text:
Russia: More on Sychyov Case · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sean's Russia Blog writes that “the more information that comes out about the Sychyov Case, the more disgusting it becomes.”


text:
Russia: Potato 2007 in Moscow · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Copydude writes that Russia will be hosting Potato 2007 – even though it “imports potato chips from over 15 countries.”

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Veronica Khokhlova


text:
Russia: Yukos’ Real Value · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Tim Newman of White Sun of the Desert examines Yukos’ real value: “So Yukos is valued anywhere between $17.7bn and $35bn, depending on whom you believe.  Yukos’ debts stand at $18.26bn, meaning that the company is only technically insolvent if the lowest figure is taken as correct.  Unsurprisingly, this figure is the one adopted by the judges who have just declared Yukos bankrupt.”


text:
Serbia: “Is Karadzic Worth the Loss of Kosovo?” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Balkan Ghost of Finding Karadzic posts a translation of a column in a Croatian paper: “What Will Serbia Get in Exchange for Kosovo?”


text:
Singapore: Librarians and Wikipedia · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Rambling Librarian in Singapore discusses the use of Wikipedia as a resource by librarians. “Some librarians feel that a resource like Wikipedia should not be cited as part of an answer to a customer (in response to their information enquiry). I'm not saying their concerns have no basis. I'm just saying that to discount a wiki entirely without first accessing the value of its content would be foolish. Unprofessional, even.”

author: Preetam Rai


text:
Slovakia: Two Pravdas · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Deleted By Tomorrow writes about Pravda.sk: “‘Slovakia's most widely read broadsheet,’ which means I wouldn’t touch it with a ten-feet pole, the daily newspaper Pravda was sold recently to the Daily Mail. The Glory of Carniola writes about Pravda.ru: “Let's all give a warm [Pozdravlyayu] (congratulations) to the Russian online news service Pravda, which recently conflated Slovakia and Slovenia in their story about Slovakia's parliamentary elections.”


text:
South Korea: Korea Wave bubble burst? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Robert Koehler in Marmot's Hole discusses about the drop in South Korea film export. It is related with a drastic drop in film exports to Japan.

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
Sri Lanka: escalating violence · Global Voices
Rezwan

Jayadeva Uyangoda in Focus Lanka analyzes the current escalating violence between the Sri Lankan army and the LTTE. The government is accusing LTTE for the recent killings of innocent civilians while it is refuting its involvement.  His suggestions to settle the country’s ethno-political armed conflict include establishing of an international verification commission to investigate the charges against LTTE.

author: Rezwan


text:
Ukraine: Yanukovych for PM (1) · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Petro of Petro's Jotter describes how the shocking news of Victor Yanukovych's nomination as prime minister was met in Ukraine's capital: “Arriving at Maydan I see no one. Not a single activist. All tents quiet at 8am. Bankova: nothing. Cab Min: nothing. A few black Mercedes with VR plates escorted by cars with flashing blue sirens pass me on the streets but no activists. At the VR: nothing. No one out. Nothing on 5TV but a recurring story about some Japanese Xylophone musician.”


text:
Ukraine: Yanukovych for PM (2) · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Adrian J. Erlinger of Leopolis cites a letter on the current political and economic situation in Ukraine: “Communists in the governmental coalition is the first irony of the current situation, Yanukovych is another history’s joke.”


text:
Ukraine: Yanukovych for PM (3) · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Stefan of Dykun writes that a Western Ukrainian relative has been to Kyiv “to picket the parliament and demonstrate for new elections.”


text:
Uzbekistan: Dadaxon Hasanov · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

The Long and Winding Road reports on the trial of an Uzbek musician who was arrested for performing a song about the violence in Andijon in May of 2005.

author: Nathan Hamm


text:
Uzbekistan: Murder in Samarkand · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Nick of neweurasia reviews Murder in Samarkand, the book by Craig Murray, the outspoken former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan.


text:
Argentina: A Worthy Burger · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Dan Perlman on “the subject of finding a good hamburger in town.” Also described as “The Great Hamburguesa Roundup.”

author: David Sasaki


text:
Bangladesh: heritage · Global Voices
Rezwan

Ihtisham Kabir writes in Back to Bangladesh about the dilapidated states of two of the Dhaka's oldest buildings.  ‘Bara Katra’ and ‘Chhoto Katra’ are the monuments of the seventeenth century Mughal period.


text:
Bhutan: testing English language skills · Global Voices
Rezwan

South Asia Biz reports that a Bhutanese IT company failed to recruit required 80 people because only 39 out of almost 500 applied could pass the recruitment test, The test was mainly concentrated on English language skills. The firm dismissed the candidates’ accusation that the test was tough quoting the need of world class standard employees to get a ‘medical transcription’ outsourcing contract.


text:
Bolivia: Goni Documentary · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Miguel Centallas reviews Our Brand Is Crisis, “a documentary about the 2002 presidential campaign of Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada (aka Goni).”


text:
China: difficult to understand china? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Hu Yong, an experienced Mainland Chinese journalist, comments on his blog on an earlier blog post in Bingfeng teahouse: What prevent guys like Nicholas Kristof from understanding China correctly? He puts forward three principles (zh):
“If you want to research China outside China, your research starting point must begin from China, not the West. The meaning of ‘starting point from China’ has three implication: firstly, the focus of the research should be on the internal factors rather than external ones; secondly, the source of historical changes also comes from within; thirdly, to contextualize China issue within Chinese context.”


text:
Colombia: Medellín’s Dropping Crime Rate · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Writing from Medellín, Adam Isacson notes that “last year, Medellín's murder rate totaled 37 killings for every 100,000 inhabitants. Suddenly this city – long considered one of the world's most violent – has come to suffer fewer homicides than U.S. cities like Washington (45), Detroit (42) and Baltimore (42). Medellín today is about as violent as Atlanta.”


text:
Cuba: Further mistreatment of journalists and “internet apartheid”  · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Marc Masferrer posts a couple of links to further instances of mistreatment of journalists attempting to cover the situation in Havana and republishes an article demonstrating the existence of “internet apartheid” in Cuba.

author: Georgia Popplewell


text:
Cuba: More links · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The Latin Americanist posted another list of links to various news sources commenting on the Cuba situation early this afternoon.


text:
El Salvador: Economic Statistics · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Tim Muth publishes some recent economic statistics from the IMF, but observes that “noticeably absent is any mention of plans by the government to make any significant improvement in spending on health, education, or poverty reduction.”


text:
Georgia: Policy · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Registan.net discusses Russian and Georgian foreign policy goals in the North Caucasus.


text:
Hong Kong: Hong Kong Media at the Crossroads · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN puts together Rebecca Mackinnon's recent move to Hong Kong and the selling of Hong Kong Economic Journal to Richard Li for an indepth discussion on Hong Kong media conditions. Then he continues to answer the question: “why blog?” -
“I am here to create and learn and re-create …Join me in the blog revolution …“


text:
Hong Kong: Typhoon · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Typhoon Prapiroon has just left Hong Kong. Weatherblogger analyzes the figures and criticises the Hong Kong Obersevatory's signal 3 warning. The Typhoon was much stronger, however, “the Obersevatory had quoted the figure from the Kai-tak, where the wind speed was lower than other parts of Hong Kong (zh).“
Another blogger, Ming, points out that “the Hong Kong Obersevatory is under the Economic development and Labour branch, it is easy for people to assoicate the decision with economic collusion in the weather broadcast (zh).“
Bigwhiteguy's comments are more mild.


text:
Hungary: Naming a Bridge · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Pestiside.hu writes about bridge-naming efforts in the Hungarian capital.


text:
India: Blogcamp 2006 · Global Voices
Rezwan

Sumankumar's Yak Pad announces that Blogcamp 2006, India's biggest and most comprehensive blog event is going to be held in 9th and 10th September 2006 in the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai.


text:
Jamaica: Reggae aesthetics · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Jamaican writer Geoffrey Philp traces his evolution from reader of Joyce to embracer of reggae aesthetics: “For the reggae influenced writer, Rastafari legitimized the experiences of Black people in the Americas and became the means to overstanding power and the privileging of one text or dialect over another. Drawing on these vast resources, s/he could champion the plight of the sufferers and use the archetypes, landscapes, images and characters of Plantation America to be authentic to the experience of the lives of Caribbean peoples.”


text:
Kyrgyzstan: Ukrainian Debt · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Yulia of neweurasia translates a Russian post about Ukraine's declaration that it has no debt to Kyrgyzstan, a claim that a Kyrgyz official actually backed up. The author of the post says that this act again confirms that there are no professionals in power in Kyrgyzstan.


text:
Lusosphere reactions to the world most blogged conflict · Global Voices
Jose Murilo

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is shaking the blogosphere. The effects can be felt all over and as  conversations arise everywhere, Lusophone bloggers aren't excluded. It is important to mention that Brazil is home to the biggest Lebanese diaspora population —  some 8 million of Lebanese descent are living in this Portuguese speaking country; about two times the population in Lebanon right now! This fact alone is already a hot topic as we can see below.
A guerra já matou vários brasileiros.Na terça-feira, faltando 15 dias para voltar ao Brasil, morreu o garoto Bassel Termos,de 7 anos. A casa de parentes na cidade de Talousa,onde ele passava férias,foi atingida pelo bombar-deio israelense.De acordo com o tio do ga-roto, Mohamed Termos,que mora em Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, ele terá de ser enterrado no Líbano mesmo.“Não tem aeroporto,estradas, nada funciona direito.Nem sabemos quando vai ser enterrado ”,afirma Mohamed.
Até onde vai a guerra? – the passira news
O Brasil tem tal força integradora multicultural que dissolve todas as nacionalidades e raças (com exceção de uma). Os brasileiros de origem libanesa, se contados por terem pelo menos um lado libanês (como eu) atingem 16 milhões. De sobrenome libanês as melhores estimativas dão como 7 a 8 milhões. É uma população extremamente representativa, mas que não está presente nos conselhos da diáspora, congregada em torno da União Libanesa Mundial com sede no México, onde há só um desconhecido brasileiro. Talvez seja essa uma força e uma fraqueza do Líbano. Os libaneses se integram tão bem que esquecem as raízes, especialmente no Brasil.
O bombardeio do Líbano, by reader André Araújo – Luis Nassif
Não vou aqui discutir as razões do conflito, quem esta certo ou errado. Na verdade vou falar sobre o que aconteceu comigo: no momento em que vi o noticiário falando sobre o conflito, corri ao computador para tentar entrar em contato com meus primos, que moram no Líbano. Esses meus primos tem uma história curiosa: “encontrei-os” a menos de 1 ano. Pude “conhecê-los”, meu primo e minha prima, pela internet: ele procurava pelo restante da família, que se dispersou pelo mundo, e colocou o nosso sobrenome no google. Logo me encontrou, e me mandou um email falando sobre a parte da família que se encontrava no Líbano. Por fotos, pude conhecer meus priminhos, filhos deles, e por email meu avô pode manter contato com o primo dele (pai dos meus primos), que ele não via há anos. Desde então conversamos pela internet, em um parco porém entendível inglês.
O Conflito entre Israel e Líbano: sofrimento de inocentes – Pensamenteando
It is becoming a pattern that every major worldwide event somehow boosts the blogosphere numbers. There are many reports about new blogs starting as a result of the buzz over the ever increasing influence of personal journals in the media narratives. This time the main feature is the enabled conversation between the civil population of the countries involved in the conflict, which sheds new light to the human perspective that used to be hidden by media strategies in times of war.
Uma notícia se destacou e não foi a do bebê rechonchudo carbonizado,vítima de um ataque de Israel, nos braços de um homem que saiu nas capas dos principais jornais. Foi aquela que se deu sobre a existência de jovens de ambos os lados relatando seus dramas na rede mundial de computadores através de bloggs que recebem comentários de outros jovens árabes, sírios, libaneses, judeus, cristãos… O cotidiano da guerra apresentado na escrita consciente desses jovens nos distancia das cenas enfumaçadas dos destroços de prédios em flashes no noticiário noturno da tv. E o que dizem sobre o fenômeno Oriente Médio nos aproxima, a todos, e nos coloca diante do semelhante, sem exotismos nem folklorismos bloggalizai-vos!
Primeiro post! – Desabafos, crônicas e impressões
Mazen Kerbaj está em beirute quando Israel começa a bombardear a cidade. Com o aeroporto em chamas, e pontes destruídas, sair da cidade não é fácil, exige coragem. Decidir não sair, entretanto, exige além disto, um quê de sentimentalismo, uma pitada de idealismo burro e um pouco de loucura. Mazen tinha tudo isso mais um caderno de anotações e um laptop. Ele decide então fazer algo que poucas pessoas se lembrariam: ele faz um blog para contar sua história. Sob a música da artilharia que toca à noite, Mazen descreve, com rabiscos emocionados, arranhados e impulsivos, a rotina de viver em uma cidade sendo bombardeada. O boca a boca da internet logo traz leitores do mundo inteiro, querendo ver por olhos íntimos o que o noticiário diário não passa.
Prefácio – Computer for Monks
The blogosphere effects over the conflict are being largely recognized by the mainstream media, and it is no surprise that it somehow starts to be used strategically as media weapon. Blogs, chats, e-mail lists, comments sections in news portals… those are the new battle fields to be conquered by the ones who have elected words as their main tools in the dispute. The question is how much this possibility can be used as military strategy coordinated by generals or ministers. Is it possible to recreate the passion amateurs show in their writing in the context of the typical hierarchical command native to the military action? Does a soldier pulls the trigger to fire the missile with the same conviction a blogger press the ‘publish’ click to cast out his ideas?
O ministro do Exterior israelense ordenou que os trainees de diplomatas identifiquem blogs e salas de chat com discussões sobre a guerra no Líbano, para que batalhões de ativistas judeus possam entrar nessas páginas e colocar comentários defendendo sua política externa. Cerca de 5.000 membros da União Internacional de Estudantes Judeus fizeram download de um software especial que identifica enquetes, salas de chat e blogs onde se debate o tema, para que possam influir nos resultados das pesquisas e nos rumos das discussões.
Israel também luta sua guerra na internet – wireless.jor.br
The origins of this conflict are far in history, and the many reasons both sides displays to justify their acts are somehow already known. When faced with the arguments for war, some bloggers choose to speculate around philosophical references in order to reach conclusions about fairness.
Nos 16 séculos desde a morte de Santo Agostinho, seu conceito de guerra justa permanece como base do pensamento ético em guerra. Para Agostinho, a proporcionalidade era um item fundamental na análise da justiça em batalha. Alguns interpretam esta questão da proporcionalidade sobre a ótica de balanço entre a destruição causada e o bem que esta destruição trará. Enquanto o bem for maior que o mal, pode… Mas o custo é em vidas. É em gente. A única maneira de defender a guerra como Israel a leva é endurecendo o coração para dizer que gente não importa porque há motivo para a guerra. Não vai aqui qualquer questão de caráter: há militares que pensam assim e honestamente. Esta, no entanto, é uma linha de raciocínio de todo anti-judaica.
Jus in bello – Pedro Doria – NoMínimo
“a principal razão que justifica moralmente o início de uma guerra é a agressão e o direito à autodefesa. Neste sentido, Israel foi alvo de ataques de forças não convencionais mas bem armadas e que têm como objectivo político a destruição do Estado judaico. Como tal, Israel tem o direito – e mesmo o dever – de defender o seu povo… Porém, a justiça relativa às causas da guerra (o chamado ‘jus ad bellum’) não deve ser confundida com a justiça relativa à conduta na guerra (o ‘jus in bello’)… Neste aspecto, as forças israelitas com certeza que cometeram injustiças – em Canaã e não só – e a opinião pública mundial não as deve deixar passar em branco. Do ponto de vista da teoria da guerra justa, é preferível não abater um alvo que um inimigo sem escrúpulos protege com escudos humanos a abater esse mesmo alvo causando a morte de inocentes. O terrorismo consiste, precisamente, em matar inocentes intencionalmente. Por isso não devemos ter contemplações para com ele. Mas também nunca devemos copiar os seus métodos.
Guerra justa – DiarioEconomico.com
Talking about reasons, both sides have its own. There are the pro-Israel bloggers, who tends to see the conflict as a fair response to a menacing situation.
É importante que não nos esqueçamos destes “detalhes” quando nos apressamos a condenar Israel pelos ataques ao Sul do Líbano. Têm sido usados os mesmos adjectivos para analisar os actos terroristas do Hezbolla, que matam inocentes de forma deliberada, dos ataques de Israel às posições do grupo terrorista que mata inocentes de forma acidental. Só espíritos malévolos e pouco dados à análise concluem que Israel atacou postos das NU e matou inocentes em Qana de forma deliberada. Como é evidente isso só prejudica a posição política de Israel. Os pressupostos dos ataques do Hezbolla e de Israel não se confundem. Os primeiros visam o terror e o extermínio e por isso o objectivo principal é atacar alvos civis; os segundos têm como objectivo criar uma zona tampão que evite os bombardeamentos às cidades do Norte de Israel e por isso actuam sobretudo sobre as posições do grupo terrorista. O que também toda a gente conhece é que o Hezbolla se refugia junto de civis para evitar os ataques do exercito israelita. Só isto já demonstra o carácter sinistro deste tipo de actuação, que para tirar dividendos políticos não se importa de pôr em risco as populações compatriotas.
LENDO, VENDO, OUVINDO ÁTOMOS E BITS, de 31 de Julho de 2006 – Abrupto
Ouvir o mundo julgar a guerra entre Israel e Hizbollah enquanto ela se desdobra é como viver num universo moral Orwelliano. Com umas poucas exceções significativas (a liderança de Estados Unidos, Grã-Bretanha, Austrália, Canadá e alguns outros), o mundo – os governos, a mídia, os burocratas da Onu – perdeu completamente seus padrões morais. A palavra que torna desnecessário qualquer raciocínio lógico e magicamente transforma vítima em agressor é “desproporcional”, como na expressão tão comum hoje em dia “resposta desproporcional de Israel”. Quando os EUA foram atacados em Pearl Harbor, não responderam com um ataque “proporcional” em uma base naval japonesa. Eles lançaram uma campanha de quatro anos que matou milhões de japoneses, reduziu Tóquio, Hiroshima e Nagasaki a cinzas e transformou as ilhas japonesas em ruínas.
“Desproporcional” em Qual Universo Moral? – Eventos Humanos
A “opinião mundial” está constantemente contra a América e Israel, dois dos mais democráticos países do mundo, mas silenciosa sobre alguns dos países mais cruéis do mundo… Israel não teme a “opinião mundial”. Já está habituado a ser “massacrado” pelos media. A preocupação de Israel não é a opinião do mundo, mas a segurança e protecção dos seus cidadãos actualmente postas em causa por um dos grupos terroristas mais diabólicos do mundo.
AS OPINIÕES DO “MUNDO” – SERVEM A QUEM? – Shalom Israel
Porque, para os entendidos da praça em política internacional, só Israel é que ataca.
Já pensaram em ver melhor as notícias?! Por mais facciosas que sejam muitas vezes… Para quem não se lembra, esta crise no Médio Oriente começou com o rapto de soldados israelitas por parte do Hamas e do Hezbollah…
Quando se trata de Israel – GONIO
ON the other side of the debate, there are many bloggers ready to condemn the way Israel is dealing with the situation.
Num relatório divulgado hoje, a Human Rights Watch diz que o Estado judaico não distingue os civis de alvos militares. Será que perante esta notícia devemos encolher os ombros e refugiarmo-nos atrás da frase “Não podemos ver as coisas só para um lado”? Eu prefiro condenar veemente as forças israelitas pelos massacres diários contra civis. Estão à vista de todos. E aqueles que tentarem analisar este conflito menosprezando este aspecto, estão mais do que preparados para se alistarem no exército do senhor Olmert.
Quem o diz é a Human Rights Watch – catorzedemarco
Essa eu achei em um site de notícias israelense; olha só que coisa legal gente! Basta entrar no site abaixo e mandar um mensagem para os queridos e injustiçados soldados israelenses que estão lá no front de batalha trucidando crianc… ops terroristas, afinal Israel tem todo o direito e o aval norte-americano para defender seu território, não é verdade? Mas, até aí, nada demais. O mais interessante de tudo isso é que as mensagens chegarão aos soldados embrulhadinhas em inocentes e gordurosas barras de chocolate – não, não se trata aqui de Kinder Ovo.
… e para as crianças do líbano? Bala, uai! – Axioma Orgasmático
A passividade dos grandes e poderosos, o silêncio de quem devia pronunciar-se e não o faz, a impotência das Nações Unidas, estabelecem um perigoso paralelismo entre estes acontecimentos e os que levaram à II Guerra Mundial. Infelizmente o Mundo assiste uma vez mais, como outrora, impassível (ou cooperante) enquanto um povo belicista se impõe aos seus vizinhos, matando indscriminadamente civis, hoje com justificações diferentes no conteúdo mas iguais na forma às que foram utilizadas contra si há menos de 1 século
fight – oddworlds
As crianças de Israel aprendem que em seu país há judeus e não judeus, que há um sector judeu e um sector não judeu, que há uma agricultura de judeus e uma agricultura de não judeus, que existem cidades de judeus e cidades de não judeus. Mas quem são os não judeus? Como vivem? Isso não é importante. E os que não são judeus são todos considerados como “árabes”. Por exemplo, no livro “Israel – o Homem e o Espaço” (Editora do Centro de Tecnologia da Educação, 2002) pode-se ler no capítulo sobre a população árabe o seguinte: “Dentro deste grupo da população há crentes de diferentes religiões e grupos étnicos diferentes: muçulmanos, cristãos, drusos, beduínos… Mas como a maioria deles são árabes, ao longo desta obra chamaremos este grupo de árabes ou de população árabe…”. No mesmo livro escolar, os palestinos são chamados de “trabalhadores estrangeiros” e suas condições de vida são apontadas como “típicas de países subdesenvolvidos”. Os palestinos, tanto os que vivem no Estado de Israel como os que vivem nos territórios ocupados não têm rosto, não são considerados como cidadãos, como pessoas modernas, como pessoas com algum trabalho produtivo, intelectual, ou exercendo alguma atividade positiva. Nos livros escolares eles são representados através de imagens estereotipadas e considerados depreciativamente “os árabes de Israel”.
Carta de uma mãe israelita – Enquanto e não
There are also those who try to find some balance in the situation, identifying the patterns of relationship that has ruled the region for the last sixty years. From this point of view, it is quite obvious that ‘both sides need to ratchet down the rhetoric and rein in their own extremists’.
Não quero criticar os Judeus – alias sempre nutri o mais profundo respeito para com a sua milenar cultura e para com os seus antigos ritos – contudo este conflito preocupa-me e deixa-me desarmado pois…todos tem razão! Todos argumentam com armas, defendem-se com historia e gritam pela pátria. Talvez uma cimeira no céu entre Maomé e Isaac rabin consiga uma solução. Qual seria o dialogo? Mas haverá algum diálogo?
Verdade externa – Elogio à Loucura
gostava de não ver na tv essas crianças mortas no sono. gostava que os que as retiram dos escombros não as exibissem como troféus e que as câmaras não as filmassem com deleite. (a mim basta-me saber que crianças morreram. não preciso de as ver. não preciso que, como disse em directo rodrigues dos santos, eles façam ‘uma coisa… tiram os corpos e envolvem-nos em mantas e depois abrem as mantas para as câmaras filmarem’). mas gostava ainda mais que não tivessem morrido. e, como morreram, talvez olhar para elas nos centre no essencial. a nós, que não somos do hezbollah.
as crianças de quana – Glória Fácil…
Não sou anti-americano, anti-semita ou anti-árabe, pois os americanos são necessários como consumidores, os judeus tem seus direitos de sobrevivência e os árabes fazem jus a um território livre de influências.Nem pró, porque os Estados Unidos são confusos quando o dinheiro está no meio das resoluções que deveriam tomar, os Judeus são proprietários históricos da terra em que vivem, mas os árabes também, e os árabes tem o péssimo hábito de invocar ensinamentos religiosos (que nem sempre são reais) quando acham que seja necessário. Mas me aborrece sobretudo aquela vil conduta de jogadas geográficas para conquistar riquezas.
O Líbano e o Dilema – Aqui não, Genésio!
O General Sharom, que não era nenhuma flor, dificilmente teria executado um plano tão insensato confirmando o velho adágio de que os militares em geral são menos belicistas do que os civis, eles conhecem a o cheiro da pólvora e a dor da bala na carne. Felizmente para a humanidade existem judeus civilizados que estão abominado essa aventura louca. Pena que não sejam a maioria, mas talvez essa guerra aumente seu contingente.
Onde nasceu o Hezbollah – Luis Nassif
One thing seems clear to all those following the conflict from the outside: it's got to stop. If the blogosphere is really influencing the situation as it is being reported, lets hope it does it by providing a better understanding of what victory really means to the ones who are inside the conflict. Let's pray our activated worldwide intelligence has the capability of collectively reaching the conclusion that peace is the answer, and that enough is definitely enough.
Todo exército um dia descobre que existe uma missão que ele é incapaz de resolver. Para a Inglaterra, essa lição se chamou Estados Unidos, em 1779. Para os EUA, Vietnam. Para a URSS, Afeganistão. A IDF contribuiu para aumentar as apostas ao declarar que seu objetivo é a extinção do Hezbollah; agora, qualquer coisa menos que isso será uma vitória para o inimigo. Com sorte, o fim do mito da suprema competência militar israelense poderia sinalizar o início de uma nova rodada de negociações, talvez um pouco menos desiguais. Certo, vai contra toda a história da região até o presente minuto, mas eu preciso achar um jeito de poder dormir à noite.
Curva de Aprendizado – Si hay gobierno…
Há ponderações de todo tipo, lembrando a freqüência fanática com que o Hezbollah atinge Israel, a diferença entre uma democracia parlamentar de tipo ocidental e o terrorismo de facções muçulmanas que nunca se dobrarão a nenhuma proposta de negociação, etc. Discute-se muito a legitimidade da reação israelense ao Hezbollah, se não é legítima, embora possa ser considerada desproporcional. Fala-se dos custos civis em toda guerra, e que houve bombardeios atingindo crianças numa guerra legítima, como a que se fez contra Hitler. Pode ser, pode ser. Fiquei pensando. Mas depois da manchete de hoje na Folha –mísseis israelenses matam 37 crianças– cheguei a uma conclusão. Pensar demais, nesse caso, atrapalha. Não há como justificar, nada justifica esse massacre. Chega.
quando pensar demais atrapalha – Marcelo Coelho

author: Jose Murilo


text:
Middle-East War and Indonesian Blogger Divided Responses · Global Voices
A. Fatih Syuhud

Echoing the international media headlines on current conflicts in the Middle East between Israel-Lebanon and Israel-Palestine, Indonesian bloggers post similar topics with various comments and responses; pros and cons, supports and condemnation to either sides.
Among Indonesian Muslims bloggers, condemnation towards Israeli atrocities against civilians people in Lebanon almost pouring in in unity.
Ummi Hani regards the blinded attacks as the dead of sanity and common sense on the part of Israel.  Triaji thinks that what Israel has been and is doing as an “unforgivable war crime” against humanity. Sun of Day wonders why Israel has the heart to kill so many civilians many of them are women and children. He suspect that Israel has another goal in mind: making Lebanon as another Palestine.
Agusti Anwar at Opinion Counts writes:
Indeed, the conflict of Israel-Palestine has never had a chance to get better but worse every time. The recent attack by Israel in Qana’ of Lebanon, causing death and casualties among civilians has brought the worst of Israel out. Most of the 54 deaths found under the rubble are innocent children. Hundreds of thousand scattered and displaced for safety. In the face of his collapsing nation, Lebanese PM Fuad Siniora, a Christian, was so furious and condemned Israel as war criminal. Many quarters in the international community condemned this inhuman aggression by Israel, another evil brink putting humanity in its cynical verge.
Dhika,  from Indonesian Muslim Blogger Community  calls for action to all Indonesian Bloggers by putting a “Indonesian Bloggers Condemn Israel” banner in their respective blogs. His rationales are as follows:
August is an important month, 61 years ago our country, Indonesia, declared its independence. As describe in our Preamble of 1945 Basic Constitution, we believe that every country has rights to freedom. Israeli aggression against Palestine and Lebanon is an infringement to human rights. The indiscriminate Israeli military aggression is a gross violation of international laws, including humanitarian law that clearly prohibits the targeting of civilian populations (non-combatants). Dozens of children were killed in the Israeli raid in Lebanon and Palestine. The civilian population is bearing the brunt of the Israeli military operations. No other word, Israel is the root of the problems in Middle East.
We believe that every problems has a solution, but not by killing children and civilian population. This action is a moral action to show to the world that we, Indonesian Bloggers, condemn Israeli atrocities’ and their aggression should stop immediately.
Having said that, as Agusti Anwar pointed out, Indonesia is a country with a divided voice, sadly on religious line. Although in minority, there are some voices which justify the Israeli action in the Middle East.
Patung at Indonesia Matters, for example,  complains the Indonesian media “bias” in covering the current Middle-East conflict:
One of the most striking factors in Indonesian press reports of the conflict is the level of bias and partisanship. Detiknews.com in particular seems unable to mention the name of Israel without partnering the word with “brutal”. Even the state news agency, Antara, is not immune.
He thinks that such media bias could lead into further radicalising of Indonesian Muslims.
Any radicalising of Indonesian Muslims can be blamed just as much on the press reaction to events in the middle east as on the events themselves. Needless to say, repeated terrorist attacks by Hamas and Hizbullah, now and in the past, have not excited the interest of Indonesian media to anywhere near the same extent, nor have they provoked such creative use of emotion-stirring adjectives in reporting.
Comments  in above post questioning Indonesian Muslim anger towards the conflict:
From Magy:
Why is it so important for muslim and Arab countries to unite? Why do RI have to bond with a certain part when there is no such need? Why can RI not be open and bond with EU, Japan, the US, China and India AND the Arabs? Why just the Arabs? I don’t think this make sense.
From Tony:
Strange Country: fighting in the Middle East with the Arabs and in Maluku against Indonesian, solidarity with people living 10,000Km apart while evicting and oppressing neigbours such as Ahmedyyah followers, Papuan, Timorese etc. It seems to me religion is more important than nationality.
From O. Bule:
As my Indonesian relatives put it, ‘Crazy Arabs, what can you say about them?’ There is no need for Indonesia to go down the same insane road as the Arabs follow; to do so would be foolish. Let the Arabs and Israelis figure out a way to live together on their own.

author: A. Fatih Syuhud


text:
Nepal: weather · Global Voices
Rezwan

Most people think that Nepal is very cold. British expatriate Claire of Claire's Nepal refutes the presumption and discusses Nepal's weather from her own experience.


text:
Pakistan: ‘vulgar’ dances banned · Global Voices
Rezwan

Raza in Metroblogging Lahore reports that the Panjub district government has banned popular stage actress Nargis for performing ‘vulgar dances’ and bawdy dialogues. She faces imprisonment or fine or both under provisions of the century old Dramatic Performance Act 1876 if she ignores the ban.


text:
Romania: Summer Hits · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Owlspotting posts videos of and reviews Romanian “summer hits.”


text:
Russia: Child Abuse · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Yuri Mamchur of Russia Blog distributes blame for Russia's abused children: “Today Russia is awash in oil and gas money, the nation’s cities are growing again, and the country produces more young billionaires per capita than any other nation in the world. It is a shame that such a depravity is of no concern to the government, society, or American media outlets, and that foreign NGOs fail to focus on the worst human rights abuses in favor of celebrity oligarch causes.”


text:
Russia: Oil and War · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Charlie Ganske of Russia Blog writes about the war in the Middle East and Russia's oil industry.


text:
South Asia: Rikshaaa! a film on three wheels · Global Voices
Rezwan

Gaurav Mishra reviews in Desicritics a musical documentary on Rickshaws and posts some insightful background on the rickshaws. An auto rickshaw (aliases: auto/rickshaw/ tempo/tuk-tuk) is a three-wheeler vehicle for hire and is part of the unique ID of South Asia. It is one of the chief modes of transport in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.


text:
Sri Lanka: the minorities · Global Voices
Rezwan

Voice of reason is critic of the current politics of violence in Sri Lanka which is pushing the minorities (Muslims, Tamils etc.) to extremist political groups.


text:
Taiwan: reporter is dog? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

An experienced woman reporter writes in China time about her memory of a sexual harassment by the former President's security guard when she was reporting. She became the focus of the media after a few days and found herself being humilitated.
“Every reporter wants to become a watchdog.” However, in Taiwan, the sound of the reporters is like “dogs barking to a speed train”. Now the media industry is declining, “old dogs are dumped and become street dogs” (zh).


text:
Trinidad & Tobago: A Caribbean sim · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Taran Rampersad makes the case for a Caribbean sim in Second Life.


text:
Ukraine: Is Orange Revolution Dead? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Scott W. Clark of Foreign Notes explains why president Yushchenko has become irrelevant and how freedom of the press and freedom of business are nothing but illusion now: “So is the Orange Revolution dead? It's a funny thing that now people are down to saying that it isn't dead because there's freedom of the press and freedom of business. (Some others would add free elections to that.) Those are important but they're pretty meager fare. The problem is that none of these–not a one of them– is institutionalized so not one of them is permanent.”


text:
Ukraine: Relations With Gazprom · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Adrian J. Erlinger of Leopolis writes on how the Russian Gazprom has changed its position regarding Ukraine now that Yanukovych has become prime minister.


text:
Ukraine: Yanukovych and Democracy · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Jonathan Taylor of Publius Pundit lauds the election of Victor Yanukovych as Ukraine's prime minister: “Yanukovich’s premiership is an accurate reflection of the political situation in Ukraine and thus another victory for democracy.”


text:
Ukraine: Yanukovych’s Bio · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Abdymok posts a mini-bio of Ukraine's newly-elected prime minister.


text:
Voices from Kazakhstan  · Global Voices
Leila Tanayeva

Welcome to our latest round-up of blog posts and online discussions that took place in the Kazakhstani blogosphere in the last two weeks.
We start off with Russian-language neweurasia Kazakhstan blog. A new contributor from Karaganda Basil B. Akimov sheds light on another scandal in Kazakh healthcare. Karaganda prosecutor initiated a case against healthcare officials who allowed “Gospharm”, a company that did not comply with requirements for supply of medicines, to conduct medical activities in the region (RU). Read the English translation of the post here.
Irene of neweurasia went to a party organized by the most popular club in Karaganda, where DJ Kach from Almaty and the UK rapper Richie D played their music and promised “a hot night” to Karaganda clubbers (RU).  The club invited journalists of Karaganda periodicals and TV channels to a press-conference and a party afterwards. The “hot night” did not happen though – people did not appreciate the guests’ performance, preferring usual pop-music, regrets Irene. She hopes that they will have a warmer reception in Almaty, where they were heading next.
English-language blogs noted several things about Kazakhstan: the failed launch of Russian rocket on Baykonur, which is being investigated now; Mathew Walker of Circus Diosa posts on Dick Cheney's visit to Kazakhstan, saying that the passion for petrolium made him take a recent quiet journey to the country of Kazakhstan; and Nathan of Registan.net discusses the RFE/RL report on claims that Kazakhstani planes delivered arms to Somalia militants:
It will be quite interesting to see who chartered the plane. Iranian involvement does not seem too far-fetched, and if that does in fact turn out to be the case, it may cause friction in Iranian-Kazakh relations and Iranian efforts to extend its influence elsewhere in Central Asia.
Basil B. Akimov decided to buy a flat in Karaganda, opened a newspaper with flat ads, and then the prospects of actually buying a flat became bleak … A 1-room flat costs $40 thousand, and the flat with 4 rooms can reach up to $120 thousand, writes Basil, while the average salary in September 2005 was 44.000 tenge (around $360). And this is just in Karaganda: Almaty and Astana real estate prices have long gone beyond all imaginable limits. Basil names the factors that contribute to this phenomenon: the interest of construction companies in keeping the prices high, the lack of domestic production of construction materials and the increase of demand due to migration. Also, people tend to invest in real estate since there is no alternative available, like, for instance, a stock market (RU).
It's easy to see just how important is the price of flat for young professionals in Kazakhstan. The Tsentr Tyazhesti forum features a topic on it, where some complain that with a salary of $700 (which is higher than the average), you cannot afford either buying a flat or even getting a mortgage , since if you do it, you won't be able to afford anything else but paying the interest rates for the next 20 years (RU).
The Almaty LJ user megakhuimyak had several interesting posts in the last few days (RU). About state budget: there are 4 donor regions in Kazakhstan – Atyrau, Mangistau, Aktobe regions and Almaty city, other regions are subsidized. The most subsidized is Astana city, which gets 53 billion tenge (440 million US dollars) from the state budget. About migration: the Russian migration police is so weak comparing to Kazakh – they just catch migrants and deport them, while they return back. Our police is different – a part of migrants are caught and deported, while most of them are sold into slavery to tobacco and cotton farms. And about diamonds, a girl's best friends: there are about 600 tons of gold along the rivers in Almaty region, according to Osipova of the Institute of Geology and 2 deposits of diamonds – in Kokshetau and  Chu-Ili mountains.
The Kazakh government is creating an e-government system, which will be interactive by the end of 2006. While acknowledging its benefits for the increase of transparency and reduction of red tape, we still question some aspects of it on neweurasia (RU). How would it work together with the program on revival of Kazakh language? And how many people would be able to use the services of e-government, if only 3-4% of Kazakhstanis have access to Internet, according to Aidar Dauletov of «Microsoft» in Kazakhstan and Central Asia?
Basil B. Akimov of neweurasia tells in a fairy tale style about opposition politician Bolat Abilov accussed of insulting a policeman 9 months ago (RU). Indeed, it seems unreal that about 40 witnesses were invited to the trial, many journalists among them, who could not tell much about the incident, where Abilov allegedly said that the policeman had only one convolution, which was pressed by his hat.
Ben of neweurasia reports that “Kazakhstan aims to diversify its energy sources and has long flirted with the idea to build a nuclear plant. This comes despite the pivotal role protests against nuclear testing took during perestroika”. In another post on Kazakhstan Neweurasia  Ben wonders whether business with and in Kazakhstan is portrayed too positively.
Kazakh companies are becoming more aggressive on the domestic market. Petro Kazakhstan and British Gas are the names of two international corporations that were, at least partly, driven out of the emerging market to make space for aspiring Kazakh global players, first of all KazMunaiGaz.
The 101almatinec (101 Almaty residents) Livejournal Community offers condolences after the tragic death in a car accident of Baglan Sadvakasov, a guitar player of A-Studio, a Kazakh band that was then based in Russia but always loved in Kazakhstan.
“Lebanon vs Israel – why doesn't anyone write about the war?” wonders rabotchi (RU) on the Centr Tyazhesti forum. koreetz informs (RU) that the US Embassy has invited one of the Kazakh journalists to live in the UN headquaters in Lebanon together with the peacekeeping forces. He thinks it's an honourable task, but no one of his colleagues knows how to behave in extreme situations, since the “extreme journalism” in Kazakhstan is limited to the coverage of the elections. The reaction is different: that he should not go, should not believe the good intentions of the US embassy or that it's a joke altogether.
Rilliyah, a girl from Kazakhstan, now living in Israel, explains (RU) the attitude of the Israeli people to the conflict:
У подавляющего большинство обычных израильтян довольно простой взгляд и на “военную машину своего государства” и на прочие прелести. И взгляд этот вполне понятен: они, как и любые нормальные люди, хотят жить спокойно. Просто жить. Они не хотят воевать, они не хотят, чтобы от их рук гибли другие люди, и они очень не хотят отправлять своих детей на войну. Но если требуется защищать себя, свою семью, свой народ и свое государство – то они будут защищать. И молиться, чтобы все поскорее закончилось, чтобы родные не погибли, а дети вернулись с границы живыми и здоровыми. Также как и нормальные люди по ту сторону границы.
Most ordinary Israelis have rather simple views on a “war machine” of their state, and it's understandable, they want a calm life, just like all other people. They don't want to fight, to see other people die, and they really don't want to let their children go to war. But if they do have to defend themselves, their families, their people and their state – then they will. And they will pray it ends soon, and their relatives don't die and their children return from the borders alive and well. Just like other normal people on the other side of the border”.

author: Leila Tanayeva


text:
Brunei: Wreck Dives in Brunei · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The blogger at Brunei Resources introduces some ship wrecks popular with divers in Brunei.


text:
Cambodia: French Films on Cambodia · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Andy Brouwer introduces two recent French movies filmed in Cambodia


text:
Flying Over the Iraqi Blogodrome · Global Voices
Salam Adil

I'm on holiday – posting from a smoky Internet Café in Turkey – so only time for a small sliver of the Iraqi blogs this week. There are two that really stood out and make essential reading. Both are from the same kind of person, secular, middle-class, Westernized, Iraqi. Both have experienced the horrors of war firsthand. Yet each comes to conclusions that are worlds apart and each describe their feelings more eloquently than any other writer I have read since the start of the Lebanon crisis. You want to know why blogs are going to push the established media out? Read these and you will see.
First, came Hala's post of her reaction to the Israeli bombardment of Lebanon. Hala recently returned from Beirut where she was one of the last tourists to enter in peacetime. She gives a daily account of life through the bombardment and gives one of the most eloquent reactions against the Israeli's I have seen anywhere:
I’ve never ever felt so humiliated in my life as I did seeing Israeli jets flying freely in the skies of Beirut… I loathed our weakness, I loathed being born as an Arab, I loathed living in London I hated myself so much I couldn’t even look in the mirror or watch my shadow as I walk. I felt so small and envied a tiny ant struggling to find its way through the sand.
I hate peace and I don’t believe in it anymore, it is so clear now that the more we bow and compromise the more we got stepped at and smashed. If there would be peace one day it has to be on our own terms.
Israel is talking about changing the culture of hate; what a joke, those cowards have the cheek to speak about hate. Israel has the right to defend itself; and talking about us trying to throw them in the sea, so meanwhile they are throwing us in hell.
The US has only one goal, that is to turn the area to a desert and drain it freely; armless, helpless, pacified and who dares to say a word.
It is very hard for me to say that our only salvation is to ally with Iran, the only strong country left, enough is enough we are living in an era where you have to be feared not respected.
And a small message to all the hypocrates; you may kill and slaughter trying to establish a so called “The New Middle East”; rememmber you are fighting an ideology not a group of people.
Nasrallah is not a terrorist; he is probably the last dignified man in the area. Right now he is the only man I can take my hat off for.
Then came Mohammed's post in Iraq the Model:
I feel I must talk about the Arab media and its deception campaign and that's because wars in both Lebanon and Iraq are largely the same. In both cases the media functions not only as a means to deliver news but had long turned into an effective weapon that is not the least interested in objectivity or factuality. …
Perhaps the peak in the destruction curve inflicted by the Arab media on the Arab mind was in the exploitation of the Qana tragedy, … I was horrified by the ugly scenes of extracting the dead children's corpses from beneath the rubble. That scene was a disgusting act of begging for sympathy and an attempt to sell the dead childhood to serve an evil cause…
This is utter absurdity that challenges reason and diverts the view from the real criminal, the children-murdering butcher Nesrallah. Don't ever think those criminals were hurt by that scene … if they really care about the children and the innocent we would've seen similar angry reaction and uproar to what they show now when more than a hundred of children were massacred in two terror crimes in Baghdad in 2004 in Hay al-Amil and 2005 in New Baghdad. …
The murderer in those crimes was not a pilot unsure of what was inside a building and it wasn't midnight either, no, the criminal went purposefully straight into a crowd of children celebrating a new project in their neighborhood or receiving candies and gifts.
… the murderer was Arab and Muslim and holding him responsible would've blown away the ideology of “resistance”
Although these posts are worlds apart, there is a common thread. A deep hatred of the hypocrisy of media and governments. and a recognition that the days of peaceful negotiation are over.
A sense of perspective
Neurotic Wife cuts through all the emotional language and gets to the point:
Now lets get into the nitty gritty…People have to understand that theres a fine line between what people define terrorism and what people see as self defense…The daily killing of Iraqis is a terrorism act…The Qana massacre is a terrorism act… 911 was a terrorism act…Oklahoma bombing was a terrorism act…Any killing of any kind that involves innocent people going victims IS A TERRORISM ACT… Had the scene been reversed and the shelter was in Israel, I probably would have reacted the same way but maybe with less ferver…Most of the victims in Lebanon that were killed were innocent people and not Hizbollah militia…
Do I support Hizbollah??? No I dont support Hizbollah…Do I support the Israeli action??? No…Do I support Al Sadr??? No No No…And when I say I dont support these people, I mean I do not support their policies…I do not judge people by their faith, nor do I judge people by their nationality…But Im sorry to say that there are many ignorant people in this world, that are extremely judgemental and I will also say very shallow…Take Oklahoma bombing for instance…The minute it took place all fingers pointed to the Middle East…Doesnt that tell you something???
And Finally…
There has been the biggest Iraq blogger meeting ever in Amman, Jordan last week. So what do you think they did? Plot the overthrow of the mainstream media? develop a solution for world peace? devise a new political system?
Morbid Smile writes: “There were Hala_S, Anarki, The Kid, Zeyad, Attawie and me. My sister was around but she was exploring the place with Mom. It was fun. We talked about blogs, Baghdad and other stuff, and sure a few political topics!”
What??? That was it??? Oh no, there was one more thing…
Attawie and I went to movies and watched Pirates of the Caribbean II. Being a big fan of Johnny Depp, I'd say that the movie was so much fun and Jack Sparo was hilarious! After the movie we went out to the mall and walked around for hours and took many photos
Ho hum.

author: Salam Adil


text:
Iran: Constitutional Revolution · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Parsikhan reports that a seminar was held in Tehran to commemorate 100th year of Iranian Constitutional Revolution. According to the blogger, Mohammad Khatami, former President was first speaker of this seminar [Fa]. Several other reformist politicians took part in this conference.

author: Fred Petrossian


text:
Iran: Ganji talks about Gender Apartheid in Iran · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Omid Memarian, blogger & journalist reports that Akbar Ganji, dissident journalist will talk about Gender Apartheid in Iran in UC Berkeley in USA.


text:
Iran: Photos from Khorramshahr · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Haftan has published a link to a photo group exhibition about Khorramshahr 18 years after the Iran-Iraq War. Khorramshahr had been destroyed during the war. There are 32 photos available online .


text:
Philippines: Alcoholism in Philippines · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The blogger at Touched by an Angel looks at alcoholism in Philippines. “The effects of alcoholism are easily shown in the sensational section of the local TV news. How often do you see wives beaten up by their husbands? Or children being sexually abused by their biological fathers? What about that actor caught for drunk driving? Though I don’t have the statistics right now, I bet there are cases of drunk -related accidents or physical abuse.”


text:
Singapore: Emigration Concerns · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Blogger Kwayteowman tackes on the concerns expressed by some on the keenness of many younger Singaporeans to emigrate to other countries.


text:
Singapore: Life in the 80s · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Smoot blogs about a article going around Singapore's online space about the life in the 1980s Singapore.


text:
Ukraine: Victor Yushchenko the Anti-Hero (Or Not) · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Victor Yanukovych is Ukraine's new prime minister, and it looks like the president, Victor Yushchenko, is the nation's new “anti-hero.”
At least, this is what LJ user didaio concludes (UKR) after reading through the recent posts of his fellow-bloggers:
Before August 2, the only problem with my friend list was that it had few people on it. The reason for that was that I used to add only Ukrainian-language journals (with just a few exceptions). About 95 percent of my friend list are political [blogs]. Before, there was no one on it who was openly pouring dirt on the President.
After August 2, I saw more dirt directed at the President in my feeds than I'd ever seen directed at [Oleksandr Moroz] (after July 6) or at Yanukovych. Judging by the feeds, the nation's main anti-hero is Victor Andriyovych Yushchenko. Everyone's calling him beekeeper [pasichnyk] now […]. There can be only two reasons for this: his refusal to dismiss the parliament and the nomination of Yanukovych [for PM].
I don't want to judge these people's conclusions; I just want to say what I've been saying always (even back in [Leonid Kuchma]'s time): such attacks on the President are immoral […].
In these two days, I've also heard similar accusations directed at me. I've also been accused of having […]  low intellectual level. The reason is my support for the President's latest actions.
So that no one has any doubts or questions as to my position, I repeat: I support the signing of the Universal of National Unity, support the creation of the new Coalition of the [Party of the Regions], [Our Ukraine] and [Socialist Party] (without [Communist Party]). I am immensely sorry that [Yuri Yekhanurov] is no longer the premier, and that the ex-con Yanukovych has replaced him. But this is the objective consequence of irresponsible behaviour of the Orange Team in the past year and a half. I've been a steadfast supporter of the Our Ukraine-Party of the Regions Coalition since March 27, 2006 [one day after the  election]. And I'm very glad [Yulia Tymoshenko] is the opposition now – I'm positive she won't let the President and the government relax.
I'm very sorry that the friends whose feeds I used to read with pleasure now allow themselves to abuse the President of Ukraine. But I hope that my position and theirs won't affect our virtual relations, though if someone decides to delete me from their friend list, I'll understand.
It turns out, however, that there are plenty of bloggers who share didaio‘s views and are supportive of president Yushchenko:
czyk [in Belarusian]: I respect your president. I see logic in what he does, even though at times, he has to choose from [the worst]. I don't understand what the new election could change. Maybe the problem's not the president but the country: this is what it is now, not all of it is Europhilic, not all of it is Orange. […]
love_precious: We voted for him, we gave him life as the president, and now we have to support him, attempt to understand his position. Yulia in the opposition is good for the Country. Let's judge Yushchenko when his presidency is over – whether life has become better or worse. And in general, would any of us be capable of a better performance? It's always easy to judge.
pashyrey: Oh, and I thought I was the only one like this :)) You've expressed all my thoughts almost verbatim.
didaio: I also thought that I'm the only one like this. But all comments to this post have convinced me that I'm not the only one. It's very, very nice to read it! Thank you!
pashyrey: Maybe this is because people who support the President are calm, have minimum emotions, and don't write much, unlike the opposite side. That's why it seems as if you are a white crow next to what appears to be mass dissatisfaction.
LJ user nezloy quotes (RUS) what Yanukovych said back in 2004, a year and a half ago, as a reminder – and an explanation of why it is such a blow to many to have this man as prime minister again:
[photo omitted]
“I believe that there are a lot more strong and healthy people than these animals [‘goats’ in the original], who aren't letting us live the way we want to!” This is what V. Yanukovych said [about his political opponents] on October 21, 2004, in his address to representatives of local communities of Luhansk region. […]
LJ user faina_kaplan dreams (UKR, RUS) of her dislike for Yanukovych – and writes about Yushchenko's unfulfilled promise to prosecute the criminals who were part of the previous regime:
In a dream tonight, I saw [Yanukovych] tied to a chair, like in a mafia movie, and it was possible to do whatever you wanted to with him. And I was eating cherries, throwing pits at him, saying: “I hate you, do you understand? And not just me, but the whole nation hates you!” – And he looked at me sadly and said that he'd keep on moving toward integration with Europe.
***
kosta_kosta: And I'd put [Yushchenko] next to [Yanukovych]. And [extinguish cigarettes] on them, not throw pits. […]
faina_kaplan: Better think of how [late Georgy Kirpa] must be feeling now: he shot himself prematurely. He really believed that “Bandits will go to jails.”
kosta_kosta[…] And my friend said this today: “A thief's place is in the Cabinet of Ministers.”
LJ user mc_yulka, a Kyiv journalist, experienced a different type of disappointment with president Yushchenko (RUS): because of his early-morning decision to nominate Victor Yanukovych as prime minister, her cover story about Israel's Russian-speaking community and the war was no longer a cover story, and since an urgent redesign of the magazine's cover was needed, her photo of two Israeli children (originally from Dushanbe, Tajikistan) had to be replaced:
Just an hour ago, the new issue of the magazine was supposed to come out with my photo of two kids that I took in a shelter outside Haifa during a bombing alert […]. It was the first and the last chance in my life to have a photo taken by me on the cover.
But then, shortly after 2 am, Yushchenko came out and spoke quite a bunch, and the cover had to be changed, and now there'll be Yushch on the cover, instead of the children from the shelter.
Yes, I'm VERY VERY VERY
VERY VERY VERY
VERY VERY
UPSET.
I haven't slept in 46 hours. And I thought that – with a front page story – and with my photo on the cover – that it was worth it. But it's not worth it. […]
mc_yulka has posted some of the pictures from her Israel trip here, and the cancelled cover here (RUS):
UNDER THE PROMISED LAND: Hizbullah's bombing of Israel has united former Odesa, Ivano-Frankivsk and Kyiv residents in the shelters.


text:
Vietnam: South Saigon · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Itsthefinalword looks at the changing face of southern Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Comment left by a visitors sums up the change “The area looks ritzy. Even in my wildest dreams, at the time my family left the city at the conclusion of the war, I cannot imagine Saigon would look like this 36 years later. It is just unbelievable how things can change in just 3 decades. I hope w/all the economic progress, Saigon can still retains its soul.”


text:
What Salvadoran bloggers are saying — August festivals · Global Voices
Tim Muth

The first week of August in El Salvador is a week for vacation.  In Spanish, El Salvador means “the Savior” and nothing gets done as this historically Roman Catholic country celebrates the week leading up to the feast day of El Salvador del Mundo.  It is a time of trips to the beach, religious festivals, travel, and tragically, too much alcohol and too much violence.
Carlos X, writes a post at Tim's El Salvador Blog describing the religious background of the festivals, the celebration of El Salvador del Mundo, patron of San Salvador and the whole country.  The week's parades and religious events lead up to “La Bajada” when a statue of Jesus Christ is paraded through the streets of the capital, before being lowered into a massive globe in the square before the Metropolitan Cathedral.  The figure then emerges in bright white robes out of the globe to the cheering crowd of the faithful.  But, Carlos writes, there is another side to these festivities:
In San Salvador, the date is also associated with the constant specter in the Salvadoran experience: tragedy. Each year, the August holidays are taken by most as an excuse to engage in prolonged recreational activities that rival the European vacations in August. The predictable alcohol use and massing to beaches along crowded highways makes the patronal feasts a lethal and catastrophic week in the Salvadoran calendar. Hundreds die every year, shot, drowned, crashed, and plain ill-fated. As if to drown out the adversity, Salvadorans pile on to the festivities, holding even more parades, carnivals, concerts, beauty pageants, sporting events, and other revelries for the week that brackets the August 6 Feast Day. Even the Church has expanded its celebration, parading out the Our Lady of Peace icon from San Miguel province, and the Black Christ of Esquipulas from neighboring Guatemala to accompany the Divine Savior in the street processions.
Chuck Stewart noted in his blog the dramatic rise in knifings and murders in the first few days of the August festivals, and by today, more than 70 persons had lost their lives in violence, traffic accidents and drownings.
Nelsons looks at the messages prevalent in Salvadoran media and advertising in this time period, which emphasize consumption and the self and sees consequences in the number of drunk driving accidents and other tragedies in the season.  He uses his blog post to urge families to find quality time for peace, reflection and talking with one another.
Salvador Canjura is one of tens of thousands of Salvadorans who visit Guatemala during the holiday week, but finds himself stuck in traffic jams as part of the Salvadoran “invasion” of Guatemala during this week of August.

author: Tim Muth


text:
China: Money’s on the TV · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Two quick thoughts: A look at Chinese television [zh] from Southern Metropolis Daily columnist and Lian Yue's Eighth Continent blogger Lian Yue (连岳) dated August 5:
作为权力玩物的电视台
中国可能是世界上电视台最多的国家之一，同时观众选择权也是最少的，拿着遥控器巡一遍（如果你这么无聊的话），就会发现千台一面，都一样的惨不忍睹，同时你还会知道，除了中央电视台这样少数几个富得流油的电视台之外，多数电视台看起来日子并不好过，因为它们几乎都播同样的虚假广告，丰胸增高，不育不孕，矮子可以增高，肥婆轻易变瘦，凡是有点脑子的人，都不会相信这样的广告，它们造成的感官污染几乎让所有人深恶痛绝，可是它们被广电总局一禁播，有电视台就减了百分之六十的收入（据《新京报》8月3日新闻）——这说明过于泛滥低劣的电视台主要依靠骗术生存，在法律框架内几乎没有任何商业价值，注定是个赔本的货色，但是这不妨碍所有电视都坚强地存在着，并且电视台还会越来越多，再过几年，也许乡一级电视台可以也会普及起来，它们不可能靠财政养着，又没有正规厂商愿意投入广告，与骗子合流是唯一的出路，所以广电总局的禁令我个人并不看好，被禁的五类广告风头一过，迅速复活是可以预期的。
And a look at American television from Technology, Media and Telecom commentator at MindMeters, journalist-blogger Lin Jiashu (林嘉澍):
CNN+YouTube=?
时代华纳集团旗下的有线电视网CNN在周一推出了“草根新闻”站点CNN Exchange。在首页上，有几行醒目的标语：“CNN Exchange邀请你与新闻相连：无论在何处看到I-Report的标志，即请分享你的故事、你的图片、你的新闻”，“见证了一次新闻事件，或者有心得体验与人分享？请发送你的突发新闻I-Report”。如果将“I”译作“我”，那么个人视角显然是这个栏目的重点。按照Cnet的说法，这个创意应该是受到了YouTube的启发。本月初，CNN在报道黎巴嫩冲突时播放了YouTube上的视频片段。这支视频现在已经被观看了36万次，拥有3600多条评论。而这类来自战地居民的作品，无疑拥有比CNN记者更具原生态的视角和不可替代性。
According to CNET, this innovation was probably inspired by YouTube. At the beginning of this month, in covering the conflict in Lebanon, CNN broadcast segments of video from YouTube. This clip of video has now been viewed over 360,000 times, with over 3600 comments. Work originating in a warzone like this undoubtedly possesses a much more natural and irreplaceable angle than any CNN journalist.
在全球的传统媒体品牌中，时代华纳算是最容易让人联想到互联网的一家。2000年，他们和如日中天的美国在线完成了价值千亿美元的并购，市场价值一度高达2900亿美元。时至今日，他们的市值仅剩下当时的1/4不到。在首轮互联网泡沫全面破灭之后，策划并购案的美国在线已经被从公司名称中剔除出去。相比六年前的大手笔，时代华纳最近一系列拥抱新媒体的举措只能算是小动作。除去CNN Exchange，美国在线也计划推出一个视频站点，希望用新媒体的广告收入逐步取代日渐势微的互联网接入业务。美国在线的计划让传统电视媒体拥有了新的内容发布渠道，而CNN Exchange则在视频内容的制作方式上做出了实质性的改变。如果说2000年的并购案更像暴发户的盲目挥霍，那这些细小的转变则是环境成熟后的稳步拓张。

author: John Kennedy


text:
Cuba: Anti-government posters appear · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Marc Masferrer links to a CubaNet article stating that anti-government posters appeared in the city of Santiago de Cuba, bearing the messsages “Fidel, you have finally arrived at your end,” and “Fidel, you must have already died before.” The article also reported an increased military and police presence in the city.


text:
Food Blog Report #27 · Global Voices
Melissa De León

#1: From Stockholm, Sweden: Clivia's Cuisine and her marvelous Swiss chard dolmadas with rice and mushrooms! A gem of a recipe, and it looks delicious…
Last week I visited Rosendals trädgårdar at Djurgården in Stockholm and found a big bunch of Swiss chard for only 15 SEK, so I bought it without even thinking what to make of it. I put it in a vase on our kitchen table and turned to my trusted cooking guru Anna Bergenström for advice. I have written about her before and cannot praise this woman enough. She is simply the best! I use her cookbooks all the time and have yet to try a recipe of hers I don´t like. These Swiss chard dolmadas was another success! She gave the recipe in the book more like a description than a recipe with exact measures and I describe it in the same way.Get the recipe now!
#2: From Argentina, SaltShaker shares a recipe to prepare "Peruvian Tuna Casserole"
The addition of canned tuna to the classic Peruvian mashed potato dish, causa, was no doubt an improvement in the nutritional content of the dish, since prior to that it seems it was not much more than cold seasoned mashed potatoes, but it has also led to arguments amongst the Peruvian foodie community over authenticity and limits on creativity. Not being a fan of the latter, and while caring enough to pay tribute to the former, not being a slave to it, I’m game to take recipes in varying directions. So this is my first tuna causa (making, not eating), in fact, my first causa period…Read the complete post!
#3: From the U.K.,  Food In the Main writes about a traditional recipe to prepare Cabbage Thogayal (chutney)
Just another of the variations on thogayal or chutney that are made in homes all over South India – and in homes all over the world wherever there are South Indians.
This time I used cabbage – green cabbage, which made my thogayal look quite pretty with little green flecks from the cabbage and little red flecks from the dried red chillies and golden bits of fried urad dal. Thogayal in general is really best when eaten fresh – keeping it in the fridge overnight detracts a lot from taste and texture. Continue reading…
#4: From Singapore, A Curious Mix presents a delicious recipe to prepare "Cumin Chicken Wings"
Evenings I come home feeling not like withered spinach, I make dinner. A request for meat came over the phone that evening when I was on the outbound bus from the office. Get the wings out of the freezer and into the water now! I instructed. And this, was the tasty result. Get the tasty recipe…
#5: From Malaysia, Have your Cake and Eat it Too bakes a marvelous looking "Tiramisu Cake" and a "Moist Moist Carrot Cake"
#6: From Mexico, Mental Masala stirs up the traditional "Roasted Tomatillo Salsa"
I first used all of the tomatillos to make a thick, slightly chunky tomatillo salsa (recipe below). Then, later in the week, I took the remaining salsa, and converted it into a thin, smooth sauce to use in enchiladas verdes, the process for which I will describe below.
I used the salsa as the finishing touch on a plate of enfrijoladas (tortillas coated with pureed black beans) that were topped with roasted nopales (cactus paddles), zucchini, and grated melting cheese. Continue reading…
#7: From Burundi, Diana Buja explains all about their ‘Heart of Africa’: Burundi Goat Rehabilitation Project.
Goats are the most important livestock in much of Africa, providing manure and acting as a ‘savings bank on the hoof’ – and, of course, ready meat for feasts and celebrations. So, with over 75% of the livestock having been slaughtered or stolen during the last 13 years of civil war, farmers are having serious problems.
Recently, we had to slaughter a doe [female goat] who had severely broken a leg and this gave the opportunity for making a favorite dish – cumin roast of goat shoulder or leg wrapped in dough. I’ll put up some pictures and the recipe below, but first a little more information on Burundi and the people here. Continue reading and take a look at the great photos!
#8: From Sydney, Australia,  Milk and Cookies went to the market: Good Living Pyrmont Grower's Market.
The ground was more than a little damp but there is little that will keep these foodies away from a good marketplace, especially when it’s the monthly Good Living Pyrmont Grower’s Market. Most of the usual stands regular market-goers have become acquainted with were present and it was nice to see the popularity of these vendors continue. However, one new stall that caught my eye was the Rosy Reds Orange stand which was revelling in its newfound popularity. Many were attracted to this citrus’ juicy bright red appearance and equally fascinated by the sign that clearly stated they were "not blood oranges" but actually a variant of the navel orange. Being the citrus-fruit groupie that I was, I made haste for the stall to see what all the fuss was about and to of course, have a taste. The oranges were deceptively sweet and not as acidic as conventional navel oranges. Read the complete post…
#9: From France, 18C Cuisine spices up this report with some homemade "French Green Walnut Wine" (Vin de Noix), and "Ginger Ice Cream with Balsamic Caramel Sauce." Simply Delicious…
#10: From Morocco, Field to Feast explores traditional cooking techniques, produce and delicious recipes from Africa. Do not miss her "Meticulously Moroccan" post, it has a scrumptious recipe to prepare "Vegetable Tajine."
Have a wonderful week!

author: Melissa De León


text:
The week that was in Bahrain  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

After almost a month of continuous bombing, most of Bahrain's bloggers have strayed away from covering Lebanon and Palestine and turned their attention to home affairs – except for Sabbah, who continues to provide blanket coverage of the atrocities being committed against Arabs in the occupied territories.
He even posts the complete speech of Hizbulla‘s leader Hassan Nasrulla, in which he doesn't mince his words and threaten to hit Tel Aviv should the atrocities continue.
“If you strike Beirut, the Islamic Resistance will strike Tel Aviv and it is able to do so,” Nasrallah said.
“(If) at any time you decide to stop your campaigns on our cities, suburbs, civilians and infrastructure, we won’t strike with rockets any settlement or Israeli city …” he said.
“You can’t destroy Hizbollah … because the resistance is not a classic army or a regular state …” he said. “The resistance is a people who has the belief, the will and who loves martyrdom.
“The resistance will not be broken, the resistance will not be defeated.”
“The Israeli army is a giant machine that is blind, stupid and incapable,” he said.
“I assure (you that) whatever the results of the war, Lebanon won’t be American and Lebanon won’t be Israeli and Lebanon won’t be one of the bases for the ‘new Middle East’ which George Bush wants and which Condoleezza Rice wants,” he said.
Mahmood Al Yousif, meanwhile, mocks Arab countries for their lack of action (!!) regarding Lebanon.
“So, at last they have awoken to attend an Arab Foreign Ministerial conference in Beirut next Monday to:
It will be a high level congregation that will demonstrate to the world Arab solidarity with Lebanon and outright rejection of the Israeli aggression against it. Moreover it will repudiate the UN security council’s ineptness in effectuating a decisive ceasefire in Lebanon
Oooh, they will REPUDIATE the UN for its ineptness! That brings another idiom to mind: the pot calling the kettle black!” he writes.
Away from wars and destruction on a regional scale, Silly Bahraini Girl, a Bahraini blogger now in Ontario, Canada, is also back to ranting this week with two posts.
In the first she expresses her exasperation at the way foreign workers are treated in her country, where:
“our economies are still largely functioning thanks to a slavery system, which was never abolished, despite ratifying one international treaty after the other. Signing treaties and making promises and then going back on them isn't anything new, but this is another topic altogether. We pay some of those people an average $100 a month, to work day and night, night and day, sometimes without days off. They live in labour camps, sleep one on top of the other and are excluded from public life and segregated from normal everyday activities and life. Their's is a life of servitude, in which they work and toil and drop death or go up in flames. Who cares?”
This follows a fire in Bahrain, where 16 Indian labourers were killed after their ‘labour camp’ went up in flames, bringing the country's treatment of its expat labourers under the spotlight.
Despite the tragedy and the headlines it made over the previous days in the local Press, SBG is adamant that nothing will happen to change the fate of tens of thousands of unfortunate workers, caught in the web of slavery in the Gulf.
“But mark my words… they will be bullied into submission.. and the lives of those 16 – whom we don't even have the decency to identify and honour- would have been lost for nothing!!” she reflects.
If the way her countrymen and women treat foreign workers at home annoys SBG, check out what she has to say about Gulf nationals she has come across in Canada.
“This building we live in here is the most upscale expensive condominum in this part of the country. All the people who live here are professionals, mainly doctors and lawyers. Mostly doctors. So this ******  must be a doctor. I really don't know how he deals with the patients everyday. I also don't know what picture does his rudeness and obnoxious behaviour project about Arabs here,” she writes.
Speaking of doctors, our Bahraini doctor in Alaska, Dr Haitham Salman, is making the most of the limited summer offered in those cooler climes.
He has gone to a You Pick farm instead of the local supermarket, to pick his fruit and veggies for the week!
Meanwhile, yet another Bahraini doctor, in Ireland this time, is also busy…spending his well-earned money!
“Feels good. Quite good, actually.
Time to go and enjoy it now!” is all he offers us at this point.
While Dr Mo is busy spending his money, a Saudi woman activist is investing her time challenging the way women are treated in her country, reports Mahmood.
“It is incidents like these that make me think that there is a future for my daughters in these countries,” he reflects.
But ‘incidents’ like this are just a drop in the ocean, as Mahmood already knows, especially after reporting the latest regulations which will soon be imposed on the Internet in Bahrain.
“I can’t believe this, once again the Ministry of (dis)Information has taken it upon itself to protect our true Arabian and Muslim culture and ourselves from ourselves by insisting on blocking some Internet sites it deems offensive and “alien to our culture.”
Well who the hell put you as a chaperone for me and my thoughts? If I want to see porn, I’ll get porn, and no matter what the hell the Misery of Information or BIX does is going to stop me or anyone else from reaching the information we seek,” he writes.
But don't you worry! This week saw the birth of a new blog, which promises to chronicle the life and adventures of a Bahraini ‘superhero’  – The Boilerman, who may perhaps live up to his promises become our saviour at those difficult times!

author: Amira Al Hussaini


text:
Afghanistan: Electricity & Kabul · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Dialogue 3  talks about the electricity shortage in Kabul. The blogger says according to Ministry of Energy & Water  [Fa]: From 8 am to 6 pm all hospitals, governmental offices and embassies have electricity. From 6pm to 9 pm  two third of Kabul has electricity and from 9pm to 5 am only one third of Kabul has electricity.


text:
Algeria: Paying Foreign Debt · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Nouri Lumendifi says that one of the best things about this recent boom in oil prices has been that countries with lots of foreign debt, like Algeria, have been able to pay of their debts to the world's wealthier countries.

author: Haitham Sabbah


text:
Argentina: Modified Photos in Mainstream Media · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Writing from Buenos Aires Mariano Amartino spreads the news that bloggers found a modified photo which was published by Reuters. “What is really odd is how a photo with such a serious error was able to pass through all the layers of editing at Reuters,” remarks Amartino.


text:
Armenia: Internet Out · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian reports on this weekend's internet outage in Armenia. Krikorian says that high prices, poor quality service, and outages are all the result of ArmenTel's monopoly on internet access.


text:
Bahamas, Cuba: Reparations · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Nicolette Bethel is normally a bit skeptical about calls for reparations for slavery, but if Miami Cubans can demand them — so can she.


text:
Bahrain: Google Earth Blocked in Bahrain · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Bahrain Ministry of Information has instructed the Internet Exchange to block Google Earth. “Possibly because through Google Earth, the whole world, let alone the Bahraini users, can zoom in and have a good look at palaces and islands which a normal Bahraini wouldn’t even dream of one day coming close to, let alone stepping foot in, and the glaring confiscation of virtually all but 3% of beaches of the islands,” Mahmood said.


text:
Bangladesh: A National ID  · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Rezwan on why Bangladesh needs a National ID card as a solution to many problems – including the numerous databases.

author: Neha Viswanathan


text:
Bermuda: Self-made man · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The Limey wonders why a young, self-made man — a former prisoner turned lawyer — won't acknowledge what his success might mean to other young, black Bermudians.


text:
Bishop bloggers of the Philippines · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Philippines is the only Catholic-dominated nation in Asia. The Church maintains a considerable influence in the lives of Filipinos. Aside from delivering sermons from the pulpit or issuing pastoral letters, the clergy reaches out to its faithful through the cyberspace. Allow me to introduce the Bishop bloggers of the Philippines.
Archbishop Oscar Cruz of Northern Philippines, through his blog, Viewpoints, is a crusader against gambling and corruption in society. As a consistent critic of the present regime, he has become a credible voice of the Opposition. In his latest blog entry, he denounced the bogus anti-poverty campaign of the government.
“Promise them much but keep them poor. Picture to them their abundant future but keep them hungry. Meantime, assiduously observe the noodle economy—plus some rice and medicine grants. Every now and then. And they sing the praises of their leader. The only disturbing question is how long and how far could such a cruel gimmick work?”
Reflections is the blog of Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, the head of the very powerful Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. In his recent blog article, he defended the decision of some priests who gave assistance to rebel soldiers.
Archbishop Fernando Capalla of southern Philippines blogs through Dialogues. Bishop Antonio Ledesma’s blog is Pastoral Companion. Archbishop Orlando Quevedo is also a blogger through Perspectives.
The Meaning is owned by Bishop Jose Manguiran. According to the Bishop-blogger, “life is meaningful only when it begins and ends with Christ.”
Tidbits is the blog of Bishop Leonardo Medroso. He praised the laity in one blog article and narrated how the Church extends its power in society:
“They are unrecognizable, faceless people in the crowd, inconspicuous in society. But they are carrying within themselves the Christian faith to which they are deeply committed. These are the lay men and women of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. Because of this faith, they are there in the halls of Congress listening attentively to the discussions and deliberations regarding reproductive health, marriage, population control. They can be seen in the corridors of congress, entering the offices of senators and congressmen, talking with them, explaining, elucidating, clarifying, arguing for the pro-life stance of the Church on the issues of marriage and family life.”
Meanwhile, Bishop Teodoro Bacani writes a column for a national daily.

author: Mong Palatino


text:
Bolivia: “Happy Birthday Bolivia!” · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Jim Shultz notes the myriad ways in which Bolivia is celebrating its 181st year of independence. Miguel Buitrago has a thorough summary of stories on the inauguration of the 255 member Constituent Assembly in the official capital city of Sucre. And Eduardo Avila publishes some entertaining pictures of President Evo Morales playing an exhibition football match to celebrate the opening of the Constituent Assembly.


text:
Cambodia: Defining Modesty · Global Voices
Tharum Bun

After its absence for a decade, in this new millennium Cambodia sets to organize its first Miss Beauty competition. The nominated contestant will participate in next year’s Miss Universe contest. However, in an effort to preserve Cambodian culture, as suggested by the Ministry of Culture, swimsuit is not allowed, at least in domestic pageant.
It was in 1993 and 1995 that the country organized the Miss Beauty competitions. And the skimpy attire was also banned from the earlier contests. Socially conservative, largest population of the country is predominantly Buddhist.
The Culture Ministry said contestants cannot take to the stage in swimsuits.
Contestants must be properly attired at all times “to preserve Cambodian culture,” said Sim Sarak, a director-general of Cambodia's Culture Ministry. “There will be no section for a swimsuit parade in the event because our country has not yet advanced to that level.”
Knowing that the presence of Miss Cambodia in the upcoming contest will make the Cambodians proud, a Cambodian native writes:
Her present in the contest will map our country to the world. If she could make it to the top ten she could possibly use the situation to increase the world's awareness to Cambodia's present situation, highlight the need for better health care and the much needed help for the deprived children back home. But whether she can make it into the top ten or not we are already a winner.
For people who travel the world, modesty is natural. But, from one society to another, it is yet a point of debate. Guy at SweetCucumber writes:
The bikini was invented 60 years ago. Time to move on, guys…
Or like Garrison Keillor, the American humourist, said: “Looking at a girl in a bikini is like have a loaded revolver on the table: there’s nothing wrong with it, but it’s difficult to think of anything else.”
But a Singaporean hopes that:
“Given the recent success of Kurara Chibana in this year's Miss Universe pageant, Miss Cambodia should hopefully stand a good chance of doing well in next year's competition!”

author: Tharum Bun


text:
Caribbean, Canada: Caribana photos · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Maangchi posts photos from this year's Caribana street Carnival in Toronto.


text:
China: CCTV -1 condom · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A man in Fujian is trying to register a brand of condoms he calls “Central 1 condom” (zhong yang yi tao), which refers to CCTV-1. Ah Q weekly looks into the literal meaning of “Zhong yang Yi Tao”.  “Tao” is related with “trap and arrest”, therefore, if CCTV claimed the condom brand infringed its rights, CCTV would put itself into a “Tao” position (zh).

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
China: Central Propaganda Department · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translates an interview of a former deputy director of Central Propaganda Department, Liu Zhongde. Liu explains the department attitude towards popular culture. It gives some insights on the department's cultural policy.


text:
China: Sujiatun Concentration Camp · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translates Hu Hongda's statement on Sujiatun Concentration Camp which debunks the Falun Gong organ story. Hu heads the China Information Center based in U.S.


text:
Colombia: Nude Images Draw Criticism · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Andres Duque describes the storm of controversy resulting from a series of semi-nude photos with religious overtones published in the Colombian monthly SoHo: “The images, which depicted recreations of Biblical passages such as the last supper and the crucifixion with the nude actress taking the role of Christ, were accompanied by a sarcastic and blistering essay by polemic gay writer Fernando Vallejo on President Alvaro Uribe and his government's ties to organized religion, including the Colombian arm of the right-wing Catholic group Opus Dei.”


text:
Egypt: Photographer caught doctoring Lebanon pics · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

The really stupid thing about the freelance photographer for Reuters who doctored his pictures is that his stupidity will discredit the thousands of real pictures out there that show what an ugly war this has been. And while the pro-Israel blogosphere probably rejoices, it doesn’t change that between 600 and 900 Lebanese people, for the most part civilians, have been killed, Issandr said.


text:
Guyana: The other side of the story · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The plot thickens as Guyana-Gyal learns more about a local drug addict.


text:
Iran: Reformist journalists won election! · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Iran paparazzi reports that reformist journalist won Association of Journalists’ election. The blogger says it is possible that Ministry of Labour does not accept this election and conservative journalists who lost the election, will launch a new Association of Journalists [Fa].


text:
Iran: Remember Mohammadi · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

FM Sokhan, writer & blogger has published Akbar Mohammadi's, activist student who died in prison recently, parents’ letter about the multiple  signs of torture on their son's body. The blogger has changed his/her blog name into “we don't forget Akbar Mohammadi” for one week [Fa].


text:
Iraq: Chavez is an Arab patriot · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

LadyBird says that Hugo Chavez proved to be more Arab patriot than all the Arab presidents combined together. She posts links to his interview with Al Jazeera.


text:
Israel: Fleeing toward Jerusalem · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

During the last intifada, those of us in Jerusalem had the dubious “honor” of being in the middle of the conflict. Buses and cafes were blowing up, and Israelis in other areas were often too afraid to come to the capital. Now the situation is reversed, and people from the north are fleeing toward Jerusalem, Sarah said.


text:
Jamaica: Happy Birthday! · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

On the anniversary of Jamaica's independence, Gela writes her native land a Happy Birthday letter: “Can't believe you're now 44! Wow! For a tiny island, you've made some serious strides boy (or are you a girl? hmm, I wonder).”


text:
Japan:  61’st anniversary of the atomic bomb  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

August 6 is the  61'st anniversary of the atomic bomb released on Hiroshima. Far East cynic reveiws the mainstream stream news report: “in the last 3 years I have been watching this, they always have coverage of Americans…either in America or visiting Hiroshima… these TV shows are always looking to show American remorse.”


text:
Kazakhstan: EITI · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Ben Paarmann writes about Kazakhstan's implementation of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative statutes. He says that if the EITI statutes are successfully implemented, high-level corruption in Kazakhstan could be seriously reduced.

author: Nathan Hamm


text:
Kyrgyzstan: Death Penalty · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Yulia of neweurasia translates a Russian language post on the debate over the death penalty in Kyrgyzstan.


text:
Latin America: Week in Review · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Erwin Cifuentes has a broad collection of valuable links from around Latin America reviewing the week of July 31 to August 6.

author: David Sasaki


text:
Lebanon: Our Arabness Is Not Conditional · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Doha couldn't help himself but cry with my Lebanese Prime Minister Seniora, as he cried too.
As he addressed the emergency Arab Foreign Ministers meeting in Beirut, he choked on the words: “Our Arabness is not conditional. It is not by force, but a choice.“


text:
Mexico: Obrador’s Supporters Disappointed · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Having just returned to Mexico City from South America, Ricardo Carreon observed last week that much of the “protest” in support of Lopez Obrador consisted of empty tents along Reforma Blvd. Carreon also links to a video tour of the Reforma area in the midst of the protests. Ana Maria Salazar comments on Lopez Obradar's speech yesterday after the Elecotral Tribunal announced there would not be a nation-wide recount of votes.


text:
Morocco: Moroccan Jews accuse Peretz as war criminal · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Three Moroccan Jews in have asked a Moroccan court to charge Israel’s defense minister with war crimes. The three Jews, all known as leading leftists in Morocco, said Amir Peretz, Israel’s Moroccan-born defense minister, is still subject to Moroccan law, Samir said.


text:
Pakistan: About Satghara · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Shirazi writes about Satghara – a sleepy and dusty village that once was a power center in its own right. “The first impact that this monument leaves is an emotional one for it is a symbol of cultural identity a part of heritage. It also has architectural historic documentary spiritual and symbolic value. The remains of the monument have to be preserved and saved from total ruination a danger they are facing at present.”


text:
Pakistan: Why is Amitabh Bachchan wishing us? · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Amitabh Bachchan, an icon in the Indian Film Industry is seen in a Pakistani Advert promising a surprise for Pakistan on August 14th, which of course is the Pakistani Independence Day. Some bloggers don't quite like the idea of someone as Indian as Bachchan posing for an advert, while others find it well.. cute. More at Metroblogging Karachi.


text:
Palestine: A Cultural Boycott of Israel · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Palestinian filmmakers, artists and cultural workers are leading a call for a cultural boycott of Israel. In light of the recent escalation of Israeli attacks against Lebanon and the Palestinians in Gaza, Palestinian artists are initiating a mass movement to isolate Israel. It is aimed at giving Israel the same treatment as the last Apartheid state, Will said.


text:
Palestine: Rafah’s Remains after “Summer Rains” · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

The military withdrew from Rafah yesterday, early morning and returned yesterday night and are now present at the airport and the outskirts of Rafah. The destruction that they have left behind since last Thursday, August 3rd, consists of 13 killed, including three children one of which was a three day-old infant. Over 200 dunams of agricultural land that was mostly olive and palm trees are completely destroyed, ISM reports.


text:
Poland: Helena Wolinska · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The beatroot writes about the UK's refusal to extradite Helena Wolinska, a 79-year-old Stalinist prosecutor, to Poland.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


text:
Poland: The Government and the Mass Media · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The beatroot writes about the current government's relations with the Polish mass media: “It’s unprecedented in the western world that a government has no friends at all in the MSM.”


text:
Romania: Saturday Morning Cacophony · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Romerican writes about the cacophony of a Saturday morning in Romania – and posts some pictures. A reader awards this post with “the Golden Electric Whistle Award for making [her] snort chocolate milk from laughing so hard.”


text:
Russia: Chick(en)s Tortured · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Copydude writes about chicks, chickens, KFC, PETA, Kremlin and the CIA.


text:
Russia: “Gulagland” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sean's Russia Blog writes about Vorkuta mayor's plans “to turn a former prison camp into a “reality” holiday camp for tourists looking to spice up their vacation with the experience of Soviet camp life.”


text:
Sexism gone corporate · Global Voices
Maurina H

I do think there is an ‘unofficial’ glass ceiling for female officers. The whole upper echelon of Brunei society is dominated by males. Could it be that since it is these same people who determine who gets the top jobs, the disparity exists?
MedLeo
Has sexism in the country gone corporate? Such are the comments arising from this post at The Daily Brunei Resources seem to be more interesting than the post itself. Do a “glass ceiling” really exist in the Brunei workforce amongst women despite the fact that women perform better than males? Hear the stories from the common folk.

author: Maurina H


text:
South Korea: 61.8% Koreans oppose U.S. troop withdrawal · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Robert Koehler in Marmot's hole looks into the age differentiation of a attitude survey on U.S troop withdrawal from South Korea.


text:
South Korea: Korea foundation cultural center · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

K. M. Lawson introduces  Korea Foundation’s Cultural Center in frog in a Well.


text:
South Korea: traditional media reflection · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Asia media forum puts up an interview with Kwon Tae-Sun, managing editor of Hankyoreh. Kwon reflects on the challenge of marketization and internet on the traditional media.


text:
Sri Lanka: Why Norway? · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Why exactly is Norway involved in the conflict resolution process in Sri Lanka? Komiyage Loke with conspiracy theories, oil and other factors that move the planet.


text:
Taiwan: diplomatic relation · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Taiwan lost diplomatic relation with Chad yesterday. Sun bin feels that “Taiwanese people should celebrate for losing such an unreliable friend”.


text:
Tajikistan: Passenger Complaints · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Vadim discusses passenger complaints against Tajikistan's national airlines.


text:
The Balkans: Karadzic Associate Arrested · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Balkan Ghost of Finding Karadzic writes about the arrest of “Karadzic main moneyman and protector” and examines “a couple important points in the Karadzic hunt.”


text:
Ukraine: Naftogaz · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LEvko of Foreign Notes writes about Naftogaz, the “black hole” of Ukrainian politics, and the current and former regime's involvement with it.


text:
Venezuela: Outsider Presidential Candidates · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Boli-Nica gives historical and geo-political context to the outsider presidential campaign of Benjamin Rausseo, wondering aloud if the Venezuelan comedian might actually have a chance against Chavez in this December's elections.


text:
Working for the First Wi-Fi City in Chile · Global Voices
Rosario Lizana

Salamanca (ES) is a city with a population of around 25,000. It is located in the fourth region, Coquimbo. The project is called “Salamanca: The first municipal XXI Century town”.  As Atina Chile (ES) explains, this is a project that involves the municipality of Salmanca (ES) , the Pelambres Copper Foundation, D-link, and organized by the Mercator Foundation (ES). The project starts in May and, according to their site, will focus on:
Paula Rojo (ES), from the Mercator Foundation writes:
The 60 volunteers have understood that the children and senior citizens will look at photos while connected in the main park of Salamanca; the 300 students of digital literacy;  the 200 students that are going to write on a blog, and the fact that all the authorities are working to revolutionize the city are evidence that confirm that is possible to decrease the gap that on paper cannot be removed.

author: Rosario Lizana


text:
Albania: Letter to the Country · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

David Sheern writes a letter to Albania, advising it “on how to become a better nation.”


text:
Argentina: Officers Tried in Italy · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Why will five Argentinian navy officers be tried in absentia in Italy? Jeff Barry explains.


text:
Argentina: Spanish Subtitles for Lessig Video · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Fernando Casale worked “like an ant” to add Spanish subtitles to a video of Lawrence Lessig from a presentation he gave at an event held last year in Buenos Aires.


text:
Armenia: Photo Manipulation · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian uses the dismissal of a Reuters freelance photographer in Lebanon for manipulating photos as a springboard to discuss photojournalists’ ethics and photo manipulation in Armenian media.


text:
Brunei: Digital Divide · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The blogger at Our Local Style looks at the digital divide in South East Asia.

author: Preetam Rai


text:
Chile: “How the Chilean Internet was Born” · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Everyone knows that Al Gore invented the internet (joking!), but how did that invention spread to Chile? Mary Joyce tells the story following her meeting with Professor Florencio Utrera.