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French-Speaking Bloggers on Rabat Conference on Migration  · Global Voices
Alice Backer

What Will the Conference Bring?
Says France-based African blogger Le Pangolin,
Du 10 au 11 juillet 2006, s'est tenue à Rabat au Maroc, la première rencontre interministérielle euro-africaine sur les problèmes des migrations entre ces deux continents.Elle a regroupé 57 pays africains et européens et certaines organisations humanitaires qui se sont bruyamment invitées à la table de négociation.
Though cautious in his wording, Senegalese blogger-mayor Robert Sagna, was willing to give the conference's resolution the benefit of the doubt:
L’Europe, l’Asie, l’Amérique, l’Australie et même l’Afrique connaissent le phénomène migratoire ; il faut savoir le gérer ; la répression n’est sûrement pas la meilleure manière, comme le souligne la Déclaration de Rabat, il faut engager un dialogue politique, mais les solutions durables à mon avis passe par la Croissance et le Développement d’une part, et une répartition équitable des résultats de cette croissance et de ce développement, d’autre part.
France-based African blogger Le Pangolin  agreed that policing was a short-sighted solution and had mostly harsh words for the conference, for Europe and for Morocco:
De ce qui est ressorti de cette conférence c’est une impression générale d’une rencontre pour rien, même si pour certains observateurs optimistes c’est signe que l’Europe reconnaît son échec et surtout le Maroc malgré ses exactions envers les négro-africains de l’année dernière passées sous silence internationale, ne peut continuer à jouer au gendarme de l’Europe, car le Maroc lui-même est un pays qui offre que l’émigration à sa jeunesse malgré son potentiel économique.
Les politiciens européens en manque d’idées et d’audace préconisent le durcissement des lois envers les étrangers et l’exclusion d ‘une partie de leur population. C’est ce qui ressort du plan adopté à Rabat ce sont des mesures vagues du genre :
ØCoopération entre l’Europe et l’Afrique dans le contrôle des frontières
ØRéduction de la pauvreté
ØAccroissement de l’aide au développement
ØEt l’Europe sans scrupule souhaite contrôler les flux financiers émanant des ressortissants africains à destination de leurs pays.
A lire ces mesures on comprend vite que les ministres africains et européens n’ont rien compris à la chose.
Pour les ministres africains c’était l’occasion de remettre à plat les rapports économiques existants, mais hélas les ministres africains n’ont pas encore saisi tous les contours du problème.
What is Behind the Migration of Africans to Europe?
Both bloggers attempted to put migrations of Africans to Europe in perspective.
Zinguinchor, Senegal mayor Robert Sagna thought:
Les flux migratoires ont toujours existé et sous des formes diverses : violentes ou pacifiques.
De nos jours, la libre circulation, des biens et des hommes, constitue l’élément essentiel d’un brassage planétaire, au cœur de ce qui est appelé « mondialisation ». Les biens et les services ne peuvent pas circuler sans les hommes, et les nouvelles technologies de l’information et de la communication ont fini de faire de ce globe terrestre un village planétaire, un vase communiquant où la richesse et l’opulence des uns sont une soupape d’appel des plus pauvres en quête de moyens de survie. Cela impose à l’humanité toute entière, une nouvelle attitude faite d’ouverture, de générosité et de tolérance. La notion de frontière fermée n’est plus de mise et il est illusoire de vouloir arrêter la mer avec ses bras.
Le Pangolin looked closely at structural and historical issues:
Sur le plan économique, l’Afrique a du mal à nourrir sa population, sa production agricole détournée vers les cultures d’exportation pendant la colonisation, puis poursuivie les années d’indépendance a scellé le sort alimentaire des Africains. (…) Un pays comme le Congo pour un budget annuel d’Etat de près de 1000 milliards de francs cfa, dépense près de 200 milliards de francs cfa pour subvenir à ces besoins alimentaires (et dire que dans ce pays il pleut en moyenne 9 mois sur 12 et que près de 60% de sa superficie est constituée de foret).
Tant que les pays du Nord et de l’Asie continueront à subventionner leur agriculture et que le FMI et la banque Mondiale continueront à imposer le libéralisme à tout va aux pays africains en empêchant les gouvernements africains de subventionner leur agriculture, du coup tous ces éléments rendant l’agriculture pas du tout lucrative en poussant les paysans vers les villes (le taux d’urbanisation des pays africains a dépassé celui des pays d’Europe et des USA, on relève de chiffres dépassant 65% ) tout cela ayant pour conséquences :
L’augmentation de la pauvreté rurale
Ø Augmentation des bidonvilles
Ø Augmentation d’insalubrité donc des maladies infantiles et de sa mortalité
Ø Augmentation du taux de chômage, les migrants ruraux n’ayant pas pour la plupart de formation professionnelle, ces derniers manqueraient de tout (école, loisirs, santé, travail) d’où criminalisation de la vie privée et politique en Afrique.
Ø Augmentation des importations des produits alimentaires européens, asiatiques et américains avec conséquences augmentation de l’achat des devises étrangères.
Using Drained Brains Differently
Senegalese commentators on Robert Sagna's blog tried to offer solutions.
For Kader, brains being drained out of Africa need to be managed to the continent's advantage :
L’un des facteurs favorisant le flux migratoire est la possibilité de travail (même au noir)
N’oublions pas qu’une nation qui vieillit a besoin de sang neuf; c’est malheureusement le cas des pays européens
un renouvellement de la population est toujours à l’ordre du jour . Celà participe de la dynamique des populations.
un autre facteur qui se dessine est la volonté de moins investir sur la formation des cadres et de pomper les ressources humaines des autres nations: c’est la volonté affichée des USA et aujourd’hui de la France à travers la fameuse loi sur l’immigration
Quelle attitude développer? Réorienter la coopérations? L’heure n’est elle pas venue pour que nos ressortissants hautement qualifiés soient des “coopérants” de type nouveaux?

author: Alice Backer


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Ganji’s Hunger Strike & Lebanon Conflict · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Dissident journalist Akbar Ganji and his supporters called for a three days hunger strike to attract attention on Iranian political prisoners. Several bloggers have talked about this hunger strike movement and  some discussed Ganji’s regime change idea.
Bring Iranians closer to each other
MardomIranema thinks that Ganji’s call for hunger strike despite of all discussions has been a positive action. The blogger believes this fact that several people from different political or ideological background joined the strike movement may bring Iranians closer to each other [Fa]. The blogger adds
The blogger concludes “I hope we don’t push Ganji to the top and bring him down and let him alone. We should look at Ganji as like as he sees himself, a journalist. All heavy weight is on his shoulders and more heavy the responsibility is, doing more mistakes will be possible”.
Regime change slogan a major point or a detail?
Javad Rooh thinks that Ganji has failed in his mission. The blogger says Ganji by advancing radical regime change slogans has lost his supporters inside country [Fa]. The blogger adds Ganji joined the bankrupted  opposition forces abroad. The blogger adds
AvayehRahayi has a positive idea about Ganji's action and replies to the previous blogger's criticism. The blogger says  Ganji’s meetings were not limited to the Iranian opposition. [Fa] The blogger reminds us that he met several top philosophers or political philosophers such as Jurgen Habermas, the German philosopher. The blogger believes Ganji’s talk about regime change is a minor part of what he really said. The blogger adds non violent regime change does not work in reality because to change a regime, violence is required. The blogger writes that the main points in Ganji’s talk reflect a new image of Iranian people in the eyes of the world. Ganji tries to attract world attention to human rights issues in Iran rather than the nuclear crisis. Another main point in his talk was to show that there are Moslems in Iran who believe in democracy but are squeezed under the wheels of fundamentalism.
For many Iranian bloggers the conflict in Lebanon has been as important as Ganji's hunger strike call. Several of these bloggers discussed this conflict and shared their ideas with us.
Hezbollah=Iranian Mujahedine
Daana compares Israel's attack on Hezbollah to previous Iranian army attacks on the Mujahedine, an Iraq based armed opposition group  [Fa]. The blogger says
Indifference
Nedaye Emrouz tries to explain why most Persian blogs are silent about the Israel-Lebanon conflict [Fa]. The blogger adds that in general Iranians do not like Arabs, even hate them. Some of them even supported Israel's attack (Nedaye Emrouz thinks this is very cruel). According to Nedaye Emrouz Iranians cannot forget Arab countries’ indifference regarding Iran during the Iran-Iraq war and Iranian government's financial help to Palestinian government when there are many Iranians live in poverty.
Whispers from Iranian Hezbollah
Hamed Talebi a Hezbollah and pro Ahmadinejad journalist explains different ways to act against Israel [Fa]:
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۲-اکنون زمان مناسبی برای جهاد اینترنتی است. مسلمانان در هر جای دنیا می توانند برای ایمیل هایی که متعلق به صهیونیستها است که معمولا با پسوند “IL” شناخته می شود ویروس های قوی و کاری بفرستند. همچنین باید همه مسلمانان دست در دست هم سایت هایی اصلی رژیم صهوینیستی که معمولا با پسوند فوق الذکر شناخته می شوند را هک کنند.
Mohammad Masih says if you are honest you will boycott companies supporting Israel [Fa].The blogger adds you can not change your taste from Coca Cola to other thing or buy Ericsson instead of Nokia. Then please do not talk about defending a nation.
Whispers from politicians
Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a reformist politician writing at Webnevesht says in Islamic countries anti Zionist demonstration are spontaneous but not in Iran  [Fa]. Official institutions organise these demonstration in country. Abtahi adds I wonder who advises the President to say
“If Syria is attacked, we will answer it” while it is Lebanon that is being attacked. When this is translated to Lebanese, they would interpret it as if the devastation of Lebanon is not important for the president of Iran. The important thing is that Syrian government is not damaged.
We read in Dr Ali Akbar Velayati's blog, that former Foreign Minister and Leader's adviser considers what Israel is doing now as a governmental terrorist act [Fa].
One Human being=One Human being
Naghde Hal criticised Iranian TV language regarding the conflict [Fa]. The blogger says in the language of Iranian TV  Israelies are killed but Lebanese become martyrs, attacks on Haifa by Hezbollah are praised but the bombing of Lebanon by Israeli airplanes is a disaster.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran: Internet & national security · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Alireza Shirazi founder of fast growing Blogfa, an Iranian provider for blogs says Parliament Research Center in Iran considered internet as a dangerous instrument for national security and for people. According to this blogger Research Center talks about  internet users who put national security in danger and want to overthrow Iranian State [Fa]. Shirazi writes this kind of talk shows in which kind of situation we will find ourselves in coming months.


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Islam: Caged Virgin Reviewed · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Palava Soup posts a review of Ayaan Hirsi Ali's book about Muslim women, The Caged Virgin, by British Muslim Fareena Alam, who is impressed neither by its central thesis nor its author's level of scholarship.

author: Luisetta Mudie


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Israel/Lebanon commentary · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

“Destroying the infrastructure of Lebanon isn't going to achieve much. It would surely not make Israel any safer,” writes Netherlands-based Nigerian blogger Chippla in a . “Support for Hezbollah has been on the increase in Lebanon since the bombing started…Hezbollah isn't a political party per se that could easily be destroyed. It is like a movement, an ideology, formed in 1982 to drive Israeli forces out of Lebanon.”


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Jamaica: Emancipation and Independence · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Charles Nesson announces that he is hosting a programme on the the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica on August 1 (Jamaica's Emancipation and Independence Day)  “in which Jamaican leaders talk with me about Jamaica’s journey to freedom and the issues of emancipation and independence which still confront them.” The programme will be followed by a series of discussions featuring prime ministers of Jamaica.

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Kazakhstan: Flashmobs · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

LJ user tropical-rat engages in some amateur anthropology regarding flashmobs in Kazakhstan.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Kyrgyzstan: Osh · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Breed writes about the charms of the bazaar in the Kyrgyz city of Osh and the lessons it holds for those who might find themselves in post-Soviet airports.


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Kyrgyzstan: US to Stay · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Yulia comments on the release of additional details about the new agreement between Kyrgyzstan and the United States that will allow the US to keep using the Manas airfield for supporting operations in Afghanistan. She argues that it is fortunate that the issue was resolved without becoming a huge fight because the US is an important ally for Kyrgyzstan to have.


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Latvia: Riga Gay Pride · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Vilhelm Konnander writes about the 2006 Gay Pride in Riga, which “seems to become a repetition of last year's chaos and homophobic protests in the Latvian capital.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Mexico: Election Update · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Various election updates from the usual suspects. Mark in Mexico is shocked that only half a percent of Mexicans living in the United States voted by absentee ballots. Ceci Connolly says López Obrador might have a few surprises in store. And Ana Maria Salazar has her usual rundown of the day's news.

author: David Sasaki


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Nepal: Maoists and the National Capital · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Democracy for Nepal explores what Maoists mean when they talk of National Capital. “Those of us who for a decade feared a Cambodia style massacre in Nepal should put some effort into appreciating this transformation that is taking place. There are things we can do to help that process of transformation, and we should focus on that, rather than getting in the way of that transformation every which way we can.”

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Nepal: Maoists in the mainstream · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Blogdai on Maoists and the Government. “So the next time someone tells you that the “Maoists must be brought into the mainstream,” give them a sharp smack in the head. Hope and optimism are wonderful things, but patterns and past practices are what should inform our judgements.”


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New Caledonia: Video of Kanak and Polynesian Dance Show · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Sebastien of 5 Minutes en Nouvelle Caledonie posts a video of Kanak and Polynesian dances performed during a 14 Juillet [July 14] celebration.


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Pakistan: Astola Island · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Adil writes about Astola Island in Pakistan. “Flying over Astola Island (Pakistan)‚ my first sight of the Island and the speed boat anchored in a bay far below quite took my breath. Pointing hull of the boat lay in pale blue shallows‚ riding on the swell. Even a hardened seaman would have melted at the sight of a creature as beautiful as the speed boat.”


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Reunion: Moslem Community Rallying Cry · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Zarabes writes (Fr): “We members of the moslem community of la Reunion, are watching powerless the current events in Palestine and Lebanon. Tired of the ambiant silence, we ask the various heads of the island's masjids to hold a common discourse next Friday (July 28, 2006) for the salat of d'jouma or to delegate this task to the officiating Imam on that day. We suggest that all the bayanes that will take place this friday talk about the topic that currently preoccupies the Islamic world i.e. the slaying of our brothers, sisters and children in Palestine and Lebanon.”


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Reunion: Volcano Eruption · Global Voices
Alice Backer

From Reunion, Jean-Paul at Dijoux.re writes (Fr):”It is the first eruption of the year. Of the two lava flows registered at the beginning of the eruption, one stopped and the other has diminished. The awful weather (i.e. the cold, the rain and the fog) is not making for a scenic eruption. A path was cleared but it takes a 4-5 hour hike to get close to the lava. But our volcano is capricious and its summit is often deceptive. Tonight (Friday) it rains in the North and East of the island with a temperature of 20 degrees C on the coast.”


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Reunion: Volcano Eruption · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Reunion Passion writes (Fr): “Le Piton de la Fournaise started erupting at the end of the night of July 20 at 4 am. According to information from the volcano observatory, the eruption took place at the volcano's summit, near the Bory crater.”


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Romania: Photos of a High School · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Owlspotting gives a photo tour of a Romanian high school he graduated from in 1999.


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Romania: “Spy Kids” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Doug Muir of A Fistful of Euros writes about “spy kids,” one of the legacies of Romania's Communist past: “Huge flap in Romania this week, as it’s been revealed that the Communist-era secret police recruited children to spy on parents and classmates.”


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Russia: Blog on Basayev’s Death · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

David McDuff of A Step At A Time provides a link to a new blog examining the death of Shamil Basayev and its significance for Chechnya.


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Singapore: GPS Tracking · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Gayle Goh at i-speak blog is concerned about a new GPS based tracking system offered by a Singapore company. The company claims that the system provides peace of mind by letting people track their property and loved ones.

author: Preetam Rai


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Sri Lanka: Away from Lebanon · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Only 300 Sri Lankans have been evacuated from Lebanon says Sri Lanka. “There are around 93,000 Sri Lankans currently working in Lebanon, 86,000 of them housemaids, said Jagath Wellawatta, Chairman of Sri Lanka's Foreign Employment Bureau. “


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The Balkans: Graffiti Photos · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Mat Savelli of Roma Roma posts a collection of the Balkan graffiti photos: “So, while “death to all Croats!” might give the impression that, say, Mostar east of the Neretva is a relatively intolerant place, there is every possibility that this was written in 1994. That being said, the fact that some graffiti does not get covered up might say something, but its hard to determine whether it means complacent acceptance of the message by society at large, or just a lack of paint to cover the thing up.”


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Trinidad & Tobago: Nature sounds · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Editing two books about Trinidad written by naturalists, Jeremy Taylor realises how deaf he's become to the sounds of nature.


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Ukraine: Platskart Train Car · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Humble Observer describes a ride in a third-class Ukrainian train car, platskart: “I usually ride in second class, where the rooms have four bunks.  But when there’s no tickets, I ride with the masses ride in Plat.  It’s a wagon on the train with no separate rooms, just lined with bunks.”


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Ukraine: Politics in the Open · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Wu Wei points out a positive aspect in what's happening in Ukrainian politics: “The only hopeful thing I can think of is that these days all the changing sides and bribery and “principled stands” are happening more or less under the eyes of the world and not completely in closed and smoke-filled rooms. It must be good for Ukrainians to really know what is going on.”


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A New Wave of Change in Cambodian Blogosphere · Global Voices
Tharum Bun

Since July last year, the growing popularity of weblogs among Cambodian Internet users is quite remarkeable. Whatever reasons you could think of – overhype of the mainstream media or indulgence in information technology. Though there is no exact count of Cambodian weblogs, according to Technorati, as of now there are 104,832 posts contain keyword Cambodia. And one point interesting is weblog are appearing in a language other than English, Khmer! Weblog, an easy-to-use publishing tool, is probably a possible way to bring a new life and smile to Khmer literature. The question is: will technology empowers the way we live? Although weblog reached its height to make individual become a publisher in a minute, at least for the time being many Cambodian authors find the online tool a mean to showcase their works.
Weblogs in local language – Khmer:
KhmerLegend, as its name, dedicates to Khmer old stories about famous people and events in the past. One of recent posts, ‘Killing Two Birds with One Arrow,’ is a story about arts of war. Here is an exerpt part of the post:
ព្រួញមួយបាញ់បានសត្វពីរ បានន័យថា ក្នុងពេលតែមួយប្រើមធ្យោបាយតែមួយ អាចផ្ដូលសត្រូវឲ្យបរាជ័យចាប់ពីពីរនាក់ឡើងទៅ ឬក៏អាចទទួលផលប្រយោជន័ចាប់ពីពីរឡើងទៅ ។ ការប្រើប្រាស់ល្បិចកលហ៍នេះ មិនធម្មតាទេ ហើយក៏មិនងាយស្រួលដែរព្រោះថា ល្បិចនេះគឺយើងត្រូវប្រឈមមុខនិងគូរសត្រូវជាច្រើននាក់ ឲ្យតែខ្វះការប្រុងប្រយ័ត្ន ឬធ្វេសប្រហេសតែបន្តិចពិតជាត្រូវជួបគ្រោះអាសន្នធំហើយហេតុនេះ មុននិងក្រោយនៃកិច្ចការ ត្រូវតែព្យាយាមរង់ចាំឲ្យបាននូវបរិយាកាសនិងពេលវេលាដែលសមស្រប ។
NeoKhmer created by a Cambodian born citizen who lives in a foreign country, but is interested in learning to read and write his or her native language. Ryan Chan posts poems, novels, and history. Joke4Everyone is all about funny stories. A picture featured on the sidebar read that: ‘funny stories that make you relieve from stress — everyone's the same! Sopheak's Diary, a weblog of a 24 year-old aid worker. His weblog posts range from local issues to foreign affairs to his personal observations. And Sousdey (Hello), running by a Cambodian woman student. On the Mother's Day, commemorative message for her parents she wrote is emotionally expressive.
Almost Live Blogging
Live blogging is possible, so splashing breaking news is nothing new in blogosphere. The news headlines of the recent death of former Khmer Rouge chief, Ta Mok, from wire news services and other online news sources has become one of the most discussed topics in Cambodian weblog community. Ailing Ta Mok, who was accused of genocide, has died at the age of 80 in Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital. He was expected to be one of the first people tried for genocide and crimes against humanity at UN-backed hearings due to start next year.
Cambodia Weblog Directories Launched:
Not a Yellow Page, it is, of course, a directory of Cambodia weblogger. At least two open weblog directories went online recently where Cambodia webloggers can submit their own weblog address, a convenient way to promote their online presence. Cambodia Blogger's Directory Reminder allows users to add Cambodia-related weblogs, no matter you are Cambodians or expats, in or outside Cambodia. The web-based directory helps visitors  look for weblog title by alphabet. And new comer CambodiaBlogger, a Khmer blog directory also accept to free submission of weblog about Cambodia with an exception on any adult, drug related or violent content. PlanetCambodia also offers a comprehensive list of Camobdia weblogs. The list is being arranged in several ways, alphabetical order, a Cambodian at home or abroad, and an expat category too.

author: Tharum Bun


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Malaysia: Ethnic relations course causes furore · Global Voices
SK Thew

All this while, as a multi racial and multi cultural country, Malaysians exist in perfect harmony as the mutual tolerance, acceptance and celebration of the multi-ethnic communities and cultures in Malaysia are traits that have been successfully inculcated throughout Malaysia's history. These multiple facets of Malaysia are what make Malaysia so colourful and fascinating to others.
Despite diverse cultural and traditional backgrounds, the people of Malaysia have been able to coexist peacefully in unity and harmony.
However lately, the "Ethnic Relations" course that was introduced into the curriculum at University Putra Malaysia (UPM), has caused uneasiness among the public and a heated debate in the parliament. The course is said to contain inaccuracies in its course material relating to the May 13th 1969 racial riots, where the unfortunate incident has always been considered a taboo subject.
Famous Malaysia historian Prof. Dr. Khoo Kay Kim commented that ethnic relations is a sensitive subject that needs to be handled with care, and universities should not rush to get their teaching materials and content out.
Why do we always fall into the typical Malaysian pitfall of rushing into something, only to discover that the results are not up to expectations? Historical facts, for instance, need to be easily verifiable.
Writers dealing with historical facts must be able to give the precise source of where they get their facts. If the source is vague, then their facts will be highly questionable.
It is a rash statement because there is no evidence of who started the riots. It is a complex issue that needs to be studied from all aspects. It is important for historians not to pass judgment and be able to deal with hard facts coldly.
While blogger Ktemoc called it a half-past six book, blogger Penthesilea questioned the need of a text book for a class of ethnic relations. A simple Malaysian is wondering when Malaysians will learn to pick the good from the bad. Blogger Siva hopes Prime Minister will send correct message over the ethnic issue to the Cabinet and at the same time instruct his ministry to send circulars to all the universities, schools and government departments regarding this matter, in order to help the small minds to see the bigger issues.
As for Malaysia Opposition Leader and blogger Lim Kit Siang, he condemned the textbook and the Higher Education Minister Mustapha Mohamad for defending the indefensible and what Lim perceives as half-truths, untruths and the generally biased, tendentious and divisive accounts in the textbook as "historic facts" when they are in fact "historic lies". He too called upon Prime Minister to review all varsity courses and school history textbooks.
After a heated debate in Parliament over the Ethnic Relations course at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi’s decided to withdraw the book. Following the withdrawal, a new module for ethnic relations subject will be drafted soon, by a newly set up special committee.
Is That So would like to remind every Malaysian that while ethnic integration is never easy, however when taking our own path, let us not forget that the world is here for all to share. Minncandy believes that Malaysians need to own a higher degree of maturity, putting ownself in other people point of view and discuss sociopolitical matters rationally without hurting the other party.
And perhaps the most important for Malaysians, is that we must treasure the peace and the stability that we now enjoy as it's easy to take for granted what we have now. We must never again descend into conflict.
Peace, it is!

author: SK Thew


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Philippines: Exporting nurses to the world · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The most popular college degree in the Philippines today is nursing. More than 100,000 Filipino nurses have left the country to seek better opportunities. According to the Department of Health, 85 percent of the country’s total number of licensed nurses are to be found in the hospitals of other countries.
One reason why the Philippines is a top supplier of nurses in the world is that it produces skilled nursing graduates who can speak good English.
Manila Times gives a comprehensive background on nursing education in the country.
Ang Blog ni Sayote  Queen explains her reasons why she wants to be a nurse. The blogger represents the typical Filipino teenager who aspires for other career but ends up studying nursing in the end.
An OFW Living in Hong Kong believes that money is not the sole reason why Filipino nurses want to work abroad.
The term ‘second-courser’ refers to professionals, including doctors who go back to school again to study nursing. My Life as a Nursing Student chronicles his activities as a second-courser.
Bulatlat features the nursing scandal which recently grabbed national attention: the reported leakage in the nursing board examinations, the resignation en masse of the country’s nursing board and the alleged complicity of the Commission on Higher Education to lower the standards for accrediting new nursing schools.
Government officials clarified that “no glaring leakage” occurred in the nursing examination.

author: Mong Palatino


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Turkey is Typing…. · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

Well I was hoping to be able to find a reaction from the Turkish bloggers in response to the Republic of Turkey's accouncement of their intention to cross its borders into Iraq to pursue PKK terrorists (as reported in this week's edition of Kurdistance on GV), however I found very little reference to it at all in the Turkish blogosphere.  Erkan's Field Diary posts links to commentary on the accouncement.  Aydin.net mentions the Middle East Conflict in general; but apart from those two blog entries this week there is little else on the topic.  Additionally, this was a relatively quiet week in the Turkish/English Blogosphere….here is what they were talking about:
The White Path this week posted his article (that appeared in the Washington Post) about sexism in Turkey.  Apparently the Diyanet, Turkey's highest Islamic authority, is making a new policy to revise Islamic Hadith to erase sexism and extreme views on women.  The hope is that the new progressive Islamic nation will gain favor with Europe.
Talk Turkey has been continuing with his coverage of the popular vote for Ms. Turkey in the Miss Universe Competition…check this post for more info on how to vote for your favorite.
Amerikan Turk, our resident cyclist, was recently hit by a car…luckily he was wearing his helmet and it looks like he is going to be ok.  Get well soon my friend!
The Round Ball in Ankara writes about his unsurprising poll of his readers on the World Cup.
And Metroblogging: Istanbul waxes sentimental about Istanbul and writes about the difficulties of buying new tiles for a bathroom with limited Turkish skills.
And for our top Turkish links of the week:
1. Deep Fried Fish from Ober Kedi.
2. “I Bet You Didn't Know-Part 16″ from Mavi Boncuk on Venetian Blinds…and Venetian Trading in Old Istanbul.
3. Art and Vandalism from ISBN 9760806.
4. A brand new Turkish blog called Izmir Blog.

author: Deborah Ann Dilley


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Ukraine: Maidan, Again, Sort Of · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Kyiv, Independence Square: “President Kuchma – shame, Yushchenko – the nation's disappointment. Moroz – betrayed the Maidan!” – by Veronica Khokhlova
Nearly two years after the Orange Revolution, there are tents at Kyiv's Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti) again. The camp isn't big, and it looks dormant for now, but as Ukrainian politicians continue to keep the country in limbo, this summer's Maidan seems to be waiting to happen. Or not. (After all the broken promises and mismatched alliances of the past four months, it's not realistic to regard anything as a certainty now.) A just-in-case Maidan.
When Oleksandr Moroz, Socialist leader and the newly elected speaker, deserted the so-called Orange Coalition for the so-called Anti-Crisis Coalition, Ukraine's blogosphere reacted with a tiny virtual Maidan of its own: LJ user kotyhoroshko posted phone numbers of all regional offices of the Socialist Party and invited fellow-bloggers to contact them. Below is the translation of the initiative (UKR) and some responses to it:
You have a fantastic opportunity to call the Socialist Party of Ukraine regional headquarters and ask why “Moroz has [betrayed] us.” Also, it seems reasonable to ask if they feel comfortable working for the head of the party who has betrayed the Ukrainian people.
[A list of phone numbers and other contact info is omitted from the translation.]
***
viktoza: I called this number: (044) 573-58-97. Told them: I'm Victor …, I voted for the Socialist Party in this election, and now I do not understand the actions of your faction. We stood together at Maidan against [Yanukovych], and now suddenly you become his allies. I think you've betrayed me.
A Socialist woman replied: “This is what it looks like at first only, that we've betrayed you. In reality, though, you have to know who truly cares about Ukraine. If someone's guilty of what's going on now, it's the president.” And then she hung up.
[…]
In the Kyiv City Committee, I've been told that all the Orange ones are to blame. If they had nominated Moroz instead of [Poroshenko], everything would've been OK. But she couldn't answer the question about why Moroz was kissing with Yanukovych and Kivalov [head of the Central Election Committee in 2004], the men he used to call bandits.
I told her, “You are traitors all the same, and I won't vote for you anymore.” That was the end of our conversation.
[…]
067_33_44_55_6: I don't think it'll work, but I'm writing letters in which I let them know that they can cross me out of the Socialist Party voters list and I'm also wishing them success in further political intriguing.
kotyhoroshko: Letters are being read by their [computer network] administrators. Making phone calls to them, on the other hand, is fun. You'll enjoy it a lot.
Not everyone is feeling so upbeat and being so proactive, however (RUS, LJ user lucysd):
orange juice
I'm reading today's news and feel the world collapsing. The world that we seemed to have created two years ago.
[Victor Yushchenko's Our Ukraine] is in the opposition, Pora lies by the [Parliament's] door, [Yulia Tymoshenko's Bloc] is blocking all they can and cannot, but is it going to help in any way?
Yanukovych will be the prime minister. The rest will follow. Kalashnikov [parliamentarian from Victor Yanukovych's Party of the Regions, assaulted a TV crew recently] will head the Freedom of Speech Committee. [Yulia Tymoshenko's Bloc] will continue to block everything and everyone.
Russia will lower gas prices for us, potato prices will be lowered focibly, pensioners will get a pension raise that will last one month. Everyone will be happy.
My Russian friends will say gleefully: “We did tell you!”
And NATO isn't taking us anymore, anyway, and no one's relaxing visa regime for Ukrainians.
Finita la comedia.
?
***
yurr: finita.
I'm probably not even going to vote in the next election – there's no use.
And if they lay themselves underneath [Moscow], I'd even think about where to leave for. Because I love this country, but I hate this state.
rgmss: […] Actually, all this was showing through.
When we were standing and freezing there [at Maidan in 2004], everything was right. But right afterwards it all began to fall apart. When “they” [representatives of the former regime] were all interrogated and then let go… it became clear then.
This country needs [Pinochet]. For five years, no longer… just to purge the ranks.
983: Then all the Medvedchuks [representatives of the former regime] will quickly change their last names to Pinochet. And then they'll purge so much, the only thing left to do would be pray to the photo of Leonid Brezhnev…
And since the situation is ugly enough, there are jokes, of course.
Abdymok translates one – all but the punchline – that he was told during a recent visit to a Ukrainian village:
[…] this is the simplified version. there’s another, infinitely more colorful, one featuring tymoshenko, but too much would be lost in translation.
three famous ukrainian men, volodymyr klichko, andrey shevchenko, and president viktor yushchenko are pushing baby strollers in the park.
klichko starts contemplating the future of his progeny out loud.
“take a look at his jaw and big fists,” klichko says. “he has all the makings of good boxer.”
shevchenko then beckons the men to examine his baby boy, who is thrashing about with his legs. “my son will probably become a world-class soccer player,” he says.
both men turn to the president and ask, “what future awaits your son?”
yushchenko bends over slowly and sticks his head the stroller.
after straightening up, the president turns to the men and replies: “обосрался. молчит.”
The punchline goes something like this (RUS):
“He's shat himself and is silent now.”


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What Salvadoran bloggers are saying — volunteer edition · Global Voices
Tim Muth

Typically my bi-weekly posts concentrate on what native Salvadorans are writing in their blogs about their country.  This time I will concentrate on the blogs of people volunteering their time in El Salvador.
A blogger who goes by the handle Jefferson, has started a blog to chronicle his time in El Salvador.  Illustrating the post with his own photography, “Initiation to San Salvador Via 9” vividly captures street life in El Salvador.  Here's a taste:
An old woman selling dried Yucca and Plantains in a bag enters the bus through the rear. She sells a bag of plantains to the man behind us, pouring salt and chile in the bag. She shakes the clear plastic bag, and hands it to the man. I gaze over Noah's shoulder, hoping to get a glimpse of the market place. Endless stations selling pirated movies. Overweight women, dressed in lacy aprons pushing wheelbarrows filled with tomatoes, mangoes, and apples. Big department store signs towering over tarps used as ceilings for the booths. Umbrellas everywhere. Dozens of colors, patterns, sizes protecting produce from the hungry rays of the sun. Telephone and electrical cables sprawl between the buildings high above the streets like a network of convoluted spider webs. The movement along the streets dances with the distant thumping of Reggaetone beats: “boom. Dadada da. Dadada da. Boomboom Dadada da. Dadada da.”
Abby is volunteering her summer to work as an intern with Crispaz in El Salvador.  The posts in her blog reflect her introduction to life in El Salvador, life with a Salvadoran family, and work with an institute promoting methods of organic farming.  In her most recent post, she describes the benefits of organic agricultural techniques for a country like El Salvador.
Meg is a volunteer with Catholic Relief Services who lives in El Salvador works with migrants at an NGO called CARECEN International.  She adds insightful posts every month or so about life and issues in El Salvador to her blog, A Different View of a Good Life.
Betsy Pike is spending June and July in El Salvador and published a blog titled Betsy's El Salvador Adventure.  She describes a whole range of experiences and comments on El Salvador's culture, problems and blessings.  One of her last posts includes:
Top 10 list of Salvadoran best qualities:
1. Friendly
2. Personable
3. Industrious
4. Helpful
5. Interpersonal
6. Giving
7. Kind, Sweet
8. Closeness — Meaning, Kissing hello, more touching than I'm used to.
9. Religious — Mostly Roman Catholic and Evangelist
10.  Laissez-faire with time
Several US Peace Corps volunteers write about their experiences in blogs.  Laura is a Peace Corps volunteer in Apaneca, El Salvador, who describes experiences in her blog, Viva El Salvador.  Armeda keeps a log of her Peace Corps activities in her travel blog.
Another Peace Corps volunteer writes under the name Scrutape.  Recently he wrote in a post with admiration about the willingness  and dedication of members of El Salvador's police forces to work in the most violent country in Latin America:
When you think about the urban police force here, they make very little, some, if not all, take on other forms of employment to make ends meet. Yet with the level of hostility and danger they are exposed to, one wonders how the government is able to retain so many different units of public regulation with bodies to fill these positions. Somehow, within all that has been going on in this country since the Conquest, the center has held. These men and women, rather than sitting at home waiting for a check from one of their family members from the States, rather than running to States themselves or flooding themselves in a fugue of drugs and excessive alcoholism have chosen, for whatever reason to stay and fight.
I realize now how every person fights their battles in the best way they know how. Some use a pen and others a sword and El Salvador has those that have tackled all available areas of injustice, with the bottom line being: many have chosen to stay and fight. With this combined effort, through the power of sheer will, maybe El Salvador will one day see the change it so richly deserves. El Salvador, literally, The Savior, it's ironic that a country plagued with a history of dictators, oligarchies, social stratification, massacres, oppression, civil war, desperation, PTSD, violent crime, maras, earthquakes and floods should be named as such. To draw an artistic license (inserting El Salvador rather than Mexico and inventing the rest) from a quote by former Mexican dictator, Porfirio Díaz, I think to myself, solely letting the words roll from my tongue: poor El Salvador, so far from God and so close to salvation.
Amy Zuniga is a recently ordained priest in the Episcopal / Anglican church who is working in El Salvador.  Her blog, Updates from El Salvador, reflects the life of her ministry.  This week she has pictures from the consecration of the newest Anglican bishop in Central America.  Mark Tew is a Christian missionary from Canada who blogs at Mark316.com and often has insights from day to day life in the country.

author: Tim Muth


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African women’s voices this week · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Concoction on Humanities for African Leaders
the modern way of doing politics especially in Africa is so far away from doing “dialogue publicly” that we have had an ‘interesting’ version of democracy…….Politics, which the ancient Greeks defined as public dialogue, is unfortunatelly measured by some sort of wierd election that an African state conducts. “At least there was an election” is what we are reduced to.
Rosemary Ekossi asks if paedophilia is a white man's disease
In Africa, we don’t keep statistics about these things. We don’t even want to acknowledge them.  But paedophilia is with us, and has been for centuries. In a recent write-up in a forum of which I am a member, one Cameroonian woman said:
In my days, little girls used to walk around with just their panties, and nothing else and it was quite common to have a man grab your nipples, in kind of an “how are you doing” gesture. It wasn't a comfortable experience for us girls even though it was treated so casually but by instinct we knew it was wrong. On the other hand you had [identifying information deleted] who were pathological rapists. They would lure little girls selling bananas, g[round]nuts, etc. into thinking they wanted to buy these things, and them rape them.
Marian's blog goes in search of the invisible collateral damage of the attack on Lebanon.
You have to search hard and then read between the lines to find anything about the tens of thousands of African women – mostly Ethiopian – currently trapped in Lebanon in the midst of the humanitarian disaster caused by Israel's overwhelming and prolonged military assault.
Ayoola in Lagos on the latest fashion fabric in Nigeria – Ankara
It seems to have taken us all by surprise, after all by my recollection, this is the fabric that only ten years ago, no self-respecting city fashionista in her 20s and maybe her 30s, would have been caught dead wearing (at least, not when she was trying to be fashionable) unless she was at home or visiting her grandmother in the village ooor if she had settled into the role of wife and mother and so therefore decided to adopt a more traditional look to reflect her “respectable” status
Afrofeminizta writes on the perils of searching for a new job
Take for instance when you find out which other people are in the running for a job you are also interested in. . .the thought no. 1 in my case, ‘oh no, she's good…really good…what chance do i stand?’ thought no. 2, ‘ai? isn't this way out of her league?'(uncharitable but true) and finally, the ‘forget that one, there's no way i'm getting in if so and so is applying’ thought.
Girl in the Meadow on whats wrong with Kenyan financial analysists?
I went to sell some shares yesterday and this is what i was shocked to learn
I was told
“call after three days to see if your shares have been sold”
In these days of CDS
And then
“You will be given your cheque 7 days after your shares are sold”.
wtf!!!!
It takes bloody 7 days to draw a cheque??

author: Sokari Ekine


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China: alliance of banned blog · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

One man band width is going to start an alliance of banned blogs: “The purpose of the group is to bring to International awareness the need for cohesion among bloggers to fight oppression and build a free Internet.”

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: How journalists blog · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Have you ever blogged about why you blog? Why you started and what your goals are? We see now that many blogs are more than ‘internet chatter‘, yet somehow not quite The News. Do you blog for fun? For attention? To learn or to teach? To build community?
In China as in many places, bloggers often lament the different languages spoken by themselves and the media they consume. Below is a post from Beijing-based newbie blogger Zhu Min (朱敏)—seemingly a professional journalist—who in commemoration of his one-month bloggiversary looks back at what he's learned, what he's liked and disliked, why he plans to continue and a few comments from his readers. Feel free to leave a reason or two of your own.
过两天，博客就满月了。积我近30天革命之经验，将若干体会记录于下，以备今后行思之参照。
1、  关于体验的价值。要想知道鸭蛋的滋味，就得亲口尝一尝。隔岸观火，隔靴搔痒，总有不明就里的地方。感受中国网民，从博客开始。这一句是属于我即兴胡说的，只针对我自己而言。
2、  关于点击率。似乎大家都认同互联网就是点击率的说法。以互联网的覆盖面和传播特性，制造个热点很容易，君不见范例比比皆是。但博客也有博客的特性，既然是个人主页么，就有求仁得仁的空间。话本小说里常看到“宝刀赠与壮士，红粉赠与佳人”。坊间妈妈嗑儿里也可听到“好饭送给饥人，好话说给知人”。点击率也有“有价值的”和“垃圾的”之分。大家开博的状态不同，对点击率的态度也会不同。有的人喜欢每日被群情关注的感觉，那就不断地说些能调动人点击积极性的话题就可以了。有的人本为求“人生得一知己足矣”，没想到博客给了这么大的空间，一大圈子知音都来了，就大可偷着乐了。有的人很满足圈子文化，或者这更接近博客本意。
3、  关于评论。据说已经有不少开博的人因为扛不住板砖而把博客关了。其实“你家你最大”，“你家你做主”。（当然关张也是一种做主。）你大可根据你的意愿根据博客给你的权利决定评论的去留。像李银河持无所谓的态度，很好。但像我这样稍有洁癖的，看见脏乱差就心烦。如见某位提着裤子到此来放下些脏话、蠢话，待我看见时，不论他是否已整好衣冠，我会将其人和其遗留物一起请出去的。这是事先说好的开博前提。
Comments
飘叶
首先，很反感有些人到别人的博里留言就为给自己做广告。
我以为，博客是挺私人的东西，想什么时候写就什么时候写，想写什么就写什么，有人看当然好，没人看也自得其乐，那些借社会热点肆机炒作自己博客的人才真叫无聊呢！
喜欢看楼主的东东，我会常来的。满月快乐！！：）
小草
支持你的观点,不过有些博客的作法也无可厚非.就象大自然的多样性,健康的博客世界也应该是多元的.不是吗?
阿麦
我也想关博了，因为有博友说我写的是“作文” 我知道自己写的不好，但也不至于沦为写作的最初阶段吧。所以闷上加闷。一开始就没指望有什么点击率，只感觉有这样一个空间写日记不错，忽然有一天来了几个朋友，写博的态度也立即改变吧。无论怎样变，才学疏浅，越写越汗！

author: John Kennedy


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China: the first police blog · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Jeremy Goldkorn from Danwei introduces the first China police blog where you can vote for the hottest female cop.


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Hong Kong: Collective memories · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Kurk has finished a series of posts on the 70s’ generation collective memories in Hong Kong (zh)


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Hong Kong: Tree policy · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The Chinese University of Hong Kong has been trying to upgrade their campus to international standard by large scale construction; and hundreds of trees in the campus are at stake. Yeahayeah in  between psychosis and hysteria criticizes the university administration body and the Hong Kong government in their “management” rationality (zh)  regarding tree protection policy.


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Hong Kong: youth Ambassador Against Internet Piracy · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department has been recruiting 9-25 years old youths to become “youth ambassador against internet privacy” against BT activities. The project is initially launched in Feburary 2006 and until now 1200 BT websites have been closed and 99 persons have been arrested (zh). Ben Ng has a full report in his blog.
Big white guy posts the english reports on his blog and asks jokingly: “what next? getting the kids to report their parent for using pirated software?”


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Hong Kong: youth participation in politics · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

T-Salon has translated an article by a member of legislative council, Margaret Ng, on the Lack of Youth Participation in Hong Kong Politics.


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Indonesia: One Day without TV · Global Voices
A. Fatih Syuhud

Can we live a day without TV? Many Indonesian  bloggers almost simultaneously posted a piece about a day without television to commemorate National Children Day on July 23.
Many of them are worried about the quality of Indonesian tv programs which they see as a threat to the children creativity specially when it is seen from quality point of view.
Lita Mariana at Banana Talk, Priyadi,  Triaji, Solyaris, and Bocah Cilik are among Indonesian bloggers who urge everyone to stop watching a tv program to pay respect for children and to warn Indonesian tv channels about their programs that could harm children in many ways.
This “one day without tv” campaign is initiated by Kidia a portal media dedicated specifically for children education.
Lita Mariana fully supports such campaign.  As a mother of a couple of kids, she is very concerned with many tv programs that she thinks could pose a threat to the way the kids will behave in the future.
So what the point of making such campaign when they know that their voices will reach the deaf ears of Indonesian tv producers if it's not accompanied with a proper law? A comment here tell us the reason.
Says Rendy AK
It's not about anti-TV as a technology. It's just too-much-violence-and-junk-shows on (Indonesian) TV. This is not about proposing a bill that makes TV ilegal, just showing respect to the National Child Day.
As we all know Indonesian TV show is far from child-friendly. Despite that Indonesian children spend more time on TV than on other activities.
Masindi gives an interesting comment on Banana Talk post about how not watching tv can benefit you:
We have lived happily without TV since many years ago:
Read here: ” Celebrating Life at Home Without TV”
-We’ve read more books.
-We’ve entertained more guests (really, we had meaningful conversations and played musical instruments).
-We’ve copulated more often.
-We’ve tried more interesting recipes.
-Now, we’ve got all the time in the world to take care of  Noe.

author: A. Fatih Syuhud


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African countries need technocrats · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Africa Unchained points to a passage in George Ayittey's book by the same name, which runs: “We need TECHNOCRATS to fix our broken, dysfunctional institutions. REPAIRMEN or plumbers who will unclog the gutters or the system. CUTLASSES to chop down all the dead wood.”


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Albania: Land Ownership · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

David Sheern writes about the problem of land ownership in Albania.


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Argentina: 3D Buenos Aires in Google Earth · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Like Julian Gallo, Jeff Barry can't help but play around with the 3D modeling of Buenos Aires for Google Earth.


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Armenia: Escape to the Village · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Zarchka writes on the value of escaping the city for the village.


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Armenia: Vardavar · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Both Nessuna and Jeremy express their dislike of Vardavar, a holiday celebrated in part by throwing water on complete strangers.


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Belarus: Economic Sanctions Looming · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

TOL's Belarus Blog and Andrei Khrapavitski write that “Belarus is soon to be expelled from the EU’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) due to its non-compliance with trade union legislature (mostly when it comes to the rights of the workers).”


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Belarus: Hugo Chavez’ Visit · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

TOL's Belarus Blog reports on Hugo Chavez's visit to Minsk.


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Belarus: Outgoing U.S. Ambassador · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Andrei Khrapavitski writes about George Krol, the outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Belarus.


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Belarus: Scholarship Fraud and Brain Drain · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

TOL's Belarus Blog writes about scholarship fraud and the connection between scholarships and brain drain.


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Bosnia and Herzegovina: Worrying Political Developments · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

T K Vogel of East Ethnia writes about “worrying” political developments taking place in Bosnia.


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Chile: Investigating Internet Activism · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Why is Chile such a hot-bed of internet-based activism? More importantly, how can the Chilean experience inform grassroots internet activism in other countries? Those two questions are driving Mary Joyce's visit to Santiago, where she is investigating various efforts underway to create a more active civil society using the internet.


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China: Chen on trial · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Chinese human rights activist Chen Guang-cheng is on trial today (July 25).  Nickwong anticipates that the result won't be good (zh).


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China: disappearing · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Jeremy Goldkorn from Danwei writes about the disappearing of Beijing and Shanghai because of urban renewal.


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DRC: Demonstrations Leading Up to Election · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Opposition party blog UDPS Liege announces an intensification of peaceful protests in the capital Kinshasa leading up to the July 30 election. Protests are planned for July 25, 27, 28 and 30.

author: Alice Backer


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Georgia: Soap Acting · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

For those who have always wanted to know what acting in a Georgian soap opera is like, Breed describes his experience.


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Gripes with Footballer Lilian Thuram · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Of Lilian Thuram,  a French football player of Guadeloupean origin, France-based Senegalese blogger says (Fr): “Wanting desperately to become a Martin Luther King-style defender of the Black cause, Thuram seems to have no friends around him to tell him to calm down and to stay away from politics, an artform for which he is little skilled. His statements against [French Interior minister Nicolas] Sarkozy are so inept that he'd better shut up.”


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Guatemala: Migration Documentary · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Patrick posts a clip from Luis Argueta's most recent documentary, “And There I Am Documenting Silent Voices,” which follows the stories of Guatemalans who emigrate to the U.S.


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Guyana: Election date announced · Global Voices
Nicholas Laughlin

Following the announcement that a long-anticipated general election will be held in Guyana on 28 August, Demeraralighthouse analyses the election strategies of the country's two major political parties, while Living Guyana predicts a violent election season: “all de nastiness an’ de madness now start”.

author: Nicholas Laughlin


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Hong Kong: goodbye Suzie Wong · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The romance of Suzie Wong takes place in Hong Kong, an classic scence is in Star ferry pier, Central.  Hong Kong government is now planning to demolish the pier. Diumanpark criticizes the government of such acts in his blog post: goodbye Suzie Wong (zh) and urges people to sign up against the project.


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Hong Kong: learning from parent · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translates a blogpost from learned friend on how children are being influenced by their parent in racial stereotype. “To the parents of the children — how do you teach your children!“


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Hong Kong: · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Yeahayeah blogs about the demonstration against Israelis bombing in Lebanon in Hong Kong (zh).


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India: Naxals in Central India · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The terror of Naxal forces in Central IndiaI at Indian Muslims. “Vast areas of Chhattisgarh are now controlled by Naxals (termed Naxal because of Naxalbari village in West Bengal where the armed revolution started in the 60s) but the BJP state government that had come to power on the plank of eliminating the Maoists is yet to check the menace of Red Terror.”


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Iran: Ahmadinejad’s Letter · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Mohammad Ali Abtahi, reformist politician talks about Ahmadinejad's letter to Merkel, German Chancellor. The blogger says Germany says that there will be no answer to Ahmadinejad's  letter. Abtahi considers Germany's reaction as an insult to Iranians but he adds it seems that Iranian President in this letter did not talk about our nation's problems. He writes it is another insult that a President instead of caring about his own people, talk about other nations’ problems [Fa].

author: Fred Petrossian


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Jamaica: Reggae aesthetics · Global Voices
Nicholas Laughlin

Jamaican writer Geoffrey Philp thinks about the role of “reggae aesthetics” in the post-colonial Caribbean, and posts a podcast of his poem “version break”.


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Kazakhstan: Criminal Medical Tender · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Leila translates a Russian-language post about a health care scandal in Kazakhstan's Karaganda region.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Kenya: Job loss · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

“It's odd to quit a job,” writes Kenyan Musings, who just quit hers. “People think you are nuts…but it gets to the point where if you allow yourself to be depleted to the point where your professional tank is empty and you are running on fumes of habit, everybody loses. Especially you.”

author: Luisetta Mudie


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Kenya: Meeting with Bill Gates · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

4Sheezy wonders what might have happened if she had managed to get a meeting with Bill Gates while he was in Kenya, to talk about his HIV/AIDS work.


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Latin America: Mercorsur Summit · Global Voices
David Sasaki

The Mercosur summit ended with Hugo and Fidel stealing the limelight says Erwin Cifuentes. Greg Weeks sorts out the implications of Venezuela's new membership in the trade bloc. Finally, Ricardo Carreón argues that Mexico could and should become the trade organizations first non-South American member.

author: David Sasaki


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Latvia: Violence Instead of Riga Gay Pride · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

All About Latvia and Stefan of Dykun discuss the gay pride parade that failed to take place in Riga.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Lebanon at the Iraqi Blogodrome · Global Voices
Salam Adil

The Iraqi blogs have been alive with comment on the crisis in Lebanon. The opinions are so diverse that subject deserves to be covered in its own right.
If you read no other post read this one
Ali from Free Iraqi delivers a sharp analysis that would make Machiavelli nervous. He starts:
“I do wish the war between Israel and Hezbollah goes on and on, that it spreads to involve Iran and Syria.”
Why?
“Death is not the worst outcome to us and I’m sure they can understand if they want to but they still can’t imagine it. I only cared that much about life when I was given a chance to live a decent life. Now that this chance is slipping count me on the cheerleaders for death; death of dictators, their killing machine and the terrorists, and if it means our death too then so be it.”
It is not that you should agree with him but, like the Al-Jazeera interview with Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah it is refreshing to see an analysis that just get to the point without the usual smoke and mirrors that are used to mollify the nervous populations in the West. War is ugly, get over it and get to the point!
On all sides of the divide
There is a whole spectrum of opinion from Iraqi bloggers from out-and-out support for Hezbollah to views that Israeli leaders would not dare repeat. And several shades between.
Hammorabi is against the war. He laments the loss of civilian life and wishes for an immediate seize fire but states that: “The most important [issue] now is that, Hizballah showed that they are able to attack with precisions deep inside Israel. This will change the balance of power in away that if Israel hit inside Lebanon the Lebanese may hit heavily inside Israel.” he also foresees that the nature of the Israeli aggression will create a world where: “every state [that] wants to protect itself and its civilians has to arm itself with nuclear power and heavy destructive war machine as Israel doing now.”
On the other side Mohammed of Iraq the Model does not want any “half-solution” to the conflict and calls for the war to extend to “firm and resolute measures .. to be undertaken against Syria and Iran.” Who he argues are behind a trail of instability from Iraq to Lebanon and Palestine. He argues that if America does not fight a conventional war with Iran now it will face a nuclear armed Iran in the future.
Abu Tammam reminds us that at one time the founders of the State of Israel were considered terrorists and some were wanted by the British police.
Z, an Iraqi in New Zealand, has thrown his lot on Israel's side. “Israel has right to be attacking Lebanon it has. There were some intentional attacks for preservation against its neighbors but I can only imagine for any Arab nation to doing no less the same as Israel is doing now.” he writes. And he is bitter about his fellow Arabs:
“Neither Hizbollah nor Hamas have done any good to Iraq. All they do is love sending militant Iranis and Iraqis with weapons and their sons for martyrdom to kill other Iraqis or hail their flags to Saddam and his family.”
While Z writes about what divides Iraq and Lebanon, Baghdad Treasure looks at what unites:
I was watching the news bulletin: same footage, same suffering and almost same attacker for the same reason. Buildings collapse and people die, cry and flee homes. Children are hurt, mothers weep and parents sob. Maybe no one in the world feel what is happening in Lebanon like Iraqis…
I take a bow with full respect to the Lebanese people, brothers and sisters of the Iraqi people. Both will win in the end, not necessarily by weapons but by will, the will of revival despite the hateful aggressions and successive wars. The will of Iraqis that rebuilt their country after the 1991 aggression is the same will which Lebanese people will adopt in rebuilding their country and is the same will Iraqis will restore to revive their country and the smile of its people. Viva Lebanon… Viva Iraq…
The Exiled Shalash, is no friend of Hezbollah but says Israel is doing itself no favors. On one side Hezbollah has been elevated to the status of “a regional player to which the world must now listen.” and on the other:
“The Jewish state found itself trapped in this crisis. … the all-out war against Lebanon that Israel declared was no justification for two soldiers, so they upped the stakes, calling for Hizbollah to disarm… It is now too late for Israel to back away and be satisfied with the return of its two soldiers, they have started something they need to finish. It is justifiable, in a military sense to cut the enemy's supply routes, but in this case, that just happens to affect millions of non-concerned Lebanese civilians, not to mention the tourists who found themselves trapped.”
Salam Adil (that's me) says Israel is just making itself irrelevant. The world economy has moved to the east and countries like Dubai have taken away the economic significance of Lebanon.
“Gone are the days when the ‘Middle’ of the Middle East has any strategic relevance to the Arabs. The world has moved on and the warheads in Israel, too puffed up in their own arrogance, have failed to notice. …
We are back to the old Israel of the 70's. It will make the media companies happy for a while … and then bit by bit, the world will lose interest. All the petrodollars will flow into Dubai, the far east and Iraq… And Israel will become nothing more than a drain on the US taxpayer.”
The Last Word…
… goes to Liminal:
Destroying Lebanon like they are doing (and sanctioning), is like shooting Bruce Lee down with an F16. Don'tch ya think? There's no honor in it. No honor at all…for making all Lebanese people suffer for the crimes of few.

author: Salam Adil


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Mexico: The Never-ending Election · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Alina Rocha Menocal says that “if there is no vote-by-vote recount, the next president risks being haunted by the unfinished business of 2006 throughout his term in office and further alienating an already polarised citizenry.” Boz's Friday poll numbers, however, reveal that “60% [of Mexicans] believe that a full recount is not necessary.” And finally, Ana Maria Salazar has an excellent summary of the week in review including news of a National Action Party “campaign called ‘Let´s paint Mexico white’ in order to promote an orderly, peaceful and respectful post-electoral environment.”


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Nepal: China and the Maoists · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

What does China have to do with the peace process in Nepal. Nepali Netbook says “Considering the fervor with which it is broached, speculation of recent secret talks between a team of Chinese officials and top Nepalese Maoist leaders threatens to throw our nascent peace process off course.”

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Nepal: Development and Democracy · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

United We Blog! takes a closer look at development and democracy. “Nepal does not fall within any specific model when we only look at the theoretical background. Reforms, leading to liberalization, had already been initiated in some sectors (especially in financial sector) before advent of democracy in 1990.”


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Nigeria: Diane Evans tour · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Ore's Notes remarks on a visit to Nigeria by author Diane Evans, who she notes is part-Nigerian.


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Pakistan: In a Pakistani village · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Light Within on life in a Pakistani Village. “There are lessons in the first landscapes of every one's life. Mine was a vista of green paddy fields, smoking with Salt Range (Pakistan) mist, against a setting of ribbon of River Jhelum which from distance looked like a shore of another land altogether.”


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Panama: When a Totuma could be useful · Global Voices
Leon Kadoch

Panajane of Panama City describes where Macalucia and Totuma go hand in hand.

author: Leon Kadoch


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Peru: Localized Ubuntu · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Lima-based blog Sin Papel says there is no reason to buy a pirated version of Windows XP (ES) now that Peruvians have their own localized version of Ubuntu Linux. 100 free installation discs were handed out at a recent presentation.


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Philippines: State of the Nation Address · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Manuel L. Quezon III in Manila does an excellent roundup of Filipino blogger's reaction to the President's State of the Nation address.

author: Preetam Rai


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Russia: A Wedding and Paperwork · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Stephan of Everybody I Love You gets married in Russia and, in between the wedding and the honeymoon, works on bringing his wife to the United States.


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Russia: Black Sea Navy to Syria? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

David McDuff of A Step At A Time writes about unconfirmed reports on Russia's plans to move its Black Sea warships from the Ukrainian Crimea to Syria.


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Russia: Fast Food Chain · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Vilhelm Konnander writes about a Russian fast food chain, Russkoye Bistro: “There is a well-known popular story on how the Russian troops that defeated Napoleon in the 19th century, sat about the Paris cafés and restaurants urging the waiters for food by shouting “быстро, быстро!” (fast, fast!). Thus, the world-renowned Paris “bistros” would have originated from Russian troops in Paris celebrating one of their country's greatest historical victories. This was the positive image Russkoe Bistro exploited.”


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Russia: Nashi Movement’s Seliger Summer Camp · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sean's Russia Blog writes about the daily routine at the Nashi movement's summer camp: “To older Russians the similarities to the Soviet era are striking. They should be. It seems that all that is missing are the little red neckties.”


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South Africa: Eastern Cape Paper · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Farrel Lifson of politics.za comments on a forthcoming position paper from the Eastern Cape provincial division of the African National Congress  (ANC), which will say that the South African government is being taken over by right-wing forces resistant to transformation.


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Tajikistan: Russian “Illiteracy” · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Elizabeth writes about the decline in Russian language abilities in Tajikistan.


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Trinidad and Tobago: Hare Krishna · Global Voices
Nicholas Laughlin

Rentaempress posts a charming vignette of life in multicultural Trinidad: an encounter with some Hare Krishna devotees. “Trinidad remains sweet and unbelievably bizarre.”


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Ukraine: Politics and Bribes · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Orange Ukraine and Vilhelm Konnander discuss the political situation in Ukraine. Petro's Jotter and Foreign Notes write about corruption of the country's leading politicians.


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Venezuela: Skypecast on Economic Collapse · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Francisco sits down with political economist Jonathan DiJohn for a skypecast on Venezuela's economic collapse.


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Zimbabwe: Big Brother plan · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

The Bearded Man commens on an article in the Washington Post about plans being mooted by the Zimbabwean government to monitor e-mail and other electronic communication. He writes: “It would take a sizeable army to sift through emails, SMS and telephone calls – yes, I know that much of it can be done electronically, but that takes money – one thing that the Zimbabwen government is decidedly short of.”


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African women: Call for poetry · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

African Women Blogs posts a call for poetry from  Agenda magazine, 21 years after the Nairobi (Women's) Conference.  “Contributions should reflect the contradictions, complexities, challenges and successes for African women two decades after the Nairobi conference,” the announcement says.


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Africans in Lebanon · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Black Looks reports that an estimated 20,000 Ethiopians as well as Nigerians, Ghanaians, Sudanese and Somalis working in Lebanon, many of whom were trafficked there, are being “left to fend for themselves without money or papers.”


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Appeal for Ethiopians in Lebanon · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Ethiopian Politics is in the processes of contacting the Red Cross, Amnesty International and UNHCR regarding the problem of Ethiopian nationals trapped in Lebanon. “We ask all concerned Ethiopians to join us in voicing the plight of our brothers and sisters to anyone who may be in a position to help,” the blogger writes, providing a list of agencies and contact details.


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Armenia: Open Source · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Nessuna reports that the opening of Microsoft's representative office and the passage of a new copyright law may encourage the adoption of open source software by Armenian companies.


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Barbados: Against the water park · Global Voices
Nicholas Laughlin

Barbados Free Press tackles the question of the water park that's been proposed for the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary near the island's south coast, posting a commentary from “Travel Guy”, a Canadian reader with Barbadian roots, and reporting on a controversy involving the proposed engineering firm.


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Belarus: Youth Activists Attacked · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

TOL's Belarus Blog writes about what seems like the beginning of a wave of attacks on youth activists.


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Bolivia: Indigenous Studies Versus Global Competitiveness · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Jaime Escalante, the real life Bolivian math teacher portrayed by Edward James Olmos in Stand and Deliver, argues that too much emphasis on indigenous language and education will take away from the global competitiveness of Bolivian students.


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Brazilians Debate an Overexposed Crime in the Mainstream Media and Blogosphere · Global Voices
Jose Murilo

Suzane von Richthofen, 22, her former boyfriend Daniel Cravinhos and his brother Cristian have each been found guilty of murdering her parents in October 2002 and have been sentenced to nearly 40 years in prison. The case has caught worldwide attention because Manfred von Richthofen, the murdered father, was the great-nephew of the First World War German flying ace known as the Red Baron. But for Brazilians the historical reference is just a minor detail in this tale of romance, intrigue and violence across different social classes.
Como a Copa do Mundo já acabou, como as eleições são só em outubro, como a novela das 8 ainda não teve um assassinato misterioso que só será desvendado no penúltimo capítulo depois de muita especulação de um sem-número de apresentadores homossexuais de programas vespertinos, o povo brasileiro encontrou no caso Richtofen uma maneira de preencher suas vidas…Por que o caso Richtofen provocou mais discussão do que a máfia dos sanguessugas? Talvez porque Suzane e os Cravinhos tenham mexido com a família, uma instituição ainda sagrada aos olhos do brasileiro. Ao auxiliar no assassinato dos pais, Suzane violou uma ordem social intocável, destruiu de maneira vil a relação pais/filhos.
Crítica: República Federativa von Richtofen – Chapéu de Côco
De um lado os irmãos pobres que socialmente são suscetíveis à marginalidade, não é verdade? Do outro a menina rica que foi iludida e acabou cometendo um crime. Pobre menina rica, se deixou convencer a matar seus pais, tão ingênua, tão menina… Esse caras malvados!
A justiça é igual para todos – Apenas Opinião
O caso mexeu com a cabeça de todos os brasileiros, pois uma filha matar os pais por dinheiro, e ainda junto ao namorado e cunhado, ainda não é tão comum de engolir, e essa mesma população espera que a justiça realmente seja feita, para mostrar que os ricos não podem fazer tudo o que querem e que se assim fizerem terão uma punição à altura.
Esperança de justiça no País – Pensamentos sem limites
Todos têm o direito de expressar sua opinião e defendê-la, mas se olharmos bem, não é isso que vem ao caso. Note que não é a morte do casal Richthofen o tema das discussões, mas sim a filha deles, Suzane von Richthofen. Essa menina atraiu muita gente, em vários aspectos, sejam eles favoráveis ou contra ela. Mas toda a história que a envolve – e não ao casal Richthofen – parece ser apenas uma razão para se discutir valores, a oportunidade que faltava para muitos dizerem, realmente, o que pensam e o que sentem nessa vida.
O final você decide – Ponto de Vista
There are some aspects of the case that should help explain the extraordinary amount of time devoted by the Brazilian media to the Richthofens’ murder. By the time the crime occurred, the angel-faced Suzane was at first taken by the public as the rich girl corrupted by the drugged boyfriend and his weird tattooed brother. As time passed by, some reports of Suzane's behavior in prison and in the relationship with her younger brother started to show signs of a more complex personality. The shifts on how the public was supposed to understand the motivations for the crime, along with the natural appeal of the archetypically fierce parricidal scene set the stage for intense and overheated coverage.
Acho um absurdo essa cobertura massiva que a mídia tem dado ao julgamento do caso Richthofen. Admito que se trata de um caso que abalou o país quando aconteceu (afinal, um filho matar os pais é operar uma verdadeira inversão no papel de submissão que aquele geralmente deve exercer em relação a estes), e que uma certa repercussão já era de se esperar. Mas o tanto que a mídia tem falado sobre o caso nos últimos dias (sem mencionar o quanto falou no lapso de tempo entre o assassinato e o julgamento) já tem extrapolado os limites do razoável!
Julgamento teatralizado – Ius Communicatio
O final é tão patético como todo este processo. Prenderam um fotógrafo da Folha de São Paulo e o assistente de acusação fez um teste de som, com uma espécie de contagem regressiva. Há espaço para tudo. O que, na minha opinião, faz com que esse júri seja tão absurdo. Muitos palhaços juntos… É realmente triste ver este picadeiro de sensacionalismo. Engraçadas são as reclamações da turma da Band rádio, que está furiosa com alguns seguranças do fórum. Segundo um dos jornalistas, ele foi retirando por estar anotando em seu bloco com uma caneta branca, a qual, poderia ser um gravador disfarçado. E reclama-se das teorias de conspiração, mas isso foi o fim.
Caneta Gravador – Sur le divan d'Amélie Poulain
The transitional impacts of the blogosphere on the media industry could also be observed as some mainstream news teams used blogs to report last minute information from court room.
Agora há pouco, ficamos sabendo que, pelo notebook de sua mesa, no palanque, o juiz – sim, o juiz Alberto Anderson Filho! – acompanha tudo aquilo que é publicado na internet, ali, enquanto preside a sessão, acreditam? E a gente só fica sabendo disso hoje, nos últimos momentos do julgamento. Um beijo, aí, juiz! Se estiver acompanhando a CAPRICHO também, dá uma piscadinha para cá!
Julgamento on-line tem audiência inusitada – Blog Capricho
With so much content to fuel a raging national debate on the theme, the heating up of the conversation over the Internet is just a natural consequence. Checking out the temperature of the issue in Orkut tells us that there are more than 500 communities created to debate the case, many of them displaying titles referring to different ways of making Suzane pay for her crime [Suzane, burn in hell, Suzane deserves eternal torture, etc.]. But there are also some groups which defend her from what they see as persecution, and even some of them wondering if Suzane is influenced by the EMO style. A ‘Free Suzane‘ campaing has started right after the sentence came out, and a recently launched Suzane's fake blog tries to make humour out of her disgrace. There were also some blogs specially created to debate and report the case.
Suzane foi presa, cumprirá 39 anos de cadeia. Existe desconstrução pior do que passar dez anos na cadeia? Foi selado o destino da jovem. Está selado o fim deste blog, ou não… Ainda não sei…
Fim da desconstrução – Desconstruíndo Suzane Von Richthofen
End of deconstruction – Deconstructing Suzane Von Richthofen
Terminou mais uma novela de grande sucesso no Brasil. Embora seja (também) exibida pela Rede Globo, não se trata de uma produção dessa empresa, mas sim do caso “Suzane von Richthofen”. Como eu, é possível que você já não aguente mais ouvir falar disso, mas uma coisa me chamou a atenção e foi confirmada por uma rápida pesquisa no Orkut: a quantidade de pessoas que defendem a garota! Não que essas pessoas defendam atos criminosos – pelo menos não de assassinato -, mas há quem acredite que Suzane é inocente, há quem ache que ela é culpada, mas não tão culpada assim, há quem criou fantasias eróticas com ela e, o mais incrível, há quem acredite na culpa dela e a julgue uma heroína por causa disso. Este último tipo é o que mais me causou surpresa.
O final você decide – Ponto de Vista
Eu amo Suzane Richthofen. Você não leu errado. Esta é a comunidade criada para a delicadeza em pessoa chamada Suzane Richthofen. Esse é um lado ruim da liberdade de expressão!? Ou apenas uma confusão feita por pessoas que não sabem diferenciar a ficção da realidade?! Gostar do bandido em um filme, é uma coisa até que aceitável.
Caso Richthofen – Psicologia – Os humanos do orkut
como é possível adolescentes criarem uma comunidade de “adoração” a uma assassina confessa? Isso não cabe na minha cabeça, é demais pra mim. Temos que fazer algo pra que nossas cabecinhas de vento não continuem com esse tipo de atitude. Imaginar algo do tipo ” eu amo suzane Richthofen” ou “eu defendo suzane richthofen” e´algo que temos que conter. Quem não teve problemas com os pais na adolescencia? Todos nós tivemos … Todos nós passamos por isso, faz parte do processo. Com certeza todos nós brigamos, gritamos, fizemos cenas, choramos por raiva, por broncas merecidas, por não concordar com o que “aquelas pessoas” tão autoritárias – ( nossos pais) nos diziam, melhor, nos impunham … volto a dizer, faz parte do processo e do nosso crescimento como seres humanos. Tenho certeza que muitas noites fomos dormir com uma raiva dentro de nós, por algo que nos agradou, mas nem por isso arquitetamos matar nossos pais, e pior nem por isso, matamos.
“VON RICHTHOFEN” … ainda não é o comentário definitivo – Todo Amor que Houver Nessa Vida
The diversity displayed in the blogosphere presents interesting analyses based on distinct perspectives. Ranging from posts with philosophical approaches to others with elaborated psychological diagnoses, we dare say that the explicit personal subjective touch is always present. The result is a multicolored report that devises a broader comprehension of the social meaning embedded in the plot, and a much clearer insight of the many emerging truths.
Então nos perguntamos: O que nos torna responsáveis pelas nossas escolhas? Quando estamos em situações que ilusoriamente nos obriga a tomar uma atitude drástica, ou uma determinada ação, o que nos torna responsáveis? Leibniz afirma: “Há, portanto, uma série de coisas presentes e passadas, que determinam a minha ação agora”. O que Leibniz quer dizer é que toda causa possui um efeito, “há uma infinidade de figuras e movimentos presentes e passados que entram na causa eficiente”. Assim surgem duas novas indagações: a) O que levou a Suzane a praticar esse ato tão bárbaro? b) De acordo com as colocações de Leibniz, nós somos determinados de certa forma, com maior ou menor grau, por uma infinidade de coisas presentes e passadas. Assim, no caso da Suzane estar influenciada por uma paixão doentia que tinha pelo namorado, retira toda a sua responsabilidade no que se refere ao ato criminoso?
O que a reflexão de Leibniz e Sartre pode contribuir para o caso Richthofen? – Agonia e Extase
Toda a família contribui de alguma forma para a poluição moral que existe no mundo, inclusive a família Richtofen, inclusive a minha, inclusive a sua. Suzane e os Cravinhos pagarão pelos crimes que cometeram. Já estão pagando. O que eles levam não é exatamente o que eu chamo de vida. Estão privados de liberdade, lazer, dignidade e rotulados como monstros até o fim de suas existências miseráveis. Aqui se faz, aqui se paga. Pra mim, os 30 anos que os 3 passarão na cadeia é a menor parte do castigo. Tempo passa, rótulos ficam, dignidade nunca volta. Então, porque o povo quer a cabeça dos assassinos em um prato? Tudo isso já não é suficiente? Pimenta nos olhos dos outros é refresco; um ditado que reflete bem a sádica mentalidade do brasileiro.
Crítica: República Federativa von Richtofen – Chapéu de Côco
Vejam como o brasileiro é engraçado. Milhares de pessoas morrem no Brasil de forma cruel, covarde, fria, e ninguem sai exaltando seu clamor por justiça pelas ruas. Coisas como essas, só acontecem no brasileiro quando algo acontece à alguem de uma classe mais favorecida, já perceberm? Sim, pois há pouco tempo, houve um caso semelhante onde uma jovem matou seus pais. Mas a garota não virou manchete do Fantástico, pois era pobre e feia… Alguem se indgnou? Alguem foi levantar bandeirinha no horário nobre falando “ah, precisamos de justiça”, ou “ah, essa juventude, está perdendo os principios”. Claro, pois quando um pobre rouba um real no mercado, os moralistas caem matando a pau, pedindo pena de morte, prisão perpétua, e ninguem pensa em recuperação, pois para eles é “normal” que um jovem pobre e/ou negro cometa um crime.
Brasil: A terra dos humoristas! – Jornalismo Pirata
There is still the mistery of what made this case such a phenomenon of attention in Brazil, and some negative consequences of the media over exposition of defendants, lawyers and prosecutors — especially on TV — are obvious to many. On the other hand, blogs are creating opportunities for new and improbable reporters to share fresh perspectives, while also offering a well-equipped content distribution platform for anyone — even professionals from mainstream media — who wants to engage in real conversation and relationship.
Essa semana passei por uma situação que confundiu muito (e quando eu digo muito, leia-se MUITO MESMO!!) a minha cabeça e mexeu e mudou muito (novamente coloquem enfâse) minha forma de pensar, de encarar, analisar e principalmente JULGAR as pessoas..Fui levada por um impulso curioso e , inicialmente sem valor nenhum, e pedi a minha irmã que me levasse para assistir um dia o julgamento de Suzane e os irmãos Cravinhos…O intuito de todo esse texto foi apenas para dizer que a partir desse dia eu passei a julgar menos as pessoas pelos seus atos apenas e sim pelo seu TODO..Onde entram; ato, circunstância, motivo e várias outras coisas.. E o mais interessante é que precisei me embrenhar em algo completamente fora dos meus propósitos e interesses para conseguir compreender certas coisas tão simples…
*Julgamento* – My world, my rules
Jabour, Nacif, Tardelli, Nadir – este com um comportamento que compromete a imagem da promotoria perante qualquer cidadão dotado de civilidade – mostraram o mal que o excesso de mídia provoca em pessoas despreparadas, imaturas. E o mal que o excesso de exibicionismo provoca para a justiça.
O vaudeville – Luis Nassif
O jornalista e blogueiro Luis Nassif comentou em seu blog a maneira “incisiva” que promotores e advogados atuaram durante o julgamento de Suzane Ritchtoffen e dos Irmãos Cravinhos. No blog dele procure o post (O vaudeville). Logo as respostas emergiram do correio eletrônico do jornalista. As respostas reforçam a máxima olho por olho, dente por dente. Confira o post (O Espelho da Catarse). O fato é que vivemos em uma sociedade tomada pela violência e pelo medo. Com uma justiça lenta e ineficiente na maioria dos casos, acaba se tornando comum, as pessoas pegarem a violência pela violência. Ai eu pergunto: onde vamos parar?
Sem limite – Liberdade Digital
There are plenty indications that some of us are already stopping in order to write and share. Blogging can turn violent feelings into debate, and the resulting free flow of conversation seems to be capable of creating new models of collective awareness.

author: Jose Murilo


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Cambodia: Monkey God in Germany · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Vanndeth is surprised to find hnuman, a character from South and South East Asian mythology, at a German clothing shop.


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China: national security · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translates a post written by Zeng Jinyan (zh) about civic rights activist ‘Knight Errant’ Peng's experience in dealing with national security people.


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China: public servant pay-scale · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Sun Bin discusses about public servant's pay scale: “Instead of arguing against the raise, I would rather argue for a mechanism of firing incompetent staff...”


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East Asia: Americanization of legal education · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Curzon in Coming Anarchy blogs about the trend in Americanization of East Asian legal education in Japn and South Korea.


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Estonia: Tallinn Vs Tartu · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Giustino of Itching for Eestimaa writes about two Estonian city, Tallinn and Tartu: “Tartu is like a confectioners paradise compared to Tallinn.”


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Georgia: Havlabar · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Akhtamar of ArmYouth Blog reports from Havlabar, Tbilisi's Armenian Quarter.


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Georgia: Reforms · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Vasili Rukhadze details the  fight for governmental reforms and against corruption of the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.


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Global Food Blog Report #25 · Global Voices
Melissa De León

#1: From Malaysia, Tham Jiak on Tastes of YesterLife:
If one's life can be determine by food preferences, I believe that I might be an Indian in my past life. As much as I love Chinese cuisines, I am strangely drawn towards Indian food, my five senses transfix on the myriad of spices, smells, tastes and textures. Indian cuisines are complex. Even the simplest cooking involves clever blends of various spices. But of course, there are some simplicities, such as its roti (bread), which ranges from easy to long preparation and the choice itself is numerous! Every roti is different from one another; some made with rice flour, some gram flour and many more that I have yet to learn and discover. Continue reading…
#2: Madrid Fusion 2006 goes to New York City!
The French Culinary Institute in New York City, winner of IACP´s School of the Year Award 2006, is celebrating it´s new home, the International Culinary Center, this coming October. And what a way to celebrate! During two days, the new center will be hosting culinary demonstrations by 10 of the most prominent Spanish chefs, including Ferran Adriá, Juan Mari Arzak and Martín Berasátegui. If you missed Madrid Fusión 2006, now is your chance for this unique experience. For more information visit Spain´s 10.
#3: From Singapore, Piggy's Cooking Journal on her cooking adventures in Krabi, Thailand.
During one of the free and easy days, I came across the Krabi Thai Cookery School when I walked pass a tour agency. It seems like this school is quite popular with tourists, as the poster mentioned that it's recommended by Lonely Planet. There are two classes in a day, and I opted for the afternoon class, which starts from 2pm and ends at 5pm. I paid 1000 baht (About SGD42) to the agent and I was told that transport will be provided as well, sounds good to me! Read on….the report is fantastic!
#4: From Panama & Colombia:  An Organic Corn Lab, including recipes, great photos, a video and some very interesting stories. In Spanish, In English.
#5: From Trinidad & the U.K., Trinifood shares her adventures on growing garlic !
I was so excited when I dug up these lovely garlic bulbs! I got the cloves at last year's Hampton Court Palace Flower Show from the Garlic Farm'sstall.
I've bought their garlic at Borough Market before, and since I know how good that Isle of Wight garlic is, I thought I'd give planting some a shot.
I planted them in November and waited patiently until last week to harvest them. It feels great to hold something you've planted in your hands. Continue reading…
6: From Japan: Obachan's Kitchen: Tuna and Avocado Carpaccio ! Simply delicious :-)
Yes, tuna was on sale today. The dressing I made for this carpaccio was almost like basic French dressing in the beginning. Then I felt like adding a little Balsamic vinegar, just from curiosity, and finally a few drops of soy sauce, too. I thought the dressing went well with the onion slices and avocado rather than the fish. Continue reading…
#7: From Brazil & Portugal: Trembon in English on Passion Fruit Ice Cream. Yum!
I absolutely love passion fruit. In the summer I find that there is nothing more refreshing than passion fruit blended with water, loads of ice, a squeeze of lemon and a bit of sugar. Passion fruit ice cream is a luxurious refreshing treat.
I spent the whole week dreaming with this recipe. Couldn't’t wait till my tiny freezer was empty enough to fit the ice cream maker. I finally managed to make room for it yesterday. I don’t consume ice cream only in the summer but it is much more welcome on a hot day. And it has been hot around here….Continue reading!
AND, while we are enjoying the passion of this fruit, how about a delicious and easy recipe to prepare "Mousse de Maracuya," by Deliciosa y Divertida from Buenos Aires, Argentina (ES).
#8: From Spain, Pisto y No Pisto shows off an incredible "Spanish Tortilla" fiesta. He organized the "Meme de la Tortilla" (The Spanish Tortilla Meme), …the results are truly scrumptious! Ahhh — all I have in my mind now is to go shopping for some potatoes and plenty of onions to prepare my version! I'll keep you posted. But now, head over to see the results of this innovative MeMe!
#9: From My French Cuisine:  a step by step recipe and photos to prepare Leek Omelet, French style. Great for breakfast, light lunch or dinner!
There are many "omelette" variants. The simplest is plain: just eggs (with seasoning). Eaten with a good piece of country-style bread, there's really nothing to add. Other famous recipes include fresh herbs ("omelette aux fines herbes" with chives and parsley), wild mushrooms ("omelette aux champignons"), etc. These ingredients are used as flavoring and should not mask the main ingredients: eggs and butter. To me, traditional French cuisine is all about preserving the flavors of the base ingredients without overpowering them seasoning or sauces. Modern "haute cuisine" hasn't forgotten this principle: it creates more complex flavors by adding subtle touches of spices and extravaganza. It's all a matter of balance. Continue reading a get the recipe now!
#10: From Ontario, Canada, The Canadian Baker on Spicy Ginger Crinkle Cookies —-It is a FACT, you can not say no to one of these babies :-)
See you soon!

author: Melissa De León