text:
Azerbaijan: Jam · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Sheki, Azerbaijan continues to introduce its readers to some of the many cultural traditions in the country, and especially those involving food. In a new post the blog writes about mürəbbə, a sweet and sour jam.


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Azerbaijan: Probing Questions & Observations · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Linda in Azerbaijan compares life in the country with that back home and especially when it comes to often probing questions about an individual's personal life. Despite the lack of privacy often encountered, the blog concludes that Azerbaijanis are nonetheless very friendly and have kind hearts.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Azerbaijan: Referendum · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Thoughts on the Road updates its readers on the referendum to be held in Azerbaijan in March. Seeking to remove the two-term restriction limit for the president, the blog says that despite voter apathy and a boycott by the opposition for last year's presidential election, opponents of the move are starting to unite. However, the blog notes, obstacles still remain and not least in a number of high profile court cases brought against those seeking to protest the latest developments in the country.


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Azerbaijan: The Big Picture · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines comments on the referendum to be held in March to remove the presidential two-term restriction and questions whether the legal procedures ahead of the vote have been adhered to by the authorities. In a second post the same blog details the arrest of a group of teenage boys in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan for cutting a power line to a government building. After being beaten by police and having their heads shaved, one of the boy's parents was placed in a psychiatric institution and the blog wonders if Azerbaijan can be considered a democracy.


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Bangladesh: Hidden Telugu Community · Global Voices
Rezwan

Faizul Khan Tanim visits a hidden Telugu community in North-West Bangladesh and writes about them at My Bangladesh.

author: Rezwan


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Brazil: A true competition between e-books and paper books?  · Global Voices
Deborah Goldemberg

There is a great debate about whether the rise of e-books will mean the end of paper books. Those who are enthusiastic about new technologies (and tree huggers) defend the substitution of one for the other, whilst those who are more nostalgic argue that books are the perfect invention because, wherever you are, amidst a blackout or on the high seas, you can read them. So, is there really competition between these two letter medias?
Brazil’s highest worldwide selling author, Paulo Coelho, is a great supporter of the e-book. According to him, the free distribution of e-books actually encourages paper books sales, because readers start reading on their computer and as soon as they become engaged in the story they run to the bookshops to buy them, as they still prefer reading on paper. Whether you like Paulo Coelho or not, the fact is that his sales tips can not be ignored.
Aside from the titles he makes available on his official website, where you find his books in eight different languages, there is also the surprisingly alternative blog where you can find Coelhos’ titles even in languages not officially translated yet, like Serbian. Blogger Pirate Coelho explains:
“There is nothing wrong with that, if you can catch what I mean. I just googled his books and show you here what you can find about him.
Plus, he likes what I’m doing. If you don’t believe me, just check yourself. —> Look at his free download page with my old link!”
Does the distribution of free e-books, or parts of it, work well also for other Brazilian writers? Would there be any competition between e-book and paper book for writers other than the magical Coelho? In looking at the universe of e-books in the Brazilian blogosphere, one immediately notices that numerous authors are making their work available online as a means to spread the word about it. There are websites and blogs created solely for this purpose.
The Overmundo [pt] initiative is a collaborative effort created specifically to disseminate Brazilian cultural production which does not get coverage in the mainstream media. Aside from keeping a cultural database to house the works, including e-books, the Overmundo website has the Overblog [pt] resource, which is a blog to discuss the works available on their website.
A poet from Rio Grande do Sul, Me Morte, was one of the many that made her e-book of poetry, called Poemetos available on the Overblog [pt] and reached a great number of visitors. One of her fans, Dan Lima, left the following comment for her:
“Me,
Baixei seu livro e li vários dos seus delírios (você se diz gótica, mas aseus textos absolutamente contemporâneos). Uma linguagem moderna., abusada, mulher se afirmando, vociferando, poemas de fino trato…. vou lê-los depois com calma “meu gozo é literário, libertário”, É isso que seus poemas aprovocam: gozo e fruição dos sentidos e das palavras…e muito bonito, esteticamente. Parabéns!”
Another collective initiative is  Portal for Literature and Art Cronópios [pt]. The portal is a mix of library and cultural center, where texts are made available online and the blogs rule, as each new text gets a specific blog (called an e-blog) to be maintained by the author. Although these e-blogs do not get many comments, it seems that there are more authors willing to publish free online than readers willing to read them, one e-blog created after the  Brasiliada by Nicolas Behr [pt] text received some inspired readers feedback:
“Berh jotakalizou braxília com sua letra lâmina afiada em esmeril de algodão. Com certeza, JK construiu Bras´pilia e os candangos ficaram olhando…”
Aside from these collective initiatives, there are also writers who are bloggers themselves and publish their texts, or parts of them, independently online  for their readers. Some renowned Brazilian poets are doing just that, such us the poet Frederico Barbosa [pt]. He  is making available his entire collection in e-books, even in translations, but he also provides links to whoever wants to purchase paper copies. With a consolidated career, he seems to see no contradiction between e-publication and paper publication, his main interest being that the poetry reaches the reader, in whatever way they prefer.
Cláudio Daniel, another renowned poet, in preparation for the launch of the second edition of his poetry book Yumê, makes available  one of his poems [pt] as a bite:
Caros, no dia 25 de janeiro, domingo, a partir das 16h, na Casa das Rosas, acontecerá o lançamento da segunda edição de meu livro Yumê (…) Quem estiver vivo até lá, apareça… confiram abaixo um dos poemas de Yumê:
O UM IGUAL A ZERO
em
londres
(no metrô) — primícias
de agosto —
(alguém) lendo Schopenhauer
uma moça com cabelos verdes
e os bicos (dos seios) cor-de-rosa
o (azul-prata-seda)
luxuosíssimo traje marroquino
e a lâmina — argêntea —
do assassino
THE ONE EQUAL TO ZERO
in
london
(at the metro) — beginnings
of august —
(someone) reading Schopenhauer
a girl with green hair
and pink (nipples) tips
the (blue-silver-silk)
exquisite Morrocan vests
and the knife — silverish —
of the assassin”
Even for new authors such as Deborah Icamiaba (that’s me!), making texts available online has made lots of sense. In her  literary blog [pt], where she regularly posts her short stories, chronicles and poems, there are four long titles available as e-books in PDF: the Inside Ourselves short stories, the novellas Icamiaba Ressurgence, Mid-West Alchemy and the book of poetry: Pre-poetry [something of poetry, prose and prowess]. Each one of them had its own e-launch and were put up at a “virtual bookshelf” with the following message:
“Para obter este ou qualquer e-livro em PDF, deixe um post no blog.”
Even though her blog receives hundreds of visits every month, not many visitors order Icamiaba’s e-books. The most successful launch so far was that of the collection of short stories Inside Ourselves (right), for which she received 13 comments. This leads us to think that blog readers are not always interested in acquiring longer and denser texts.
Having e-books available online has not stopped Icamiaba from publishing on paper. At the end of 2008, two publishing houses became interested in publishing in book form her texts already available online.
Last, but not least, it is worth mentioning that in 2004 the Brazilian Government  created a website to make books by  the classic Portuguese language authors, like Machado de Assis and Fernando Pessoa, available, even though they are already very well sold at bookshops and newsagents in popular paperback editions.
Brazilian writers, publishing houses and government are betting on the dissemination of literary works on the Internet, seeing that there is more complementarity than competition amongst digital and paper medias – at least in times where the reader still prefers to read on paper.

author: Deborah Goldemberg


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Brunei: Better pay for doctors · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Brunei doctors are asking for higher salaries: “Doctors deserve a high salary. After all those long demanding years of study and training; and the demanding long hours of work day and night.”

author: Mong Palatino


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China: Net Nanny, GFW and SEM · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Uln explains how the internet censorship in China works through three major tactics, including: Self censorship, Great fire wall's filtering and access control and search engine manipulation.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Europe: More on Entropa · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Corina Murafa writes some more on the Entropa controversy.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Indonesia: Psychological tests for police · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Jakarta's Police Department ordered its members to undergo psychological examinations to “gauge their ability to endure harsh street conditions in the city.”


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Iran: 6000 paintings in a film · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Pars Arts writes about Reza Dolatabadi's Khoda,a five minute film comprised of more than 6000 paintings produced over two years. You can watch the film here.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran: A Cemetery is in danger · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Azarmehr writes that the Iranian authorities want to demolish Khavaran Cemetery altogether. The blogger adds that more than four thousand political prisoners were killed in 1988 and the bodies were dumped in places like Khavaran.


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Iran: Gaza and internal affairs · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Mohmmad Ali Abtahi,former reformist vice president, writes that a former reformist minister  participated in a demonstration in support of Gaza. When extremists who support president Ahmadinejad saw him, they started to chanted slogans against former president,Mohammad Khatami and his government instead of Israel.


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Iran: Women activists support Shirin Ebadi · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Kosoof, a leading photoblogger, says a group of women rights activists gathered to meet Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, with red roses in their hands to wipe off bad memories of slogans which were written against her outside the walls of her house and remind the positive effects of her activities. Watch the photos here.
.


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Japan: Bloggers on TV-Asahi and “Uso Basutaa” · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

Heated has been the reaction of many Japanese bloggers over the last week who felt cheated by TV Asahi after it turned out that in the variety show ウソバスター！ (Uso Basutaa!, lit. lie buster), broadcast prime time on the 10th of January, the blogs quoted as sources had been created for the show by staff. If the show's production company Nonpro [jp] and TV Asahi staff thought that nobody would actually go out and search for the six websites introduced by the presenter, they were wrong.
As has happened many times in the past, in fact, clever television viewers and 2-channelers (users of Japan's most well-known bulletin board) were ready again this time to search for the titles of the posts mentioned and verify their truthfulness, whereby they discovered that all six blogs had only one entry each in their archives and that all entries had been written on the same day, the 10th of December. The suspicion that the quiz was entirely based on lies, despite the fact that the aim of the show was to figure out whether some common beliefs and“metropolitan legends”are true or not, then spread on the internet and brought many bloggers to investigate further.
This is a part of the thread titled テレビ朝日「情報整理バラエティー　ウソバスター!」で仕込みブログ発覚 ( Found the blog created for the news variety show “Uso Buster!”) started at 2ch soon after the show.
9 ： すずめちゃん(アラバマ州)：2009/01/10(土) 21:22:26.78 ID:CNLgnzQj
ウソバスターをウソバスター
10 ： すずめちゃん(愛知県)：2009/01/10(土) 21:22:27.06 ID:pafBA5vW
見た見た
やっぱりやらかしてたか
22 ： すずめちゃん(埼玉県)：2009/01/10(土) 21:23:20.49 ID:pW9ec1Vl
まとめ直しておいた
NEWSの意味
セメダインの意味
サケとシャケの違い
つまようじのギザギザ
干支のイノシシ
地下鉄のカーブ
24 ： すずめちゃん(東京都)：2009/01/10(土) 21:23:27.72 ID:u2dJMdca
こりゃ、もう、番組ごと、バスターだな。
29 ： すずめちゃん(大阪府)：2009/01/10(土) 21:23:44.93 ID:lNNyRTfx
あるある大辞典はこれで番組打ち切りだったんだぜ
44 ： すずめちゃん(大阪府)：2009/01/10(土) 21:25:07.80 ID:wMO8DpD3
さも「偶然にもネットで発見した面白い情報」みたいな構成だったけど
発見されたブログ見ると、どう見ても関係者が作ってるだろ。
そもそも何で無理にネットを絡めたのか
73 ： すずめちゃん(アラバマ州)：2009/01/10(土) 21:26:53.28 ID:rmgGtpK/
見てたけど、個人ブログから拾ってきたってのが仕込みくせーと思ったら
やっぱり仕込だったかｗ
こういうTV的なやり方ってもうダメだっていつになったら学習するんだろう
TV業界の人たちは
83 ： すずめちゃん(関西・北陸)：2009/01/10(土) 21:27:28.99 ID:Hroa3r74
どうにかしてネットを悪にしたいんだな
89 ： すずめちゃん(兵庫県)：2009/01/10(土) 21:27:53.31 ID:hgJrT0Hc
>>1
画像とか見れないからわけわからんのだが
どういう仕込みか文で説明してくれ
121 ： すずめちゃん(dion軍)：2009/01/10(土) 21:29:33.54 ID:Oo6s5E4b
>>89
ネットに蔓延するウソ情報を紹介する番組
↓
ウソ情報が書かれたブログ発見！やっぱりネットは信用できませんね
↓
紹介されたブログの記事は殆どが12/10の1件のみ
他に記事があっても全部12/10付の記事のみ
↓
実はそのブログ自体をテレ朝が作っていたヤラセ？
178 ： すずめちゃん(滋賀県)：2009/01/10(土) 21:32:16.99 ID:vZmjan1i
なんで事前に仕込んだブログって分かるの？
211 ： すずめちゃん(愛媛県)：2009/01/10(土) 21:33:40.70 ID:Vrw3IIo8
>>178
仕込みブログの理由
１　全部同じ日に投稿していた
２　記事が１つしかない 見える
1 The articles are all posted on the same day.
2 All the blogs have only one article posted.
One 2channeler also found out that the production company Nonpro had been already involved in a show suspended because it was accused of news falsification. The same company, a few days after the accident, was the subject of an article that appeared on J-Cast, where the author presented claims about the low salary and bad conditions of the offices that Nonpro employees have blabbed about directly at the company's website.
71 ：へたれの極み ◆oJlmXYegxg ：2009/01/10(土) 21:26:44.07 ID:hLt1ZXdb
http://www.nonpro.co.jp/index.html
http://www.nonpro.co.jp/works.html
製作会社
200 ： すずめちゃん(dion軍)：2009/01/10(土) 21:33:08.87 ID:VkACREno
>>71
＞過去の制作番組
＞
＞■関西テレビ
＞まかせて！エキスパ
＞発掘！あるある大事典
＞発掘！あるある大事典2
245 ： すずめちゃん(関西地方)：2009/01/10(土) 21:35:13.53 ID:7ahNT5Ae
>>200
なんか納得したｗ
264 ： すずめちゃん(東京都)：2009/01/10(土) 21:35:51.64 ID:RSih8erD
>>200
こんなんで笑うとは・・・
240 ： すずめちゃん(東京都)：2009/01/10(土) 21:34:53.86 ID:/aJJs8ZB
インターネットは嘘だらけですよ
テレビは真実を伝えますって言いたいんだなｗ
Ogiue Chiki (荻上チキ), a TV show and media critic, considers what happened not to be surprising given that many in Japan are used to check online the news learnt on TV.
僕も含め、テレビを観ながら、気になったことをすぐググる人は少なくない。テレビが持つアテンション力は、まだまだ強力だ （というよりむしろ、最近のお笑い番組や予告編の作り方の文法などを見ると、アテンションを獲得しようとする動きはむしろ高まっているようにさえ思え る）。そんな現在、テレビによって多くの注目を集めた結果、こうした情報行動を誘発することが起こるというわけだ。
Of course, as every company which has been caught red-handed in Japan does, TV Asahi publicly apologized but many televiewers found those apologies, published on the show's website [ja], not enough to save TV Asahi’s reputation.
One of them, Soratyan424, expresses her disappointment in this post:
同社広報部では、「実際のブログ作成者から撮影許可が取れなかったので、同じ情報を元にスタッフが『再現』した。そのことをテロップやナレーションで伝えるべきだった。視聴者に誤解を与えかねない表現となり、申し訳ない」としている。
後からこういうこと発言しても説得力ないですよね・・・・
こういうこと誰も問題視せず普通に放送してしまうという時点で
テレビ局のモラルというか姿勢がどういうものなのかが垣間見れる気がします

author: Scilla Alecci


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Kazakhstan: National Issue Revisited  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Arseny’s post is about the controversy over the nationality record in the new Kazakhsani biometric passports.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Kazakhstan: World MBA Tour Comes to Almaty  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Adam writes about the World MBA Tour, the world’s best and biggest business school fairs, which will take place in Almaty, the biggest city of Kazakhstan, early March this year.


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Korea: Marital Rape and Suicide · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

A man who was convicted for the first time in Korea of marital rape in January of 2009 committed suicide.[EN] The judgement stood for his wife who is from the Philippines and the humiliation led him to suicide. His case brings several issues to netizens — countryside men, multi-cultural families, international marriage, and women's rights.
Here are several opinions.
1.
[…]부부 강간죄 인정되니 여성계는 아주 좋아 난리다. 당연한 결과란다.[…] 근데 굉장히 우낀다.과거 간통이 남성들의 전유물일때는 간통죄가 여성을 보호하는 최후의 수단이라며 간통죄존속을 앞장서 주장하더니 이젠 반인권법이라며 폐지하라는 것이다. 아니 여성들이 드디어 인권이라는걸 깨달앗나?[…]
2.
[…]다문화가정….부부강간죄…현대판 노예? 아니면 사기꾼?[…]
3.
제가 생각하기 보다는 부부강간죄 보다는 살인미수나 폭행 및 협박 인거 같은데…
왜 그게 부부강간죄 인지 도통 알수가 없습니다..
4.
[…]이 남성분의 개인사정은 신문을 통해서만은 알 수 없으니 어느 쪽의 탓이라고 콕 집어 말할 수는 없는 게 사실입니다. 그래서 법이라는 게 있는 겁니다. 어떤 사람의 주관적인 사정에 흔들리지 않고 법질서와 사회의 안정을 위해 객관적인 사실을 바탕으로 판단해주기 때문입니다. 설령 그 객관적인 사실이 어느 일방의 억울함을 해소시키지 못할지언정 누가 이기든 한 사람은 억울하기 마련인게 인간사입니다. 가장 적게 억울한 사람이 나오도록 하는 게 법이 할 수 있는 최선 아닌가요. 저도 별로 법체제를 신뢰만 하는 건 아니지만.. 이번 사건에서만큼은 객관적인 판단을 했다고 보여집니다.[…]
5.
[…]부부가 결혼한 이후 과정을 봐도 알수 있습니다..여자는 3개월 후에 집나갔다가 1년이 넘어서 단속으로 잡히고 남편이 100만원 벌금내고 데리고 와서 그이후에 여자가 잠자리를 거부하고 돈을 요구했다?이게 정상적인 부부입니까?[…]여기 고인된 사람은 순간적인 분노에 의해 실수한거고 수치심에 자살을 택한것이라 봅니다…부부간의 강간이란것이 합당합니까? 충분히 가정폭력법으로 해결할수 있는 문제입니다.[…]
6.
즉 폭력이나 흉기사용이 있었다면 이 점을 성관계와 분리해서 가정폭력죄로 적용해야지…[…]특히 이번 필리핀(25)아내가 한국남편(43)상대로 강간당했다고 고소한 사건의 경우 자초지정도 모르고 남편보고 ” 짐승이네 어찌 아내 상대로 강제로 하려드냐? 변태 아니야?”라고 몰아 붙이고 온갖 더러운 배설물급의 악플을 다는 인간들 기사댓글서 많이 봤는데요. 여러분이 지금 농촌등에서 벌어지는 다문화가정의 어려움을 몰라서 하는말입니다[…].제 이야기 듣고 당신이 여성이건 남성이건 잘 한번 역지사지로 생각해보세요
아시다싶이 한국은 60~70년대에 남아선호사상으로 남녀성비간 불균형이 심화되던 시기입니다. 자연히 남성으로 태어난 이유로 남자들은 제짝을 찾지 못하는 시대적 아픔을 (본인 잘못도 아닌데) 갖게 되는 남성들이 소수 생겨날수 밖에 없으며 이들의 태반은 안타깝게도 농촌총각 및 도시의 별능력없고 외모도 딸리고 그런 남성들…어찌보면 참 불쌍한 사람들이 그 짐을 지게되죠. 특히 여성들은 죄다 도시남성과 결혼한다고 떠나 버리니…부농이 아닌이상 농촌총각이 직업이 농부건 회사원이건…결혼하기란 쉽지 않고 어느덧 35,40…순식간에 나이는 먹으면 더더욱 한국여성과 결혼하기란 어렵죠[…] 외국인신부를 차선척으로 데려오는데…개중에 서로 잘 사랑하며 사는 케이스도 있고, 남편이 외국인아내를 무시하고, 함부러 대해서 힘든 가정도 있고…마지막으로 외국인아내에 의해 남편이 피해보는 사례도 당연 존재한다는 겁니다.[…]
As you know, due to son preference thought in the 1960s and 1970s in Korea, unbalanced of the ratio of men and women is extreme. Eventually, men have a hard time to find their partners (even though it is not their own faults) and men who are from the countryside and who are short of abilities and appearance in cities have burdened this problem. Women all leave the countryside in order to find their partners in cities. Therefore, some countryside men and city men age to 35-40 can't find Korean women for marriage.[…] So some of them find their wives overseas… some of them love each other and have happy marriage lives. Some of them look down on their foreign wives and have difficulties to have happy marriage lives… some of them are tricked by some foreign wives… There are several cases[…]
7.
이미 선진국에서는 부부강간죄를 인정하고 있는 추세이구요, 형벌을 받은 사람또한 상당수 있는 것이 사실입니다. 다만 한국만 성폭행의 경우 피해자를 부녀만으로 한정해두었는데 이를 남성까지 포함하는 ‘타인'으로 용어를 바꾸어
부부강간죄를 유지해야합니다.

author: Hyejin Kim


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Kyrgyzstan: Changes, Reshuffling and Invariability · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Almatyreporter writes that Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has dismissed a batch of ministers, governors, mayors, administration officials, and even several ambassadors.


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Kyrgyzstan: Not Free Religion  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Elena reviews some statements of the new law about religious freedom in Kyrgyzstan.


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Malaysia: Criteria for adding friends on Facebook · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Suanie from Malaysia writes her criteria in approving friend requests on popular social networking site Facebook.


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Malaysia: Support for retrenched workers  · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

As companies reduce their operations in Malaysia, anilnetto highlights the need for a national retrenchment fund to support workers.


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Philippines: World War 2 History in Indie Film · Global Voices
Karlo Mongaya

The acclaimed indie film Concerto: Davao War Diary depicts the interaction of a Filipino family with Japanese soldiers during the Second World War. Concerto, set in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, is based on true events. The film's trailer can be viewed on YouTube.

author: Karlo Mongaya


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Russia, Hungary: Tractors, Trolleybuses, Buses · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

“Crazy” Moscow tractor – at Moscow Blog; St. Pete trolleybuses – at Russian History Blog; Budapest buses – at Budapest Guide.


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Russia: Mummies and Lenin’s Death Anniversary · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Eternal Remont writes about the mummies’ protest on the 85th anniversary of Lenin's death.


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Russia: Notes on the Crisis, Movies · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Megan Case writes about her trip to Russia: “Our friends had stories of their workplaces downsizing, several had been given an extra “vacation” (without pay) or received a pay cut. There seemed to be fewer cars on the road, which is only good for traffic and the environment, but a sign of tough times nonetheless. In general, things felt more subdued than when we left eleven months ago.”


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Russia: Robert Amsterdam’s Interview on Echo of Moscow · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Robert Amsterdam's interview on Echo of Moscow radio station about the murder of lawyer Stanislav Markelov – and a translation of LJ user varfolomeev-v‘s response (RUS) to it.


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Russia, Ukraine: Gas Deal and Gazprom’s Stock · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Streetwise Professor writes this about the Russian-Ukrainian gas deal: “So, if the masterful Gasputin has really engineered such a coup, one that in addition to pulling Ukraine into Russia’s orbit, also secures Gazprom’s economic interests, why has the company’s stock performed so badly?  The market certainly doesn’t seem to think that Gazprom/Russia have “won” (at least commercially) the latest gas war.”


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Saudi Arabia: Young activist faces social condemnation · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Saudi Arabia is a conservative society, and when individuals act in ways that challenge convention, not only might they face harsh criticism, but so might their families. A young activist called Amna Fatani has experienced such condemnation recently, and some Saudi bloggers have offered her their moral support.
Ahmed Al-Omran, who blogs at Saudi Jeans, has written a letter to Amna Fatani – and to Saudi society as a whole:
TO: Amna Fatani
CC: Saudi Arabia
Although I have said that censorship does not work anymore, censorship is still a reality of our lives in this part of the world. Unfortunately, censorship by the government is not the only kind of censorship we have to endure and resist here. There is another, more difficult kind to deal with: social censorship.
In our deeply conservative and conformist society, any attempt to differentiate oneself is frowned upon if not outright rejected. You are expected required to think, talk and even look like everyone else. If you dare to say or do anything that does not conform with the conventional wisdom, then you are simply asking for trouble. Not only your ideas will be ridiculed but you will also be personally attacked, and your parents will be blamed for not raising you well.
Now you think that’s bad? It gets ten times worse if you are a woman. Actually, you don’t even need to express a deviant opinion. Being a woman in itself can be enough for some people to denounce you, because to them women are secondary beings that should be kept in dark closets, away from the light of public life. I’m sure you’ve heard all that ‘jewel’ crap many times before.
That’s why when Amna Fatani started a campaign to preserve heritage sites earlier this year, her father received hateful text messages telling him that he has no shame. Fatani appeared again in a local newspaper last week wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh during her participation at the Saudi-British Youth Forum in Jeddah. Again, she was faced with similar reactions. The first comment by a reader was: “let her cover herself up, and worry about her religion first.”
I’m sorry you had to go through this Amna, but if it’s any consolation, know that you are not alone. When AlArabiya.net published my interview with Reuters two years ago, people left many unpleasant comments, calling me a “Westernized spoiled brat” and “retard” among other things. Sure, it didn’t feel good but I have grown a thicker skin. Sometimes it is not just total strangers who try to put you down. More than one of my relatives have told me to “quit this nonsense” I’m doing. You, however, are lucky to have a supportive family who are very proud of you.
So dear Amna, whenever something like that happens to you, remember you are not alone and that we are all in this together. We are young and we are not amused. We are eager and determined. We will not be silenced and we will not be intimidated. We shall speak up and we shall overcome. Open your minds and hearts. Listen to our fresh voices.
Sincerely,
Ahmed
Amna’s brother, Raf Fatani, has also posted a letter on his blog, addressed to a journalist from the Arab News newspaper:
I write to you today because of how my sister (as a Saudi female), who cares so much about her country and her religion can be bombarded with such remarks. Earlier this year, she appeared again in a Saudi newspaper regarding a campaign she started regarding caring for our heritage sites. Soon after, my father (who is a university lecturer and a level headed man) started to get hate messages (sms), and threats too. Some telling him, he has no shame and other on a similar note. […] These people discourage young Saudi women like my sister in doing the right thing and speaking up. Luckily, my sister is a very stubborn girl and she will continue doing the right thing, but sometimes she and the people around her are hurt in the process. I am very proud of my sister, and I applaud her!
Amna commented on the Saudi Jeans post, in response to a question:
I’d like to say a fair percentage of families are supportive of their members, whether they be males or females. This is not a message girls can send alone, we have to all join in this motion and work together. As for speaking out not being part of the solution, I would say that it is a BIG part as speaking out has been a taboo in Saudi Arabia for so long, so just that change in attitude in itself is an accomplishment. Also, with regards to speaking the truth, isn’t that how the message of Islam spread throughout the world? It is time to come together and work hand in hand to make our good society a better one.

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Serbia: Belgrade’s Bajrakli Mosque · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

An account of a visit to the Bajrakli Mosque in downtown Belgrade – at Bill's Blog.


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Tajikistan: Earthquake rumor  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Vadim reports that the recent rumor about the possible powerful earthquake in Tajikistan made thousands of people throughout the country to leave their homes and spend the freezing night in the street.


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Thailand: Kissing in public · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Kissing in Public is an ongoing project in Thailand which invites residents in Thailand to perform the act of, well, kissing in public. According to organizers, this is an exercise in socio-cultural politics. “At the time where all the eyes in Thailand and the media focus on national politics, we’d like to open up space, not only for debates, but real practices, on how the personal can and should be political, especially at this transitional period in Thai history.”


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The Balkans: Urbanization · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Unforgiving Minute writes about urban development in the Balkans and elsewhere.


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Ukraine: “The EU Neighbour ‘Reality’ Problem” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Wu Wei writes about the EU and “the Ukrainian (or Georgian) reality”: “I speak from experience in working on oil stocks in Ukraine, where the Ukrainian “reality” apparently required to set up an agency for oil stocks first,  then worry about what it would do later (legislation, finance, ownership of the stocks even, don't they come in somewhere first? No, that's too difficult, let's just pretend it is in place and do it later, when people understand that).”


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Albania: New ID Cards · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Albanian Blogger writes about the introduction of new IDs in Albania.


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Albania: Superstitions · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A Nevada Yankee in King Zog's Court writes about superstitions in Albania.


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Armenia-Turkey: Are We Hrant Dink? · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Following the second anniversary of the murder of Hrant Dink in Istanbul, Unzipped comments on a recent piece by Glendal News Press’ Patrick Azadian on the ethnic Armenian journalist who stood for peace, democracy and human rights in Turkey. The blog despairs the fact that nationalists are attempting to hijack the name of the man who stood for peace and reconciliation between Armenians and Turks for their own political purposes.


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Azerbaijan: Language Lessons · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Linda in Azerbaijan details the trials and tribulations of learning Azerbaijani. Despite the difficulties, the Peace Corps Volunteer says she is determined to learn the language at the highest level possible.


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Azerbaijan: Martyr’s Alley · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Learning to Walk in Stilettos pays a visit to Martyr's Alley in Baku, a cemetery for those killed in the Soviet crackdown in the Azerbaijani capital on 19-20th January 1990. The blog details the walk to the eternal flame at the end of the alley and posts photographs.


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Bolivia: Referendum Coverage on Twitter · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

As the polls close across Bolivia for the Constitutional Referendum vote, many of the country's users of Twitter have been hard at work sending messages about their experiences from their cities. In order to centralize the information, they are using the #referendum tag.
Throughout the day, many tweeted after returning from their polling place and reporting on the action. Rolando Espinoza (@darkrho) writes about the opposition youth group in Cochabamba, who were present at the school where he voted:
#referendum cbba (Cochabamba) juventud kochala (the youth group) are controlling delegate lists at the Loyola School.
In La Paz, Eliana Quiroz (@e_liana) writes how many are spending the day after performing their civic duty.
Some eat sajta de pollo (chicken dish) and others drink Coca-Cola after voting at the high school in La Paz.
She also posts a photo on Twitpic of her ink-stained finger indicating that she has already voted.
Some voters find themselves far from home on election day.  Mario César Señoranis (@mariocesar_bo) of Santa Cruz is currently across the country in the city of La Paz and is unsure whether he can vote:
The site Al Minuto [es] created a special Twitter account @referendum_bo to share links of the news unfolding events and also placed a Cover It Live widget to generate live chat and republication of some tweets.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Brazil: A Glance at Campus Party Brazil in Pictures · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Campus Party Brazil 2009 in São Paulo comes to a close this Sunday. Over 6,500 people have taken part in this second edition of what is arguably Latin America's largest technology and digital culture event, bringing discussions around blogs, robotics, photography and video, games, modding, free software, digital inclusion, and even ecology. In this photo overview of the event, you will see a selection of curious pictures among the thousand images posted on Flickr under Creative Commons licenses.
Photo by poperotico, with the following caption:
Milhares de campuseiros se aglomeraram aqui na Arena da Campus Party 2009, realizada no Centro de Exposições Imigrantes.
Você veio?
#cparty , eu fui!
Did you come?
#cparty, I was there!
Case Modding, in photo by _thebest_
“This is a CPU!”, photo by Fabio Pazzini
Photo by Luiza Medeiros, with the title “Nerds demand music at Campus Party”. The demonstration happened on January 24 and became known as the “Chair Dance”, “Chair Ballet” or “Chair Protest”. Here is a video showing the protest. Elzo Brito [pt] explains:
No final das contas, o que ocorre, não conseguimos a musica, pois segundo a organização do evento, tem um hospital aqui do lado e já reclamaram duas vezes, na terceira veio um oficial de justiça aqui pedindo o encerramento do evento.
Photo by Tatiana_Reis at the digital inclusion area.
There were some demonstrations against the controversial Digital Crimes Bill, which may be passed in the Congress at some point this year:
“Against the Azeredo Bill”. Photo by Tatiana_Reis.
The banner reads: “Protect the future of the Internet in Brazil and the world”. Photo by bntmzk. A similar photo by Gabriel  Chiarastelli won second place in the Campus Party Photo Contest.
“Augmented Reality”, photo by R. Seiji.
Old technology still survives. Photo by HelenaN
“Do bloggers help you to form your opinion?”. Photo by fore.
“Help  the world, update your shitty IE6. PS: Actually start to use Firefox”. Photo by vivoandando
Breaking the national record of overclocking at Campus Party. BR-OCTeam reached a processing speed of 5.6 Gh [pt].
(Some of the Flickr related tags: cparty, cparty09, cpbrasil, campusparty, #cparty, campuspartybrasil, campuspartybrasil2009)

author: Paula Góes


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Iran: BBC launches new Persian TV channel · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

The launch of BBC Persian TV on January 14, attracted praise, enthusiasm, suspicion, and in one word: attention! Iranian bloggers are expressing their opinions on this new channel, and they are as diverse as ever.
While some consider that the new channel can play a role in bridging disagreements between the United States and Iran, the Iranian authorities called it a threat to national security.
So far, the Iranian government has refused permission for BBC Persian TV to have an office in Iran, although the Islamic Republic run Press TV itself has an office in London.
BBC Persian TV provides 8 hours of daily programming for the Persian-speaking world. It draws not just on the worldwide news gathering resources of the whole BBC, but also on its own Persian-speaking correspondents in Washington, Jerusalem, Beirut, Islamabad, Istanbul, Dushanbe and Kabul.
Here is a promotional trailer for BBC Persian TV. The voiceover promises, “Music, and more than music”:
LegoMahi, a blogger and designer says [fa]:
کیفیت تولید بالای برنامه های تلویزیونی بی بی سی من رو مثل همه کسان دیگری که برنامه های هفته اول شروع این تلویزیون رو دیدند ذوق زده کرده.همونطور که مثلا دیدن یک هتل 5 ستاره، یا یک استادیوم مدرن، یا یک پلاژ تمیز، یک باسکین رابینز “واقعی”، یا یک فروشگاه یا سوپرمارکت بزرگ در ایران آدم رو متعجب و ذوق چیزها هست که برای ساکنان دنیای متمدن (و بعضی وقتا نه چندان متمدن) بدیهی است…بی بی سی فارسی برای اولین بار (حد اقل تا جایی که در خاطر نسل من و ما هست) به تماشاگر ایرانی امکان دیدن برنامه های خوب و داشتن تجربه ای که میلیون ها نفر دیگر از ساکنان زمین همیشه داشته اند را میدهد. بالاخره در قرن بیست و یک، دست ما را گرفته و برای اولین بار ما را با قرن بیستم آشنا میکند،
Mahjad writes [fa] that BBC really started well, “and much better that I imagined.” But that you always find, “jealous people who just see the half-empty glass.”
Seaman who launched [fa] a blog to analyse BBC Persian TV programs, says it sometimes seems they do not have enough programs, and will repeat one several times, such as “Kamkara”, a program about a group of musicians.
Bamdadi says [fa] we should be happy, but not excited. The blogger says finallythe monopoly of  low quality US-funded Persian-speaking Voice of America and Los Angeles-based channels is over. While celebrating that official TV in Iran will most likely need to improve and decrease propaganda in programs, the blogger warns:
به خاطر خلا رسانه ای در بین فارسیزبانان، این خطر وجود دارد که تلویزیون بی بی سی فارسی به سرعت اعتبار و محبوبیت بسیار بالایی پیدا کند و در این صورت دستکاری کردن افکار عمومی مردم ایران در راستای منافع انگلستان و متحدانش راحتتر میشود.
Menbar, an Islamic cleric, remembers [fa] that his father used to listen to BBC radio during the Iran-Iraq war. He says that BBC TV is professional and has hours of  interviews in its archive from Iranian personalities. He wonders if Iranian television has such archives.


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Iran: The news that we don’t hear in Tehran · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Freekyboard, an Iranian blogger, says [fa] “we are not going to hear the following news in Iran: The Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at US President George W Bush is seeking asylum in Switzerland and Saudi Arabia pays one billion dollar to help reconstruct the Gaza Strip.”


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Japan: Looking back on 2008 · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

The last year in Japan saw, among other things, an economic crisis, employment instability, and the beginnings of the collapse of journalism. While the year was already recapped here last month, we add to that recap the reflections of bloggers looking back over the year.
Blogger Motohiko Tokuriki wrote about this year's Alpha Blogger Awards (see the GV article about last year's event):
2004年から毎年続けていたアルファブロガー・アワード（旧：アルファブロガーを探せ）ですが、今年は思いっきり趣向を変えて、ブログ記事大賞ということで、ブログ単位ではなく記事単位の投票で開始しました。
実は記事単位での投票というのは、最初の2004年のアルファブロガーを探せの時にも試みていた幻の企画です。
当時は、ただでも無名の企画だったので、ブログ毎の投票を集めるのが精一杯で、記事毎の投票はほとんど有意義な数が集まらず、結果発表すらしなかったという経緯がありました。（その節は、投票頂いた皆さん、本当に申し訳ありませんでした。）
ただ、記事毎の投票をやってみたらという意見は多数いただいていましたし、現在では2004年に比べると、ソーシャルブックマークとかブログ検索とか、1年を振返るためのツールも充実していますし、とにかく一度やってみようということで、実施に至った次第です。
Tokuriki-san also picks out the three entries he found most important over the whole year: one article [ja] by Osamu Higuchi about Google's new Street View service (see Global Voices post), an article by blogger boiledema [ja] about Toyota's  Just-in-Time system (see Global Voices post), and an article by blogger mkusunok titled “we're hacking politics” [俺達ちゃんと政治もハックしているよ].
Blogger and journalist Hiroyuki Fujishiro wrote about the change in the country's media industry:
金融危機や雇用問題など暗い話題で終わった2008年は既存のマスメディアにとっても厳しい年となりました。これまで指摘されてきた、マスメディアの凋落がついに表面化。新聞、テレビだけでなく広告代理店も厳しい決算となりました。それだけでなく、秋葉原事件、毎日新聞「WaiWai」問題、オーマイニュース失敗など、メディアのあり方に関わる本質的な問題も、さまざまな形で表面化しました。
[…]
「市民メディア」として注目されたオーマイニュースの失敗は、メディアがインフレを起こしている時代に単にメディアを持つだけでは何の意味もないことを明らかにしています。市民メディアに関わる議論では、従来からマスメディアとは異なるメディア（オルタナティブメディア）を持つことに重きを置く議論もありますが、単にオルタナティブメディアを持つだけでなく、何のための、誰のためのメディアなのかを明確にしていかなければ、ただあるだけのメディアになってしまうでしょう。
Blogger Nobuo Ikeda, meanwhile, picked up a conversation [ja] started by Uchida Tatsuru [ja] and Dan Kogai [ja] on the question of whether Japan will become a more “inward-looking country” this year:
Dankogai経由で内田樹氏のおもしろい記事を読んだ。結論からいうと、「2009年はたぶん日本は『内向きシフト』舵を切るようになると私は推察している」（原文のまま）という彼の意見に、私も賛成だ。ただ私はこの記事を皮肉だと思ったのだが、どうやら内田氏は本気で内向きがいいことだと信じているらしい。彼はこう書く：
Ikeda quotes from Uchida, who writes:
「外向き」になるにはアメリカにはアメリカの、フィンランドにはフィンランドのそれぞれの「お国の事情」というものがある。その切ない事情についてはご配慮して差し上げるべきであろう。だが、わが日本にはせっかく世界でも希なる「内向きでも飯が食えるだけの国内市場」があるのである。そこでちまちまと「小商い」をしていても飯が食えるなら、それでいいじゃないか。
Ikeda then responds:
フィンランドが外向きだというのは正しいが、アメリカは主要国でもっとも内向きの国である。彼らのパスポート保有率は14％で、内向きの日本人（26％）の半分しかない。それより問題は、「内向きでも飯が食える」のかということだ。内田氏の勤務している女子大の学生の授業料を払っているのは彼らの親だが、その所得は日本経済が衰退すれば減ってゆく。
そして「内向きでも飯が食えるだけの国内市場」は、どんどん中国や韓国などに侵食されている。たとえばPCの世界市場では、HP、デルに中国のレノボと台湾のエイサーが続き、国内トップの東芝でもわずか4.3％だ。おかげで東芝もソニーも、人員整理を始めている。「ちまちまと小商い」をしても、規模の経済で太刀打ちできないのだ。
トヨタを筆頭とする輸出産業が総崩れになった日本経済は、結果的には「内向きシフト」をとるだろう。そのためにマイナス成長が続いたら、まっ先にあおりを食うのが私立大学で、すでに半数が定員割れだ。内田氏の勤務する大学がどうかは知らないが、一般論としていえば女子大の経営状況は最悪なので、彼が飯を食えなくなるリスクは、彼が思っているほど小さくない。

author: Chris Salzberg


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Madagascar: Devastating tropical storm makes way for a political one · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

A few days after passing Madagascar, the official toll from the damages caused by Cyclone Fanele have finally come in.  President Ravalomanana president flew to one of the affected areas to assess the extent of the devastation.
Cyclone citizen media initiative
While the BGNRC  (department of risk and disaster management) is still without an official website, reports pertaining to the damages are being aggregated on an open-source Google map by two bloggers, Marie Sophie Digne and Tomavana (fr).
Here is a summary of the damages, according to IRIN, via ReliefWeb:
New figures from Madagascar's National Office for Natural Disasters Preparedness (BNGRC) indicate that cyclone Fanele claimed eight lives and affected some 40,400 people [..] The BNGRC said a further 63,000 people were at risk in Menabe if heavy rain continued to fall. Relief teams are still assessing the damage caused by the two storms, and figures are expected to rise as more information on the full extent of the damage is gathered.
Political turmoil
The Malagasy blogosphere was also buzzing with political news and commentary about a new massive political gathering today (Jan 24th) and a call for a national strike to demand the resignation of the entire administration.
Many bloggers have provided live blogging and images of the event (additional images on facebook).
Blogger Ariniaina provides a brief factsheet on the background of the turmoil:
Andry Rajoelina (or Andry TGV) had a TV Station named VIVA and still have a radio station with the same name. The minister of the communication has decided to close the TV station VIVA due to a documentary movie that this station had broadcasted. It was a message from the former President of Madagascar, Didier Ratsiraka [..] Since then, the Mayor ( of Antanarivo, Andry Rajoelina) gave an ultimatum to the government to re-open VIVA TV station before January 13 [..] As Andry didn’t get what he wanted, he invited the people of Tana to go on a strike AGAIN today, January 24.
( demonstration photo via ariniana )
Blogger Jentilisa provides in-depth analysis of the discourse on both sides of the political spectrum and  cautions against the spreading of unverified rumors (mg):
Toy izany ihany koa nisy hazo nianjera tao amin'ny kianjan'ny demaokrasia, noho ny fahanterany mazava loatra (tatitra heno tamin'ny radio tana, kidaona maraina) nefa misy manadrohadro hoe “lazao fa sabotazy ihany koa e!”; eo indrindra isika, fambara zavatra amin'ny hafa hatrany ny zavatra toy izany na dia tokony ho tsy misy dikany aza. Eo amin'ny toe-tsaina minomino foana mbola ananan'ny maro dia mbola fampitandremana aloha izay,
Blogger Avylavitra reminds us that the government is also trying to terminate VIVA radio and that the reason it advances for it does not hold up. There is a law against private radio broadcasting all over the country. Yet, one  pro-government radio MBS has been broadcasting nationally for 5 years without any threat of censorship (mg):
Tsy hoe fanenjehana ny MBS akory no ilazako izany fa filazana kosa hoe ‘Natao ho an’iza ny lalàna?’
( Malagasy activist yes we can shirt by avylavitra)
History repeating itself
Mialisoa Randriamampianina, a journalist and blogger, is dissapointed to see a replay of the events in 2002, with the same errors, same bellicose rhetoric and a democracy that is still far from mature (fr):
À défaut d’une véritable culture politique, ce grand public se rabat sur la bonne vieille offuscation des éternelles victimes, le ton toujours plus haut, la prudence toujours bradée [..] Ainsi faisait-on en 2002, ainsi fait-on en 2009 [..]:  la rue est devenue le chemin forcé, la menace, le recours incontournable. Et au bout, une implosion qui n’est pas forcément utile. Il y a sûrement une juste manière de se faire comprendre, en dehors des intimidations un peu trop faciles et de la condescendance maladroite. En attendant un peu de sang-froid, on en est tous là, en train de naviguer à vue d’œil ou à l’aveuglette. Et on appelle cela « une quête de la démocratie »…
Randy also a blogger/journalist, agrees that Madagascar may still may not be ready for a true democratic process (fr):
Et c’est bien ce qui inquiète une partie de l’opinion. Car, dans tous les pays du continent qui se sont livrés à ce jeu, c’est toujours par des manifestations d’une spontanéité suspecte que commence la mise en scène.
The irony of the current president threatened by a public tour-de-force reminiscent of his own ascendancy to power is not lost on blogger Rajiosy (fr):
L’ironie de l’Histoire veut que celui-là même qui a outrepassé l’Etat naguère a eu pour tâche de restaurer l’autorité de cet Etat et de stabiliser ses institutions. Il se retrouve aujourd’hui mis en demeure de conforter cette pérennité. Tâche difficile on l’a vu face à une partie de population versatile.
Maturing twittosphere
An intriguing development during this political process was the emergence of an active Malagasy twittosphere who posted political development in a real time manner. One can follow a timeline of related tweets by searching for #madagascar:

author: Lova Rakotomalala


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Nepal: The plights of the Kamlaris · Global Voices
Rezwan

Untold Stories writes about the plights of the kamlaris, who are found in the rural villages of southwestern Nepal, and the efforts to rescue them. “Kamlaris are house slaves, as young as five, who toil away their childhoods cooking, cleaning and babysitting in the homes of higher caste families.”


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Taiwan: Books, Writers & Videos · Global Voices
Leonard Chien

Every Sunday on the local newspapers China Times (中國時報) in Taiwan, many readers are expecting the two pages reviews on books. In the year end, book columnists will announces their picks on “Books of the Year” (開卷好書獎), the best Chinese books published in Taiwan in that year. Since 2006, the newspaper also makes “Book Video” for awarded writers, representing their works in word, music and image.
This year 11 writers are invited to participate in the clips, including novelists, activists, and essayists. There writers share their views and perspectives towards their works, and what they want to reflect upon through words. Although the videos are all in Chinese, hopefully they can still convey and reproduce the atmosphere in their works. In the end of each clip, the voice over promises they are “Good books, and good to read”.
The following are some selected clips with my translation of the writers’ narration.
Plastic Opium
In Plastic Opium, the author Xia Chuan-Wei (夏傳位) reveals how credit cards and debit cards influence public perceptions, what unreasonable revolving interest rates are imposed to users, and what discriminations debtors face after falling into the credit card trap. In the clip, you can see the shopping districts in Taipei. He says in the clip:
[…]我想這個社會應該深一層地問，我們可以容許銀行業者賺錢到什麼樣的程度，都不用為他們所造成的社會後果負責；我們社會也應進一步思考，應該要建立一個什麼樣的標準，容許卡奴在負起他們自己的責任以後，重返這個社會，重新生活；我們更應該思考，怎麼樣督促政府，負起他應該負起的管制責任，這個社會要建立起一個什麼樣金融正義的標準，讓每一個人都擁有權利，能夠接觸到這個社會的金融資源，來發展他們自己的事業與生活。
Us
The author Gu Yu-Ling (顧玉玲) is a long-term activist for migrant worker rights. Us is a book recording stories of several Filipino migrant workers. Taiwan has introduced lots of migrant workers from Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, since 1990. In her own words in the clip:
[…]這本書如果對社會會有一點作用的話，我希望它像照鏡子一樣，讓我們看見彼此。我們使用抗爭，我們使用了歌舞表演，然後那個記者會或公聽會，我們用各種軟的硬的方式，其實不就是試著要跟這個社會對話嗎？[…]我一路書寫，我一直非常非常意識到讀者在哪裡，我希望人們看見，我希望人們知道這真的發生在台灣，就在我的左鄰右舍，我只是視而不見而已。[…]
The End of River
As the first generation of Malaysian-Chinese writer in Taiwan, Li Yong-Ping (李永平) writes the novel with Borneo, Malaysia in mind, but lives in Taipei, Taiwan. He mentions:
我是一個小說家，小說家應該有個本事，能夠把兩個不同的空間結合在一起，你打開書房的窗子，你看到的是台灣的河流「淡水河」，你寫的是婆洲大河，可是在一個作家心靈裡頭，這兩條大河、這兩種風景，它就很奇妙地會產生一種互動，那個互動越來越強，結果這兩者就融合在一起，到了後來我幾乎分不清，我到底是寫婆羅洲大河，還是寫台灣的大河，我覺得這是寫作過程裡頭最美妙的一種經驗，這很難傳達出去，但是我相信敏感讀者在我的作品裡頭，應該可以看出這非常非常有趣的面貌。[…]
To view all 11 clips, please visit YouTube page. To read notes from video production team, please visit OpenBook Blog [zh].

author: Leonard Chien


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Taiwan: Photos of industrial town  · Global Voices
David Reid

Daliao Township in Kaohsiung County has been the site of several poisonous gas leaks in the past two months. The EPA came under fire for its poor handling of the case and a protest by locals turned violent. Shan Ding Lu has a photo essay of the town showing the impact of human activities on the town's environment.

author: David Reid


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The EU: Srebrenica Commemoration · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Cafe Turco writes about the EU's plans to commemorate the 1995 Srebrenica massacre this year.


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Turkey: School Textbook Changes · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Armenia: Higher Education & Sciences comments on changes to 8th grade school textbooks in Turkey which will deal with the massacre and deportation of much of the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire in a more neutral way. The blog says that while the changes might seem negligible at first glance, they are a step in the right direction.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Azerbaijan: Airport Woes · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines arrives back in Baku and despairs at the condition of Azerbaijan's main international airport. The blog says the arrivals area is understaffed and that the procedure for visas and passport control is even worse for foreigners.


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Bahamas: A Disgrace · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Bahamian bloggers are incensed at the news that one of the island's senators was allegedly involved in the Travolta extortion plot.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Bangladesh: Cadet Colleges Need To Be Upgraded · Global Voices
Rezwan

Kotha-Chhilo (something to say) comments that the cadet colleges in Bangladesh need to be upgraded.

author: Rezwan


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Bolivia: Final Unofficial Results of Constitutional Referendum · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Miguel Centellas of Pronto* has unofficial final results of the Bolivian Constitutional Referendum.


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Bosnia & Herzegovina: Support for Florence Hartmann · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Amila Bosnae writes about the case of Florence Hartmann, journalist and former spokeswoman for Carla del Ponte, who published a book about the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) called “Peace and Punishment” (”Paix et chatiment: Les guerres secretes de la politique et de la justice internationales”, Flammarion, 2007), was indicted of contempt of the tribunal, and “risks seven years of imprisonment or a fine of 100.000 Euros.”


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Bulgaria: School Access for Disabled Kids · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Maya's Corner translates excerpts from Mogilino, a Bulgarian-language blog, on how the “Bulgarian authorities deprive disabled children of education.”


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Cambodia: Demolition of Dey Krahorm Community · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Last Saturday, Jinja received the following text messages:
Jan 24, 2:45 AM: Both Roads have been closed. So far approximately 70 MP and one hundred breakers. MP on roof of building and close in group 78. Around twenty monitors and media on inside. Two and a half hours to sun rise. Pls send out update and put on face book eviction group.
LICADHO: From colleagues who just arrived in DK site: there are about 250 mixed armed police incl riot police, two water trucks, more than 250 workers in blue & white shirts with sticks, hammers, axes and many transport trucks.
————————–————
Bridges Across Borders: Dey Krahom is being forcibly evicted right now. Please come if you can and pass this info on to everyone you know.
Dey Krahorm community in Phnom Penh was demolished last Saturday. An estimated 800 to 1,400 residents lived in Dey Krahorm in 2005. The city estimated that only 90 families have remained in the community.
Aside from the violence which accompanied the action, the demolition attracted media attention because it was “one of the biggest urban redevelopment stories in the capital over the last decade.” But city officials denied the action was an eviction:
Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Mann Chhoeun said the action was not an eviction. “The activities of tearing down the homes at Dey Krahorm is not an eviction but just an effort to clear the area for development.”
Jivy was able to witness the demolition last weekend:
“Loud pounding noises woke me up this morning. Startled where the noise is coming from I looked out of my window and saw hundreds of men wearing green shirt, hammering the small houses in front of the building where my whole family live. It’s my first time to encounter scenes like this and it sent goosebumps all over me. There were lots of police men guarding the site and hundreds of spectators from their homes watched how their fellow Cambodians ruined other people’s houses in a small span of time
“One by one the houses are torn down, I have seen smoke from afar but dunno if it’s teargas or fire extinguisher. I have seen residents standing with their houses shouting angrily to the demolition team, some residents were even hurt because they don’t want to move out and forced to fight with the uniformed men.
“I don’t know the whole story behind this horrifying scene, I don’t know if the land is under the government or under a private individual. All i know is that there are people out in the street this morning asking for some more time to discuss this matter before proceeding with the demolition. But people with no hearts didn’t listen.”
KI-Media was able to interview residents from the Dey Krahorm community:
The woman then screamed at intervention police officers, “You are Cambodian, but want to kill Cambodians. You destroyed my house. You're like gangsters.”
A Dey Krahorm resident sits on the remains of her home as she waits for a truck to transport her to a new location. “I have no money,” she said. “What can I do? I don't know where I will sleep. I can't do anything because they destroyed everything.”
Tripping in Cambodia is angry “at the complete lack of regard for human rights and the necessities of human life”:
Last week I walked around a community called Dey Krahorm. Today that community no longer exists. Last week I called out greetings to the kids playing outside their homes. Today those children have no home. Last week I invaded their land with a smile of friendship and a word of support. Today, their space was invaded by hundreds of soldiers and riot police, with tear gas and bulldozers. And today, they have no land.
This morning I watched in horror as hundreds of police surrounded Dey Krahorm. Later I heard the story of horror from inside the community. Bulldozers tearing down houses as the residents, the legal owners, scrambled to retrieve their belongings. 150 families, many of whom have lived in this area for 25 years, are suddenly and brutally rendered homeless.
I am angry at the complete lack of regard for human rights and the necessities of human life, a lack of regard for due legal process because these people are poor and powerless and the company wanting to acquire the land is rich and powerful.
Samphors, commenting on the blog A Photo Diary, has a different view:
“I believe they were well informed and properly compensated. But it’s more likely that they refused to take it and asking for more than what they deserve. On top of that, they are not the owner of the land. The rightful owner shall take back their land for the sake of a country development. I’m talking with my past experience to the similar case only. Pardon me if this is different.”
The Facebook group: Cambodia Evictions Update has 176 members. More pictures of the demolition can be accessed through Flickr and Jivy’s multiply page. Check the video below which features the Dey Krahorm community:

author: Mong Palatino


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China: Debate over RMB exchange rate · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

China matter sums up the debate over RMB valuation between the U.S and China government.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Internet In 2008 · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translated a local media (Southern weekend) review on major incidents happened in China Internet 2008.


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Croatia: Grobnik · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Living Life in the eX-Yugoslavian Zone writes about Grobnik, Croatia's “birthplace of warriors.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Cuba: Being Responsible  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez explains why she doesn't feel like a victim, but rather, responsible.


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Czech Republic: A Fairy Tale; Travel; Language · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Czechmatediary writes about travel to Telc, Moravia, which is also called the “Moravian Venice”; posts a Czech fairy tale about the 12 months; and asks a linguistics expert about the best way of getting kids to speak Czech (or any other foreign language for that matter).


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Czech Republic: News and Culture Roundup · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A few updates from CzechFolks.com: Josef Lada‘s drawings; Karel Capek‘s life and writings; Vaclav Havel‘s health problems; the launch of a new Czech TV station; the 20th anniversary of Czech and Slovak ATMs; the gas dispute and the former Eastern Bloc countries’ dependency on Russia.


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Czech Republic: Recession · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A Fistful of Euros writes on the state of the Czech economy – here and here.


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Estonia: A Different Path · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Giustino of Itching for Eestimaa writes that “most international English-language news coverage of the recent riots in Latvia and Lithuania has shocked me by the lack of basic knowledge about Estonia”: “There is a general meme descending in the pages of usually reliable media that the economic crisis is going to undermine political stability in basically any formerly communist country you can name drop in an article.”


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Estonia: Blogger’s Response to Edward Lucas · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

AnTyx responds to the Economist's Edward Lucas: “So why does he, or anyone, seriously think that the economic crisis will be a test of Estonia's national spirit? We may become disillusioned with Europe – although on any significant scale, that's highly unlikely – but why would we become disillusioned with our country, a free and democratic state?”


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EU, Russia, Ukraine: “Everyone A Loser” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Michael Berendt of Blogactiv.eu writes that “[a]ll those directly affected [by the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute] were the biggest losers of all,” but that “[o]n the other hand the long-term case for a proactive EU energy policy has received a major boost.”


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EU: The Launch of Bloggingportal.eu · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Kosmopolito announces the launch of Bloggingportal.eu: “The new place to read EU blogs and keep yourself updated on the EU blogosphere.”


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Fiji: Bloggers debate ‘harsh’ newspaper penalty  · Global Voices
John Liebhardt

Bloggers throughout the Pacific have been reacting to a recent Fiji High Court verdict against a local newspaper for printing a letter to the editor in October critical of a ruling validating the December 2006 military coup that brought the current government to power.
The court ordered the Fiji Times to pay a nearly $55,000 fine and sentenced Netani Rika, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, to three months in jail, suspending the sentence for two years. Publisher Rex Gardner’s jail term has been discharged on the provision he enters into a bond without surety and remains on good behavior for 12 months. The newspaper, Fiji’s oldest, is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, and says it may appeal the ruling.
The case stems from an October letter to the editor the Fiji Times and Fiji Daily Post printed from a certain Vili Navukitu of Queensland, Australia complaining about a high court ruling legitimizing the actions of Fiji’s president when he dissolved Parliament, and the elected government of Laisenia Qarase, immediately following the December 2006 coup that brought into power Commodore Frank Bainamairama. The coup was undertaken, Bainamairama claims, to clean up what he saw as a corrupt and racially divisive government and reform the constitution, especially the electoral code that allocates seats in Parliament by race.
The letter pointed out that Bainamairama had undue influence on the jurors because he had recently removed the court’s chief justice. In an editorial after the letter was published, the Fiji Times admitted being in contempt of court because the letter attacked the institution of the judiciary and the newspaper offered to pay damages.
Fiji’s Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum applauded Thursday’s ruling, claiming it proves  “normal journalistic standards, the media standards cannot be taken lightly” and reiterated the Fiji Times did not verify the identity of the letter writer.
Jacqueline Park, Asia-Pacific Director of the International Federation of Journalists, said she was “alarmed that the publication of a letter to the editor has resulted in such a heavy penalty against the newspaper and its editor.”
The case against the Fiji Daily Post will be heard in April.
After a Global Voices Online post on issues surrounding the court case I wrote in November, New Zealand journalist David Robie, writing in his media-related blog Cafe Pacific, took me to task for failing to declare the letter to the editor was “arguably in contempt” because according to the law, “contempt doesn't only apply to current court proceedings and the potential for impacting on a case, but also involves “scandalising” a court.”
Robie also pointed out, “news media in Fiji clearly need to lift their game over the professional editing of letters.”
In countries like New Zealand, news media routinely check the bone fides of letter writers and edit letters over matters such as good taste and potential defamation (and potential contempt). There are also frequent allegations of bias over editorial selection of letters. In fact, letters is the largest category for complaints over fairness and balance against newspapers.
Here is Robie's take on the most recent verdict:
The bad news is that the penalties are extraordinarily harsh for what many might regard as fairly mild criticism of the judiciary in Fiji (published on 22 October 2008 pending a judgment on the legality of the Bainimarama coup). But Justice Thomas Hickie regarded the comments as “scandalous”. These are indeed Orwellian times in the Pacific nation. The good news is that the punishment wasn't as bad as the military-backed regime had wanted – ie. a $1 million fine and actual imprisonment terms for the paper's editor-in-chief and acting publisher.
Later in the post, Robie quotes Professor Crosbie Walsh, who spent eight years in Fiji, mostly teaching development studies at the University of the South Pacific, on how media in New Zealand and Australia (and Fiji) need to provide more balanced coverage regarding the island nation.
NZ media coverage of the Fiji situation has been so unbalanced that most New Zealanders see no difference between the Fiji and Zimbabwe situations. A friend told me yesterday: “That Bainimarama. he's just another Mugabe.” Fiji media is more balanced but even then the ratio of negative to positive views is about 3:1. Today's court news from Fiji is sure to further demonstrate the need for a blog to offer some sort of balance.
(Walsh's new blog on how the media frame Fiji is called Fiji: The Way it Was, Is and Can Be.)
The bloggers at IG-Fiji supported the ruling because it won’t allow journalists to hide behind the shield of media freedom.
The conviction of the Netani Rika and Rex Gardner shows that the media needs to exercise control when publishing aricles. The acts of the Fiji Times clearly showed that there was a determination to defame the govt. using the open column (letters to the idiotic editor) as the medium. While touting media freedom, the Fiji Times blatantly published articles of extremely seditious manner and also failed to exercise due diligence. Rika, as editor had the full opportunity to prevent the letter from being published yet failed in his duty as a journalist to uphold the principles of his profession. Today's ruling has shown the world that journalists need to be held accountable for their statements, particularly those that provoke racial hatred or cause distress…
While the FT published an apology, it took two weeks to eventuate by which time the damage caused by the letter had done its work. In order to prevent the court case from even ocurring, the FT can be assumed to have published the apology without any genuine intent. The FT lawyer, Richard Naidu will perhaps finally understand that media freedom is not meant to be taken as face value. Just like each of us are governed by policies and rules at work (not the RFN and SV bloggers as they have no scruples about anything), the media need to realize that such policies apply even more to them because of the information they handle and disseminate publicly. In future, perhaps journalists will learn to publish the truth instead of the slanted version which is entwined with their own conclusions generally founded on rumors and lies.
In the forum Fiji Board Exiles, Alohabula1 contends this is a case of media partisanship:
Sadly the media has been very biased in the past and it will be nice to get a more balanced view of what is really going on here and not articles that should be editorials.
Fiji Girl wonders how justice can be served when the government self-appointed the judges to rule against the newspaper.
“Media Free” screamed The Fiji Times headline…
Oh!  Is it?  Is it really?  Well, if THAT is very important, how about the proverbial elephant in the room that you continue to ignore?  How about the fact that you, and your boss and his appointed judges, and the entire regime for which you work, all occupy your positions unlawfully?  Surely that “matter” deserves a far more prominent place in the public interest.
Intelligentsiya points out that the ruling proves the three arms of Fiji’s government are “on the same page leaving taxpayers without a voice.”
…the Executive was taken by force, the Legislature is long dead and gone, and the Judiciary is not perceived as impartial or independent.
How does this bode for independent media?
With the IIG now targetting yet again all outward communications, they have forgotten the simple fact that when the taxpaying public chooses to spend their disposable income and put their purchasing power towards trustworthy, objective views they are demonstrating the democratic right to choose who they want to hear from.
This simple act of democratic choice on a daily-weekly or monthly basis no judiciary or junta can ever overturn, overrule or deny.

author: John Liebhardt


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Georgia: Uneasy Reading · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

This is Tbilisi Calling comments on a new report released by Human Rights Watch detailing war crimes committed during the August war between Georgia and Russia. The blog says that the report is uneasy reading, but essential nonetheless. Meanwhile, while both sides violated international humanitarian law, The Tbilisi Blues says the report clears Georgia of Russian allegations that it attempted to commit genocide. The report also dismisses a number of Russian media reports and South Ossetian claims as false.


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Guatemala: Experiences in Birdwatching · Global Voices
Renata Avila

Birdwatching is gaining popularity in Guatemala and is attracting many visitors from around the world.  These birdwatchers are usually very excited to find a variety of birds located in beautiful sceneries.  The number of species of birds located in the Guatemalan avifauna is more than 700.  Many of these enthusiasts have started to write about their experiences through the use of blogs.
The blog Birdwatching Guatemala explains why Guatemala is so attractive to nature lovers :
Biological diversity has enabled Guatemala to stand among the 25 countries with the most variety of natural resources in the world. Millions of species living in its varied ecosystems, more than 700 species of birds, mammals like the jaguar, tapir and a variety of reptiles and insects.
Jeff Bouton of the Leica Birding Blog was pleased with his discoveries and with his time spent in Guatemala during a birdwatching expedition in the department of Petén“
We spent a glorious morning birding the Cerro Cahuí reserve in Peten, Guatemala. It was a wonderful place and we enjoyed views of tropical specialties like Red-throated Ant-Tanagers, Gray-headed Tanagers, Royal Flycatchers, Sepia-capped Flycatchers, and Golden-crowned Warblers, occurring side-by-side with more familiar neotropical migrants like Magnolia, Worm-eating, & Kentucky Warblers, and Yellow-bellied & Great Crested Flycatchers. At one point we ran into an amazing feeding flock and we were picking out new birds left and right.
Rob Fergus, also known as “The Birdchaser” tells the story of Santiago, a small village located near Lake Atitlán, where he was able to see and learn about area birds:
The Tz'utujil Mayan town of Santiago Atitlan on the shores of Lake Atitlan is known in Tz'utujil as the “House of Birds.” We asked a lot of folks why it has that name, and were told that birds used to be abundant there, nesting in the rooftops of thatched houses. Most of the people we were able to talk to there are not as closely tied to the forest or fields as their predecessors, so we weren't able to get as many bird names or stories as we did in the Mopan or Q'eqchi’ areas, but we still collected some interesting accounts of using hummingbirds as cures for epilepsy and as love potions!
Another birdwatcher, Bill Thompson, III writes in his blog called Bill of the Birds about how he spent his birthday in Guatemala and about the present he received from Mother Nature, when he was able to see one of the most rarest birds:
One of the highlights from early 2008 was my birthday bat falcon in Flores, Guatemala. The bat falcon is a fairly common raptor in the tropics. In fact it was something of a sore point for me that I had not seen one after more than half a dozen trips to its range in Central America. I'd gotten amazing looks at a larger (and much rarer) relative, the orange-breasted falcon on two different trips to Tikal, but the bat falcon had eluded me.
Birdwatching is not only a hobby, but also a crucial activity to preserve the species, as explained by Dear Kitty :
Invited by the Foundation for Anthropological Research and Environmental Studies (FARES), a Guatemalan archaeological research organization, the Cornell ornithologists recorded 184 bird species. The reserve holds one of the largest intact tropical forests in Central America as well as key Mayan archaeological sites at El Mirador and Tintal , where the Cornell researchers focused their surveys. The bird count may help with long-term biodiversity conservation plans at the reserve.
In addition, forest fires and narcoactivity are destroying the habitat where such lovely birds live. Many people, including some bloggers like Arturo Godoy are trying to raise awareness about the fragile habitat. He is spreading the word about a campaign from the National Park El Mirador – Río Azul, which is trying to spread wordabout its cause through its Facebook profile.
we're killing the forests of Petén. This year major forest fires are expected during the dry season. We need volunteers, real warriors in this fight for conservation and for life. We need their help in cleaning 44 kilometers of breach and also to spread this information to organizations which may help with equipment and provisions. Please get in touch with Ing. Francisco Asturias: fasturias61@hotmail.com or to the phone numbers 5480-4875 and 5837-0637. You are also welcome to become friends of Mirador un Parque Fantásticoon Facebook
Campaigns like these are helping to ensure that there are habitats for the birds that many birdwatching visitors from abroad to enjoy for generations to come.

author: Renata Avila


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Hungary: New Flickr Group With CC-Licensed Photos · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Antal Dániel of Central Europe Activ writes that he has started a Flickr group that “has only Creative Commons licensed photographs taken in Hungary.” One of the photos there was taken by Flickr user vi4kin at the Great Market Hall in Budapest, and is accompanied by a description (ENG, RUS) of “8 brands of Hungarian paprika varying in colour and pungency.”


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Hungary: Views on Obama · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belatedly, a post on the Hungarian reactions to Barack Obama's inauguration – at Hungarian Spectrum.


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India: A New Blog School · Global Voices
Rezwan

Gautam Ghosh reports that the India blog school has organized a training program for Bloggers in Agra recently.


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India: Reactions to Slumdog Millionaire · Global Voices
Kamla Bhatt

If you have not heard about Slumdog Millionaire then you must have missed all the buzz and the word of mouth publicity the film has got over the past few weeks. This surprise “underdog” film that almost did not make it to the movie theaters has won 4 Golden Globe awards and 10 Oscar nominations. Made on a shoestring budget of $15 million by British director Danny Boyle the film is based on Q and A, a novel written by Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup. The film consists of new and unproven film stars except for a couple of well-known Indian stars like Anil Kapoor and Irfan Khan. The film (without giving away spoilers) is about Jamal, a poor, young man from the slums of Mumbai, who through a stroke of luck appears in the wildly popular TV game show “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.” What happens? Does he win or not?
Danny Boyle. Image by Flickr user stits  and used under a creative commons license
The film was shot by a mix of British and Indian crew in Mumbai, India and released late last year in the US and Europe. Last week the film was released in India. While the film got fantastic write-ups and reviews in the US, the film has got mixed reviews in India. Unsurprisingly, the film's music track by AR Rahman has got a consistent thumbs-up in India. The reviews and feedback of Slumdog Millionarie cover a fascinating array of opinions. Perhaps, the one blog post that created a lot of buzz are the remarks of Indian superstar Amitabh Bachchan. A prolific blogger, Mr. Bachchan had this to say about the movie in one of his earlier posts:
“On blog, comments for the film ‘SlumDog Millionaire’ and the anger by some on its contents, prompt me to say the above. If SM projects India as Third World dirty under belly developing nation and causes pain and disgust among nationalists and patriots, let it be known that a murky under belly exists and thrives even in the most developed nations. Its just that the SM idea authored by an Indian and conceived and cinematically put together by a Westerner, gets creative Globe recognition. The other would perhaps not.”
Predictably, Mr. Bachchan's comments were subjected to intense scrutiny by the media and bloggers.  Just Jo writes in his post You Have No Idea Sir jee that while he has not seen Slumdog Millionaire that the slums featured in the movie are a reality in Mumbai, India. He writes:
“And if you haven't noticed, Sirjee, Hollywood has time and again featured the bad and sad elements of their society in their movies. Going by your argument, after watching Hollywood movies the world should be thinking that America is a country that consists only of criminals, racists, rapists, pregnant teenagers, drug-peddlers, pedophiles etc etc. But is that the case? They used this wonderful medium of Cinema to fight against those evils, Sirjee. And you become angry when the same is done here. Oh, in the process, you were also angry at the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray too!”
Since that first post on Slumdog Millionaire Mr. Bachchan has written another post clarifying his statement and speaking to director Danny Boyle and Anil Kapoor, the actor.
Nandan Nilekani, co-founder and head of Infosys, India's largest IT services company  has an very interesting post where he talks about how films in India are the “zeitgeist” of the generation. Nilekani draws a comparison between Indian movies of the 1970s and Slumdog Millionaire and notes the difference in the world views of the these two generations. He writes:
“The movie is at its heart, about aspiration, and about dreams coming true. This ‘common man’ Jamal, is not angry, like the Indian men of the 1970s. He is both hopeful and relentless, defiant and proud of his origins even as the people around him call him a ‘slumdog’. He knows better – that it doesn't matter where you come from, only where you are headed.”
But, what do the young Indians think about the film? Do they think it is a hopeful film about aspirations and dreams coming true? It appears that not every young Indian subscribes to the hopeful note in the film. PH of Desicritics writes that he did not find Slumdog Millionaire “engaging” and points out:
“Unlike his counterparts from the American South, Jamal never quite becomes the everyman's voice of his period in Indian history; we never hear him telling us other people's interesting stories from his vantage point as an ‘outsider’ …All this makes Slumdog a half-hearted, comme ci, comme ca endeavor that wants to both be a fairy-tale and capture urban poverty but falters on both counts.
PH concludes that:
“Slumdog, then, is at best an attempt to cook a saccharine dish in a bitter sauce.”
Meera Sinha, a young Indian American who is spending a year in India saw the film. She draws our attention to the reaction from from Mumbai slum dwellers, who have protested against the term “slumdog” to describe them.  More importantly, Meera draws our attention to the debate the movie has generated and writes:
“This kind of healthy critique of popular culture will help us understand our relationship to the media and its representations of us.”
Whether people like the movie or not, the fact is that Slumdog Millionaire has started a conversation in India about poverty, entrepreneurship and Indian films. Hopefully that conversation will yield results.
Thumbnail images by Flickr users Richliu & dq, used under creative commons license.

author: Kamla Bhatt


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Indonesia: Chinese New Year Celebration · Global Voices
Martin Manurung

For more than three decades, the Chinese Indonesians have been forbidden to express their culture. The authoritarian “New Order” regime under former President Suharto declared that it is illegal to use the Chinese language and characters. Subsequently, the “Imlek” (Chinese New Year) celebration was never seen and held. During that time, violation against the regime's rules would bring about severe repercussions: end up in jail or ‘involuntarily disappeared’.
Thanks to President Wahid in 2000 who annulled the discrimination against the Chinese and all the minority in general, the Chinese Indonesians now can express their culture openly. President Wahid and then followed by his successor President Megawati Soekarnoputri, then declared that the Chinese New Year as a national holiday. Now, not only the Chinese Indonesians, all Indonesians can also enjoy the holiday.
The latest census of Indonesian ethnicities in 2000 showed that the population of the Chinese Indonesians was 1.2 million. Some experts said that the number is even larger (up to 3 million), since inter-ethnic marriages are becoming more common between the Chinese and other ethnics in Indonesia. Thus, the proportion of the Chinese Indonesians to the country's total population is currently around 1-2 percent, and it subsequently makes them to be among the 10 biggest ethnics in Indonesia (there are more than 300 ethnicities and more than 700 languages and dialects in the country).
Having a large number of Chinese Indonesians, the country should be a destination to enjoy the lunar New Year celebration. A lot of events and Chinese decorations can now be found on the streets, malls, department stores and other amusement centers. The atmosphere can be felt stronger in the China towns, which exist in almost all major cities in Indonesia, such as in Medan (North Sumatra province), Jakarta and Semarang (Central Java province).
Nevertheless, there are still some some fundamental religious groups that say that it is forbidden for muslims to wish “Happy Imlek”, let alone to participate in the celebration. They also said the same message during Christmas. To these groups, Mohd Yusri Hafiz Yusof, a Malaysian student in Akademi Pengajian Islam Universiti Malaya (Islamic Studies Academy, University of Malaya), in Kuala Lumpur, has the answer:
…Di Negara China, terdapat lebih 100 juta umat Islam dan mereka merayakan Tahun Baru Cina… Allah s.w.t tidak melarang umat Islam berbaik, berbuat baik, bergaul secara baik dan berlaku adil serta jujur dengan golongan lain, baik Yahudi atau Nasrani…
Thus, Happy Chinese New Year for all of us, especially the Chinese Indonesians!

author: Martin Manurung


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Iran: A leading cultural site was filtered · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Haftan, a leading Iranian site covering cultural and art news was filtered by Iranian authorities. Government did not explain any reason for this filtering.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Jamaica, U.S.A.: Inauguration Thoughts  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaican Annie Paul features Washington D.C.-based activist Shani Jamila's musings on the inauguration of Barack Obama.


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Kazakhstan: Disability Rights Group Urges Legalization of Prostitution · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Ekspeditsiya reports that a disability rights group in Karaganda has called on the government to legalize prostitution and issue sex ration cards giving a minimum of five sessions a month to the disabled.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Kazakhstan: Students Expelled from Universities · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

KZBlog reports on the claims that 7 000 – 20 000 students were expelled for being unable to pay tuition or fees at Kazakhstan universities and colleges.


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Kenya: Kenyan Banks in Trouble · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Kenyan banks are in trouble over loan defaults given to individuals under 30 years of age.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Kenya: The Bandits of Kenya · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Do you know the “bandits” of Kenya?: They’re the highest paid legislators in the world, despite Kenya being one of the poorest countries in the world and having a human development index ranking of 148 out of 177.


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Kyrgyzstan: Black Friday for the Officials  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Elena writes about mass resignations and reshiffling of the Kyrgyzstan officials.


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Live Tweeting Madagascar: Antananarivo on fire, rumors of president fleeing · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

Update (19:09 GMT): Although there are still rumors that President Ravalomanana has left the country, others report the rumors are false.   Daniel Austin twitters, “All indications from reliable sources suggest that the rumour Ravalomanana has fled Madagascar is false.”  Thierry Ratsizehena twitters the government will declare martial law.  The media have stopped broadcasting and the facts remain unclear.  GV will continue updating as more information becomes available.
In the 24h span starting late night January 25th, after massive protests, a series of  dramatic developments have taken place in Antananarivo, the capital city of Madagascar.
Update (15:23 GMT): Unconfirmed by mainstream media sources, but confirmed by the author's family, it appears President Ravalomanana and his family may have left the country.
Initial reports confirm that several television and radio stations have stopped broadcasting. Several buildings, among them a 5 star hotel and a few shopping centers, were set ablaze or hit with stones. Two  casualties were reported (yet to be comfirmed by independent sources) and the latest posts indicate that entire blocks are on fire.
The twittosphere in Madagascar provides regular updates of ongoing troubles via text messages and mobile web. The fact that the internet is not yet perceived as an effective  tool of mass media communication in Madagascar may have led to its continuous availability so far. Here is a translation of a sumarized  timeline of the events from the initial unrest as told by microbloggers:
January 25th,
- The first post by thierry at 15h GMT announced that the VIVA radio will be seized later in the evening.
- at 16h GMT R1lita reports demonstration dowtown  and wonders whether some of the manifestants were paid to come.
- at 18h GMT tandriamirado posts that VIVA radio is asking the population to block the armed forces from seizing their building.
at 20h GMT Barijaona reports vandalism and stones thrown on building in 67ha quarter.
-  at 22 GMT several posts indicate that alleged foreign mercenaries have entered VIVA radio and it has stopped broadcasting.
January 26th,
- 05h GMT: reports of national radio (RNM) and television (TVM) not broadcasting.
- 07h GMT: vandalism perpetraded against Magro shopping center . Armed forces intervenes.
- 10 GMT: Personal homes of politicians are set on fire.
- 4 hours ago: 2 dead civilians reported and the pro-government radio has stopped emitting and is on fire.
- 3 hours ago: rehita posts that military forces leave the building (RNM)  they were suppose to protect
- 22 minutes ago: papajoe786 reports that shopping center in the south (Antsirabe and Fianaratsoa) were set on fire.
-  8 min jago: the  whole neighborhood of Ambohimitsimbona where satellites are located is on fire.
- 5 min ago: fidy posts that presidential airplane is ready to leave with the presidential family
Editor's note: As of this post's timestamp, unconfirmed by mainstream media sources, but confirmed by the author's family, it appears President Ravalomanana and his family may have left the country.
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Madagascar: Looting scenes on video as uncertainty prevails · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

A youtube video of a looting scene at a major shopping center in Antanarivo was posted by c17dabossbaby. Many bloggers are wondering why the police forces are seemingly absent during this time of unrest (video) and speculate that the president may be temporarily located in Mahajanga  (not overseas as initially reported) as the capital city is still deemed unsafe (fr). Anonymous sources confirm that this would be the current security procedure.


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Madagascar: More reports President Ravalomanana has fled · Global Voices
Mialy Andriamananjara

Update (19:09 GMT): Although there are still rumors that President Ravalomanana has left the country, others report the rumors are false.   Daniel Austin twitters, “All indications from reliable sources suggest that the rumour Ravalomanana has fled Madagascar is false.”  Thierry Ratsizehena twitters the government will declare martial law.  The media have stopped broadcasting and the facts remain unclear.  GV will continue updating as more information becomes available.
Since all television and radio stations have ceased broadcasting, the blogosphere is trying as well as it can to keep up with the fast degenerating situation with twitters and posts.
One prominent Malagasy website, Sobika.com, posts a timeline of events, among which are noted :
- 18h35 : Force One 2 a décollé à 17H50
– 17H59 : le PM a annulé sa déclaration. Des sources confirment la démission de plusieurs membres.
– 17H50 : rumeur de démission du gouvernement. A prendre au conditionnel faute de confirmation par les médias
– 16H30 Le PM devrait faire une déclaration dans les prochaines minutes. Marc Ravalomanana “introuvable”
The last twitters and blog posts say that Ravalomanana and family have fled Madagascar by plane.
Madagascar writes :
“Les rumeurs donnent Marc Ravalomanana “introuvable”. Son Premier Ministre serait à Toamasina, et ces mêmes rumeurs font état du blocage au sol de l'avion présidentiel par des officiels rebelles. Marc Ravalomanana chercherait à rejoindre Toamasina par hélicoptère.
D'autres rumeurs indiquent la présence de mercenaires congolais, à Antsiranana et/ou à Antananarivo pour protéger le Président.
Visiblement, l'armée refuse d'intervenir. A noter que les seuls coups de feu on été donnés pour protéger la station télévisée du Président (MBS). A noter que la foule n'a pas reculé, et que les militaires ont fui face à la foule.”
“Rumors say Marc Ravalomanana is not to be found. His Prime Minister is said to be in Toamasina, and the same rumors claim the presidential plane is blocked on the ground by rebel soldiers. According to these rumors, Marc Ravalomanana is looking to fly to Toamasina by helicopter.
Other rumors point to the presence of Congolese mercenaries in Antsiranana and or Antananarivo to protect the President.
Obviously, the Malagasy army does not want to intervene. One notes that the only time that shots were fired was to protect the radio station of the President (MBS) (note of the author: the MBS radio station was set on fire and looted). The people did not step back and the soldiers fled faced to them.”
Bloggers lament the deaths, destruction and the looting. They also bemoan the uncertainties that await with the anarchy that reigns.
Leboda says :
“Very ilay maha-malagasy : mandady rariny, miara-midinika, mandala ny fihavanana, mitandro ny aina, …..”
As2Coeur is saddened by the violence:
“C’est comme un mauvais film qui ne cesse de tourner et de retourner sur le projecteur malgache. La population en furie se met à tout détruire sur son passage, des jeunes en colère à cause de la misère qui se révoltent. Le but du jeu : améliorer la vie des malgaches disent-ils.
Dites ce que vous voulez car moi je ne suis pas convaincu que ce qui s’est passé aujourd’hui améliorera la vie de la population malgache.
J’adhère à la lutte pour la démocratie, c’est une cause bien noble mais je suis contre la violence quelque soit ses formes. Deux personnes furent tuées et une grièvement bléssés lors de l’assaut de la MBS, ce sont des militants qui étaient en première ligne…
Quand tous cela va-t-il finir ?”
“This is like a bad movie which keeps rerunning on the malagasy projector. The furious population detroys everything on its way, enraged youth revolt because of their poverty. The goal : a better life for Malagasies they say. Say what you want but I am not convinced that what happened today will enhance the quality of life of Malagasies.
I am for democracy, a noble cause, but I am against violence in all its forms. Two people died today and one was seriously injured during the MBS attack, those were militants that stood in first line… When will all this end?”
Tomavana cautions against the spread of rumors in times like these:
“Ireo vaovao hafa toy ny poa-basy, ireo olon-tsotra namoy ny ainy, ny tranon’ny Praiministra may sy mpanao politika hafa na koa ny fiomankomanan’ny fiaramanidin’ny filoham-pirenena hanainga … dia samy tokony iandrasana fanamarinana daholo aloha satria mivoatra malaky dia malaky ny raharaha … ary be ny tsaho amin’ny fotoana toy itony.”

author: Mialy Andriamananjara


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Middle East, Balkans: Comparing the Conflicts · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Marko Attila Hoare and Jasmin Ademovic discuss at Greater Surbiton whether “Israel today [is] like Serbia in the 1990s.”


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Mongolia: Tsagaan Sar · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Bilguun writes about the national Mongolian holiday called Tsagaan sar (New Year), which is celebrated on different days every year, and this year's Tsagaan sar – as usually – provoked the same old debate amongst the astrologers and the lamas as to when it should be celebrated.


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Myanmar: Kachin Conflict · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Writing for The Pulitzer Center, Tim Patterson and Ryan Libre explain the backround of the Kachin Conflict in Myanmar. The struggle in Kachin is separate from the campaign of the political opposition of the ethnic Burmese majority.


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Nigeria: Catch That Goat · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

A goat has been arrested as a suspect for theft in Nigeria. It is believed that the thief shape-shifted from human-being to goat to avoid capture!


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Nigeria: Nollywood Babylon at Sundance Festival · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

“Nollywood Babylon” is a feature documentary about the explosive popularity of Nigeria’s movie industry popularly known as ‘Nolywood.”


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Oceania: Epeli Hau’ofa Has Passed Away · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Noted Fijian (Born in Papua to Tongan parents)  antropologist Epeli Hau'ofa died on January 11 in Suva, Fiji. The Savage Minds blog links to an essay by Epeli Hau'ofa tha argued against the commonly held assumption that the pacific islands were isolated communities held apart by massive oceans.

author: Preetam Rai


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Pakistan: Where Is The Love For Culture? · Global Voices
Rezwan

Hasan Mubarak at Lahore Metblogs opines that Pakistanis are losing their cultural identity: “Isn’t our love for arts, culture, literature and our own aesthetic identity fading away?”


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Russia: LJ and “the Western Powers” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

IZO writes that “the importance of the Russian LiveJournal blogosphere is leading the Western Powers to suck up to the leading bloggers and infiltrate the discussion sites.”


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Sri Lanka: Journalists Are Fleeing · Global Voices
Rezwan

In Mutiny reports that some of Sri Lanka’s top columnists and media personalities are fleeing from the country fearing for their lives.


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Tanzania: Life is Cheap · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Faustine describes how respect for human life is fast deteriorating in Tanzania following the killing of a woman by robbers and an albino.


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Thailand: Media investigates Rohingya refugees  · Global Voices
David Reid

Bangkok Pundit summarises some of the foreign media's investigations of the cases of the Rohingya refugees. Thailand Crisis says the incident represents the failure of the Abhisit government.


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Trinidad & Tobago, U.K., Israel, Palestine: Objectivity?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

In response to the BBC's decision not to broadcast an appeal for funds for Gaza, Notes from Port of Spain says: “Someone, somewhere, has been leaning heavily on this famously objective broadcaster, and it has caved in.”


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Trinidad & Tobago: Water Taxis  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“For about 100 people at a time, the service makes incredible impact on their quality of life.  And if that's not enough of a reason to offer the service, then I don't know what is”: Keith in Trinidad thinks the new water taxis are “a welcome reprieve”.


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Ukraine, Russia, EU: Gas Politics · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Antal Dániel of Central Europe Activ believes that Ukraine is “one of the most corrupted countries, a quasi-bankrupt and quasi-failed state” and quotes Gazprom's deputy chairman to emphasize that “the EU must find out what it want to do with Ukraine.” Hugo Lane of Lands Far Away… argues in the comments section that “the final gas agreement has taken us a step closer by finally bringing transparency to the gas business in Ukraine.” On his blog, Lane writes that “[t]he biggest loser here though is Gazprom and Putin. Only the willfully blind (i.e. Gerhard Schroeder) can now hide from the notion that Gazprom is being used as a vehicle for Russian foreign policy and is not a normal company.”


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Ukraine: Rusyn Separatism · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Lands Far Away… writes about “the threat of Rusyn separatism in Ukraine.”


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United States: Nedjo Ikonic’s Deportation Case · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Kirk Johnson of Americans for Bosnia writes that “the ever-vigilant Daniel at Srebrenica Genocide Blog has passed along a disturbing story about a US District Judge who evidently doesn't think that Federal law–at least not the Genocide Accountability Act–is something he should be bothering with”: “In short–faced with Serb illegal immigrant Nedjo Ikonic, Judge Adelman seems to feel that he shouldn't allow the orderly deportation hearing to get cluttered up with too much nattering about human rights abuses, war crimes, and the largest single act of genocide in Europe since World War II.” Srebrenica Genocide Blog post is here.


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Slovakia: Sky Europe Problems · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Czech Daily Word writes about problems facing the Slovak low-cost Sky Europe airline.


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Africa: Obama’s War of Deception · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

“Obama's War of Deception in Africa” is an analysis by Sekou Nkrumah, the Chairman of the Pan-African Improvement, of Obama's military strategy in Africa.


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Africa: The Mobiles vs PCs Debate · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

White African discussess the Mobiles vs PCs debate in Africa. He notes that, “PC access plus education tend to equal more mobile applications.”


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Armenia: Voting Rights · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

As the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) gathers to consider the possibility of withdrawing Armenia's voting rights in connection with the arrest of opposition supporters and unfulfilled resolutions against the country following last year's presidential election, The Armenian Observer comments on news reports that sanctions will most likely not be applied.