains:
My grandmother implemented a policy of rationing of candles and no one was able to use candles in our house without her permission, as she decided who got candles, after assessing their humanitarian needs. For those of us who studied, she might exceed the ration and give us two candles; those who read a non-scholastic book, got one candle; and whoever talked, was deprived of candles because it wasn't necessary when talking. For those who needed to use the bathroom, they got a small candles as she loathed taking baths in the dark.
As soon as the electricity was off, my grandmother would actively go around the house, inspecting the candles and supervising their use. Those who played with their candles were deprived of them and she would be strict when they asked for candles later on. She would continue on this task until the electricity was back on again, when she would collect all the remaining candles and return them to their safe storage.
“Instead of cursing darkness, light a candle” so that you don't fall a victim to despair and cursing the darkness which the government is responsible for. To become a more positive citizen, light one of the candles which are readily available, thanks to the government which provided it. In reality, it is the government which has tried so hard to teach us how to use electricity conservatively and my grandmother who has taught us how to economise in using candles, which has resulted in teaching me how to economise on my dreams so that I don't cry a lot alone on the darkness without electricity.


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A book about political murders in Brazil · Global Voices
Daniel Duende

The Brazilian IndyMedia site is reporting about a new book by the Brazilian journalist Natália Viana about the political murders of human-rights activists in Brazil in the last decades. The report says the entire book is available to be downloaded here.
All the links in this roundup are in portuguese.


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Algeria: Arabs Against Zionism  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Algerian blogger Nouri shares his observations on anti-Zionist sentiments among Arabs – of different religions.


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Anguilla, Trinidad & Tobago: Procurement  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“We live in a time when coping with corruption is high on the agenda of all countries. It is therefore important that we take the opportunity to discuss transparency and accountability in procurement”: Corruption-free Anguilla leads the discussion.


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Armenia: Absurd Revolution · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Notes from Hairenik weighs in on continuing discussion of the daily protests staged by former president Levon Ter-Petrossian in Yerevan’s Liberty Square. While agreeing that electoral violations did take place, the blog says that too few people are interested in staging any revolution in Armenia. Besides, the blog argues, such a situation would likely harm socio-economic improvements in the country.


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Armenia: Dubious Election · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

A Fistful of Euros posts an entry on what it calls Armenia's dubious election. However, the blog says that the outcome of last week's presidential election was pretty much known well in advance, and while corruption and poverty are still facts of life, that's not to say the incumbent authorities have been totally reckless when it comes to governance.


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Armenia: Political Prisoners · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped comments on local news reports examining the unsavory past of some former officials detained by police after switching to the opposition since last week's election. Regardless, the blog says, as they have been arrested now only because of their new allegiances, they can therefore be considered political prisoners.


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Barbados: Protecting the Reefs · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbadian blogger Gallimaufry urges Caribbean people to “do something to help halt the damage to our seas and our reefs.”


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Bermuda: Silo Situation  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The fact that “the cement company at Dockyard would not be required, at least for now, to relocate the contentious silos” should be raising political questions – at least in the opinion of two Bermudan bloggers, Vexed Bermoothes and A Radical In Bermuda.


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China: Harmonious Olympic Make-up · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Angel apple from Duller feels sick of local Beijing Olympic news report. Some local newspapers keep on publishing guidelines and reminding citizens how to behave harmoniously during Olympic. For example, women are advised to wear light make-up.


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China: Model Opera in Education · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Zhanbin criticizes the inclusion of model Beijing opera in elementary education because of its political nature (zh).


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Cuba: Cardinal Points · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Nowhere in the world has the Catholic Church been a greater force for evil than in Cuba,” according to Review of Cuban-American Blogs.  Babalu is not impressed with Cardinal Bertone's recent visit either.


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Czech Republic: Czech Soldier Blogging From Iraq · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Czech Daily Word links to a Czech-language blog of a Czech soldier stationed in Iraq.


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Ecuador: Heavy Rains to Continue · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Strong rains may continue through the months of March and April in Ecuador writes La Voz de Guamote [es]. The country has been hit with heavy flooding at the beginning of 2008.


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Egypt: Facebook, Politics and Journalism · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Politics, Facebook and journalism. Zeinobia, from Egypt, draws a link between them in this post.


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EGYPT: Muslim Brotherhood Trial Postponed · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“The verdict in the military trial of 40 leading members of the Muslim Brotherhood has been postponed until March 25, according to friends who went out to Haikstep Military Base today in the hope of being the first to hear,” writes Elijah Zarwan, from Egypt.


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Egypt: Praying against Mubarak in the Metro · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

Wahda Masrya, was in a metro when she accidentally passed by a situation she felt a need to describe.. and here she goes:
————————
[1] 57357 Hospital, is a national charitable hospital built for curing children who suffer tumors or cancer. And the reason why it's called 57357, is because that is the bank account opened in almost all Egyptian banks to accept funds from people to continue the project's construction.

author: Eman AbdElRahman


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Egypt: The Difference Between France and Egypt · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Zeinobia from Egypt compares between how Egyptian and French presidents react to criticism from citizens in this post.


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Egypt: Visa to Heaven · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger Eman discusses the difficulties of getting a Schengen (European Union) Visa in this post.


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Hong Kong: Wish List For Asia City · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Studiobbq invites readers to write down a wish list for Hong Kong – the Asia City.


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India: Debate, Obama and Clinton · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Blowin’ In The Wind on the performance of Clinton and Obama at the debate in Cleveland.


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Iran: Islamist bloggers hail Imad Mughniyeh · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Iranian leaders, including the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, recently expressed their condolences to Hezbullah's chief Hassan Nasrallah, after the killing of Imad Mughniyeh, one of the militant group's top commanders, hailing him as a “great man”.
Mughniyeh was featured on President Bush's “top 22 most wanted terrorists” list of October 2001 and he was on the FBI's most wanted list. He was alleged to be behind the 1983 US marines barracks bombing in Beirut which claimed the lives of 241 marines.
Islamist bloggers in Iran have shared their ideas about Mughniyeh or “Haj [Hajji] Rezvan” as they call him. They also published some very rare photos of him.
Imad Mughniyeh exits a plane and is interviewed.
Iranian blogger Mersad says:
I was in the street when I received an SMS telling me that Mughnieh had been assassinated. I froze in the middle of street. Emad Mughnieh was also called Haj Rezavan. I forwarded the SMS to my friends and 90 per cent asked me who he was. He was a super Mujahed of the Islamic world. This [assassination] was the end of one of Ruhollha's [Ayatollah Khomeini, the Islamic Republic's founder] children. It would have been a pity if his life ended any other way.
The blogger adds, that for a decade, he was not in charge of Hezbollah operations.
Davod Abadi has published [Fa] some information on the life of Mughniyeh. He writes:
Mughniyeh or Haj Rezvan’s talent has had a lot of impact on Hezbollah’s ability to hit the occupying regime of Jerusalem.
The blogger says it was a conspiracy between western and Zionist intelligence services to kill Mughniyeh in order to drive Lebanon into another war.
The blogger also says, “a $25 million award by FBI for killing or capturing Mughnieh shows the fear of terrorist states from anybody who wants to resist.” (In reality the award was $5 million).
On Sajed's site, we  read that in the near future a stamp to honor Haj Rezvan will be published in Iran. “The Cultural Foundation for the Holy Defense of Khormshahr” says this stamp will be published in a series depicting the Khormshah defense and South Lebanon resistance. Khoramshahr was a symbol of resistance during the Iran-Iraq war for many Iranians.
Bachehayeh ghalam (means “children of the pen”) says [Fa] Mughniyeh understood the message of Shi'ism and was against injustice and oppression.
The Muslim Bloggers Association  say that thanks to Mughniyeh’s blood, now thousands like him will be ready to fight against oppressors and become martyrs. They have created a logo for Mughniyeh where they congratulate him for his martyrdom.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iraq: Ben Kerishan and Wahhabism  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Emirati Ben Kerishan blogger (Arabic) provides a concise, humorous and insightful summary of the history of development of Salafist Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia, one of the most dangerous evils in our present world, writes Iraqi blogger Abbas Hawazin in this post.


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Iraq: Kissenger and the Persian Dreams · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

‘Kissinger thinks (or at least he pretends to think) that Iran has dreams of rekindling old Persian dreams of domination. He also says Bush will be looked upon more favorably in less than 50 years,” writes Iraqi blogger Abbas Hawazin, who further explains his position from a possible civil war in his country.


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Iraq: New Crush  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Iraqi blogger Abbas Howazin has a new crush. Click here to check out who the dumb girl he can't take his eyes off is.


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Jamaica: Domestic Violence · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Blogging from Jamaica, ClaudeMills.com examines possible push factors in cases of domestic violence.


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Jordan: Doctor Lawyer Joke · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian Hareega shares a joke about lawyers and doctors here.


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Jordan: Second Slap · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

7aki Fadi, from Jordan, was slapped – again. Click here to find out why.


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Lebanon: Finding Leila Abu Saba · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Leila Abu Saba writes about how readers find their way to her blog.


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Malaysia: Bloggers in Elections · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Read/Write Web looks at Malaysian bloggers taking up politics.


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Mexico: New Ruins Around Zócalo · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Vivir México [es] writes about the new archaeological ruins found around the Mexico City zócalo (main plaza).


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Morocco: On Moroccan Injustice · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Blogger Eatbees discusses the differences between the American and Moroccan justice (or injustice systems).

author: Jillian C. York


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Nepal: Madhes and India · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Blogdai smells a rat as the Madhesi agitation increases with the announcement of elections in Nepal.


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Poland: Giertych’s Fear of Feminism · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The beatroot reports on Maciej Giertych's fear of feminism.


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QatarL: Al Jazeera Calling · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Qatar, Mohamed Nanabhay writes: “I’ve been bouncing around the office all day – we’ve just kicked off a project at Al Jazeera where you can now send us video feedback via our YouTube Channel.”


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Russia: Ethnically-Motivated Violence · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Moscow Through Brown Eyes reviews the coverage of a recent surge in ethnically-motivated violence in Moscow: “A month ago in my relatively sleepy bedroom community, a young Tadzhik citizen was stabbed thirty-six times. He died in the courtyard that my bedroom window looks out onto. I read about his attack a week later.”


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Russia, U.S.: Hillary’s Way of Saying “Medvedev” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Robert Amsterdam links to a YouTube video of Hillary Clinton trying to pronounce Dmitry Medvedev's last name.


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Saudi Diplomacy · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Saudi blogger Saudi Jeans discusses a talk by Saudi King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies head Prince Turki Al Faisal on Saudi diplomacy.


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Serbia: Where is Facebook’s Belgrade? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

According to Belgrade 2.0, Serbia's capital has mysteriously disappeared from Facebook: “Anyway, there are couple of groups now fighting to get Serbian cities back on the list of hometowns, since about 70 thousand Serbs that are already on Facebook just lost that option. Unfortunately, the protesters are not being very constructive, mostly crying over our fate and cursing the Americans. Although, one good suggestion came from a user who suggested that we find the Facebook embassy in Belgrade and burn it. :)”


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South Asia: Decline Scenario · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Chapati Mystery on the idea of “decline scenario” in interpreting history – implying that South Asia was already in decline before colonization.


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South Korea: Lee Myung-bak’s English Education Policies · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Korea Beat has a post on local reactions concerning the President Lee Myung-bak's English education policies.


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Sri Lanka: Higher Ed and reforms · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Deane's Dimension on reforms in the higher education system in Sri Lanka.


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Sri Lanka: On Marriage · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Me & Me Blog from Sri Lanka on why marriage is an outdated concept.


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Taiwan: Hope Map Project · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A month before the presidential election, a group of internet and new media activists launched a hope map project for visualizing common hopes for Taiwan future.


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Taiwan: Land Right · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A Taiwanese aboriginal group, hunter motion, calls for an action on 28 of February to defend their right to preserve their hunting life style in their own land. The group has an advocacy blog for recording their activities.


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Taiwan: No City for Old Aborigines · Global Voices
Portnoy Zheng

Banai and her husband in front of their home
The first Presidential debate powered by citizen media platform Peopo was held on Feb 24. Two candidates running for President answers 20 questions raised by citizens who use Youtube-like video  clips to express their wishes and problems.
The form and the presentation of the debate itself is debatable, however, one interesting scenes from the debate is more ironic than anything else. When the candidates debated each other inside the film studio, many social groups including two aboriginal communities also debated with police forces outside; when Ma Yin-jeou, the candidate of KMT apologized to aborigines for his racial statement and when Frank Chang-ting Hsieh, the candiate of DPP said he also have aboriginal blood in his body, the people of the aboriginal communities protesting outside are facing forced eviction and fear caused by them and their colleagues.
Banai and husband, sitting on the ruins.
Sanying Aboriginal Community in Taipei County, like Sijeou Aboriginal Community and many aboriginal communities spotted at corners of big cities in Taiwan, is a forgotten place where many aborigines live and count on.
However, the sweet homes to these indigenous people is not only vulnerable to typhoons and thunderstorms, but also to bureaucrats'construction blue prints. Inhabitants of Sanying Aboriginal Community are the latest victims whose self-made house have been torn apart on Feb 21 by bulldozers and excavators under the order of Taipei County Government.
An old man crying in his “home”…after the destruction
Taipei Times reported from the Ground Zero:
Pan, who sat on a stool in front of her home in an attempt to block the demolition, was forcibly removed by police. A hydraulic shovel then came in, and Pan's house was demolished in less than five minutes despite Pan and her daughter's tears and pleadings. “Where am I going to stay? I don't qualify for an apartment,” Pan cried.
Bloggers and citizen journalists were at the scene when bulldozers and cranes moved to the land escorted by more than 70 polices. Torrent and other citizen reporters from Coolloud(zh) sent emergent calls for help:
由於事出突然，聲援三鶯部落的團體動員不及，現場只有青年樂生聯盟、溪州自救會約十餘人前往關切，但在強力警力的運作下，剩下未簽署切結書的十餘戶居民的家園，截至五點鍾為止，已經被夷為平地。
Out of a sudden, the supporting groups for Sanying community had no time to motivate. Only more than a dozen people from Losheng Youth and Sijeou Self-Help came for help. However, under the fierce action of police forces, more than 10 homes of those who haven't sign the “waiver” were reduced to complete shambles at 5 pm.
According to the report, most people didn't have time to rescue their properties inside their houses, so they, most are elders, have to sleep on the bare ground without a shelter,or a pillow with the another cold current coming. Coolloud and other supporting groups had asked readers to donate sleeping bags and tents.
Taipei County Government offered limited national apartments only for people who have a household register or people who sign a waiver to abandon their shelter. The lands and mountains these aborigines once live upon were expropriated by Forestry Bureau and Taiwan Sugar Corporation. They then were forced to leave, drove away from one place to another, and now they are losing their last ground.
Bloggers and citizen journalists have build a blog call “Supporters for Sanying Aboriginal Community” to aggregate all relative reports and informations about Sanying right after the incident. They use online tools like google map and Youtube-like video services to tell netizens where is the Sanying community and the humble wishes these aborigines have in mind–to stay and to stay alive.
This video report above is the latest clip made by the video production group of “Aborigines in the City”. Besides the video part, they wrote about the irony in the case of Sanying.
我們居住的現代化城市與住宅，有很多都是原住民移工幫忙建立，但是他們之中有些卻負擔不起現代化城市的高額消費。必須在城市邊緣求生存。現在政府又與商業單位聯手以都市開發為由，假意保護原民安全，並將原民幾十年來辛苦建立的家園視為違建，並取得貌似合理的正當性。
Many of our modern cities and houses were built by aboriginal immigrant workers, but some of them could not afford the high cost for the lifestyle in modern cities. They can merely survive at the edge of cities. Now, the local government authorities and business units are using “city development” and “security concerns of aborigines” as excuses to treat their homelands which has been established for decades as buildings without licenses in order to look legitimate and reasonable.
Taiwan Indigenous TV (a channel belong to Public Broadcasting Service) also reported the event:
當地信仰中心香雲宮的主持林阿龍表示，即便是已搬遷至隆恩埔的族人還是有很多個人物品留在屋內，而且由於隆恩埔至今還沒有天然氣的供應，所以事實上 還是很多人會回到三鶯橋下的房子開伙和居住。然而勢單力薄三鶯阿美族人在阻擋不住縣府怪手的情況下，只能眼睜睜看著家園被怪手一棟一棟的摧毀、剷平，原本就很殘破的由鐵皮和木板組成的房屋轉瞬成為一片廢墟。
Lin A-long, the abbot of the local religious center-Shan Yun Temple, says that even Amis people who have moved to national apartments in Long En Pu still left a lot personal properties in the houses here, and because of the lack of gas provision in Long En Pu, they still come back to the original houses under the Sanying Bridge to cook and sleep. However, because of their powerless, Amis people could not stop the excavators but only to see their houses, composed by iron sheets and planks, tearing apart into ruins one by one, with their own eyes.
Another journalist Cheng Wei Ren from a community newspaper Lipao interviewed some of the Amis inhabitants in Sanying after the destruction:
火爐邊的族人們說出了自己對於居住的願望，其實很簡單，他們不想要由上而下的高樓部落，而是希望能夠像過去一樣，只要他們一打開門，就可以看到鄰居以及大自然，時時刻刻都可以噓寒問暖，分分秒秒都可以與大自然為伍，而不是像現在，打開門就只看見走廊。
The Amis people around the stove told us their wishes for living. It was simple: they don't want a top-down tribe on a high building; they want to see their neighbors and nature every time they open the doors like in the old times that they can exchange greetings and make small talks with each other, and be a part of greater nature; not like now, when corridors are the only things they see outside the door.
Coolloud also interviewed an Amis inhabitant, Banai:
所以我很氣政府說我們侵佔國有地，要拆我們的房子。我記得小時候，政府就是這樣，說什麼要徵用土地，就把我們原住民趕走的。為了政府要用地、為了出外討生活，我們一直在離鄉背井，走到那裡被趕到那裡，現在說我們侵佔國有地，到底是誰在侵佔誰？ 每一塊到過的荒地，我們都是自己去開墾，讓它活起來，變成可以生長生命的地方。可是政府寧願在土地上蓋大樓，或是讓它又會變回一片荒地，也不願讓我們在上面生存。從台東到台北，我跟阿伯這輩子靠著自己的力量過日子，即使不算好，但也很有尊嚴。如果被政府「安置」到大樓的套房裡面，沒了這塊土地，變成不能工作的乞丐，那才真的沒尊嚴。
So I am very angry to hear the government say that we invaded and occupied the national land, so that our houses have to be pull down. I remember that the government did the same thing when I was still a kid; they say they need to commandeer the land so they drove us away. Because the government needed the land, we must leave for a living. We are always leaving, we are driven away everywhere we are, and now they say we invaded the national land. But who is really invading? We bring each wasteland we have been to cultivation, to make it a living earth. But the government would rather build a multi-story building on the land or return the land to a wasteland to let us live on it. From Taitung to Taipei, my husband and I work and live on our own–we don't live in good condition though, but we live with dignity. If the government “put” us in the suite of the building, we will soon become landless and then jobless beggars, without dignity.
Superbird analyzes the situation the Amis in Sanying Aboriginal Communities are facing:
縣府也要求他們在簽訂合約時要先找到保證人，但我想以他們的狀況彼此互相擔任保證人沒太大的意義，到時候彼此也負擔不起對方積欠的房租。
The County Government asked them to find a guarantor when they are ready to sign the waiver, and I don't think that has any meaning while each of them is one another's guarantor with such kind of bad economical situation. No one is going to be able to pay one another's debts on rental.
其實，問題並不出在縣政府的官員是否是依法行政，而是出在整個事件沒有在初期就先更全面性去思考問題可能的解決方式，也沒有在初期先邀請各局處的官員和這些民眾以及社會團體（各種非營利組織、社福團體）來探討最佳的解決方案，也沒有考慮可以同時採行的方案，例如以工代租或者是同時強迫免費參加職訓局的就業輔導或者是國高中補校課程，讓他們在這段期間中不僅有房可住，且不用付房租，但強迫他們提高謀生能力….政府的基本任務好像只有「建設」和維護公共建設品質而已。
Actually, the problem is not whether the officials from the County Government abide by the law or not, but the complete thoughtless at the very beginning to search for all possible solutions comprehensively. They did not invite officials from each section, people who live there, and social groups(NPOs and social welfare groups) to explore the best way out. They also didn't consider solutions that can be put into practice at the same time, such as giving them work to pay the rental or pushing them to participate in employment counsellings offered by Job Training Department or high schools. The object is to have them a house without rental but at the same time force them to raise their ability on making a living….it seems that the Government's basic missions are only “construction” and maintain the quality of public constructions.
The list of goods and materials supported by other social groups and activists.
Social activists and cyber-activists are working together to spread out the call for help and help rebuild the house again from the ruins. However, the situation does not look optimistic at all since the officials said they will be back and finish “their job” on Feb 28, the Peace Memorial Day. How sarcastic!
Because of the hyper-heated Presidential election, the stories of Sanying are not finding a place to stay on mainstream media either. If the two candidates really care about human rights, job creation, low house price, and cultures of Taiwan's aborigines, they should visit Sanying instead of accusing each other on TV anymore.

author: Portnoy Zheng


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Ukraine: Public Education and the President’s Kids · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana writes about president Yushchenko's views on Ukrainian public education.


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Africa: Applying long-tail to the African mobile space · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

White African discusses “applying the long-tail to the African mobile space”: “What Ken is getting at is an important concept, one that too many of us forget as we generally have access to the more powerful phones. Whether it’s dealing with NGO-related initiatives, or traditional business projects, we need to be reminded that creating platforms for the lowest common denominator will have the greatest impact in the shortest amount of time.”


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Africa: Is Chinese influence eroding press freedom? · Global Voices
Glenna Gordon

The BBC posted an interview with head of Reporters Without Borders Leonard Vincent commenting on the decline of press freedom in Africa over the past year.
Ugandan Insomniac was the first to discuss it:
Vincent’s response, in my opinion, was typical of the misunderstanding of African statehood, international affairs and democracy.
She quoted some of the interview, with special emphasis on parts she found especially difficult to swallow:
VINCENT: Two major factors for me is that first of all, is the fact that there is this sort of African pride in the culture, in the political culture, that has been renewed this year and more and more over the years makes it difficult for western countries to intervene in internal affairs of their former colonies.
Meanwhile, AfricaFlack offered another angle:
RSF Secretary-General Robert Menard knows the cure. The leaders of the so-called league of democracies and international institutions must stand up for common values. One underlying reason for this reluctance – at least for the “democracies” – is business, Menard argues. Who wants to offend China’s leaders about imprisoning cyber journalists when their market is so big? Who wants to offend Russian President Vladimir Putin when oil is so important?
Let’s get back to Africa and its dark year of 2007. One reason so many African countries became so brazen in their repression of the media: the rise of Chinese power on the continent along with the corresponding loss of legitimacy of the continent’s former colonial powers.
But back on the Insomniac's blog, tempers – and comments – flared.
@God: Why did you make the West? Why, why, why, why? Why did you make them people who turn I into an incoherent burn-dem-downer? (27th Comrade)
…
The voyeuristic nature of western media thrives when there is trouble in nations they consider to be less civilized than their own. It reinforces their opinion that they are somehow superior to these rabid uncultured people babbling in some weird sounding language that they will never learn. (imnxtac)
…
Vincent is saying it wrong, especially up there about African pride. He also thinks wrong, putting the blame on China for instance. Even in countries where Western governments are all over the place the same thing does happen. It’s a matter of who is playing who. Eg, while Rwanda has been putting off France, they’ve been dancing with American and British money. But the media in Rwanda is one of the most repressed in the Great Lakes region, and it is only a few years from now that RWB of this world will be noticing. (Minty)
…
I think the biggest flaw of places like Reporters Without Borders is they don’t take into consideration the difficulty of local media to operate within their own countries.
IGG anyone?? (Scarlett Lion)
Discussions of media freedom – and more so what is reported about Africa – never fail to incite a plethora of opinions, though it is doubtful the RWB will respond to the voices all over the blogosphere.

author: Glenna Gordon


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Bermuda, Cayman Islands: Constitutional Change · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Bermudan blogger Vexed Bermoothes, on learning that the Cayman Islands is updating its Constitution following “rigorous public consultation”, asks: “Are we just so used to corrupt governance that normalcy seems unusual?”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Bolivia: Anti-Government Protester Beat by Supporters · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

El refugio del pez que fuma [es] writes about intolerance shown by supporters of President Evo Morales, who beat a protester voicing displeasure over the current administration.


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Cameroon: Will the widespread unrest bring political change? · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Cameroon was besieged this week by the worst violence in fifteen years, as a transportation strike, formally ended by unions on Wednesday, expanded into a more general protest against rising food and oil prices and President Biya‘s attempts to alter the constitution and extend his 25-year rule.
So far, at least six and as many as two-dozen people have been killed.  Police have been firing tear gas at protesters, sometimes dropping canisters of gas from helicopters.
In Bamenda, a city in northwestern Cameroon, protesters pursued by paramilitary police reportedly used school children as human shields.
As the crisis mounts, Cameroonian bloggers and their readers, many writing from abroad, express concern for loved ones and debate the country's political future.
Le Blog du Prési, written by a Cameroonian man living in France, writes in a post entitled “The Hour is Grave“:
C'est par ce titre qu'un ami intitulait le mail qu'il nous adressait ce lundi. Et pour cause, de nombreux affrontements et blocages paralysent l'activité dans les principales villes camerounaises, Douala en particulier. La raison à tout ceci, le prince veut modifier la constitution pour s'offrir quelques années de plus de règne, en meme temps, il asphyxie la population obligeant les transporteurs à se mettre en grève et le mélange de tout ceci donne un cocktail explosif qui a malheureusement un effet boomerang parce qu'handicapant encore plus ce peuple déjà bien mis à mal.
A reader named Edouard, currently in Cameroon, responds, saying the crisis is far more widespread and serious:
“L'heure est grave”. Mes frères, vu du Cameroun, le mot n'est n'est pas fort. Ce n'est pas seulement Douala quio chauffe. L'Ouest, le Sud-Oues, le Nord-Ouest et Yaoundé sont en ébullition.
La tension est montée d'un cran ce jour dans la capitale. Et figurez vous que c'est actuellement l'armée (les militaires) qui assurent le maintien de l'ordre. Il y a eu du feu un peu partout, et surtout à Mokolo et Tsinga. Même la poste centrale a été paralysée.
L'affaire a dépassé la grève des transporteurs terrestres. Je me tape environs 30km en aller et retour pour être au bureau. Mais depuis hier, notre journal n'est même pas imprimé. C'est par Internet qu'on essaye d'informer.
Les lendemains sont incertains.
“The Hour is Grave.”  My brothers, seen from Cameroon, this word is not strong [enough].  It is not only Douala that is on fire.  The West, the Southwest, the Northwest and Yaounde are all boiling over.
This day, tension has risen to a new level in the capital.  And believe it or not, it is the army (the military) which is currently assuring order is maintained.  There are fires all over, especially in Mokolo and Tsinga.  Even the central post office has been paralyzed.
The affair has moved well beyond the ground transportation workers.  I have to take 30km round-trip to get to the office.  But as of yesterday, our newspaper isn't even going to print.  It's by Internet that we try to keep people informed.  The future is uncertain.
Another reader, PrincesseDi, writes that people in Cameroon have simply had enough, and expresses concern about her family and friends:
Je ne dors plus, je pense a ma famille, mes amis, tout ces etres chers restes au pays. Que vont-ils devenir? Tendons-nous vers in genocide? J'ai vraiment peur pour le Cameroun… Les populations en ont marre! 6000 frs la bouteille de gaz, 100frs le litre d'huile de palme, 350 frs le morceau de savon, 20 000 frs le sac d'engrais, plus de 600 frs le litre de carburant…. Pour quels salaires? Et Son Excellence de dire “l'ordre regnera par tous les moyens”
Ou va-t-on?
I can't sleep anymore.  I think about my family, my friends, and everyone else dear who are still in the country.  What is going to become of them?  Are we headed toward genocide?  I am really afraid for Cameroon…The people are fed up!  6000 francs for a bottle of gas, 100 francs for a liter of palm oil, 350 francs for a bar of soap, 20,000 francs for a sac of fertilizer, more than 600 francs for a liter of fuel…On what salary?  And His Excellence says “order will prevail by any means necessary.”
Where are we going?
On Rue89, an independent, participatory news website in Paris, a reader named Azza writes that not even France's support of Biya may be enough to save him:
Encore un dinosaure de la Françafrique qui tente d'imposer par la force la continuation de sa démocrature à une population qui n'en peut plus du népotisme et des élections truquées.
Jusqu'à présent, il a toujours pu compter sur le soutient de Paris pour faire des bras d'honneurs répétés à sa population qui n'ose plus rêver de sa liberté.
Another dinosaur of Françafrique tries to impose by force the continuation of his rule upon a population that has had enough of nepotism and rigged elections.
Up until now, he could always count on the support of Paris to [express his indifference] for his people who no longer dare to [just] dream of their liberty.
Anglophone readers at Dibussi Tande‘s blog, Scribbles From the Den, were optimistic that the unrest might help usher in a long-awaited political renewal.
The Southwesterner:
At long last the awakening is taking place and guess what, my phone conversations yesterday morning and evening reveal the kumbaya happened in all the four corners of The Cameroons. From the North, South, East and West, what is to come is still in the making. The winner will be all of Cameroons children.
Innocent Ndifor Mancho:
Today the sons of Cameroon have realised that they need to take their destiny into their own hands. The essingan brotherhood and its band wagon of political charlatans for decades have manipulated elections, constitutions, human rights, justice. they have manipulated the police and the army, the students and the teachers. they have manipulated the youths and the elders. Of course, they forgt the very old wisdom that u can only fool all the people some of the time.
Nga Adolph:
It is time for opposition forces in Cameroon to make sweeping political capital out of this,for if we miss the “train” this time around all hopes of bringing about the much needed reforms will be lost irredeemably.Make no mistake,the momentum must increase and accelerate to engulf the whole nation just like a tide sweeps through every nook and cranny of a beach.

author: Jennifer Brea


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China: Box Office · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Latest statistic of the China box office shows that 3,527 screens worth 5.1 billion RMB. Sun bin believes that the bloom can even be bigger if the ticket fee is reduced by 30% in major cities.


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China: Suicide at tech giant Huawei · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Following up on one blogger's lead, some comments on yet another staff suicide at tech company Huawei this week which for many reinforces the company's popular image of having one of the toughest workplace environments in the country.
Twenty-five year-old Li Dongbing's suicide is being reported as the 37th—a number questioned by some [zh]—in the company's 20-year history, and as with the reports from the second half of 2007 of Zhang Rui and Zhao Bing's suicides and Qiao Xiangying's sudden death due to over-exhaustion while in a company washroom, some revere the competitive culture at Huawei, many scrutinize it, and even more find ways to relate to it.
‘Is Huawei cursed?’ It had been accused by Cisco in a 2003 lawsuit, later dropped, of ripping off the company's IOS operating system. News reports are quoting insiders with various rumors: Li had just lost big on the stock market; his microwave transmission project had been canceled; he was in debt; he wasn't meeting company performance standards, an assertion many refute [zh]. Huawei Human Resources issued a statement which said it be cooperating with police, who today released a statement saying Li had been having relationship problems.
Comments from leading tech site CNBeta as it followed the story with insider photos:
匿名人士 发表于 2008-02-26 14:35:49
华为的确该反思，为什么这事老发生在自己身上，自身肯定有原因的。
匿名人士 发表于 2008-02-26 14:38:34
又一个……
好女不嫁华为男哦，免得当寡妇。
匿名人士 发表于 2008-02-26 15:17:36
以为他是因为炒股才跳楼的同学都被骗了
我在成都 里面有人
刚才华为内部开会统一口径 必须说这是炒股
但是实际上和过去华为所有自杀的人原因是一样的
至于楼上还有一口咬定是炒股死的人我只能说你要么是被骗了要么是被统一了口径
匿名人士 发表于 2008-02-26 14:47:37
华为又为中国的计划生育事业做出了卓越的贡献
为２００８年，新的跳跃式发展，开了一个好头
华为所有的分，子公司应该租底楼
Boying 发表于 2008-02-26 14:50:20
晚上给领导托个梦，谁要是再封锁消息，我就把谁带走!
Comments on the NetEase Tech story today in which police claimed relationship troubles:
网易北京石景山网友 [西门大灌人]：
2008-02-28 09:28:30 发表
压力那么大，哪有时间培养感情
网易湖北黄冈网友 ip：121.62.*.*：
2008-02-28 09:30:34 发表
昨天还说是欠下了巨债，今天又说是感情问题！！
原来，感情是一笔债！！
网易四川成都网友 [支点]：
2008-02-28 09:34:06 发表
中国的这些企业，比资本主义还资本主义
网易广东东莞网友 ip：59.36.*.*：
2008-02-28 09:53:47 发表
能说是华为的责任吗？就算华为肯承认，我想当地政府也不会允许华为承认吧？更何况华为根本就不承认！
网易江苏南京网友 ip：58.217.*.*：
2008-02-28 09:55:37 发表
从某个侧面反映了公司的文化，我断定，他不是最后一个自杀者。
网易福建福州网友 ip：59.56.*.*：
2008-02-28 09:56:39 发表
我在读大学的时候，基本上每年学校里都有出现同学自杀或者精神出问题。我们班40个同学里，还出现了一个因为感情问题精神崩溃，最后退学的。那么大的公司，几万个员工，出现这样的问题很正常吧。
网易北京网友 ip：221.221.*.*：
2008-02-28 10:25:06 发表
Yesterday they said he was in huge debt, and today they say he had relationship troubles!!
I see, love is just a financial debt!!
这么说吧，华为的产值很高，在国际上也有竞争力，表面上是高科技。其实根本就没什么科技含量。就是一个高技术的工厂。其能够生存下来，完全是靠寄生在目前电信运营商身上，而运营商是个寄生在广大群众身上的，所以说，华为实际也是一个寄生虫。
网易福建福州网友 ip：218.5.*.*：
2008-02-28 10:37:01 发表
Beijing:
How to put this. Huawei has a high output value, is competitive internationally, and appears hi-tech on the surface. But in reality what it produces isn't technology. It's just a hi-tech factory. The only thing that keeps it alive are parasites inside the current telecom operators, and the operators are a parasite in the larger body of society. So in practice, Huawei is just one big parasite.
华为的销售有一半多是在海外完成的,这一点兄弟你清楚吧?
网易上海闵行网友 ip：210.22.*.*：
2008-02-28 10:41:39 发表
嘿嘿。为什么只有华为的人自杀了我们就会去追究是为什么死的呢。哈哈。
网易江苏扬州网友 ip：222.45.*.*：
2008-02-28 11:58:39 发表
作为一个民营企业,在短短20年的时间成长为世界电信网络领域的NO.5,
每年为国家上缴利税第一(电子科技行业),
每年解决大学生3000多的就业问题,
每年国际申请专利中国第一,
可能成为中国第一个跨入世界500强的民营企业……..
网易上海网友 ip：203.156.*.*：
2008-02-28 12:53:57 发表
其实这些事情和华为的关系不大了，因为大家都有选择雇主的权利，压力大，我们可以选择辞职，找份轻松一点的。
我有同事也是华为出来的，他就挺乐观的

author: John Kennedy


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China: Suicide or Security Problem? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

On Feb 17, a woman fell into the Guangzhou Metro track and killed. The police and company said that it was a suicide case but her family didn't believe the story and demanded further investigation. They believed her death was caused by the defect of the safety gate. The incident was widely discussed in Tianya (zh), some netizens demanded the Metro to release the tape of the security camera.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Thoughts and debates on the name-calling professor · Global Voices
George Sun

The start was in fact very simple. In 2007, Professor Zhong Hua at Sichuan Normal University issued an article entitled Cultural Studies and the Lost of Literary Theory in the 11th issue of “Literature and Art Studies”, one of the core academic journals in China, criticizing an academic work entitled Perspective of Ideological Transformation and Literary Discourse of Modern Concepts Evolution written by a Beijing Normal University professor Ji Guangmao. In this article, Professor Zhong Hua pointed out that the book failed to well analyse and demonstrate the concept of its topic. Zhong Hua said the lack of creativity and preciseness in Ji Guangmao’s book reflects the slovenly academic attitude of the author. However, feeling his authority had been challenged, Ji Guangmao fired back in his blog . Since December 5, 2007, he had written a series of entries and most of them contained personal attacks and dirty language. All these articles soon led to great concern from the academic experts and Netizen. Faced with all divergent argument, each professor got some supporters and opponents in the blogosphere.
Sina blogger Jinchengyou wrote in his blog on Feb 25, arguing that academic discussion should be confined only in the area of academy and advised Prof. Ji to regain his sanity and stop name-calling.
After reading Professor Ji Guangmao’s article “Refuting Zhong Hua: (2) Look how he smears others’ reputation” I even feel much as a reluctant heart. You cannot understand some content written in it without personal experience in the circle of academy. I think the academic criticism is normal and necessary. Being the academic members, critics should pay attention to the good yardstick of language. It seems wrong that some are too harsh, and they should establish the respect of each other on the basis of good manners (not necessarily the views of critics are completely correct). One should know that, due to various reasons, the reflection in a book is in a certain stage of the awareness of some issues and is inevitable to make careless omissions and errors. Critics in the conduct of criticism should only concern about the academic topic, excluding other issues.
As the academician being criticized, one should have sufficient academic self-confidence and it is unnecessary to be so mean to the criticism. I believe it is his more than 20 years of hard work that makes the 45-year-old professor an “elite scholar and doctorate tutor”, and his academic status is beyond doubt. Now that his work “Perspective of Ideological Transformation and Literary Discourse of Modern Concepts Evolution” is under criticism, it is quite unreasonable and unwise for Prof. Ji to lose his sanity and vituperate the critics. I cherish the hope that Prof. Ji can treasure his plume and extricate himself from the bog.
In Baidu Tieba (Baidu Post Bar), the discussion is also going impetuously and an anonymous author recently posted some words describing the loss of social morality reflected by this incident.
凭心而论，一位学者，当自己的论著意外遭受到严厉批评，难免心中不平，甚至一时愤激而发表过激言论，也是可以理解的。但是，既然是生存在文明的当代中国，而且身为教授学者，就应当遵守公共道德、并且把自己的回应约束在学术界限内。然而，季广茂对钟文的“回应”令人根本看不到真心回应学术批评的态度，而是恶意侮辱钟华，其肆意谩骂的污言秽语，从钟华的文章污及钟华本人、再从钟华本人污及其家人，用词之肮脏、态度之恶劣，不仅丧失了一位学者应有的操守，而且违背了基本的社会公德！
To be honest, as a famous scholar, when the academic work of his own is suddenly going under severe criticism it is inevitable for him to feel disaffected and even say some extreme words as responses. But, now that we live in a civilized nation, as a university professor one should obey the public morality and confine the discussion in the academe. From the ‘responses’ made by Ji Guangmao, however, we can see nothing appropriate and academic except for all the insulting vituperation and bawdry on Zhong Hua and his family. The words and manner are so dirty and vulgar that it indicated that he not only lost the morality discipline a scholar should possess but also disobeyed the basic social morality!
Wang Shichuan, a professional observer and freelance, who thought the ‘criticism gate’ incident indicated some moral problems in Chinese universities and academic circles, wrote the following words in his Tencent blog on Feb 24.
这是一场典型的批评，引发的却是非典型的愤怒。我们当然应为当今高校的师德现状发一浩叹，甚至可以哀叹“学高为师、德高为范”在逐渐沉沦。但我们不能舞动着道德大棒挥向季先生，不宜把该事件简单地置于师德沦丧的漩涡。我们应追问：一场原本可以良性互动的学术批评，何以被异化？我们该探问，季先生在被批评之后何以气急败坏？我们更需明晰：如何构建成熟的学术批评，又如何祛除学术利益化？
This is a typical criticism, but caused atypical anger. Of course, we should sigh for the moral status quo in today's colleges and universities and even feel from the lament that the logion “lofty scholarship as tutor; high morality as quintessence” is in the progress of degradation. However, we can not throw a big moral stick to Mr. Ji, attributing it simply to the whirlpool of moral loss. We should ask: how could the benign interaction of academic criticism become alienated? We should inquire why Prof. Ji was utterly discomfited after the criticism. We need more clarity: How to build a mature academic criticism, and wipe out the academic egoism?
如何对待学术批评？在批评中，无论是批评者还是被批评者，都要出于引导学术进步，促进国家、民族的进步和发展的基本立场，容忍对方的批评，哪怕是尖刻的批评。中国人民大学法学院杨立新教授这段见解深得我心。我们注意到，钟华对季广茂的学术批评并非完美无暇，也有漏洞，这些钟华已坦承——在个别问题的处理，或者分寸的把握上，今天看来可能还是存在一些不适当的地方。作为回应，季广茂接受记者采访时表示，钟华除了指出的两处硬伤、两处笔误之外，其余的都站不住脚，有的是断章取义，有的是子虚乌有……此时，季先生如果针锋相对、基于学术范畴内的回应，应该让人喜闻乐见。问题是，季先生的愤怒如滔滔江水，种种污言秽语绵延不绝，这就使正常的学术批评被扭曲。
How to deal with the academic criticism? In it, both critics or the criticized must ,in the purpose of guide for academic progress, the promotion of national and ethical progress as well as the development of the academics, tolerate each other's saying, even some sarcastic words. Yang Lixin, Law Professor at People's University, speaks out his opinion and it won my heart. We note that the Zhong Hua’s academic criticism towards Ji Guangmao is not immaculate, and there are some loopholes. Zhong Hua has admitted that – in dealing with individual issues and the limits for speech or action, there is still something inappropriate. In response, when interviewed by a reporter, Ji Guangmao said that except the two spots of academic carelessness and clerical error which was pointed out by Zhong Hua, the rest is indefensible, and some are quoted out of context or even fictitious…… At this point, if Mr. Ji responded tit-for-tat on the basis of academic context, the whole thing should be loved by the people. But the question is that the anger Ji is just like the surging river and all the obscene word and bawdry has never been stopped, which makes the normal academic criticism distorted.
一言以蔽之，在正常的学术批评日渐稀缺时，批评容易陷入“一捧就笑、一骂就跳”的困局；在当前的学术品质、学术道德和学术研究泥沙俱下之际，在重大课题的申报与重大利益挂钩时，当事人就很难心平气和地接受批评，当然也很难潜心做学问、搞研究。在师德之外，这两点尤需关注。
In a nutshell, the normal academic criticism is becoming increasingly scarce. So vulnerable is criticism that any argument can easily stir anger. The current dilemma of the current academic quality, academic ethics and academic research makes it impossible for critics to give and receive criticism with heartsease and therefore it is difficult for them to devote themselves to academic research. Besides academic morality, we should pay our attention to these two points.
Still, there’re some supporters of Prof. Ji Guangmao. Blogger Chenyuansheng, who had some personal contact with Ji Guangmao, posted the supportive words in his weblog showing sympathetic feelings and arguing that the criticism from Zhong Hua is totally unequal.
假如我不曾偶然对季广茂有所了解，我多半会相信钟华的评价，起码会大大受他的影响。但是，由于我对季广茂有这么一点了解，我就绝对不相信钟华的评价。季广茂再笨蛋，也笨蛋不到那个程度。
If I knew nothing about Ji Guangmao, I think I will possibly trust what Zhong Hua said or at least be greatly influenced by his article. But as someone who knows Ji Guangmao a little, I never trust the criticism made by Zhong Hua. Whatever a fool Ji Guagmao is, he can’t be as foolish as that.
钟华的文章，对季广茂的那本书的批评，连一句勉强的、礼节性的表扬都没有。如果季广茂果真是那么个笨伯，而且那么不道德，那么我也不反对他大刀阔斧——然而，我就是不相信季广茂是那副样子。一个挺聪明的人，不可能突然变成呆瓜，正如一个呆瓜也不可能突然变得聪明
In his article, Zhong Hua didn’t say anything positive, not even some striped-pants praise. Had Ji Guangmao been a real idiot and that immoral, then I will say nothing about his bold and resolute words. But, I will never believe Ji Guangmao is such a kind of person. A witty guy will never instantly become a retard; as such, a retard can never turn to be clever all of a sudden.
In his up-to-date blog entry on Feb 25, Prof. Ji Guangmao said he is misunderstood by others.
总是有朋友问：为什么不能有话好好说？是呀，我也很想有话好好说，但是，凭空被人泼了一身的大粪，难免激愤；激愤之人，难免有义愤之辞；这个时候，即使想“好好说”，谈何容易？八十天过去了，始终无法真正释怀。此痛此感，非当事人，焉能理解？
My friends always ask: why can’t you say it calmly. Yes, I myself also want to express my feelings in good manners. But, it is unavoidable not to stay calm when somebody smears you so dirtily. While getting angry, one will surely say some angry words. At this point, even if I wanted to say it ‘in good manners’, it is not easy to do so. 80 days had passed, but still I can’t feel relieved. You will never understand my feelings without putting your foot in my shoes.
Without writing a weblog, Zhong Hua none the less spoke out his mind to the public when receiving an interview on Feb 24.
钟华告诉记者，学术讨论闹到今天这种局面自己非常遗憾和无奈，“平心而论他谈到学术内的问题，有些还是有一定参考价值的。当然有些我肯定有不同意见，不过鉴于现在这种状况，与他进行学术讨论显然时机还不够成熟。至于他文中学术之外的言辞，那就是另外一个问题了。”
Zhong Hua told the journalist that he was very regretful and hopeless to see the academic discussion being eroded to such an extent. He said: “If we give the devil his due, I have to say his academic insight is still valuable in some sense. Though I’m holding some different opinions, now it is still immature for me to have a thorough discussion with him. As to those insulting words of him, I think, that’s another issue.
Here are some titles of entries from the weblog of Prof. Ji Guangmao concerning with this ‘academic’ incident.
做回畜生（送某屁眼教授及某鸡眼教授）
屁眼教授再现眼
不折不扣的屁眼教授
“痔疮教授”乎？“屁眼教授”乎？
教授与痔疮
患上脑便秘，难免满纸都是屁
哦的神啊，救救我们吧
Turn back to Beast (To a certain ‘asshole professor’ and ‘helosis professor’)
‘Asshole Professor’ loses face again
One hundred percent ‘Asshole Professor’
‘Hemorrhoids Professor’ or ‘Asshole Professor’?
Professor and Hemorrhoids
Suffering from Brain Constipation: There is Fart everywhere
Oh my God, please save us!

author: George Sun


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Czech Republic: Health Minister Rescues a Pedestrian · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Czech Daily Word writes about how the Czech health minister's saved a pedestrian's life.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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D.R. of Congo: Plane wreckage has become part of the urban landscape · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

In October, Du Cabiau Kinshasa wrote about an Antonov plane which went down in Kinshasa, killing three dozen people.  This week, he posts a photograph of part of the wreckage, which casually sits somewhere along the road to the airport.  “No one is interested in it anymore.  The urban jungle has swallowed it up.”


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Environment: Dirty cities · Global Voices
Juliana Rotich

Carbon Copy shares some facts about dirty cities…
“In South Africa, Johannesburg has vehicle emissions, dust from mine dumps and untarred roads, and excessive burning of coal especially in informal settlements. Cape Town contends with tyres being burned illegally to recover scrap metal. And even small rural towns have to deal with pesticides blowing through houses.

author: Juliana Rotich


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Exchange Student ‘Starved’ in Egypt · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Elijah Zarwan, from Egypt, discusses a wire story about a 17-year-old American exchange student who was allegedly ‘starved’ after being paired with a Christian Coptic family, which fasts for 200 days a year.


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Hong Kong: The Invisible Class · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Henry porter comments on the newly released government budget report and points out the existence of an “invisible class”. Under the “winner takes the most, loser takes the rest” logic, the invisible class takes nothing (zh).


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Iran and Israel: foes forever or future friends? · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

The online video posted by the Century Foundation regarding the relations between Israel and Iran and the geo.political forces that are behind this situation has several bloggers discussing their ideas on who is really pulling the strings.
The discussion, Iran and Israel: An Irreversible Enmity?, is held by Trita Parsi,  Alliance – The      Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran and the      United States,
Ali Eteraz posts the video and says:
I think one comment of note is from Riyad Mansour, a Palestinian expert, who reminds that the US runs the show, not Israel.
But pay attention, very close attention, at 3:30, at the geo-political game Iran is playing.
You can also see the video on video aggregator and discussion site FORA.tv
FORA.tv enables a new, global media opportunity by aggregating a daily range of events, produced and electronically shipped by institutions or freelance producers, from around the world.
On Fora.tv you can see the different sections of the talk, or see it as a whole. There are also links to background information on the speakers, the possibility of having transcripts and download capabilities.
The interest in discussing the possibility of mending relations between Iran and Israel is reflected in the blogosphere as well: Lisa Goldman translates Notes from the Underground: Iranians and Israelis connect online  from Hebrew to English. The article, written by  Ido Hartogsohn for Nana, an Israeli entertainment portal, speaks about the role blogs have taken in bridging the gaps in communication and information, providing a more humane connection between people of these two different nations. From the article:
Goldman, too, sees blogs as a tool for creating understanding between peoples. “We must find a way to get past the pre-conceived notions and one-dimensional portraits presented by the mainstream media,” she says. “They just perpetuate conflicts. I think that if you hear a human voice from the other side, that’s the beginning of the way.”
However, there is still a bit of apprehension:
As a means of illustrating the extent to which Iranian bloggers must be careful to avoid contact with Israelis, Kamangir offered an amusing-yet-sad anecdote about an incident that occurred last summer. This incident also shows how ordinary people who are citizens of enemy states find themselves making contact – albeit of a hesitant, groping kind.
The rest of the story can be read here.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Iranian web editor arrested for criticizing Khomeini’s grandson · Global Voices
sami ben gharbia

Hossein Nobakhtian, the managing editor of the banned conservative Iranian website Nosazi (Renovation) has been detained for criticizing Khomeini’s grandson.

author: sami ben gharbia


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Jamaica: Both Sides Now · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“We Jamaicans take the mountains, valleys, waterfalls — all for granted. And because we can't see those things with ‘outsider eyes’ we don't think deeply enough about how to share them with the world”: Francis Wade believes Jamaica is full of untapped potential.


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Jamaica: This and That  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaica and the World puts in her two cents’ worth on everything from a Minister being charged with fraud to the island's roller-coaster crime rate.


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Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: Panorama · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“It is music that must be heard live to be appreciated, as much of it is literally felt in the body…”: Jamaican Francis Wade blogs about Panorama, Trinidad and Tobago's premier steel band competition.


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Japan: the First English Teacher · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Peter Payne from Japundit traces the history of the first English Teacher in Japan.