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Iranian Website “Balatarin” Back Online after Hacker Attack · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Balatarin, which means “the highest” in Persian, is a very popular Iranian community website that was hacked  [en] on February 3, 2009. Registered users of the site post news and links, and the community votes to make content appear higher on the list. The website has been filtered on the internet in Iran since 2007.
A campaign was launched by several Persian language bloggers to support the return of the website. Balatarin was reborn at the end of last week with a temporary website, and a message saying that the hackers had transferred the domains and assigned them to new DNS servers making the website was inaccessible.
For more information on Balatarin, you can read a previous interview on Global Voices with its founder, Mehdi Yahyanejad.
Legofish, an Iranian blogger and designer says [fa]:
به یکی از بهترین و به درد بخور ترین وبسایت های ایرانی تبدیل شده بود. امیدوارم که صاحبان سایت نا امید نشوند و بالاترین دوباره راه بیافته. مسلما اونها از حمایت همه کاربران بالاترین برخوردار هستند
Z8unak writes [fa]:
خبرهای مهم مملکت و جهان هم همیشه جزء لینکای بالا و داغش هست و می‌تونی با یه نگاه در صفحه‌ی اول بفهمی ایران و جهان چه خبراست… شور و هیجانی که این سایت در خواننده‌هاش ایجاد می‌کنه من در هیچ سایت دیگری ندیده‌ام .
1pezechk, a very popular Iran-based blogger, calls [fa] Balatarin a “people's news agency” and encourages Balatarin‘s users to support the site.
Updateblog considers [fa] Balatarin the best Iranian social media website. The blogger hopes the situation will return to normal as soon as possible.
Behrang says [fa]:
همان اوایل که بالاترین راه افتاده بود، نوشتم که به گمان من، بالاترین فقط یک سایت وب ۲.۰ فارسی نیست؛ که نماد دموکراسی ایرانی است.


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Israel: “Strange” and “Complicated” Elections  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Two former Prime Ministers, Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak, and Foreign Affairs Minister and Acting Prime Minister Tzipi Livni ran a tight race to win the votes of Israelis.
The result is a “nail-biting poll” and an election cliff hanger, which sees Livni as a forerunner and Netanyahu a very close second. And while the election results will not be announced for days, Israeli bloggers share their thoughts on this “strange,” and “complicated” elections in this post.
At the Dutchblog Israel, Dutch Jewish historian Bert de Bruin makes a few general comments on the elections in a post entitled The morning after. Among them are:
# The winners: Livni, Lieberman, Hamas, the settlers ( all for different reasons ).
# The losers: Nethanyahu, Barak, Israelis and Palestinians ( idem ).
#I am glad that I am not the one who has to build a coalition among the members of this, 18th, Knesset.
One Jerusalem describes the elections as “strange,” and adds:
The “Right Block” (of political parties) and the “Center Block” have achieved a problematic tie, while the “Left Block” has been brutally crushed by its (lack of) voters.
In another post, a One Jerusalem blogger, who actually met with Netanyahu, writes:
Over four million Israelis braved substantial wind and rain as they cast their ballots in Israel's national election.
[…]
While the final vote totals will not be known for days there is nearly universal acceptance of the fact that the next Prime Minister of Israel will be Benjamin Netanyahu. Last night, we had the pleasure of congratulating Netanyahu on his electoral victory. He spent little time socializing and it is clear that his objective is to set up a majority coalition as soon as possible. As he told the Likud faithful earlier last night Israel faces very serious challenges with the looming threat of Iran on top of the list. He reiterated this message with us. We must stop Iran from attaining nuclear weapons.
ExpatEgghead adds his two cents saying:
To cap it all it's unclear how the next government will be formed. It's going to be difficult over the next few weeks.
And Imshin, at Not a Fish, describes the process as “complicated.” The blogger further urges her fellow Israelis to be patient:
What happens then is that the president conducts consultations with the various factions and then gives the job of forming the coalition to the head of the party that has the best chance of creating a coalition, not necessarily to the party that got more votes. None of this will happen before next week at the earliest.
What we do now is wait patiently and try not to get annoyed with the nonsense the TV commentators are spouting. Remember, they have to make a living and in their case this means yammering on, even when they have nothing meaningful to say. If you must, I’d say take note only of things said by veteran political commentators like Hanan Kristal and Yaron Dekel etc.
Meanwhile Yaeli, who blogs at Aliyah! Step-by-Step: Making a Life in Israel, remarks:
Nobody ever could say our electoral process is simple. Not only do we have the whole coalition nightmare but we also have a distribution of “excess votes.”
Yaeli, who explains the electoral system in Israel, shares this piece of information with us, saying:
Something else I’d like to mention regarding Israeli elections and the importance of votes cast. Every citizen’s ability to vote is considered of prime importance and every effort is made to insure that every citizen can vote. In places like the U.S. and other places, a citizen can lose (permanently!) the right to vote if, for instance, they commit a felony. So criminals can’t vote in the U.S. Here, criminals vote no matter what their crime. Voting units set up shop in the prisons so that all citizens incarcerated there can cast their vote. Mobile voting units also go to hospitals and nursing homes and visit each individual bedside of those who cannot get up to give them the opportunity to cast their vote if they so desire.
David Bogner, at Treppenwitz, calls upon Kadima chairman Tzipi Livni to ‘honour her word’ when she said “Honour [the people's decision.” He writes:
“Honor [the people's] decision!”
These were the words spoken by Kadima Chairman Tzipi Livni late last night… and for once I agree with her!
Of course, one has to keep in mind that her party received only one more mandate than the rival Likud in the Knesset elections… far from a decisive victory.
And it also bears a mention that this declaration of victory comes well before all the votes from soldiers and government officials serving abroad have been counted (and a full week before the final tally has been certified).  But yes, strictly speaking, Kadima seems to have edged Likud in the number of seats each respectively won.
He further adds:
So yes, while I am in full agreement with Ms. Livni's statement (for once), I don't think she has yet grasped the fact that the people have decided that they overwhelmingly prefer the policies, platforms and parties of the political right to those of the left.
I hope she will take her own advice and honor their decision.
Aussie Dave, writing at Israellycool, live blogs election day  here while Muse, at Shiloh Musings, has photographs to share from the day.
Further information on elections in Israel is available from Wikipedia here.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Jamaica: Dancehall Ban  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Following the broadcast ban on Rampin Shop and other sexually explicit songs, Raw Politics…Jamaica Style! thinks that dancehall must rehabilitate its public image, while Long Bench believes that while the ban should have been enforced a long time ago, now it's being done “for the wrong reasons, and under the wrong conditions.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Japan and Korea: Love Hotel · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

James Turnbull from the Grand Narrative discusses about the love hotel culture in Japan and Korea.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Japan: Tokyo gov’t invites Google to discuss Street View · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

Blogger Hiromitsu Takagi posts a transcript [ja] of a recent open meeting [ja] organized by the Tokyo metropolitan government about Google's Street View service, introduced in major Japanese cities last summer. Google was invited to the meeting and reportedly told that, in future cases, the company should give advance notification [ja] before photographing neighbourhoods. Renewed demands to outright stop the service altogether have been mounted in recent months by citizen groups, lawyers, professors and journalists.

author: Chris Salzberg


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Korea: Golden Blog Award · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Readers can see the best blog story, best blog, funniest blog, happiest blog, angriest blog, culture blog, food blog, etc. from Korea English blogosphere at the Hub of Sparkle.


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Martinique: Bitterness after “The Last Masters” · Global Voices
Fabienne Flessel

Ever since the February 5th broadcast of The Last Masters of Martinique, a documentary about the Békés, the French West Indies have experienced the equivalent of a sociological tsunami.
Local intellectuals like Raphaël Confiant in Montray Kréyol, politicians and journalists have written open letters to express the shock, sadness and humiliation felt by many non-Béké Martinicans after watching the documentary. One of them, Gilles Dégras in Bondamanjak concludes his statement by insisting on the need for apologies [Fr]:
Aujourd'hui, monsieur Despointes, vous avez l'occasion de désamorcer cette bombe que vous décrivez comme étant plus forte que ‘Hiroshima’. Eh oui cette bombe est mentale, c'est du napalm structurel. […] je vous demande simplement au nom de la caste béké, de présenter au peuple martiniquais et plus particulièrement aux descendants d'esclaves, vos plus plates excuses
Interestingly enough, even other members from the Béké community have broken away from Despointes's words, as explained here by bondamanjak.
However, the population of Martinique asks for more than apologies and strikes back on three main issues:
1. Law
Alain Huyghes Despointes, who spoke the controversial words, is proudly introduced here by the Martinican Association for the Promotion of Industry:
Monsieur Alain HUYGHUES DESPOINTES, pionnier de l'industrie à la Martinique a été promu au rang de Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur le par décret du Président de la République le 13 juillet 2005.
Né en 1926 à Fort de France, ce père de 5 enfants, autodidacte, est aujourd'hui à la tête d'un groupe de 8 entreprises aux Antilles Guyane employant près de 550 personnes.
Born in 1926, in Fort-de-France, this self-taught father of 5, is today the CEO of a group of 8 companies in the French Caribbean which employs 550 people.
This honor from the French Republic is a bone of contention for most Martinicans, who consider the decoration totally incompatible with Despointes’ views about ethnicity and slavery. As a matter of fact, in 2001, France recognized slavery as a crime against humanity in a law named after a French Guianese deputy: Taubira Law.
Last week, a Martinican lawyer, supported by the public attorney, decided to sue Mr. Despointes for what is being interpreted as his racist and pro-slavery words – and encouraged the population to do the same. Montray Kréyol  and bondamanjak suggest procedures to bring the man into court.
2. Economics
Others have chosen another means of protest, which has become quite popular lately in the French West Indies: economic boycott.
Wmaker, maracudja in lepost and M-J T-P in lepetitlexiquecolonial all call for a general boycott of Mr Despointes’ various industries.
3. Physical presence
Since the abolition of slavery in 1848, the Békés have lived a segregated life in a secluded Martinique lagoon called Cap-Est – also known as “Békéland”. Bondamanjak features a video entitled Welcome to Cap-Est – a parody of the now famous documentary The Last Masters of Martinique set to the tune of Welcome to Jamrock by Damian Marley. The song suggests that Martinicans are fustrated when they see the luxurious mansions, cars and boats in Cap-Est, as they represent the many symbols of Békés’ wealth.  The Béké community, meanwhile, appears to be very much aware of and perhaps even concerned about this turn of events – this last post [Fr] by bondamanjak reveals that they have asked for police surveillance in their neighborhood.

author: Fabienne Flessel


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Pakistan: Acknowledgment At Last · Global Voices
Rezwan

CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan reports that Pakistan has formally “acknowledged that ‘some part of the conspiracy’ behind the November attacks in Mumbai took place in Pakistan”.

author: Rezwan


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Poland: Social Networking and Migration · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

the POLSKI blog writes about the popularity of Nasza Klasa, a social networking site: “And like Facebook it’s put people who haven’t seen one another for years in touch again, revealing the extent of Polish migration over the past 40 years.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Russia: More on Racial Violence · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Moscow Through Brown Eyes posts more notes on racial violence in Russia.


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Sri Lanka: Flesh Forks · Global Voices
Rezwan

Indi.ca from Sri Lanka explains the alchemy, the reasons behind using flesh forks, the five fingers of a hand to eat a meal in the Indian subcontinent.


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Sudan: Video Declarations on Darfur Genocide by the Perpetrators · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

A video recently released by Aegis Trust shows the testimony of four men who state they actively participated in the violence and massacres on Darfur, and who are not afraid to call it genocide. The video was uploaded on The Hub and it is hoped that people will pass it on to others in order to spread this information:
The men – whose identities are obscured – are former members of the Sudanese military and the Janjaweed militia: one was a senior officer in the Sudan Army Finance, one a high-ranking Janjaweed commander, another a Janjaweed footsoldier, and the last a Sudanese soldier.
On the video, you can hear their testimonies of how the Sudanese government recruited the Janjaweed militias, gave them weapons and supplies and whenever they attacked villages, the government would cover it up and state that the attack had been done by the military against rebels, and not by militias attacking civilians.
The video is available with German subtitles, Arabic subtitles and French subtitles.
According to Aegis Trust's press release on Human Rights First, this video could assist in the International Criminal Court's decision to issue an arrest warrant against Sudan's president, General Omar al-Bashir:
Since 2003, at least 300,000 civilians have died in Darfur and millions have been displaced from their homes, many of them at the hands of militia nicknamed the ‘Janjaweed’ (‘devils on horseback’). Time after time, survivors stated – and international observers confirmed – that as they murdered, raped, looted and burned village after village, the Janjaweed was backed by the Sudanese army and air force. Yet the Sudanese Government has consistently denied responsibility for atrocities in Darfur and to this day, says it has nothing to do with the Janjaweed.
However, the defectors in this film – some of them speaking publicly for the first time –  tell a very different story.
The video can also be seen here:
Darfur Destroyed: Sudan's perpetrators break silence from Aegis Trust on Vimeo.
Thumbnail image used from photo by Nicolas Rost/UNHCR, uploaded by hdptcar

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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The Balkans: “Balkan Males” Blog · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belgraded has discovered a blog “that's completely dedicated to good looking Balkan guys.”


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Trinidad & Tobago: Transitioning  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“We have created a rich and wonderful culture that is unique to Trinidad and Tobago…but sometimes I wonder if we are just waiting for the bottom to drop out”: Trin ruminates on education, crime and government policy in the wider context of international politics.


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Afghanistan: Leaked Document Points at Corruption · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Azar Balkhi writes about the leaked governmental document, which indicates exorbitant salaries for consultants and officials in Afghanistan.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Afghanistan: Newfound Popularity in the US · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Patrick Frost notes how much the US media is now concentrating on the war in Afghanistan as the war in Iraq is dropping further and further onto the back pages.


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Azerbaijan: Plouffe donates speaker’s fee · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Following the recent controversy surrounding a visit by Obama campaign manager David Plouffe to Azerbaijan, Blogger Interrupted says that his $50,000 speaking fee has been donated to the National Democratic Institute.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Bangladesh: Books By Bloggers · Global Voices
Rezwan

The history of Bangla blogging is relatively short. It was December 2005 when the first Bangla blogging platform was born. But soon more platforms came up and open source development in Bangla input systems eased Bangla computing across the globe and brought more people in blogging.
The most encouraging aspect of Bangla blogging is the number of books the Bangla bloggers have published. Farid writes:
বাংলা ব্লগিং প্ল্যাটফর্ম চালু হবার পরে গত তিন চার বছরে অনেক অলেখকও যেমন লেখালেখিতে হাত পাকিয়েছেন তেমনি অনেক নবীন লেখকরাও ব্লগে লিখে তাদের লেখনীকে ধারিয়ে নিয়েছেন। আর তাই গত প্রায় তিন বছর ধরে প্রতি বছরেই ব্লগ পরিমন্ডল ও ব্লগারদের লেখা বইয়ের সংখ্যা উত্তোরত্তর বাড়ছে। এইবছর তো মোটামুটি ব্লগাররা মিছিল করেই বই ছাপিয়েছেন বিভিন্ন প্রকাশনী থেকে।
This year about 50 books have been published by bloggers targeting the Ekushey Book Fair. Here is a list of those books compiled by blogger Meghbaji. Here is a Facebook group called “Bloggers Book“. Most of these books are fictions, non-fictions and poems by individual writers/bloggers and a few are collection of blog articles.
Organized by some bloggers of Somewherein Blog the third sequel of collection of articles published in blogs called Opor Bastob -3 has been published. This year's theme is ‘short story’. Brigade Sixteen writes about the book:
মুক্ত গণমাধ্যমের মুক্ত মতামত কেমন হতে পারে, সে ধারণা আমাদের অনেকেরই আছে। কিন্তু মুক্ত গণমাধ্যমের সাহিত্য – গল্প, কবিতা, উপন্যাস – তাও কি সম্ভব? সে প্রশ্নের উত্তর খুঁজতেই ব্লগের নির্বাচিত লেখা নিয়ে ২০০৭ ও ২০০৮ সালে প্রকাশিত হয়েছিল সংকলন ‘অপরবাস্তব’।
ব্লগারদের কাছ থেকে মনোনয়ন আহ্বান করা হয়েছিল গত বছরের নভেম্বরে। একমাসেরও বেশি সময় ধরে মনোনয়ন গ্রহণের পর নির্বাচিত গল্পগুলো ব্লগারদের সমন্বয়ে গঠিত একটি নির্বাচক প্যানেলের কাছে পাঠানো হয়। তাঁরা একমাস ধরে যাচাই-বাছাই শেষে মোট ২২টি গল্প চূড়ান্ত করেন, যা স্থান পেয়েছে সংকলনে।
বইটির মূল্য রাখা হয়েছে ১০০ টাকা। “বিক্রিলব্ধ সমুদয় অর্থ ব্লগের নানা উদ্যোগ, ক্যাম্পেইন, মানবিক কর্মকান্ড ইত্যাদিতে ব্যয় করা হবে।
In November 2008, we have sought articles by the bloggers. After more than a month of nominating the articles by readers and bloggers they were sent to a selection panel. The panel had selected 22 stories after a month long scrutiny and these were published in the collection of stories.
The price of the book is 100 Taka ($1.45). All proceeds will go to different blog related activities like campaigns, social causes etc.
Shahriar Hasan writes in the comments section:
অনেকেই মনে করেন ব্লগিং মানেই সময় নষ্ট। বইটা তাদের কিনে পড়া উচিৎ।
Kowshik writes in the comments section:
২০০৮ এ ব্লগারদের বই বোধহয় বের হয়েছিল ৭/৮। ২০০৯ এ তো মনে হইতেছে পুরা বইমেলা দখল কইরা নিছে ব্লগাররা। ৫০ টার মত বই! গ্রেট!
Last year bloggers of Sachalayatan, an online writers forum published a collection of blog posts titled ‘Purnomuthi’. This year another collection of posts will be published by some Sachalayatan bloggers.
Sachalayatan has published a catalog [bn] of books published by Sachalayatan bloggers along with detailed description of the writers. The writers forum has also published four literary e-books till-to-date.
Now let  us see how the bloggers are reacting to this phenomenon. Mahbub Shahriar writes:
এবারের বইমেলা আমার জন্য অন্যরকম৷ অন্যরকম এই কারণে যে এবারই প্রথম আমি মেলায় লেখক হিসেবে এলাম৷ এর আগে কতবার মেলায় এসেছি পাঠক হিসেবে৷
Lina Dilruba shares her feelings of buying new books and bloggers books:
আজকে বইমেলায় গিয়েছি। ..বইকেনার মূহুর্তগুলো খুব উপভোগ করি।
…
এই আনন্দ, এই সুখানুভূতির প্রকাশ ঘটানোর জন্য তাই ব্লগে বসলাম।
…
ব্লগার বন্ধুদের বই কিনিনি আজ। অফিস থেকে যখন বেরিয়েছিলাম তখন বইয়ের লিস্টটা নিয়ে বের হইনি। পরেরবার প্রথম তালিকাটা ব্লগারদের জন্য বরাদ্ধ থাকবে।
….
Mamun M. Aziz who blogs with the pseudonym Pathik writes:
প্রকাশক ফোন করে জানালেন আজ বইমেলায় চলে এসেছে আমার গল্পের বই –তথাপি।
ইস ! নিজে এখনো দেখলাম না।
কাল ইনশাল্লাহ যাব মেলায়।
Ahmedur Rashid, a publisher and a blogger is writing a series on the book fair and the bloggers each day. You can buy Bangla books online and learn more infos about Boi Mela from here. Anno Anon posts some pictures of the book fair.
Many bloggers are using blogs to advertise for free about their books and posting reviews to attract new readers. (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10)
The publication of books and the book fair have also united the bloggers across platforms. Mahmudur Rahman writes:
আজ বইমেলায় ব্লগারদের বিশাল মহামিলন ঘটবে। সচলায়তন,সা.ইন,আমার ব্লগ এবং প্রথমআলো ব্লগের ব্লগাররা মিলিত হবেন ১৯২নং স্টলের সামনে। আজ অনেক ব্লগারের বই বের হবে। ঢাকার বাহিরের অনেক ব্লগারই আসবেন আজ।


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Bangladesh: International Telecom Policy  · Global Voices
Rezwan

Rohan Samarajiva at LIRNEasia comments on the failing international telecom policy of Bangladesh, “illegal termination could not be controlled without bringing down international termination rates.”


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Chile: Bachelet’s Visit to Cuba · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Chilean president Michelle Bachelet has planned a trip to Cuba to improve relations after 37 years. La Pollera [es] writes about some of the criticism that has headed her way because of that decision.

author: Eduardo Avila


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China: CCTV under fire · Global Voices
Yantao BI

On the night of February 9, part of China Central Television (CCTV) Tower caught fire when a squad was shooting fireworks to celebrate the Lantern Festival. The fire has reportedly killed one fireman, injured seven other people, and destroyed billions of yuan in broadcast facilities.
Speculators have widely noticed the Chinese netizens’ online comments of the CCTV fire. But in fact, just as the authorities started to filter the relevant information in Chinese cyberspace, alternative communication means have been employed to air the grassroots views.
On February 10, I received a SMS message from one of my close friends, consisting of a traditional Chinese couplet available online at the moment:
上联：除夕夜捧红小沈阳
下联：元宵节火烧大裤衩
横批：央视不差钱
The message ends with such a conclusion:
做人不能太CCTV啦！否则，躲得过初一，也躲不过十五！
On February 12, I received an email from Mr. Yue (岳先生), aggregating a myriad of grassroots comments and snapshots on the fire. One of its captions reads:
央视真有钱啊，人家元宵节放焰火，丫元宵节烧大楼。
Another netizen is quoted as commenting on CCTV’s misdoing:
主流媒体一直在教育我们诚实做人、遵纪守法，可你们却违规。我们的心情很凝重。
Out of my expectation, one commentator feels optimistic about the consequence of the fire:
一拆一建GDP又上去了，拉动了内需，又解决了大量农民工的临时饭碗问题。当事人立功受奖！
One person is dissatisfied with CCTV’s professional performance:
CCTV 报道美国911大火是第一时间且连续滚动报道，而对自家的大火却只在十几小时后哼了一下。这是什么精神？这是无私忘我的精神！
To draw a lesson from the fire, someone recommends politically:
“喉舌”上火，请用“民主牌”润喉片！
But I am afraid the Chinese people’s irony will be misintertpreted as gloat, merciless or inhuman. As a matter of fact, the aforementioned satire illustrated the grassroots concerns over the incident, their sympathy with the dead and injured, their anger with CCTV, and their love of the country.

author: Yantao BI


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East Timor: Opinion on Prime Minister · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Agio Pereira writes an opinion piece about the political career of East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão.

author: Mong Palatino


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Egypt: Bloggers Rally Against Sexual Predators · Global Voices
Marwa Rakha

Asser Yasser is an Egyptian female blogger who recently moved to Mokattam area with her family. Her maid complained of how she got harassed on the street on her way to or from Asser's home. Her 15 year old niece who lives with them complained of the violating words that she gets bombarded with on her way to and from school. And one day Asser made a horrible mistake and decided to walk to a kiosk 200 meters away from home to buy her children some candy. How dare she walk in the street? How dare she leave her car behind?
On her blog [AR], Asser narrated how she was violated:
It got more interesting when the father of the 19-year-old harasser snapped at Asser telling her to pick on someone her age. The father did not see or realize the gravity of what his son did. Now the father, the officers, and many others are begging Asser to drop the charges for the sake of the “poor children's” future.
Blogger Enas Lotfy wrote
Enas also highlighted other blogs and bloggers that support Asser:
Late Night Stories [AR], who told her that she is not the one who will ruin the boy's future as his parents did that long ago.
Egypt Watchman [AR], who told her that withdrawing the report is defeat and she should never accept defeat.
Osama Abdel Aal [AR], told her to do it for the sake of our mothers and sisters.
Mohamed Hamdy [AR], was the first to report the incident and his post was a cry for help addressed to all bloggers.
Desert Cat [AR], told her that she has justice on her side.
Justice for every one [AR], urged every woman, man and child in Egypt to fight sexual harassment by spreading awareness, changing dark beliefs, and by standing up for their right to a safe secure street.
The Presidential Palace [AR], said that we need to stop burying our heads in the sand until we hear another victim scream; we need to finish what we started.
Gharam [AR], wondered at the end of her post if one year in prison and a fine of L.E. 200 (less than 50 US$) is enough punishment for a man who terrorized a woman in the street.
Fantasia's World [AR], supported Asser and at the end of her post said that even if the harassment victim gave in to pressure and did not go to court, that should not drop the charges. The offender should pay either way.
Tartashet Afkar [AR], (random thoughts) also asked Asser to be strong and invited supporters to the Facebook Group created by Mohamed Hamdy
Bella [AR], wrote a very angry post accusing the Egyptian society of protecting harassers by giving them the chance to get away with their disgusting acts.
Ana Horra [AR], (I am Free) urged bloggers to join hands to make the streets a safe place for us
Zeinobia said that those neighbors who did not run to her rescue must remember that their girls and wives can be in the same situation and they will wish that anyone will come to their rescue.
Egyptian Fe-mail (me) told her not to give in to pressure for it is our right to walk in the street feeling some sort of security. The harasser and his friends did not think of their futures when they were getting high, when they violated her, or when she begged them to spare someone the age of their mother.
Al Nas Wa Al Alam [AR], (People and the World) used an Egyptian proverb to describe what will happen if Asser made peace with her harasser; her silence will invite more harassers and will result in more victims.
A New Female [AR], also reported the incident and invited people to another Facebook Group discussing the case and supporting the blogger.
Asser's courage inspired Shaimaa Gamaal to share her story:
It has been almost a year on the incident when I was sexually harassed in the safe streets of Cairo. I was out with my cousin when out of no where appeared an old guy, old because I think he is around 50, wearing a suit and looks decent and started showering our ears with dirty sexual comments.
She confronted him:
Every time I remember that moment I get a cold shiver. The guy’s pants were unzipped (imagine the view!) and he was talking dirty. It was scary and I was alone because I left my cousin behind and she was in shock. The crowded streets of Cairo all of a sudden seemed empty and the only sign of help was a speeding car that stopped a 100 meters from where we were. And I started yelling at him. He didn’t move at 1st but when I took a step towards him yelling he started running from me so I started running after him yelling and cursing till he disappeared.
I got over that incident and almost forgot it till yesterday when I found [Asser] blogging about a similar incident.
The veil-no-veil argument also kicks in:
There are even people talking about that she deserved it because she isn’t veiled. I am veiled. I don’t wear make up. I don’t wear high heals. I walk like a soldier. I wear a frown to the street and I still got harassed. I didn’t report it because I was never taught to report it … It is always my fault because I was born Egyptian, in a community with a serious identity problem. It is my fault because I am a woman and a genius spread the word the women are just sex toys!
As for Asser, Shaimaa says:
I pray for her to have the peace of mind amidst the pressures around her. I pray for her to get through this tough time. I pray for justice to prevail.
Jessyz wrote a Four Step Solution to Sexual Harassment:
I think I found the perfect solution to sexual offenders harassers in Egypt. This is a Four step solution to solve the problem. Instead of sending them to jail or making them pay a fine I think when someone is convicted they should:
1- Be tattooed on their forehead with a temporary tattoo that stays for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or 1 year depending on their crime. It should say “Sexual Offender” clearly, this should scare most people off.
2- They should also serve community service time such as cleaning the streets, wearing a printed overall that says “Sexual Offender” all over it in very public areas.
3- A second time offender’s ID should include that they are a sexual offender.
4- If the sexual offender commits a third count, then they should be neutered.
Seriously too, I think the offender’s parents should also be convicted of the inability to raise a civilized child. Fear of public humiliation might make offenders and possible offenders rethink their actions.
Wandering Scarab offered another solution and wondered if the Rape-aXe could really work.
We've all heard of chastity belts which originated in the medieval era. They were designed to be impenetrable, though I'm not so sure they were invented with rape victims in mind … A similar device was invented in 2000 by South African Jaap Haumann … A sexual offender would instantly lose a chunk of his member … A more simple yet effective device is the Rape-aXe which was designed by Sonette Ehlers, also South African. Rape-aXe is a two fold device [that] can only be removed surgically, whereby hospital staff alert the authorities. Essentially, it could be very useful in the identification and prosecution of rapists.
She concluded her post saying:
After all, desperate times call for desperate measures.

author: Marwa Rakha


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Guatemala: Open-Source Software Saturdays · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Open-Source Software Saturdays is an initiative in Guatemala to help with the preparations for the Software Installation Festival across Latin America planned for April 25 writes G10 [es].


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India: The Pink Underwear Resistance · Global Voices
Ruchika Muchhala

On any ordinary afternoon, in most cosmopolitan spaces, it is OK for men and women to go out for a drink and ‘chill out’. Most of us do not live life with the concept of  ‘morale policing’ breathing down our back. However, in India, as liberal and free a woman is, there’s never a guarantee that she will be safe.Recently, some 3 weeks ago on India’ Republic Day, January 26, in Mangalore, South of Mumbai, a bunch of Hindu fundamentalists of the Ram Sena party attacked a group of young college girls who were just chilling out having some drinks at a local pub. The girls were harassed and completely scared off, without any warning… luckily, no one was killed, but I’m sure the emotional trauma level was high.
As a reaction to this event, on February 5th, the Pink Chaddi campaign was kicked off by a few people who posted up a Facebook group online called “Consortium of Pub-going, Loose and Forward Women”. They decided on a sassy, bold move to send pink colored women’s panties to the Ram Sena party as a ‘Valentine's gift’. More than the actual physical action of couriering underwear to a political party office, it is the concept alone which is buzzing on the minds of everyone in India.
Check out this video of a pile of underwear’s and the ‘love letters’ to the Ram Sena party. This is just a sample of what the campaign is planning, so we will have to wait for Valentines day to find out what really happens in terms of action. They are planning to meet at Pubs on Valentine's day and have a toast (any liquid will do) on behalf of all Indian Women, and these meetings will be recorded and later a video will be made including all of this.
Videos and photographs of the Pink Chaddis are also being collected to be sent to the Ram Sena, as can be seen both on the Facebook group picture page.
On the Pink Chaddi Campaign official blog, it is said that:
We have heard that Mr. Muthalik has decided to send pink saris “with love” in response. We greatly appreciate this and hope he continues to choose similar, non-violent methods to get his point across, just as we have chosen to be non-violent and loving in response to the brutality of the attacks on lovers and women in Mangalore and other parts of Karnataka.
Nevertheless, women from all over India, especially in Bangalore, where the campaign began, are preparing to send their personalized ‘chaddis’, which are underpants, to the Ram Sena party leader, Mr. Muthalik, who has been the man in charge.
The irony is that in a ‘land of Kamasutra’, women all over India have to fight for their rights, for their security, for their freedom and sexuality.  One woman, Ree Diwan, posts in the Facebook group an image of pink underpants with “India, the Land of the KamaSutra” overlaid on it, and Patricia Chandrashekar, comments:
can't believe this is happening in the land of KamaSutra. Send these guys on a trip to Khajuraho. Let them see for themselves. The erotic statues are not even wearing chuddies!
We'll have to wait and see how the avalanche of Valentine's Day panties is received by the Ram Sena.
This initiative of female empowerment is not the only one taking place in India right now.  Following, on a less dramatic but also effective campaign, women who come from a completely different socio-economic background and region of India give testimony of women’s empowerment. Navsarjan NGO community media group, Apna Malak Maa, present this video proudly profiling a local Women's Village Council in a village in Gujarat, which has taken care of unprecedented development work and solved many of the issues of their village, some issues which had not been solved for more than 20 years, such as sewage draining into their pond and the problem with sand collecting in the river, which meant that water supply lines and wells ran dry.
Thumbnail image used is “The Heart that Sings” by caribbeanfreephoto

author: Ruchika Muchhala


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India: The Satyam Fraud · Global Voices
Rezwan

Sans Serif comments: “It is remarkable how easily an even larger media circus has allowed ‘India’s Biggest Corporate Fraud’ to slip into ‘India’s Biggest Coverup’ in one month flat.”


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Iran: A letter to the Baha’i community · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

ZaneIrani writes that a group of academics, writers, artists, journalists and Iranian activists throughout the world wrote a letter to the Baha’i community to say that they are ashamed of 150 years of oppression against Baha'is in Iran.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Japan: Google Japan and PayPerPost  · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

Motohiko Tokuriki at Tokuriki.com posts a long discussion [ja] of the recent PayPerPost incident at Google Japan. Tokuriki writes that while he does not agree with the PayPerPost approach, there is nonetheless a distinction to be made between the PayPerPost strategy in which funding is openly acknowledged, and the strategy in which it is not; this case came to light precisely because it was mentioned in posts that the bloggers in question were participating in a CyberBuzz campaign.


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Japan: Miyako Festivals · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Peacay from BibliOdyssey posts picture of Japan Miyako Festivals -the annual festivals and customs of Kyoto at the beginning of the Showa period.


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Kazakhstan: Legislative reforms ahead of OSCE chairmanship · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Arman reports on the most recent developments in the legislative background of the Kazakhstani political system.


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Kazakhstan: Nationalisation, devaluation and what next?  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Ben reports that the Kazakh government first took over majority shares in BTA and Alliance Bank via its holding company Samruk-Kazyna and then proceeded to devalue the tenge by around 20%.


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Kazakhstan: Opposition Insists on Government’s Resignation  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Adam Kesher informs the readers that the opposition in Kazakhstan calls recent economic measures of the authorities “inadequate” and repeatedly urges for resignation of the government.


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Korea: Seven Reasons Why You’re Dumped by Women · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

There was an interesting post introducing seven reasons why men are dumped by women on a date and giving tips on how you as a man should prevent this disaster. Don’t trust this 100 percent. It won’t always be right.
[…]처음 만나자 마자 이벤트 하는 남성
선물하는 남성
이벤트 좋지요. 이벤트 좋아하지 않는 여성은 아마 없을 것입니다. 그런데 이런 좋은 이벤트도 때와 장소를 가려서 해야 합니다. 이벤트라는 것은 남발해선 안될 비책입니다. 이벤트는 가장 결정적인 순간에 써야 그 효과가 톡톡히 드러나게 됩니다. 바로 감동이라는 선물을 말이죠. 그러나 처음 만나 상대방이 자신을 어떻게 생각하는지도 모르는데 단지 여성들이 이벤트를 좋아한다고 해서 이벤트를 발휘 한다는 것은 조금 낭비이며, 오버스럽습니다. 오히려 여성분에게 더 부담이 될 수 있구요 사실 약간 창피를 줄수도 있습니다. 처음 만났을 때 이벤트는 가급적 삼가하시는게 좋습니다. 선물도 마찬가지입니다.
It sounds good. There are no women who will hate some special events for themselves. However, you should do these kinds of events in appropriate time and places. You should not overuse them. You should have events on decisive and important moments. Then the women can be impressed. If you do the event on the first meeting even though you don’t know what the woman will think about you, you are wasting your time. It will make women uncomfortable. Those women might mock you. When you meet a woman first, don’t do this kind of activity. Don’t even prepare gifts.
좋은 경치, 좋은 음식 사주겠다고 이곳 저곳 방황하기
남성들은 나름데로 준비를 많이 한다고 했습니다. 경치 좋고, 분위기 좋은 곳도 알아 보았고 맛있는 음식을 하는 곳도 알아 보았습니다. 그런데 중요한건 이 남성도 거길 처음 가본다는 것이지요. 확실히 제 집 앞 드나들듯 해 본것이 아니라면 길 찾는 것이나 기타 다른 요소들로 인해 혼란스러울 수 있습니다. 이곳 저곳 돌아다니다 오히려 여성들의 심리가 더 피곤해질 수 있구요 나중엔 그냥 아무데나 갔으면 좋겠다고 생각해 버릴 수 있습니다. 누추하더라도 자신이 훤히 아는 곳, 맛과 좋은 분위기도 좋지만 여성으로 하여금 피곤함이 느끼지 않게 하는 배려가 필요합니다.
Men sometimes prepare too much. They check where good scenes or food are. But the thing is those men also try those places first. You don’t know the direction well either. You might be confused finding those places. If you move around here and there, a woman might be tired and later she might think that anywhere is fine for her. Even though you know humble places, you’d better take her to your familiar places and so she will not feel tired. That’s consideration.
이쁘다. 이쁘다 입에 침이 마르도록 칭찬하기
이쁘단 말 듣는데 안 좋아할 여성 없습니다. 물론 이것도 상대를 봐가면서, 분위기에 맞춰 가면서 짧게 짧게 아주 가끔씩 하는게 좋습니다. 처음 만나자마자 너무 아름답다는 둥, 이렇게 이쁘신데 아직까지 남자친구가 없었다는것이 믿기지 않는 다는 둥 너무 비행기를 띄우려 들면 여성으로 하여금 이 남성이 재미없고 시시하게 느껴질 수 있습니다. 너무 쉽게 감정을 표현하지 말고 조금 여유를 갖고 기다려야 합니다. 벌써 나한테 뻑 갔구나 생각하면 재미 없어지죠.
There are no women who don’t like to hear that they are pretty. But you shouldn’t do so often and, before you comment, you should check whether it is an appropriate moment or not. As soon as you meet the woman, you start blurting out that she is so beautiful and why she hasn’t had a boy friend with such a pretty face. The woman can think that you’re boring and cheesy. Don’t express your feeling too much. You should wait a little bit. It’s not going to be fun if you let her know right away that you have a crush on her.
마술 같은거 하지 말기
말이 필요 없습니다. 데이빗 카퍼필드가 아니라면 기껐해야 카드 마술정도 입니다. 정성은 갸륵하지만 이 것에 호감을 느끼는 여성은 별로 없습니다. 재밌다는 말도 립서비스가 될 가능성이 큽니다. 마술 하지 맙시다.
It is not worth it. If you’re not David Copperfild, what you can do is just card magic. The woman can appreciate your efforts, but she will not get interest to you due to that. She might say it’s funny and you’re good. But possibly it would be lip-service. Please don’t do magic.
자리 옮기실래요? 보다는 자리 옮기시죠
아무리 세련된 여성이라도 즐겨 먹는 음식은 소박합니다. 그렇지만 자리가 자리인지라 소박한 음식을 고르진 않겠지요. 뭐 좋아하시는게 있으세요? 라고 물어봐도 그냥 아무거나 잘 먹어요라고 대답합니다. 차라리 이런 말 보다는 여긴 이게 맛있는데 한번 드셔보시죠라고 약간 강조의 의미로 말하는 것이 좋습니다. 그담에 자리를 옮길 때도 자리 옮기실래요? 보다는 자리 옮기시죠.라고 얘기하는 것이 남성으로 하여금 여성을 리드해 나갈 수 있는 대화방법 입니다.
Even though she looks so fashionable, what she likes to eat might be not that fancy style. But maybe first time she might not choose humble foods due to the nervousness. If you ask ‘What would you like to eat?” She would answer, ‘anything is fine.’ Rather than asking this kind of question, why don’t you say ‘I know a good place. Do you want to try?’ When you move to another place, you’d better also say ‘Let’s move to another place’ rather than ‘Shall we move to another place?” This is a conversational tactic through which men can lead women.
상식이 풍부해 보여라
여성에게 호감을 얻으려면 일단 상대 여성이 관심있어 하는 일 또는 여성이 지금 하고 있는 일에 대해서 같이 얘기 할 수 있어야 합니다. 그런데 세상에는 여러가지 직업이 있고 특히 여성들이 하는 직업은 남성들 보다 더욱 다양 합니다. 또 여성들이 좋아하는 것도 다양하구요. 그중 하나라도 남성이 조금이나마 알고 있다면 대화에 더욱 도움이 됩니다. 게다가 그런 대화를 통해 이런 저런 다른 대화를 남성이 유도해 나갈 수 있습니다. 가장 좋은 것은 상대방이 관심 갖는 것을 나도 알고 있다면 그 대화는 지루하지 않습니다. 풍부한 상식을 유지해 나갈 수 있게 노력해야 합니다.
If you would like to give good impressions to women, you are able to talk about what women are interested and what the women do together. As you know, there are so many kinds of jobs in this world and women’s jobs are more various than men. What women like are more various too. If you know anything, it will help conversations. With that, you can lead various kinds of topics for conversation. The best thing is if you know what the other side is interested, the conversation can’t be boring. You should make efforts to maintain many knowledges, therefore.
취미하나쯤은 가져야 한다
아무리 세상이 각박하고 톱니바퀴 처럼 지루하게 굴러가는 일만 한다고 해도 남녀사이는 그것과는 많이 다릅니다. 취미가 없는 남성은 농장물 하나 자랄 것 같지 않은 척박한 이미지를 줄 수 있습니다. 게다가 취미가 없다면 다른 사람의 취미도 관심이 없는 것이 당연 합니다. 취미 얘기만으로도 많은 대화를 할 수 있지만 취미의 필요성도 못느끼고, 상대방의 취미에 동조도 할 수 없다면 정말 안타까운 일이지요. 취미를 만드시고 뽑내세요. 그리고 상대방 취미 얘기를 귀기울여 들어주는 센스가 필요 합니다.
Even though daily life goes around like a gear and the world is tough and boring, relations between men and women are very different. The man who doesn’t have a hobby is like a barren land that can ‘t have any single plant. If you don’t have a hobby, of course you would not be interested in other people’s hobbies. You can have interesting conversations about hobbies, but you even don’t feel the necessity of having a hobby and don’t understand other’s hobby. Make your own hobby. And it is necessary to hear about the other’s hobby.

author: Hyejin Kim


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Kyrgyzstan: The internet cha-cha-cha · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

The Kyrgyzstan NGO community is going to fight legislators’ efforts at regulating the internet on the joint conference, reports Elena.


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Malaysia: Political party squabbles · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Reacting to the recent political crisis in Malaysia, Niki Cheong comments: “I have always been against the idea of people giving up their seats and forcing a by-election. I always thought that it was a waste of money, a waste of effort and a mockery of democracy.”


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Malaysian Obama · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

According to a political analyst, “The Malaysian equivalent of Obama would be a Chinese Muslim who is extremely fluent in Bahasa Malaysia, whose mother is Malay and who got his undergraduate degree from a Malaysian public university.”


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Mexico: Cartel Violence Affecting Phoenix · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The drug cartel violence in Mexico is affecting the city of Phoenix, Arizona, which is now the world city with the second most kidnappings.  Latina Lista writes that the US government should move to address the situation in Mexico.


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Mexico: New Phishing Scam Through Email · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

A new phishing scam is making its rounds through many Mexicans’ email accounts and Zacateks [es] warns readers what to look for.


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Mongolia: Mongolians in the Czech Republic  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Bilguun tells about unemployed Mongolian labor migrants struggling for survival in the Czech Republic, which has become the destination of choice for Mongolians hoping to earn in Euros.


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New Zimbabwe Has Arrived, But… · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Movement for Democratic Change president Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in Wednesday as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe in a historic move to establish a government of national unity after years of political, economic and social crises. The swearing in of Morgan Tsvangirai is expected to pave way for the revival of the economy and bring about rule of law and genuine democratic changes. Following this historic move, we decided to look at the voices, analyses and mood of Zimbabweans in the blogosphere.
Harare based blogger and Global Voices Author, Denford Magora, explains where the real political power lies in the new government structure. He has no doubt that the power lies with Robert Mugabe. He explains why:
Instead of being sworn in by the Chief Justice of Zimbabwe as Mugabe was, Tsvangirai was sworn in by Mugabe. The significance of this lies in the fact that, despite Tsvangirai's previous protestations that he was on par with Mugabe in a government of equals, he will actually be reporting to the “President”.
Point number two is the actual oath itself. In this oath, Tsvangirai swore to serve faithfully as Prime Minister, as expected, but then he was also sworn into cabinet and had to say that he will offer, to the best of ability, advice to the president in that cabinet. There was no mention of the Council of Ministers, which Tsvangirai Chairs, while Mugabe chairs cabinet.
The significance of this is that it is clear that the Council of Ministers has virtually no standing constitutionally. It is only an operational detail, an organisational convenience. It was not mentioned at all during the swearing in. But the cabinet, which Mugabe will chair and which Tsvangirai had to swear to respect and to serve faithfully, was mentioned by all three people sworn in today.
This is important because I fully expect that arguments that will crop up in future will be related to the powers of the Council of Ministers, chaired by Tsvangirai, and Cabinet, chaired by Mugabe. Tsvangirai will, before long, find that decisions made by the Council will be overturned or even ignored at Cabinet if they do not fall in line with Mugabe's own policies and “vision”.
Legally Mugabe will have a leg to stand on when he breaches the decisions of the Council because, as we witnessed today, the Council of Ministers is not equal to the cabinet. Tsvangirai has sought to lead people to believe that it is, just as he still seeks to make people that this government is a two-year government, when in fact Mugabe is very clear and has even told Tsvangirai to his face that this is a five-year government, in which Mugabe seeks to see through his “term of office” arising out of the June 27 presidential run-off hoax.
Denford wonders why Morgan Tsvangirai's supporters did not show up for the event:
What I found puzzling was that Tsvangirai's supporters on the continent did not show up for his inauguration. Khama of Botswana was nowhere to be seen. Nor was Jakaya Kikwete, president of Tanzania, whom the state media have started to badmouth recently for his alleged closeness to the opposition leader. President Wade of Senegal, who is also a supporter of Tsvangirai, was also absent. Still, it was a good day.
The swearing in of ministers is something we also need to pay attention to see where the “real power” lies. Denford continues:
On Friday, the ministers will be sworn in. It will be interesting to see who will swear them in, Mugabe or Tsvangirai. If it is Mugabe, as I fully expect, since he is the one that Chairs cabinet, then it will be final confirmation that Tsvangirai is being treated constitutionally as the First Minister and nothing more. Of course, no one is going to be sworn in to serve in the Council of Ministers (Chaired by Tsvangirai), because this is a body that will report to cabinet, so it is like a sub-committee.
Eusebia celebrates the arrival of new Zimbabwe, “…albeit not in the democratic way we all would have loved it to happen….” Democracy, argues Eusebia, should come out of a free and fair democratic elections:
Democracy the way we understand it has been shrugged of by this coalition government which is not a result of free and fair democratic elections but most Zimbabweans are not worried about that. Democracy has been made to wait awhile until the near death nation has been rescucitated, until the suffering of the people due to the economic collapse in the country has been eliminated, until the sick have been saved from dying because of lack of hospital treatment and until the education system has been revived. I personally think Tsvangirai and the MDC made a good decision and am going to support the coalition government by doing my part in rebuilding the nation, I believe that the change I want to see in this nation has to begin with me.
She rejoiced over the swearing in of Morgan Tsvangirai with the voice of Celine Dion:
Is it just me or do you also think of music every time something good happens in your life. Today as I rejoiced over the swearing in of Tsvangirai as Prime Minister the song, ” A new day has come,” by Celine Dion invaded my mind because I had been waiting for so long for a miracle to happen in Zimbabwe and reverse the plight of the suffering people. Everyone told me to be strong, to hold on and not shed a tear.
Through the darkness and good times, I knew I'd make it through, was determined to survive it all and not be counted as one of the dead victims of cholera or hunger.
The suffering in Zimbabwe, everywhere I looked felt like I was in a tunnel where I could not see the light but, hush now I see a light in the sky. Oh it's almost blinding me, feels like the country has been touched by an angel with love.
Below is a widget with the lyrics of this song that I am celebrating this wonderful day in the history of Zimbabwe with.
Bearded Man does not seem to have much faith in the new government since  “Mugabe is obviously power-hungry and has little or no intention of sharing power with anybody…” and ZANU PF operates under the “golden rule”:
ZANU PF operate under what I call ‘the golden rule’ – him with the gold makes the rules.
As I stated in my editorial “Tsvangirai Is Prime Minister – But Will He Be Allowed To Hold The Position?” yesterday, ” But the question which will only be answered by the passing of time is: Will Tsvangirai be allowed to fulfil the functions of Prime Minister, or will he find each and every move he makes being blocked and parried by Mugabe and his cohorts?
As the present agreement states that various advents and decisions have to be made jointly by Mugabe and Tsvangirai – and given the history between the two, are we in for more lengthy negotiations which will result in either Mugabe having his own way, or a permanent stalemate?”
Sokwanele posts a text message sent from the stadium when the swearing in ceremony was taking place:
This sms from the stadium just sent by a text message from someone there.
“mt [Morgan Tsvangirai] is making speech to crowd of 60 thousand. he welcomed all incl zpf [ZANU PF] and said there would be no going back on the agreement. they now leading up to new elections. he called on sadc to be partners. 19 yrs ago to the day mandela walked out of prison. the struggle has moved to a new arena. polarising of the country must end today. abuse of human rights must end. freedom of expression, no pseudo democracy, must implement democratisatio in parliament. calls for release of all political prisoners.”
More:
“drop duties on food. stabilise economy, zim has skills and brains to create new zim. schools and hospitals to be priority. pay in forex is guaranteed for army, teachers and health workers by end of month. calls for opening of schools on monday. party and state shall be apart. pm calls for transparent govt, appeals to all parties to recongnise each other. calls on zim to help themselves, unite and asks the people to unite with democratic values. asks for support from zim and god bless zim.”
The blog also has the inauguration speech:
His Excellency, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai,
Your Majesty, King Mswati III, the Chairman of the AU Commission, Mr Jean Ping, President Mugabe, former President Mbeki, Your Excellencies, Honoured Guests, People of Zimbabwe,
Today is an historic day for our country. As we form this transitional government, we look back with reflection on the difficult journey that has brought us to this day, and look forward with determination to the road that lies ahead.
To my fellow African leaders, there can be no turning back on the political agreement which each party has signed, knowing it is not a perfect agreement but still a workable one. An agreement that if implemented with good faith, will deliver a peaceful way forward toward a stable economy, a new constitution and free and fair elections. Brothers and sisters in SADC and the AU, we are counting on you to be our partners and to ensure that this agreement is upheld as we face the challenges of rebuilding our country in the days ahead.
Denford posts the list of all ministers of the new government. He notes that the position of the Reserve Bank Governor may become a bargaining chip between Tsvangirai and Mugabe:
Tendai Biti who, during the March 2008 election campaign said Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono “should be put in front of a firing squad” will now be boss to that very same Gono.
It is almost certain that within a month of this government being sworn in, Biti will seek to fire Gono. Mugabe will fight this tooth and nail. In the end, Gono's job may well become a barganing chip between the two leaders, Mugabe and Tsvangirai, as they seek to extract more concessions from each other.
Despite the significance and the historic nature of the swearing in of Morgan Tsvangirai as the Prime Minister, there seems to be a lot of work ahead for the new government to function smoothly as Denford analyses:
While Tsvangirai will be PM, he will not be chairing cabinet meetings. That remains Mugabe's job. He will instead chair the Council of Ministers, which sounds similar to Cabinet is apparently a less powerful body.
This has given rise to fierce disagreements between the two principals, with Mugabe saying that he defines the ministries and then Tsvangirai simply allocated them for his own party members. Tsvangirai, as betrayed by his statement above, insists that as Prime Minister, he should write the job descriptions of the ALL ministers.
Mugabe apparently conceded last week by saying Tsvangirai could write the job descriptions for MDC ministers but must leave ZANU PF ministers alone. Tsvangirai wants to be able to define the mandates of ALL ministers.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Nigeria: Coach Annoys Super Eagles Fans · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Why are Super Eagle's fans annoyed with their national team coach Amodu Shuaibu? Nigeria’s Football Fans Blog has the details.


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Nigeria: Giving poets a space in national discussion · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

An initiative in Nigeria to give poets a role in national dialogue: Infocentrix Concept Publishing, ICP is set out to give voice to poets to participate in National discussion.


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South Korea: Prospects for Peace · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Jae Young Lee from Ohmynews writes an analysis on the prospects for peace in Northeast Asia region.


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Sri Lanka: Tamil Politics · Global Voices
Rezwan

Dayan Jayatilleka at Groundviews discusses the future of Tamil politics: “Tamil political discourse has to rediscover the heritage of Tamil progressivism.”


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Twitter, a failure in Vietnam? · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Fresco 2.0 writes about Vietnam's failure to embrace Twitter.


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Twitter Community in Vietnam · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

There is a growing Twitter community in Vietnam. They even have a Facebook account.


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Valentine’s Special: From Egypt with Love · Global Voices
Nermeen Edrees

It is this time of the year when you start to believe that life is practically all about flowers and chocolates. Single and couples, in favor of or against celebrating Valentine's Day are bound to indulge in the infamous February extravaganza. Like it or not, you are haunted with teddy bears, flowers, boxes, and fluffy red wraps all around you, not to mention your office mate who would drive you up the wall talking, thinking, and planning for the grand day.
While committed Egyptian bloggers were swamped in the preparations, others were scratching their head trying to come up with new ideas and ways to celebrate the universal love day.
In her post, Super Lili contemplated the possibility of speed dating in Cairo: She said:
“So i was thinking, why is there no speed dating in Cairo? It would be easy to organize, just get a venue, everyone pays 100 L.E., post an open event on Facebook and there you have it.”
She continues:
“Personally, i think it's a great idea! first off the ticket price would control a little who would come, you have 5 minutes to decide, so if you meet Mr. Creepy Creeperson you would only have to spend 5 minutes with them. You could decide to give guys your email account or Facebook account as a test first, or buy a new sim to receive the call(s) which you can throw out if you end up with a stalker.”
On the other hand Appy decided to broaden the context and invited her readers to join in a special event organized by  NGO “sohbet khier;” the event will be held in one of Egypt’s most known rural areas “Istabl Antar.”
Mohaly declared valentine blogging week  and ended his series with a singles agenda to take him/them through the day.
He says:
”After second thoughts, and instead of escaping, I told myself that it is Valentine's day, and singles have the right to enjoy it too, there is a brightside there for us …Whether you choose to have other single people over to celebrate by playing these one-of-a-kind singles games, or whether you prefer to soak in the glory of being single on your own, the goal is simply to make the Valentine's day on Saturday your day!
He then listed a few tips he came across online, and ended his post with his own pick for the day:
“PURSUE YOUR PASSION (Mohaly's choice): Whatever it is that you are passionate about in life — be it a particular hobby, travel, craft projects, charitable acts, etc. — use this day to make great strides by just doing that today. This is also known as drowning yourself in productivity… or pursuing those things that you are passionate about. As long as it's something you are completely driven to succeed at, then you will still be having FUN while accomplishing great things at the same time.”
Happy Valentine's Day; Hope the day bring each and everyone lots of, happiness, flowers, chocolates, and above all love and warmth.
Also on Global Voices Online:
On Valentine's: Teach Someone You Love to Blog (or Micro-Blog!)
Photo credit: Wikipedia

author: Nermeen Edrees


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Vietnam: Top stories on mobile technology · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Step2 Radar lists the top stories on mobile technology in Vietnam in 2008. This year, he predicts, “there will be more mobile social networks, some will be built from famous Vietnamese social network websites.”


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Brazil: A Falling Castle (and Congressman) in Two Acts · Global Voices
Thiana Biondo

First Act: “In Brazil, he who is not a scoundrel one day, is a scoundrel the next”
This quote, by Brazilian dramatist, journalist and writer Nelson Rodrigues, was one of many picked out by Lingua de Trapo [pt] blog to illustrate the surreal story that has had the blogosphere on the edge of its seat in the past week. After the news of his R$25 million (US$10.8 million) castle broke, Federal Deputy Edmar Moreira has lost his place in the right-wing Democrats party and his role as a congressman is at risk, because of the attention his property has suddenly regained.
Regained is the right word here: the castle was featured 10 years ago in Veja, one of most popular Brazilian magazines, in a story about the property's super-sized features [pt]. Bloggers ask: what could be more surreal, an awkward 7,500 square meter mansion in a lunatic medieval style in the middle of a tropical country? That this piece of ‘old’ news has just become the latest national scandal, prompting an investigation into the fact that the property has not been declared to the Electoral Justice or the tax office? Or the fact that the sumptuousness of the mansion went unnoticed by its many visitors, including fellow congressmen? Or even, why these questions are only now, after a decade, being investigated? They also speculate on some possible answers.
Let’s rewind the tape slowly, so that we can gain a clearer impression of our character. He was elected by fellow congressmen [pt] the Vice-President and Ethics Magistrate of the Chamber of Deputies on Monday February 2nd, just a day before the castle became “breaking news”. Edmar Moreira, however, lasted no more than a week in the role which has as one of its duties monitoring “parliamentary decency”, coincidentally after proposing radical changes to the way the house deals with deputies accused of violating its principles. He resigned from the position this Monday, February 9th, over the many allegations against him: from tax evasion to mishandling of public funds.
Bloggers have been speculating that Mr. Moreira, an ex-police officer who almost overnight transformed himself first into a well-off security tycoon and then a serially re-elected deputy, decided to rehearse an unusual move on the Brazilian political scene. This move would bring to an end an old Brazilian practice that makes dealing with corruption charges against Congress members slow and inefficient. He seemed not to remember that those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Palida y poderosa [pt] assumed that not too many people were happy with his suggestions:
“O mais engraçado é que fiquei com a impressão de que o tal castelo só veio à tona de novo após o deputado Edmar M. ter proposto a transferência para o Poder Judiciário da competência pelo julgamento de parlamentares que feriram o lendário decoro parlamentar.
Abaixo, o texto que retirei da Agência Câmara (Consolidada – 04/02/2009 14h44 Líder do DEM defende que a Câmara continue julgando deputados):
“O novo líder do DEM na Câmara, deputado Ronaldo Caiado (GO), afirmou nesta quarta-feira que o partido é contra a sugestão de transferir da Câmara para o Poder Judiciário a responsabilidade por julgar deputados que tenham ferido o decoro parlamentar.
A proposta foi apresentada na terça-feira (3) pelo corregedor da Casa, deputado Edmar Moreira (DEM-MG), durante entrevista na TV Câmara. Para Moreira, a Câmara deve apenas instruir o processo contra o deputado e enviá-lo ao Judiciário, que analisaria o caso.”
However, for the author of Lingua de Trapo [pt] blog, there is a different explanation for this tragicomic plot for his removal from the position. The blogger speculates that his backstage deals, which led him to be elected Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies without his own Party's support, might have led the Democrats to start to fire on him:
“Nada me tira da cabeça que foi de dentro do próprio DEM que foi aceso o pavio para explodir o Deputado Edmar Moreira, pois pelo que se tem ouvido e lido, sua ascenção do baixo clero à Mesa Diretora da Câmara foi, digamos assim, fruto exclusivo de sua própria ambição e de arranjos políticos feitos à revelia das próprias lideranças do seu partido. Se observado o histórico pessoal, empresarial e político do Deputado, que agora surge com maior riqueza de detalhes, minha tese começa a fazer algum sentido.”
The Democrats have now signed Moreira off [pt] their cast, as the deputy had already asked the Electoral Court to end his Democrat membership on allegation of political persecution. The party is now fighting for his seat. If the Court accepts Moreira's request, however, he will still be free to subscribe to any other party and keep his job as a public servant. Meanwhile the PSOL Party has demanded a full investigation into yet another accusation: whether Edmar Moreira has used an usual amount of parliamentary stipend to fund special security through his own security companies. Raul Ibiassucê [pt] wonders if he will ever be punished:
“Edmar aderiu à lógica de abrir mão dos anéis para não perder os dedos. Tenta salvar o mandato de deputado, o castelo e os 2 milhões que não quer pagar. Se morasse num país sério, estaria em breve cassado e respondendo a processos cívil e criminal.”
Second Act: An Envious Woman Takes Centre Stage
Many bloggers have been wondering why a man with a humble background should have built such a pretentious, distasteful and absurd castle? Apparently, it was just to please his wife Julia Fernandes, who was upset by the fact that one of Edmar’s brothers had bought the region's most astonishing farm, as he explained in that interview 10 years ago. She wanted, then, a castle and got one: 32-bedroom, 18-reception-room, 8-tower with swimming pools, artificial lakes, a chapel and kitchen to accommodate 200 people, costing more than a real French countryside castle. Pra Frente Sucupira [pt] presents the details:
“Peca pelo estilo da fachada, medieval. O ex-motorista do deputado disse que os sabonetes possuem gravada a silhueta da venerável senhora Moreira. A coisa toda deve valer a bagatela de R$ 25 milhões. Está à venda há uma década. Foi batizado de “Mona Lisa”, a mulher pintada por DaVinci cujo sorriso enigmático parece esconder alguma coisa. Um nome muito apropriado, afinal. Não teria sido declarado, argumenta seu Edmar, porque ele passou a propriedade para seus afortunados filhos.”
From Knight to Duke: The Trajectory of a Buffoon
Mr. Edmar Moreira is not a new actor in Brazilian politics’ underworld scene: he has been under investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office since 1999. There is a stack of accusations against him, and not having declared the castle to the tax office is just the most recent point that has had him stewing. According to O Pensador Sincero [pt] there have been further accusations:
“O corregedor foi denunciado pelo Ministério Público por apropriação indevida de contribuições ao INSS recolhidas por funcionários de uma empresa de vigilância que teve durante mais de 30 anos.”
On watching this spectacle unfold, we shall not give such a character's past a miss. To complete the odyssey of the happiness and sadness of the Brazilian castle owner, read an article written by journalist Laerte Braga, which has been republished on many blogs. Based on accounts by a political prisoner from the time the Deputy was just a military police lieutenant in late 1969 and early 1970, he used to have a radical approach towards inmates – and wear expensive Ray-Ban sunglasses. Fernando Rodrigues [en] summarizes:
“Edmar Moreira hoje teve uma nova acusação jogada contra suas costas. Em 1970, ainda tenente da Polícia Militar de Minas Gerais, o jovem Edmar costumava tratar com terror os cerca de 300 presos políticos na penitenciária de Linhares, em Juiz de Fora. Quando ficava irritado, soltava os cachorros do quartel pelos pátios e dava tiros para ar. Tudo segundo relato de um dos presos daquela época (…) Esse relato foi reproduzido pelo jornalista Laerte Braga, mineiro, ex-preso político, que coletou os dados de um outro ex-preso político que estava na penitenciária por onde dava plantão o tenente Edmar em 1970.”
As Edmar Moreira leaves the stage, one question remains: if the media knew about the castle and his misdemeanours, why did they not investigate it? Luiz Antonio Magalhães [pt], writing at the Press Observatory, provides a possible answer:
O primeiro pecado da imprensa que aparece neste caso é o de deixar uma denúncia dessa magnitude sem acompanhamento por longos dez anos. Nesse período, Edmar sempre foi deputado federal, mas jamais almejou cargos na Mesa Diretora – procurou uma atuação discreta no parlamento. Não foi incomodado pela mídia e acabou recebido de braços abertos pelos mesmos líderes pefelistas que agora posam de virgens de bordel e bradam pela expulsão do deputado. Nem podem dizer que não sabiam de nada, como costuma fazer o presidente Lula: a matéria da Veja saiu seis anos antes de Edmar se filiar ao PFL.
A segunda questão negativa a ser apontada é na verdade conseqüência da primeira: se o leitor prestar atenção, nos meios políticos a maior parte das denúncias de corrupção, malversação do dinheiro público, sonegação fiscal e outros delitos só aparece quando o acusado ascende a algum cargo de maior relevância, isto é, quando começa a disputar poder. A razão para isso é muito simples: em geral, a mídia não investiga coisa alguma, as denúncias chegam redondinhas, das mãos de quem tem interesse direto na desgraça do acusado.
The second negative issue to be highlighted is actually a result of the first: if you pay attention, most of the accusations of corruption, misappropriation of public money, tax evasion and other offenses in political circles appear only when the accused person climbs to a role of greater relevance, ie., when they begin to dispute power. The reason is very simple: in general, the media does not investigate anything, the complaints come ready made, from the hands of those who have direct interest in the plight of the accused.

author: Thiana Biondo


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Antigua, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago: Sporting Sandstorm  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Caribbean bloggers were all over the debacle at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, where a sandy outfield caused the abandonment of the second Test Cricket Match between West Indies and England.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Azerbaijan: GONGOs · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Blogs dealing with democracy across the globe continue to discuss last week's controversial visit to Azerbaijan by Obama campaign manager David Plouffe. Democracy Digest is the latest and says that the embarrassing event at least exposed the existence of government-organized NGOs (GONGOs) in authoritarian countries. The blog also says that there are suggestions that some of Plouffe's $50,000 speaker's fee should be donated to the families of imprisoned journalists in the country.


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Bahamas: Artistic Tourism · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“All studies about the creative industries…and tourist development indicate that a failsure way of driving tourists to a destination is by creating a purpose for them to visit…but a word of caution to those…who think that they can develop such festivals without the participation and buy-in of the cultural community: you can’t”: Nicolette Bethel offers yet another reason why the Bahamas needs its artists.


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Bahrain: How much longer for Valentine’s Day? · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Bahraini blogger Farah Mattar imagines a scene in the future where Valentine’s Day is banned by Bahrain’s MPs: “We have received many complaints from individuals that their neighborhoods were turning into rose infested slums.”

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Bahrain: No decent Internet provision? · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Bahraini blogger Abdulla asks: “I seriously don’t get it, 22 licensed ISPs in Bahrain, and not a single company providing proper internet?”


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Bahrain: No need for speed · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Maldita, a Filipina living in Bahrain, thinks Bahraini teenagers should be provided with more recreational facilities – instead of using public roads to entertain themselves in their cars.


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Bahrain: The importance of Arabic in advertising · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Bahraini blogger aMaL laments the poor Arabic used in advertisements: “As an Arab country, and in the face of the capitalist global campaign to “blend” all cultures together and implant a consumerist heart in their core, it is our duty to preserve one of the few identity symbols we have left to be proud of; our language.”


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Bangladesh: Citizenship Amendment Act 2009 · Global Voices
Rezwan

Tulip Siddiq writes about the newly enacted Citizenship Amendment Act, 2009 in Bangladesh which fixed the previous anomaly that children of any Bangladeshi woman marrying a foreigner would not be Bangladeshi citizens.

author: Rezwan


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Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago: CLICO Questions  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbadian bloggers are not happy as more details unfold about their government's alleged role in the bailout of failed Trinidad-based conglomerate CL Financial.


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Blogging Positively: Join the Global Conversation on HIV/AIDS · Global Voices
Juhie Bhatia

This Valentine's Day (February 14) marks not only the start of a Global Voices campaign asking people to “Teach Someone You Love to Blog or Micro-Blog,” it also kicks off a series of health-related activities focused on HIV/AIDS to encourage more people infected and affected by the disease to blog.
More than 33 million people live with HIV, and at least 2 million have died of AIDS in the past year. Blogs from around the world are putting stories to these statistics, though, sharing insights on living with the disease, caring for someone with HIV/AIDS, and experiences with stigma and discrimination. These blogs have helped provide firsthand accounts of the disease's impact globally.
As part of an ongoing discussion on the issue of blogging to address HIV/AIDS issues, Global Voices and Rising Voices will be hosting a live online “Blogging Positively” chat for bloggers and activists on February 27, 2009. The chat will be facilitated by Kenyan bloggers Serina Kalande and Daudi Were. Everyone is welcome.
Local Times: New York 09:00 |  Buenos Aires 12:00 |  London 14:00 | Johannesburg, Beirut 16:00 |  Nairobi, Moscow 17:00 |  New Delhi 19:30 | Hong Kong 22:00 | Tokyo 23:00
Chatroom: http://www.worknets.org/chat/. Login using your name and then select the room you want to join by clicking enter. Once in the room, select a font color on the left side of the screen and join the chat.
Mapping the Voices
Global Voices also launched an embeddable Google map of HIV-positive bloggers and caretakers, and other citizen media related to HIV/AIDS last December as part of World AIDS Day. The map, which is continuously being updated, highlights the brave people who are already blogging about this disease. One such blogger is Maureen Akinyi in Nakuru, Kenya. She says that blogging anonymously about having HIV/AIDS doesn't help reduce the discrimination around the disease, and that people need to blog positively without fear. In this post she talks about how participating in a beauty contest can help fight the stigma around HIV:
“I was one of the contestants of the Mr. and Miss Red Ribbon 2008 event at Hotel Bontana Nakuru; it was not my first time to contest. I have been contesting since 2006 and have been enjoying every moment of the event because of one thing, effective reduction of stigma and discrimination. Mr. and Miss Red Ribbon brings together both affected and infected to celebrate beauty in a unique way. During the event audience appreciate beauty by seeing models but not the affected or the infected.”
ukguy lives in the United Kingdom and has been living with HIV since the 1980s. He writes about his experiences being a dyslexic, HIV-positive, gay man on his blog The ramblings. In this recent post he talks about how bringing up headaches and a potential eye infection during a doctor's visit made him feel bad.
“As I left the clinic I realized that I was not very happy with the outcome of this consultation. Of course I am very pleased that there is no infection. But I was left feeling that yet again I seemed to be making a fuss over nothing. I often feel that my concerns are not always taken on board, my HIV doctor is very good and I know that he is interested in my health.
Maybe its me, maybe I am the one that needs to get a grip?
I guess the longer you live with HIV, it does not always mean that you worry less.”
Pinoy Poz, who lives in the Philippines, came out about being gay at the age of 21, but nine years later went “back in the closet” after finding out he was HIV positive. Despite that, in this post he reflects on all the ways he feels lucky.
“With the Chinese New Year ushering in the Year of the Ox, everyone’s been talking about luck. And from all the features I’ve watched, 2009 should actually be a lucky year for me, being born in the Year of the Horse. But I believe my good luck started last year, when I found out I was HIV-positive.
You know that I’ve always regarded myself as lucky despite the fact that I’m now HIV-positive. I’m lucky that it isn’t some other more severely debilitating disease that I have. I’m lucky that I found out relatively early on that I had it, and still wasn’t manifesting any symptoms. I’m lucky that I had a pretty decent CD4 count to begin with. I’m lucky that I’ve gotten through the challenges of starting on ARVs [antiretroviral drugs]. I’m lucky that I’ve made the choices to get to where I am now. I’m lucky to have encountered the greatest people along my HIV journey.”
These are just some of the amazing voices featured on the Blogging Positively map. To encourage other people to share their HIV/AIDS stories, Global Voices is creating a “Blogging Positively Guide,” which will provide valuable advice on how to blog about HIV/AIDS issues. We are looking for help to create the Guide and/or to give feedback, so those interested in or already blogging about the pandemic are encouraged to participate, particularly those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Please contact me or Janet Feldman for more information on the Blogging Positively Guide, chat, or map.

author: Juhie Bhatia


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Brunei: Think Big ICT Business Plan Competition · Global Voices
Senor Pablo

As part of the efforts to nurture new IT companies, Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) recently organised a Think Big business plan competition,
launched in August 2008, offers the largest cash prize awards of its kind in Brunei Darussalam. The main aim is to motivate local entrepreneurs to realise their ideas in the field of information and communications technology (ICT) with the opportunity to develop their business ideas and enhance their creativity; as well as to provide a platform for identifying, nurturing and showcasing entrepreneurial talents in Brunei. This competition also provides the participants access to global resources and the entrepreneurial process through workshops and mentoring programme.
39 ICT enthusiasts including 7 iCentre incubatees with background ranging from online games and shops, online malls and schools, portal, social networking, mobile applications to enterprise solutions. RanoAdidas, one of the well-known local blogger and finalist in the competition, sees
the judges are pretty tough as well and it’s like a simulated pitch to real investors and venture capitalists (VC). This exercise has given me more experience and also the confidence to pitch to potential investors one day. I hope iCentre will continue this competition to encourage more participants and of course, encouraging more entrepreneurs.
As reported by  AnakBrunei, the winners are:
Interesting enough, three of the winners have also recently  inked separate deals with Philippine-based Crestar Communications, which will provide the platform for the iCentre firms to tap into the Philippine ICT market, as reported by the Brunei Times.
Antonio Peralta, Crestar chief executive, said the collaboration with the iCentre companies is a defining step towards the realisation of Brunei's goal of becoming a hub for ICT in the Bimp-Eaga region.
Expansys Technologies aims to launch its text or short messaging system gateway technology as the preferred platform in delivering the integrated systems of Mesh, IPTV and GPS technology in the Philippines.
Mimit e-Technology intends to launch its V-track system, a global positioning system tracking system for fleets as well as e-ilmu, an Islamic mobile content application developed for the Muslim communities in the Philippines.
Rafiqun WDSI plans to deliver its Wireless Mesh Device and IPTV to serve the Philippines market.
They will also be bringing in their expertise in wireless design, e-commerce and e-government consultancy services to the country.
Congratulations to those  winning IT companies that are going regional! Hope this will serve an inspiration for other new IT companies or SMEs that are thinking of venturing regionally!

author: Senor Pablo


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Caribbean: Let’s Talk About Love  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The Caribbean has not historically been a region that celebrates Valentine's Day in a big way, but three bloggers (two from the diaspora) take the opportunity to share their perspectives on love.
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp, who lives in Florida, says that he's come to realise that “I love you” are perhaps “the most difficult words to say to a friend or partner and especially within Black and Caribbean families”.  He suspects that this may have something to do with the fact that so many West Indian families are single-parent households:
…Many of us shared a similar predicament: we were raised by single mothers and we were now parents who were trying to figure out how to be good fathers.
Part of the difficulty in our circumstances was compounded by the fact that we rarely heard these three simple words and as a result, found it difficult to say them ourselves.
He continues:
There is a hard pragmatism in single mothers. There has to be. She is both nurturer and disciplinarian. And in the case of a boy, especially when he enters his teens, his mother often leans hard on him, so he rarely sees her nurturing side.
If the boy had grown up in a dual parent household and if the parents were clever, the roles (some children never figure that these are roles) would fall to the father as disciplinarian and the mother as nurturer or they may even be reversed depending on the tendencies of the parent. Someone has to be the “bad cop.”
But the roles are important because after being disciplined, you still need someone to tell you that X still loves you and X really cares for you and that everything will be all right. This is difficult to believe when X just beat the hell out of you and now wants to comfort you.
Many children in the Caribbean grow up in situations like this and are often exposed to the parent (read mother) who seems to have a split-personality. One minute the mother is all luvvy duvvy and the next minute she wants to kill you.
And the sad truth is that this has been happening in Caribbean communities for a long time.
The absence of strong father figures in many Caribbean households has had an impact on present-day family relations, Philp maintains, but he believes that “some things need to end and begin with us. Right now.” The reward?
[Being] able to say to our children, the three magical words that some of us never heard from our parents: ‘I love you.’
Another diaspora blogger, Karen Walrond, who originally hails from Trinidad and Tobago, shares an experience that was very different in a post for blogher.  Far from having maternal role models that were distant, she fondly remembers the close relationship she has with her grandmother, who taught her a few things about love:
Almost exactly 7 years ago, I announced my engagement to my now-husband, Marcus.  Soon after that day,  while in Trinidad visiting family, my grandmother (who was 96 at the time) pulled me aside.
‘Karen,’ she said in her soft voice, ‘you realize that as a good wife, you should always make sure that your husband looks good:  iron his clothes, lay them out for him every day.  Make sure you make him a good breakfast every morning.  But there's one thing you must never forget,’ she said, leaning towards me conspiratorially.
‘You must never shine a man's shoes.’
I always smile with bemused affection whenever I think of that day.  My grandmother (who, at almost 103 years old, is still full of great advice) has always, for as long as I remember, talked to me about love and relationships.  And even though much of what she has to say seems a bit outmoded (in seven years, I don't believe I've ever ironed my husband's clothes), I've always found a kernel of wisdom in everything she's ever told me.
Make sure your husband feels loved and cared for.  But this doesn't mean you should let him think you are his servant, or are in any way beneath him.
Her grandmother's example taught Karen a lot about the importance of making those you care about feel loved and cherished:
I remember watching when she would pay the man who would help her take of her garden, and then invite him to help himself to as many of the large mangoes or avocados on her trees as he could carry, to take home and share with his family.  I love thinking about those days when she would invite me to sit with her and enjoy some guava cheese (her weakness), as we talked about my future, and how much more important happiness, good family and good friendships were than money.  If there is one woman in the world who really and truly went out of her way to make sure I understood what love should be, that woman would be my grandmother.
Now that I'm a mother myself, I do my best to recreate those moments with my own daughter.  I talk to her about how her friends should treat her, and how she should treat her friends.  I talk to her about what I hope for her when she grows up, and decides to have her own family.  I tell her stories about how her father and I met, and how much we love each other today.  I tell her about how I felt the first time I saw her tiny little face in the hospital.  And when we're out and about, I often try to do something nice for a stranger — something simple like smile and hold the door open, or even pay for the coffee for the person behind me in line — just so she sees that love, indeed, can be all around.
Finally, Abeni, who is based in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, writes an open letter to her heart:
For the first time in almost 6 years you are going to be alone on Valentine's Day. I know you are not really a Valentine person but some things tug at you more than others. How does that make you feel? I can't hear you, can you speak up a little louder please?
You thought you would be sad but you aren't. You see heart, you knew exactly when it all went wrong.
Suddenly, this alone thing is not too bad at all. The road ahead looks chock full of adventures that you actually want to discover. I am smiling again, the real smile that makes my entire face come alive, the one that comes directly from you. You know, the one that makes the whole world smile with me.
And guess what heart? I am so incredibly proud of you for continuing to fiercely beat through it all. Heart, we are going to be okay!
In the end, it's all about love.  Love for others and yes…love for yourself.  Happy Valentine's Day!


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China: Prominent Blogger Stabbed · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Prominent blogger and novelist, Xu Lai at ProState in Flame was stabbed twice in a book store, One Way Street, at Beijing when he finished a public talk. Zola and doubleaf keep updating the news in their twitters. Can also read GVA for details.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Cuba: The Release of Nova the Open-Source Operating System · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Through a project developed at the University of Information and Technology Sciences of Havana [es] (UCI for its initials in Spanish), the government of Cuba released its own version of the open-source Linux operating system and hopes to move 50% of government computers away from Microsoft Windows to this new system called Nova Baire in the next five years. It was unveiled at the Informática 2009 International Convention and Fair.
Nova Baire was developed partly because of how difficult it is to obtain software legally on the island, but also, as ZeroZen of the Latin American technology site FayerWayer [es] writes, “Cuba sees a potential threat from MS (Microsoft) software because U.S. security agencies can obtain their access codes.”
The development of the system is also said to be in line with the government's ideology. Penúltimos Días [es] publishes a quote by Héctor Rodríguez, the dean of the Department of Open-Source Software at UCI who said:
“El movimiento del software libre es más cercano a la ideología del pueblo cubano, sobre todo por la independencia y soberanía. El software privativo puede tener agujeros negros y códigos maliciosos que uno no conoce.”
“The Open-Source software movement is the closest to the ideology of the Cuban people, above all because of independence and sovereignty.  Private software may have black holes and malicious codes that one does not know.”
The software has its own website [es] where users can download Nova Baire and discuss related issues in the forum [es].  One blogger, TBS of Bloggers Cuba [es] has already had the opportunity to give Nova Baire a test-run and writes a brief review:
Ya tuvimos la oportunidad de probarlo por acá en una máquina virtual y nuestra primera impresión fue bastante buena. Hace todo lo que por defecto la mayoría de las demás distribuciones de Linux para usuarios: realizar trabajos de oficina, reproducir archivos de música y video, navegar por Internet y mensajería instantánea, ver fotografías y utilizar otras múltiples aplicaciones para un mejor desempeño laboral o de ocio.
Como ya dije es una distribución enfocada al usuario final, a mi consideración bastante amigable e intuitiva. Según el nivel de estabilidad y rendimiento que demuestre podría ser la ideal para ser utilizada en el proceso de migración que realiza el país hacia Software Libre de usuarios provenientes y acostumbrados a sistemas como Microsoft Windows.
We have already had the opportunity to try it on a virtual machine and our first impression was really good. It does everything that the majority of Linux distributions does for its users: office works, play music and video files, navigate the internet and instant messaging, look at photographs, and use multiple applications for work and leisure.
The distribution is focused on the final users, and in my opinion, it is very user-friendly and intuitive. According to the level of stability and performance, it could be ideal for use during the country's process of migration towards Open-Source Software by users accustomed to other systems like Microsoft Windows.
There is also a YouTube video that shows a screenshot of Nova Baire in operation.


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Dominica: Traffic Jam  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Chris at Dominica Weekly has had it with the island's traffic problems.


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Egypt’s Leading Women · Global Voices
Marwa Rakha

Egyptian women, like many other women, have great potential once they unleash their power. Eva habil, Passant Refaat, and Radwa Saad El Din are three women who took the lead in three different fields.
In December 2008, I quoted Muslimah Media Watch who blogged about Eva Habil, a 53 year-old Christian lawyer, who became Egypt’s first female mayor on December 14, representing Komboha, a rural town in conservative Upper Egypt with a Coptic majority community.
On her blog, Ayam wa Ayam, Shaymaa El Gammal interviewed Passant Refaat, Egypt's first Female DJ:
Shaymaa: And what about the rest of your family? Did they support you? How?
Passant: Without the support of my family I wouldn’t have been the 1st female DJ. Starting from my brother Tarek who taught me the art of DY-ing, and also gave me support and help in any thing I got lost in. As for my mum, I was only 15 years old and it was hard for me but she was always helping me and pushing me to go further and better. Also Ahmed my brother always accompanied me, because it is very hard for a girl to stay out late especially in clubs and parties, they supported me and helped me to unleash this talent I got for DY-ing.
Shaymaa: What obstacles did you face as a female DJ?
Passant: I used to stay for 12 hours a day mixing and tying out things, it was sometimes very difficult, but I have to say that I enjoyed every second of it. Nothing can replace the feeling of doing the thing you love to do most. I tried to work at some places, but the answer was “you are very young and we don’t have a permission for girls to work here, but I didn’t give up, I was determined to do something that brings me joy, as u know everything is always difficult at the beginning. The biggest of all obstacles was my studies besides DY-ing. It was very hard to have a party till very late at night and you have a university in the morning, and some times there are parties during my exams, but I could totally manage my time and I did both at the same without one interfering the other.
Shaymaa: How do men think about you as a female DJ?
Passant: Actually they thought it was very nice, they used to come and speak to me and encourage me.
In another post[AR], Shaymaa El Gammal wrote about Egypt's first female tanoura dancer:


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Georgia: Homphobic TV · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped: Gay Armenia reports that a LGBT organization in the Republic of Georgia has filed a complaint against the deputy head of Public TV for homophobic remarks.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Guyana: Dengue Fever  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Living Guyana reveals that the country's president is apparently suffering from a serious case of dengue fever.


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Indonesia: 300 buildings destroyed during quake · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Over 300 buildings were destroyed after a 7.4-magnitude quake rocked Indonesia last Thursday.


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Indonesia: Divorce and polygamy · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

I feel guilty writing about divorce and polygamy on Valentine’s Day. But these two unmentionable topics are also realities of love and relationships. In Indonesia, more women are divorcing their husbands because of polygamy.
Records show that in 2006 there were nearly 1000 cases of divorce because of husbands marrying another woman. Polygamous marriages are also increasing – the Legal Aid Foundation of the Indonesian Women's Association for Justice received 87 reports of polygamy in 2008, up from 16 in 2007.
More women in polygamous marriages are becoming more assertive about their rights. Abdul Khalik writing for The Jakarta Post quotes the views of scholars about this issue:
Director General for Islamic guidance at the Ministry for Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar: “There has been a significant increase in divorce because women have been rejecting polygamy in recent years.”
Muslim scholar Siti Musdah Mulia: “The data shows women are now daring to fight for their rights and reject male domination. They are now saying, ‘What is the point in continuing a marriage when I am miserable'”
Divorce in general has risen in Indonesia in the past decade. A news report early this month confirmed this trend; and couples are also separating because of political differences:
The divorce rate jumped from an average of 20,000 a year to more than 200,000 a year over the decade
Believe it or not, some couples decide to divorce because the husband and wife have different takes on political issues. This has never happened before,” said Umar. In 2005, 105 couples cited political differences as the cause of their split but this figure jumped to 502 couples in 2006. Figures for 2007 and 2008 were yet to be calculated. The official said 90 per cent of marriages between people of different religions ended in divorce
Indonesia Matters cites a 2007 study about the causes of divorce:
The main causes of divorce, says a report by the National Child Protection Commission (Komnas PA), are economic pressures (23%), followed by domestic squabbling (19%), incompatibilty (19%), interference by relatives (14%), violence (12%), adultery (8%), and sexual problems (3.6%). However these figures are based on only 109 cases
A 2008 article cites the causes of divorce:
incompatibility (because of adultery) – 54000 cases
disharmony – 46000
economic hardship – 24000
interference by relatives – 9000
family crisis – 4700
forced marriage – 1700
domestic violence – 900
polygamy – 879
biological defect (like infertility) – 580
underage marriage – 284
imprisonment – 150
political differences – 157
It is difficult to be a divorcee in Indonesia. My Busy Brain explains:
Some people, in Indonesia that is (I don’t know about other countries), divorce is not a choice.  Even if the marriage is not healthy, even if it is abusive, one choose to be still married because either cannot imagine living by themselves, too tired and just accept that this is fate , or economically dependant (usually woman).
This morning I was bombed by an email that I received from my friend from highschool, that he is not doing well and lost 7 kgs the last 3 months because he is going through divorce.  Oh my God.  Not another one.  Even though I myself is a divorcee, I don’t really like hearing people getting divorce because I know how painful it is
Parvita writes more about the stigma associated with divorced women in Indonesia:
I have no problem being divorced, it was the right thing to do at the time and I never regret it. When people ask me where my husband is, I tell them I’m divorced. Usually, they are the one that feel uncomfortable.
The sad thing that I would like to address here is, that after 3 years, the person I hoped and wished to be able to accept me for what I am, still cannot accept it and look at me as I am incomplete. I am sure there are lots of women here in my country that experience that, especially from the older generation or the conservatives. Despite of their bravery to live alone, they just stick with an unhappy marriage because afraid of what other people think, or simply because they are not independent, financially or mentally.
In Indonesia, women are considered successful not from what they have achieved, but from their husbands, how many kids they can deliver and how fat their kids are and where their kids go to school.
nin's journey was inspired by the post written by Umm Faroug about being a radical Muslim feminist:
As a radical Muslim feminist I know my rights as a wife, which are to be fed, sheltered, clothed, and cared for in a way befitting to me. I have the right to a marriage contract which safeguards me in case of a divorce.
On a lighter note, Indosingleparent Community posts pictures of divorce cakes. Indonesian restaurateur Puspo Wardoyo offers “polygamy juice”, a mixture of four tropical fruits, and “polygamy vegetables”, a four-vegetable combo, in his restaurants.
Thumbnail image used is from the Flickr page of Daquella Manera