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Kuwait: Swine Flu Blues · Global Voices
Amer Al-Hilal

Salutations from Kuwait City! Even though election related stories are dominating the Arabic-language blogs, this week the Swine Flu seems to be the story in the English-language blogosphere, among other topics.
We kick off today's round up with a post entitled ‘Freaking Out From Swine Flu,’ in which Danderma speaks of her manic compulsive sanitation habits not being enough to combat the dreaded Swine Flu:
I am literally freaked!!! I am the kind of person who get flu 600 times a year! And I do admit to have the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder thingy which can go very wrong!!! I already wash my hands with dettol 1000 times aday!!!! Flu has reached the UK! THey are testing people’s temperatures in Kuwait Airport Now! There is no Vaccine agasnt it until next Sep!
What to do?!  Stop Travelling? Hide in our homes? Wear a mask? Become the next Michael Jackson?! I do not blame the guy anymore! Bird Flu Dog Flu Fish Flu Horse Flu Swine Flu!!!!It is like something from those movies… where a plague moves all around the world… i am thinking 28 days later and shuddering!!!!
Teachmasses School Days is angry that the Swine Flu outbreak of 1976 did not lead to the development of a vaccine. In a post entitled “Swine flu conspiracy 1976” the blogger remarks:
This is NOT the first time there has been an outbreak of Swine Flu- Oh no…….SO WHY DIDN’T THEY DEVELOP A BLOODY VACCINE? There was a ‘contained outbreak’ in Fort Dix in the US in 1976. And what is even less encouraging about that little snippet, is exactly how and why swine flu was contained at the military base remains as mysterious as the strain’s origins.
Twenty Three gives us another take in a post entitled ‘What a load of Mexican Swine!‘ in which the blogger alludes to Sky TV reporter Edna Brady's description of Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5 as ‘bizzare’ and continues:
“You see pictures and reports from Mexico online and on TV,” Brady explained. “But actually seeing people at Heathrow walking round in masks really brings home the scale of this problem, and how worried people are.”
Twenty Three asks guests travelling to Kuwait to wear a mask and take precautions, adding:
This is becoming much more of a crisis than first thought…..If you look at the muslim countries, you’ll see for the meantime, we are safe……. BUT, only if we keep this OUT. People please, wear masks travelling into Kuwait.
Lastly, DixieBedouin offers an interesting link with background on the Swine Flu: Flying Pigs, Tamiflu and Factory Farms.

author: Amer Al-Hilal


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Kyrgyzstan: Elections and Ethnic Tensions · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Elena tells who will be the single presidential candidate from the opposition in Kyrgyzstan and reports on the inter-ethnic conflict in the country.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Liberians Are Talking, Are You Listening? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

“Liberia's national image has been defined by parachute foreign correspondents for nearly its entire history, since it was first founded as an independent republic by freed Black slaves from the United States in 1847. Today, Liberians are able to tell their own stories to an international audience by taking advantage of participatory media tools like blogs and photo-sharing sites,” writes David Sasaki following a blogging workshop he ran last year at the American Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia.
After emerging from civil war, Liberians are now adding their voices to the growing African blogosphere.
I should also point out that Liberia is the home of the blackboard blogger:
Alfred Sirleaf is an analog blogger. He take runs the “Daily News”, a news hut by the side of a major road in the middle of Monrovia. He started it a number of years ago, stating that he wanted to get news into the hands of those who couldn’t afford newspapers, in the language that they could understand.
Meet the Bloggers
Mainlehwon Ebenezer Vonhm blogs for peace at Peaceful Liberia.  After living in the United States for 10 years, Mainlehwon decided to return to Liberia to help with post-conflict reconstruction. He introduces himself:
My name is Mainlehwon Ebenezer Vonhm and I was born and raised in Liberia. I fled Liberia during the height of the civil war, lived as a refugee in several West African countries, and eventually, with the help of some American educators, was granted an opportunity to pursue my education in the USA. For the past 10 years, I have lived in the US, studying and learning about how peace education can serve as a pathway to peaceful civility and coexistence. Now I have decided to return home to help in the post-conflict reconstruction efforts. My goal is to build a comprehensive peace education program for Liberia and teach mediation as a means of achieving harmony and a better life for future generations. Quite simply, I'd rather plant seeds of peace.
In his latest post, he writes about his orientation to his new office, the Center for Peace Education:
I went to office on Monday dress up and ready to hit the ground running (picture is attached). Currently, the Center for Peace Education is functioning as a division under Aid for the Needy Development Program (ANDP) – a local non-governmental organization with its head office located at VOA Camp (1), Brewerville, on the outskirts of Monrovia. ANDP provides nutritional supplement for malnourish children and their parents.
Natyln writes about a mini ship wreck in Buchanan, Liberia:
A mini-fishing ship in the port city of Buchanan accidently appeared on-shore that left one person dead, one missing and another tragic motor accident occurring subsequently as the corpse was being taken to the hospital which left a commercial motorcyclist dead instantly upon collision of the ambulance and a motorcycle. DETAILS TO FOLLOW
D Kaihenneh Sengbeh analyses electoral politics:
Though the country’s second post war elections linger 30 months away with already a dark cloud hanging over the prospect, political parties and politicians have begun active preparations and are dreaming big of winning the looming challenging democratic duel.
Secret meetings and phone calls, active negotiations and crossing of carpets have intensified in recent months with the ruling Unity Party (UP), Liberia Action Party (LAP) and the Liberia Unification Party (LUP) – all old political allies 30 years ago – signing the first meager.
The UP-LAP-LUP has now cut down the number of political parties in the country from 18 to 15 after the National Election Commission had earlier on March 6, 2009 deregistered 10 other political parties for constitutional violations.
With a further expected reduction in the number of political parties, the Secretary General of LUP (one of the recent merging parties), Cletus Sieh, has hinted that the 2011 elections will be competitive, but may not have a second round as witnessed in the 2005’s.
Denna Gibson appeals to fellow bloggers to assist her with a laptop so she can blog continously:
IT IS NICE TO BLOG CONTINOUSLY BUT U CAN NOT DO SO IF U DO NOT HAVE A LAPTOP TO YOURSELF. I AM APPEALING TO MY FELLOW BLOGGERS TO PLEASE ASSIST ME WITH A MINI LAPTOP.THIS IS MY CONTACT NUMBER 06514919
Learn about the the Liberian “Queen of Bassa Gospel Music” from Nat Nyuan-Bayja:
Since Liberian Gospel music began to be deeply rooted in the nation, there has been a representation of the major Liberian vernaculars (dialects) which has firmly established itself among Liberians both at home and abroad. Given this, each of these vernaculars has its own ‘king’ or ‘queen’ as far as the level of talents possessed by said musician is concerned. That is why they are usually referred to “King/Queen of Gola, Mano, Kru (or whatever tribe) Gospel Music”.
Well, Mrs. Choko Wlehyou Barchue is one unique species hailing from one of the most popular (and probably most talented & social-able) Liberian vernaculars that takes center-stage in the ‘world of Liberian entertainment’; whether Gospel or secular. Choko’s incredible singing talent is coupled with her splendid dances that go along with her sharp nightingale voice to compliment it. That is why she is called “THE QUEEN OF BASSA GOSPEL MUSIC”.
What is life in Liberia without blogs?, wonders Titus Christ:
In  Liberia, life is a link that calls for adquate perfection. One is incomplete until he or she is linked with others.  If and only if life should exist, there must be existance of BLOG in Liberia…where every body will live in the village of information, message,image and picture.
Blogger Emmanuel Tobey is a photojournalist for the United Nations in Liberia. He blogs about the 5th person in Liberia to take home US$10,000:
Like many Liberians, making ends meet daily is like moon walking with out the popper equipment, but for some, the GSM Company (cellcom) has made moon walking look like drinking coco-cola, and now the 5th person Williams Blamo had taken the us$10.000 dollar walk, all you have to do is just call and talk and use two dollars and you will received an electronic ticket for the draw at each week end…………
Konti Amon writes about bitter tribal differences in legislative politics in the country:
Monrovia, Liberia- For long time now the political life of the country has been tied to tribal,sectional, and religious divide.
The recent leadership crises at the liberia senate is bring the bitter tribal differecies to the flood again.
“If those who put you in power don’t want you any more, you have to leave. I am resigning as president pro-tempore of the Liberian senate,” Sen. Nyanibo announced during a senate session.
Learn about photographers in Liberia from Sayon Emerson:
In Liberia there ara lots of photographers. Some of these photographers are selfemployed, while some work with different news media.
For those that are selfemployed, and only do photographing on commercial level, are mostly found on the street, or moving around in the community.
Out of the total number of photographers in Liberia about about 10%(ten) are owners of photo studio,while 5% work with news media.
Most of these Commercialphotographers are not members of the Press Union
Hello world, I am Ammens from Liberian,” writes Ammens Sarplah:
I am Ammens from Liberia, I am highly interested in entertainment and sports.I spend my leisure time listening to good music.The fine arts is more of a culture for me.
Celebrating World Consumer Day in Liberia, writes Keith on his blog Keith4Liberia:
Liberians joined many around the world to celebrate world consumer day for the first time in Liberia since this day was decleared in 1983 to be celebrated world wild.
During the program which took place at the  Monrovia City Hall, an association of  journalist for the promotion of consumer rights was organized and its leadership was inducted into office.
Woiworgoepogui writes about homicide cases in Liberia:
on the 26 of march 2009 an alleged homicide  case reported at my officer which took place at congo town monrovia liberia.victim sumo ,age 24, sex male,add sinkor monrovia liberia.during the observetion we observet that the victim was lying on the side of the road at congo town….
Kpannah blogs about gender-based violence in Liberia:
There  are  many  cases  of  gender  base  violance  in  liberia   The  last  week there  was a  girl  that  was  rape  by  her  borther  and  die from  the  effect  The  borther   is 21  years  of  age  and  she  was   11  years  when   it  happend.  The  boy  is  now  in  monrovia   leatral    prison   compound  .    The  mother  of  the  girl  is  crying  every  day.
Prince Tokpah thinks that the introduction of death penalty in Liberia has not reduced the number of armed robberies:
The government of Liberia last year enacted into law a bill that enforced the death panelty which the said would protect the citize of crime like arm robbery amoung others. This seem to be a myth as the level of arm robbery had in fact increase to a higher level. talking to some  citizen yesterday sa they said that the government is not looking to the cause of the problem but rather finding political aternative to real and difficult crime prevension and the protection of citizens and other that are residing in around monrovia.
Blogger Daniel Kokoi works for Amnesty International in Liberia:
I  started  working  for  amnesty  international  liberia in  november  2008  as  a  voluntary  worker.  in  january  of   this  year  i   received  tranining in human   right  advocay.
Varney Karneh writes about communication devices donated to the University of Liberia:
A team from the Universities of Massachusetts and Syracuse have donated an assortment of communication devices to the Mass Communication Department of the University of Liberia (UL). The items include four digital cameras, seven lenses, two dell laptop computers and accessories.
Liberia's former council chairman finally laid to rest, writes Moses Btogbah:
Liberia’s former state council chairman Professor Wilton Sakanwolo remains have finally been laid to rest. prof Sakanwolo appointed as head of the council in 1995 to lead one of Liberia’s many agreements during the the just ended civil conflict in the country.
the late Prof, wrote many books in Liberia including the famous “WHY NOWBODY KNOW WHEN HE WILL DIE? and thougth english and literature at many unversities in Liberia famous among them the Unversity of Liberia . he received state funiral.
Zoe identifies causes of underdevelopment in Liberia:
Liberia which is the oldest country in Africa,is the youngest on the line of Development based on some causes below:
Illiteracy:Because of the high illiteracy in Liberia,the minds of people are not developed as to how get involved into issues that will move Liberia forward.
Laurina blogs at Supreme Lady. She works at Sky FM radio in Monrovia. She writes about the joy of learning about blogging and photo-journalism:
THIS IS A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR ME 2DAY, TO BE A PART OF THIS ALL IMPORTANT WORKSHOP HERE AT THE AMERICAN EMBASSY. I HAVE GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO LEARN A LIL BIT MORE ABOUT PHOTO JOUNALISM AND NOW I HAVE JOINED A BLOG. I WISH MY LIL DAUGTHER GORETTI WAS HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT SHE’S IN SCHOOL. ANYWAY MY SIL GRACE IS HERE WITH ME, AND IT’S KOOL TO SHARE THIS EXPERIENCE WITH GRACE.
Liberian stories is one of the oldest Liberian blogs. However, the blog has not been updated since November last year. Elma Shaw is the owner of Liberian stories:
Elma Shaw writes about the ups and downs of living in post-war Liberia, and of being a Liberian in the diaspora. Writing with a sense of history, a bit of humor, and a sprinkle of irreverence, Shaw presents profiles & photos of people, places and current events. She is the author of Redemption Road: The Quest for Peace and Justice in Liberia (A Novel)
The Liberian Times is a blog dedicated to Liberian and world news:
TheLiberianTimes.com provides the latest Liberian, African, and World News from the most trusted name in Liberian news, now ranked as the #1 most read Liberian news website by Ranking.com. TheLiberianTimes.com features news on a wide variety of topics from staff based out of Liberia and the United States.
Saturdayhseke attended a literacy workshop for teachers:
A One-Day Adults Literacy Teachers TRAINING WorkShop ended on Thursday, March 12, with about fifty teachers participating.
The workshop which was organized by a local NGO ALFALIT INTERN
TIONAL, LIBERIA INCORPORATED based in Monrovia, was intended to train teachers who will teach illiterate people how to read and write.
Below is a list of other blogs by Liberian journalists compiled by David Sasaki in his post, Liberian Journalists Become Bloggers:
* First News Liberia
* Moussomag
* Bens Liberia
* JS Kpenneh
* Sengbeh
* Judicial Reporter Network
* The Forum News
* Azango Liberia
* Gudsdjaeploe

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Malaysia: Humans as Commodities · Global Voices
Daniel Chandranayagam

In early 2009, Malaysia had the dubious privilege of being investigated by the US senate for the trafficking of humans. News reports stated that the migrants involved were mostly from Myanmar, but other foreigners were also allegedly taken by the government officials to the Malaysian-Thai border, where they were extorted or sold to human trafficking syndicates.
According to AFP reports, a senate official stated:
US Senate foreign relations committee staff are reviewing reports of extortion and human trafficking from Burmese and other migrants in Malaysia, allegedly at the hands of Malaysia government officials… The allegations include assertions that Burmese and other migrants – whether or not they have UNHCR documentation– are taken from Malaysian government detention facilities and transported to the Thailand-Malaysia border.
According to the allegations, money is demanded from them at the border, or they are turned over to human traffickers in southern Thailand. However, that Malaysia might be a hotspot of human trafficking is not a new development. Veteran opposition leader, Mr Lim Kit Siang, posted on his blog that Malaysia was included in the United States Government’s 2007 Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Report in the Tier 3 list of the worst human trafficking offenders in June 2007.
Photo courtesy of Adli Ghazali
Mr Charles Santiago, Opposition politician, stated on his blog:
The recent news report stating that the US Senate is investigating allegations of Malaysian officials extorting money from foreign migrants are linked to human trafficking comes as no surprise.
I had raised this issue in Parliament last year with regards to the Burmese refugees, together with human rights organisations like Tenaganita and the Migration Working Group. But the Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar had only glossed over the matter… responding in a typical fashion, Syed Hamid in a reply to my question in Parliament said that a special committee formed by the Immigration Department to investigate claims contained in the programme had found that immigration officials were not involved in trafficking of the Burmese or other refugees.
Either Syed Hamid is naive enough to buy the story dished out by the Immigration Department, which had set-up a special team to investigate its own officers. Or he is desperate to ensure Malaysia does not receive bad press worldwide.
Photo courtesy of M.A.M09
Santiago went on to say:
The refugees live in fear of being caught by the immigration authorities and being deported to their countries of origin, to face political persecution, despite holding UNHCR cards.
They are constantly harassed by Rela* officers, a volunteer force, who are known to constantly be on the prowl for migrants and refugees. They even burn down make-shift homes of refugees in jungles.
If arrested, the migrants and asylum-seekers are lumped together in tiny immigration detention cells where flogging is the main form of punishment.
In short refugees live in a limbo in the country as Malaysia is yet to ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention. This means, the government does not need to officially recognise the refugees or the UNHCR documents that they carry.
It also, unfortunately, means that the government can shut a blind eye to allegations of abuse of power by immigration officers who make quick bucks extorting money from the refugees. Those who cannot pay off the extortionists are sold to brothels, fishing boats or as bonded labourers.
Meanwhile the refugees and migrants who are still in the country live in appalling conditions without proper sanitation facilities, housing, food and medicine. They and their children depend on handouts and the goodwill of others.
‘Miniaturz’, on the Star newspapers’ blog facility, stated:
It is to my personal hope that the US will be able to prove that the Malaysian Immigration personnels are involved in human trafficking. Although I do not approve of illegal immigrants in Malaysia, but the alleged modus operandi of the Malaysian Immigration is deliberate in nature to allow the abuse of subsequently detained illegal immigrants…
So, once again – the hypocrisy of the Malaysian Government is exposed big time. They talk about aiding the people from certain countries but right in our own country, fellow human beings are being treated like slaves for monetary purposes.
That Myanmar refugees and undocumented migrant workers face hardship is well known among Malaysians. Most urbanites, or at least those involved in civil society, are also aware of the allegations of abuse and torture in Malaysia's detention camps. That Malaysia is a ‘hotspot’ for human trafficking appears to be the logical next-step in the unfortunate sequence.
Photo courtesy of Adli Ghazali
In response to the investigation, the Home Ministry typically responded that Malaysia was not liable for any wrongdoing in the matter. Santiago stated on his blog:
… Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar had responded in ‘typical fashion’ in Parliament on the matter by announcing the formation of a special committee to investigate the claims, which were first exposed last year by private television network NTV7.
As predicted, it was “found” that immigration officials were not involved in trafficking of the Burmese or other refugees.
This came despite testimonials to the contrary from numerous migrant rights’ non-governmental organisations as well as the victims themselves.
“Either Syed Hamid is naive enough to buy the story dished out by the Immigration Department, which had set-up a special team to investigate its own officers or he is desperate to ensure Malaysia does not receive bad press worldwide,” Santiago told Malaysiakini.**
Now, on April 24th, 2009, it has been reported that top Republican on the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, handed to the Malaysian government a report “Trafficking and Extortion of Burmese Migrants in Malaysia and Southern Thailand.” The report alleges that “illegal Myanmar migrants deported from Malaysia were often turned over to human traffickers and forced to work in brothels, fishing boats and restaurants in Thailand if they had no money to purchase their freedom.”
The US Senate report, now commonly called “the Lugar Report”, was based on a year-long review by committee staff who interviewed migrants and human rights activists. According to the report:
Myanmar migrants in recent years might have become victims of extortion and trafficking once they were deported to Malaysia's northern border with Thailand. Upon arrival at the Malaysia-Thailand border, human traffickers reportedly take possession of the migrants. Migrants state that those unable to pay (the traffickers) are turned over to human peddlers in Thailand, representing a variety of business interests ranging from fishing boats to brothels.
Through the report, the US Senate Committee called on Malaysia to investigate and prosecute “the trafficking, selling and slavery of Burmese and other migrants.”
Photo courtesy of Adli Ghazali
Opposition veteran, Lim, noted on his blog:
The Senate investigators also received multiple reports of Burmese women being sexually abused by traffickers, including some in front of their husbands because, as one NGO employee cited in the report put it, “no one dares to intervene as they would be shot or stabbed to death in the jungle’’.
“[Burmese women] are sold at a brothel if they look good,” recounted one refugee. “If they are not beautiful, they [the traffickers] might sell them at a restaurant or house-keeping job.”
The committee launched the investigation in 2007 after hearing allegations about the trafficking of Burmese migrants “with the knowledge, if not participation” of Malaysian officials.
“The prospect that Burmese migrants, having fled the heavy hand of the Burmese junta, only to find themselves in harms’ way in Malaysia seemed beyond belief,” said the report.
Lim called on newly minted Prime Minister, Mr Najib Razak, to “respond with instant government action in keeping with his “Performance Now” motto on the Lugar Report which accused Malaysian officials of complicity in the human trafficking of Burmese refugees who have been sold into prostitution and other kinds of forced labour in recent years.”
Photo courtesy of M.A.M09
Santiago, in response to the report, stated on his blog:
Let’s get this straight. The refugees are not coming to Malaysia seeking better economic opportunities. They simply have no choice. They run into Malaysia, leaving behind families and children, to stay alive.
Their woes do not stop once they get to Malaysia. Here they are hunted down like animals by RELA, a bully group consisting of citizens who turn ad-hoc policemen.
Their refugee cards issued by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees or UNHCR is useless as Malaysia does not recognise their refugee status. Therefore the refugees are trapped in a situation where they cannot work and are constantly under the threat of being arrested by immigration and RELA officers.
But the government is only interested in business transactions with the military junta. Malaysian state oil company, Petronas, does business amounting to millions of US dollars with Burma.
ASEAN, on the other hand, pretend they are limousine liberals while in reality, turn a blind eye to the gross violations of human rights by the military. Instead, the leaders shake hands and exchange diplomatic niceties with the Burmese army officers during ASEAN meetings.
The 10-member bloc’s non-interference policy further cushions the Burmese military from the need to be accountable to the killings and disappearances of hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas, Karens, Chins and other minority clans.
I call upon the newly minted Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein to open a new investigation on the matter and consider the 10 proposal of the Lugar report including implementation the country’s Anti-trafficking Law, ASEAN’s Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers and the immediate ratification of the UN 1967 Refugee Convention – with a view to protect and promote the rights of migrants and refugees in the country and region.
Photo courtesy of Adli Ghazali
Aside from the opposition's call for action, Suhakam commissioner, Mr N. Siva Subramaniam, was reported to have said that Suhakam (Malaysia's Human Rights Commission) has received several complaints about human trafficking in the past two years. He was quoted as saying, “The issue has even been raised at international forums but it is difficult to compile the evidence.” Mr Siva also called on the relevant authorities “to investigate and take action against those responsible.”
The report and the calls for action has stirred the sentiments of some bloggers. Bob writes:
Today in the 21st Century, in an era of globalisation, development and technology, one would think that the human race is advancing in the areas of freedom, peace and human dignity. Unfortunately this is not so. … there are more slaves TODAY than were seized from Africa in 4 centuries of trans-Atlantic slave trade. The horror is back. Buying a slave is cheaper than ever before.
TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS HAS BECOME THE FASTEST GROWING TRADE ACROSS OUR WORLD. SOME 2.4 MILLION PEOPLE ARE TRAFFICKED EACH YEAR; 1.2 MILLION OF THEM ARE CHILDREN
Every minute, every day, men, women and children are being transported, used or sold against their will. These are the victims of trafficking. They get herded across borders, across continents, sometimes in groups but they are often trafficked alone. They live in terror. Others watch their every move. They are treated like cattle. But the truth is, they’re not just a statistic. These are people – someone’s mother, someone’s child – and they’re dreaming of freedom.
Min Li states:
Most people here are unaware of what exactly defines human trafficking, and that is happening right here in Malaysia. What we usually notice is the amount of foreign workers; be it Chinese, Indonesians or Bangladeshis brought here for labour… but what we don't notice is that some of them have been brought here on false promises and later forced into involuntary servitude due to debt and threats. They have no way out.
The issue of human trafficking and migrant mistreatment is an issue which many Malaysians feel strongly about. Activist and former detainee-without-trial, Nat Tan, wrote on his blog:
The cycle of arrest, detention and deportation that the Burmese refugees in Malaysia experience is a vicious one. The experiences they face along the way, often riddled with violence and abuse, is a complete and utter violation of basic human rights.
Realizing the need for stronger advocacy, and a space for the refugees themselves to share their stories, Tenaganita has compiled stories from refugees who’ve been put through this cycle of arrest-detention-deportation and return to Malaysia. This book, The Revolving Door, highlights the status and situation of refugees in Malaysia, and the need for all parties to play a stronger role in supporting the refugees who live among us.
The Fifty Refugees Website
In fact, for Aris, a 37 year-old Malaysian, the issue was such a passion that the former doctor put together a website, recounting tales of fifty refugees, entitled simply “Fifty Refugees“. The website states:
Theirs [the refugees] is a heartwrenching story of detention, abuse, fear, neglect, and humiliation. But these are stories of resilience, courage, hope and love as well… People who are of your age, or of your children's age, or your parents’. Normal human beings, of flesh and blood, hopes and dreams, like you and me.
Ironically, the Lugar report comes almost a year after Malaysia's Anti-Trafficking in Persons law came into force. According to news reports, thirty-three suspected victims of human trafficking were rescued within the first four months of its enforcement.
In response to the Lugar Report, Malaysia's Prime Minister, Mr Najib, was reported to have said, “We will take appropriate action… We do not want Malaysia to be used as a point for human trafficking … but we need to know more facts.”
* the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela)
** an alternative news portal
Photos courtesy of Adli Ghazali and M.A.M09

author: Daniel Chandranayagam


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Morocco: Praising Al Jazeera · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Cinema and Movies praises Al Jazeera for its excellent documentary on Ahmed el Marzouki, a former prisoner in Tazmamart, and the author of the memoir Tazmamart: Cellule 10.

author: Jillian C. York


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Puerto Rico: Blog Gathering in Caguas · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Michael Castro of Poder 5 [es] announces a blog gathering to take place on May 6 in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

author: Eduardo Avila


text:
Russia: Teen Curfew; Police Officer’s Shooting Spree · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

On April 20, it was announced that President Dmitry Medvedev approved the changes to children's rights law, allowing regional authorities to bar minors under the age of 18, unaccompanied by parents or legal guardians, from public places – “for example, in the street, stadiums, parks, squares, public transport and Internet cafes” – from 10 PM to 6 AM. Below is one of the reactions (RUS) from the Russian blogosphere, by LJ user oleg_kozyrev:
Medvedev and the children
The president sincerely believes that the day after the 18th birthday is the first day when a young person can venture outside after 10 PM.
That is, tomorrow is already time for him to be drafted into the army, to defend the country, to be trusted with tanks and rockets, but a week before that, he was not yet trusted with stepping beyond the threshold of his house after 10 PM. And this concerns all children – those from the villages, and those on vacation, and students, and those who attend music schools and chess classes, and those who are out in the field trip to make a fire and bake potatoes, and those who are into astronomy and are outdoors with a neighbor friend and with a telescope, observing the stars – all of them.
It's actually an incredible joke. IN THE TIME OF PEACE, THEY'VE INTRODUCED CURFEW FOR ALL RUSSIA'S YOUNG PEOPLE.
High crime rates? Fire [minister of the interior Rashid Nurgaliyev]. What do the young people have to do with it?
IF THE PRESIDENT CAN'T SECURE ORDER IN THE STREETS AND INTRODUCES CURFEW AS A SOLUTION – IT'S WORTH FOR SUCH A PRESIDENT TO CONSIDER A DIFFERENT JOB
[…]
Below are some of the comments to this post:
georg_pik:
A person can get access to classified information at the age of 17 (many students need to have such access by the first year of their studies). It means that a first-year student with access to documents that constitute state secret do not have the right to go out into the street after 10 PM.
***
phillennium
And what if it's a first-year student at the evening department, where the last class may end, for example, at 9:50 PM.
***
oleg_kozyrev:
I don't know what world the politicians who adopted this law are living in. Must be some unreal world, in which young people don't work, don't study – don't live.
***
komsomolka_new
Maybe they'd prefer to do without young people at all. Retired people are more active at voting. And they usually ask the election commission at the polling station who to vote for.
***
Anonymous:
There is one thing – the most important one – missing from this law: the way it is in civilized Europe – all food stores (especially including those that sell alcohol) work till 3 PM on Saturdays and are closed on Sundays!!! [This should be introduced] all over Russia!!
***
lev_evgenevi4:
All is okay – this is just another law that is not going to be observed until a cop suddenly wants some money.
At least three of LJ user oleg_kozyrev‘s readers mention Denis Yevsyukov, a Moscow police officer who shot three people to death and wounded six in a supermarket on April 20, the day he turned 32:
m_holodkowski:
That's right! Who needs to take walks at night when there are Yevsyukovs with bandit guns all around! ;)
***
miecz_kaina:
This is a preventive measure, to keep the police from shooting those who haven't reached the age of 18 after 10 PM.
***
alrihard:
Kids provoke Yevsyukovs. A drunk cop would enter a supermarket in the evening/at night to buy vodka, his wife […] hasn't given it to him yet, and here are all those happy young boys and girls…
Following Major Yevsyukov's shooting spree, president Medvedev sacked Colonel-General Vladimir Pronin, Moscow’s police chief since 2001.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Sri Lanka: Living In Fear · Global Voices
Rezwan

Indi.ca sheds a light on the lives of Tamils in Colombo as some of them are living in fear of being arrested for questioning without prior charges. The bloggers comments: “Perhaps this is necessary in the short-term (this being my lifetime) but it’s important to remember that this is a bad thing.”

author: Rezwan


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Uzbekistan: $67, a price for heroism · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Musafirbek informs from Uzbekistan that the country's president decreed to award veterans of WWII with a one-time pension of $67.


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Armenia: May Day opposition rally · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The Caucasian Knot, the blog of Global Voices Online's Caucasus editor, posts an account as well as videos and photographs shot on mobile and originally uploaded or streamed live to various online sites of today's opposition rally in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, ahead of the municipal election to be held later this month.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Barbados: Questions about Maloney inquest verdict · Global Voices
Nicholas Laughlin

On 17 June, 2008, I'Akobu Tacuma Maloney — a bright, high-achieving 23-year-old Barbadian engineer who had recently graduated from the University of the West Indies, and a devout Rastafari — died in a mysterious encounter with the Barbados police. (See this Global Voices report dated 30 July, 2008, for more details.)
A police report suggested that Maloney jumped from a coastal cliff in a remote area of north Barbados after he was approached by two police officers investigating a report of suspicious behaviour. But Maloney's family immediately objected, refusing to believe that the young man would commit suicide, and pointing out inconsistencies in the police report. Members of the Rastafari community in Barbados set up a blog, AfriKa CRY BLOOD, to publicise their efforts to seek justice in the Maloney case, demanding an independent investigation.
The inquest into Maloney's death opened in November 2008, under coroner Faith Marshall-Harris. Over the next five months, Marshall-Harris heard testimony from witnesses, including Maloney's co-workers and friends and the police officers present at the time of his death. AfriKa CRY BLOOD documented the hearings in detail, including the coroner's criticisms of police procedure.
On Friday 24 April, 2009, Marshall-Harris released her verdict: death by misadventure:
Ruling out an open verdict and death by suicide, the Magistrate surmised that Maloney may have felt some form of harassment from the police officers, especially when they requested that he accompany them to the station and that “he made a sudden dash for freedom”.
There followed an “uproar” in the courtroom as Maloney's family and their supporters reacted:
Tension reached fever-pitch in the small courtyard of the Coroner’s Court on Roebuck Street at 5 p.m., when grieving mother Marguerita Maloney exited the court, raised her hands on the air, shouted “misadventure”, then crumpled to the ground ….
The mother’s cries only fuelled emotions, as I’Akobi’s father David, and his younger brother Mandela, also started to shout at police officers stationed at the court.
“I have pictures of my son’s body, brutalised, manhandled,” she said.
“I call on the ancestors to deal with all the perpetrators… This is only an earth verdict,” she said before collapsing for a second time.
Noting tensions between the Barbados Rastafari community and the police, the coroner urged the Royal Barbados Police Force to address the problem:
“There seems to be a great deal of tension, fear, mistrust and suspicion by the Rastafarian community, but by the same token, the community needs to look carefully at some of their actions which suggest that they are harbouring a victim mentality and may be looking for injustice where it is not intended,” said the coroner.
She was also very critical of how the police officers dealt with Maloney’s mother Marguerita Maloney, saying that they had given her incorrect information and that their actions may have led to the confusion she experienced surrounding her son’s death.
AfriKa CRY BLOOD noted the response of the police commissioner, who said he was willing to meet with the Rastafari community to hear their concerns, but denied that the Barbados police singled out members of any religious or ethnic group.
The Barbados Free Press blog, noting that some Barbados police have received training from China officers (allegedly in violent tactics), addressed a question to the commissioner:
Please inform the good citizens of Barbados whether any of the police officers involved with the death of I’Akobi Maloney, either at the scene or during the subsequent investigation, ever received training from China.
And AfriKa CRY BLOOD published a statement from Maloney's brother Mandela, arguing that “the question of how I’Akobi met his death has still been left unanswered after approximately 10 months of deliberations both inside and out of court”:
Ultimately, [the coroner] failed miserably in her role which was to allay the concerns of our family and the public. There still remains much misinformation disseminated by the police which she would like to have our family believe was a result of miscommunication…. There must be a more sturdy impartial foundation to the proceedings of the coroner’s court if it is seeking to be a truly independent entity.

author: Nicholas Laughlin


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Brazil: Remembering Ayrton Senna, the unbeatable F1 champion · Global Voices
Paula Góes

“Ayrton Senna da Silva. In life unbeatable, in death irreplaceable”, says one of the many websites paying homage to the three-time Formula One world champion whose death, on May 1st 1994, shocked Brazil and the world. Leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, Senna lost control of his car and left the track at the Tamburello curve. His death, at just 34-years-old, has been mourned by fans throughout the country 15 years on.
Ayrton Senna's name was among the most popular tags today on the Brazilian timeline on Twitter. @biellebrunner publishes a photo of a visit she had paid to the monument built on the spot Senna died, on the the Tamburello curve. At the beginning of the week, Vinicius Cordeiro [pt] was one of the first people to remember the sad anniversary this year. He said:
Toda vez que 1º de maio se aproxima, meu coração fica apertado: mais um ano sem Ayrton Senna… Eu estava vendo aquela corrida. :'(
Cordeiro was not alone in front of the television on the Sunday that became known in Brazil as the blackest race in history. Imola also saw the death of Austrian race driver Roland Ratzenberger just a day before Senna's accident. The images, the anguish, the pain are still fresh in many people's memories. Guilherme Tsubota [pt] recalls that fatal day:
O dia da sua morte, infeliz coincidência também do aniversário da minha mãe, foi um dos piores que já vivi. Lembro da empolgação e da certeza que a partir daquele GP de Ímola o Ayrton ia virar o jogo sobre o “alemão”, e como sempre acordei cedo para ver a corrida.
Sentei no sofá e ali fiquei o resto do dia, acompanhando atônito a todas as notícias. Convidados do aniversário?!? Não vi ninguém entrar e sair, não lembro de ter falado com ninguém. Só lembro das imagens e notícias que a Rede Globo disponibilizava sobre o acidente do Senna.
Os dias seguintes viraram história, e qualquer pessoa daquela geração, principalmente os paulistantos, lembram-se de como a cidade parou para homenageá-lo. Impressionante, coisa nunca vista antes.
I sat on the couch and stayed there the rest of the day, following astonishingly every piece of news. The birthday guests? I didn't see anyone coming or leaving, I don't recall having spoken to anybody. I just remember the images and stories that Globo TV broadcast about Senna's accident.
The following days entered into history, and anyone from that generation, especially those from São Paulo, remember how the town stopped to honor him. It was impressive, something I had never seen before.
Eduardo P.L [pt] takes the opportunity to remember his father, who was a fan of Senna and whose faith, in another series of amazing coincidences,  brought him very close to his hero. For the blogger, this is a time of double sadness:
Num sábado, há 15 nos atrás, eu estava num restaurante almoçando, quando fui avisado pelo telefone, que meu pai falecera! Fui para o apartamento dos meus pais, e com minha mãe e irmãos, uns poucos amigos e familiares enterramos o Dr. Santo. No domingo seguinte, portanto um dia depois, morre o Senna. Até aí só uma triste coincidência. Uma semana após chega o corpo ao Brasil, é velado e enterrado no mesmo cemitério, ao lado da tumba do meu pai. Onde estiverem, estão juntos como gostaria meu pai.
Ricardo Vieira [pt] explains how Senna's death has left millions disconsolate:
A partir daquele fatídico domingo, Senna deixou milhões de órfãos, inclusive eu, de suas alegrias, de seu exemplo de vida, de sua determinação profissional e seu maior do moral: a humildade. (…)
Apesar da triste lembrança, apesar da saudade, temos muitos motivos para reverenciar a vida e a obra de Senna.
Fifteen years on, a recent poll by the Brazilian Institute of Public Opinion and Statistics shows that Ayrton Senna is still the biggest idol even for a younger generation that did not get to know him alive or follow his career: among nearly 400 people aged between 15 and 19, most said Senna was their biggest sporting idol. Like Pele, Senna made Brazilians feel they could achieve international respect. Considering this, Alan Ferraz [pt] believes Senna's greatest legacy was the way he made Brazilians proud of themselves. He feels moved to remember him:
Enquanto escrevia esse post não pude conter as lágrimas, mesmo após 15 anos. Acredito que isso se repita em todos os que amam a fórmula 1 e que foram apunhalados pelo destino com a partida de nosso eterno campeão.
Dia 1 de maio de 1994 estará para sempre na mente de todos que após esse dia não puderam mais ouvir o: Ayrton, Ayrton, AYRTON SENNA DO BRASIL.
May 1st 1994 will be forever in the minds of everyone who after that day could no longer hear the chanting: Ayrton, Ayrton, AYRTON SENNA DO BRASIL.
Often portrayed in the press as being cold and aloof, and much more interested in winning than in sportsmanship, the driver was also a quite controversial figure in the eyes of the public. But, even those who were not big fans, like Wilton Sturm [pt], say there will never be anyone quite like Senna:
Me orgulho de dizer que assisti todas as suas 41 vitórias.
Ficou a impressão de que quando finalmente estava relaxando um pouco, se dando o prazer de apreciar outras coisas que não os champanhes das vitórias, Ayrton Senna se foi.
Hoje, sinto e lamento sua falta. E me esforço para tentar não julgar suas atitudes e sim lembrar suas belas atuações. Nunca fui aquele super “Sennista”, mas costumo dizer que em pista, ou seja, disputando uma corrida de Fórmula 1, Ayrton Senna foi o melhor que eu vi!!! Pretendo um dia visitar seu jazigo e não sei qual será minha reação, mas provavelmente direi “obrigado” pelas grandes corridas, pelas grandes ultrapassagens, pelas grandes vitórias que ele me proporcionou assistir!
It gave the impression that when he finally started to relax a bit, permitting himself to enjoy the pleasure of other things than just the champagne after winnings, Ayrton Senna passed away.
Today, I miss him and regret his absence. I make an effort not to judge his attitude but to remember his beautiful performances. I was never a super “Sennist” but I like to say that on the track, that's to say, during a Formula 1 race, Ayrton Senna was the best I have ever seen! I want to visit his grave one day and I do not know what my reaction will be, but I will probably say “thanks” for the big races, the great overtaking, the great victories he gave me to watch!
Ricardo César [pt] wraps up a series of special posts dedicated to Senna with the following quote:
Primeiro de maio de 2009. São exatamente 15 anos de uma perda sentida até por quem não torcia por ele. Lembranças de quem como eu que acompanhei os 10 anos de sua carreira na F1. Imagens de batalhas e conquistas, de manhã de tarde ou de madrugada.
Lembrança de quem um dia deixou de existir como homem, para renascer como mito, talvez o maior ídolo já produzido por um país carente de heróis. Mais um da Silva como muitos brasileiros que nunca desistem. Aquele que será para sempre o nosso campeão.
Valeu, Ayrton Senna.
Remembering the one who one day ceased to exist as a man to be reborn as a myth, perhaps the greatest idol already born in a country in need of heroes. Another one named ‘da Silva’ who, as many Brazilians, never give up. He will forever be our champion.
Thank you, Ayrton Senna.
YouTube user aheutohmaluko has posted the video above highlighting the best moments of Ayrton Senna's career, with the song that was the soundtrack of many Sunday mornings in Brazil. Another user,  1958misterLotus1994 posts a video about the 1985 Belgian G.P commented on in English by Senna himself. The Ayrton Senna quotes are from Wikiquotes. The photos are from the Ayrton-Senna.net website and assumed to be in the public domain.
The photos used in this post were taken from a website which is no longer available. They had the following disclaimer:
“This site is not endorsed by Ayrton Senna or any organization Ayrton Senna is, was or will be associated with. Please note that all Ayrton Senna Pictures, Ayrton Senna Videos and Ayrton Senna Wallpapers are assumed to be in the public domain. If you have any issues regarding copyright against any content on this site, please email me and I will remove all offending content.”
We believe they are distributed by ICN/Marlboro McLaren/Renault press offices for media use. If you have any issues regarding these photos, please use the contact form to email me and I will remove the images.

author: Paula Góes


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Cambodia: Hydro-electric dams along Mekong River · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Studies warn that construction of several hydro-electric dams along Mekong River pose a serious danger for Cambodia.

author: Mong Palatino


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Caribbean: Swine Flu Speculations  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Regional bloggers on the Swine Flu outbreak:  Repeating Islands speculates about possible Caribbean cases of the disease, while Jamaica's Girl With a Purpose and T&T's This Beach Called Life put a humourous spin on the situation.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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China: Blogging with Tibetans · Global Voices
John Kennedy

A blogging adventure for the summer, David Gibson is finishing preparations to travel to southwestern China's Sichuan province, where he will spend the following months living among Tibetan communities there and learning the language.

author: John Kennedy


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Cuba: May Day and Name Calling  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Havana Times and Along the Malecon blog about different aspects of Cuba's May Day celebrations, while The Cuban Triangle notes that “the Obama Administration designated Cuba a ‘state sponsor of terrorism'…and Cuba responded by calling the United States an ‘international criminal.’  So we’re even.”


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Fiji faces suspension from Pacific Islands Forum · Global Voices
Michael Hartsell

At midnight Friday May 1, Fiji passes a deadline set by the Pacific Islands Forum to schedule elections to be held this year or be kicked from the regional group.
Members of the 16-nation body gave that ultimatum in late January to then-Interim Government leader Frank Bainimarama. The group stated that if Fiji does not meed the deadline, the country would be suspended from all Forum events and cease receiving any new financial and technical assistance. But Bainimarama insisted Fiji would not hold elections until his government could remake the country's race-based electoral code that allows the majority ethnic Fijians to vote on different rolls than ethnic Indians and other minority groups.
Much has changed in Fiji since the deadline. Following an April 9 court decision that Bainimarama’s military-backed regime came to power illegally in December 2006, the country’s President annulled the country’s constitution, fired the judiciary, reappointed the Bainimarama regime and gave it a five-year mandate before promising to hold elections in 2014. A few members of the Forum condemned those moves.
Fiji’s government hopes that diplomatic maneuverings could still win the day. Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum remained  optimistic the PIF would not kick out Fiji because member countries are being educated on recent developments in the country. Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who is traveling to a meeting of the Asian Development Bank, called for an “urgent meeting” with leaders of Australia and New Zealand to stave off the expulsion.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare remain unimpressed.
The Pacific Island Forum has its headquarters based in Suva, Fiji.
Café Pacific investigates the geo-political fallout of a possible Fiji expulsion, especially in light of growing Indian and Chinese influence on the island.
Bainimarama's strongest supporter in the forum, PNG prime minister Sir Michael Somare, has apparently deserted the regime and is siding with the Australian and New Zealand isolationist push. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd gloated over the claimed United Nations decision not to award any more peacekeeping duties to the Fiji military. The hypocrisy of Australia and New Zealand is deafening. And this can only end badly, even disastrously for the region. The regime is likely to respond with anger. Will it be time to toss out the Australian high commissioner? The forum has never taken such drastic action against a member in almost four decades of virtual “Pacific way” consensus. If it does so this time – excluding the most influential and crossroads island nation of the region – the isolationist policy will come back to the bite the forum in most unpredictable ways.
It will also open the door to a dramatic rise in Chinese influence in the region, at the expense of Canberra and Wellington. It was interesting to see the turnout for the swearing in of Ratu Epeli Nailatikau as Vice-President – ironically the chief was ousted as military commander when Sitiveni Rabuka staged his double coup in May 1987 (against both Dr Timoci Bavadra's Labour government and against his own two higher ranked army officers). Present for Nailatikau were the high commissioners of India, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea and the ambassadors of China and Kiribati…
Within Fiji, Intelligentsiya argues the Bainimarama regime is to blame and tells people of Fiji to “stand tall” in light of upcoming hardships.
The clock’s ticking Bainimarama but the writing is on the wall.
It’s 3 strikes and a once founding island country is rowing its own canoe out of the PIF family.
What a depressing, emotional day for our noble country.
It should be day of mourning.
Once our suspension comes to pass formally, we can expect that to trigger a whole lot of additional testicle squeezing from the international community.
Pleas and blood tie links to Tonga will not help.
The region is not turning their backs on us. Leaders are protesting their opposition to Bainimarama and his illegal regime. And in the process are allowing hard lessons to be learned.
Despite the unabashed trash being heaped on us by the illegal central bank guv, we know better.
Stand tall, united and remain proud Fiji.
Only under intense heat, can gold be found.
From New Zealand, the Whale Oil blog calls Prime Minister John Key’s declaration that Fiji will most likely be expelled from the body a “bad move.”
All this move will do is push Fiji closer and closer to China. Someone other than the fools at Mfat needs to be advising you on Fiji.
I can help there and put you in touch with several folk who have the ear of Frank Bainimarama.
Don't be captured by the bureaucrats, actually make a difference.
With Samoa’s history of problematic representative government, Jone at Fiji Board Exiles says New Zealand and Australia are being hypocritical by siding against Fiji.
Seems strange that NZ and Oz should insist that Fiji returns to democracy, freedom of the press and human rights etc, when its ‘favoured’ nation Samoa is so flawed! Add PNG widespread corruption, and Tongan non-democracy, to the Oz/NZ list of ‘favoured’ nations, and the hypocrisy is even greater!

author: Michael Hartsell


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India: Absentee Voters · Global Voices
Rezwan

The Acorn discusses about the absent Indian voter syndrome (AIVS): “It is clear that simple explanations of why eligible voters don’t vote are insufficient to explain AIVS phenomenon. Better analysis is required.”


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India: Blog Of The Congress Party, Atlast · Global Voices
Rezwan

BlogBharti reports that “similar to the Friends of BJP, the (Indian National) Congress has also launched its own blog.”


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Iran:Delara Darabi Executed · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Mohammad Mosatfai, an Iranian lawyer, informs [fa] us that Iran has executed a 23-year-old woman, Delara Darabi,for a crime committed when she was a 17 years old. Watch a video about Delara and her paintings here.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran:Female bloggers and sad stories · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Zahra, an Iranian blogger, writes that  most people when read a sad story or post in her blog, thinking that she talks about a failed love story.


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Iran:Iranian cartoonist talks about Obama · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Nikahang Kowsar, an Iranian blogger,journalist and cartoonist, says: “It's not really easy to make fun of Obama as a person because although he has a sense of humour he is way ahead of most politicians we've seen in recent decade.” Watch his cartoon on Obama's 100 days.


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Israel: Why does Earth Hour have to be at 8pm? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

At Twitter, Mia_the_Ima from Israel writes: “Why does earth hour have to be at 8PM that's so inconvenient. How about if I black-out at 10PM. Does that count?”

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Jamaica: World Press Freedom Day  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp encourages us to support this year's World Press Freedom Day, coming up on May 3rd.


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Japan: Fooling Gun Radio · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

A new internet radio is born: Fooling Gun Radio [ja]. A project started in mid-April by the Japanese grad students Foo-san and Gun-san, with the help of other two colleagues, Bluman and Hihhi, Fooling Gun Radio aims to present some everyday life topics under a new and fresh perspective.
Twice a week the main speakers will share their opinions and propose discussions on serious topics, such as the coming of age, or lighter ones, such as Doraemon. For those who understand Japanese, it is an interesting way to have an idea of what some Japanese youngsters with a social and political conscience are thinking.

author: Scilla Alecci


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Jordan: Interview with Arab Internet Entrepreneur · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

On StartUp Arabia, Mohamed Marwen Meddah interviews Arab Internet entrepreneur  Mohamad Haj Hasan, co-founder of Jordan-based Boundless, the company behind online cards game destination Jawaker, and online job portal Akhtaboot.


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Jordan: Wasting Time on Shallow TV Shows  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian Batir Wardam at Jordan Watch [ar] asks: “What is the percentage of Arabs who waste most of their time following shallow television shows, devoid of any content, on Arab satellite channels?”


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Korea: Minerva and Release after 100-Days Detention · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

A blogger who is known by  his pseudonym, Minerva, was released after 100 days detention. His 280 postings criticizing economic policies of the new Korean government and predicting economy downturn have become hugely popular due to the accurate diagnosis.
He was arrested by the prosecution authority under the name of spreading false information and of causing economic damage. Since his arrest, netizens and citizen organizations criticize the action of the government and worry the episode indicates the beginning of the suppression of freedom of speech. His release (the prosecution authority is preparing to file an appeal) has produced many opinions on the Internet.
1:
[…]미네르바의 글을 다는 읽지는 않았지만 그가 잡혀들어가야 하는 이유를 전혀 찾아 볼 수가 없다. 검찰 측의 입장은 있지도 않은 사실을 허위로 작성하여 유포시킨 죄가 성립된다고 하는데 누리꾼들의 대부분이 미네르바의 글을 읽으며 공감을 했고 또 한국의 경제상황을 누구보다 미리 예측하였던 것이 어떻게 ‘있지도 않은 사실을 허위로 작성하여 유포시킨’ 것으로 일단락시킬 수 있는 것인가. 만약 저 부분이 미네르바의 잘못이라면 한국의 경제를 예측한 것을 책으로 써서 서점에 유포시킨 대부분의 경제학자들에게도 똑같이 적용시킬 수 있는 대목이다. 그러나 과연 그럴까. 이번 사건은 단순히 익명성이라는 문제를 부각시킨 정부의 힘의 논리였다. 인터넷 상에서 익명성을 제거하기 위해 한 사람을 ‘마녀사냥’ 한 것에 지나지 않는 것이다.[…]
2:
[…]처음 글이 올라올때까지만 해도 미네르바는 단순히 자신의 추측을 인터넷에 올린 그저 많은 포털 사용자 중 한 명일 뿐이었습니다. 미네르바에 관심이 증폭된 것은 미네르바가 구속된 사건이었습니다. 사건의 중심에 있었던 것은 미네르바가 정확한 추측이 정부에 영향을 미쳤느냐와 허위사실 유포가 맞느냐라는 것입니다. 그런데 이런 논의에 의해 오랜시간 의견이 분리되고 흥분되어 있을 쯤에 누리꾼들의 관심은 정부에서 내세운 죄목보다는 이번 사건이 인터넷 포털 사용자에 대한 MB정부의 탄압에 더 중요한 이슈였습니다.
인터넷이라는 자유를 인정받던 공간에 올린 글 때문에 구속이 되는 어처구니 없는 일이 벌어진 것 때문이지, 미네르바 글의 진실성 때문도 아니고 그렇다고 미네르바가 대단하거나 인터넷 이용자를 대변하는 사람이였기 때문은 더더욱 아니였습니다. 그가 경제 대통령으로 불린 것 또한 우리 경제의 문제점을 정확히 짚고 대책을 내놓아서가 아니라 경제희생 기대에 출범한 MB정부에 대한 실망에 맞물린 역효과의 수혜를 입은 것 외에 더 높게 평가 받을 이유는 없어 보입니다.
이번 미네르바 사건이 우리에게 주는 교육은 극히 당연한 것입니다. 자유롭게 말할 수 있는 권리 인정과 보장!!! 그외에 더 큰 의미는 없습니다.[…]
Due to writings in a space that has had freedom, the Internet, he was arrested and this illogical action made us angry. Whether his writing was true or not and whether he is our hero or not are not the main points. The reason why he is nicknamed as the Economy President is not because he pointed out economic problems and suggested solutions, but because people were dissapointed at the MB government that had expection of developing economy (Lee Myung-Bak called himself the Economy President during the President Campaign).
What we learned from this ‘Minerva Scandal’ is very simple. Acknowledging and providing rights of freedom of speech!!! Nothing else.[…]
3: A netizen introduced how Japanese netizens have reacted,
[…]눈에 띄는 기사가 몇가지 있었는데 바로 몇일전 “미네르바 무죄”와 관련된 기사였습니다. 기사는 한국의 기사와 별반 다를것이 없었는데 기사 밑에 달린 일본 네티즌들의 반응 이었습니다. 역시나 한국 네티즌들의 반응과도 크게 다르지 않았습니다. 이는 비단 한국과 일본 뿐 아니라 이 기사를 접한 대다수 나라의 네티즌들도 같을 것입니다.
[…]무죄는 당연! 왜, 사실을 말해 재판받지 않으면 안 되는 것인지? 게다가, 아마추어의 예측이 한국 정부나 한국 씽크탱크의 예측보다 올바랐던 것이 아닌가?
전체주의 국가는 곤란하다…
죄가 되면 그야말로 비자유주의.

재판관이 상식을 가지고 있었던 일에 놀랐다
언론 탄압인가? 일본의 매스컴도 썩고 있지만요.
한국의 검찰은 바보?

일부러 재판까지 일으켜~나라가 한 명의 네티즌이 그렇게 무서운 것입니까?
이것으로 유죄가 되면, 경제계의 블로그는 쓸 수 없지 않을까?
아직 착실한 재판소가 있어 좋았다.[…]
If he was guilty, it was illiberalism.
I am surprised that the judges were logical.
[…]Isn’t it the suppresion of the press? The Japanese media is also corrupt.
Is the Korean prosecutory authority stupid?
Even having trial… was the country scared of one netizen that much?
If he was guilty, would nobody write about the economy in their blogs?
It’s good that there are still upright judges.

author: Hyejin Kim


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Kyrgyzstan: Government Acts to Prevent Swine Flu · Global Voices
Elena Skochilo

The import of all types of meat products from the United States and Mexico is banned in Kyrgyzstan now. Deputy Director of the Department of Veterinary Kubanychbek Musakeev  explained  [ru], that the government imposed this restriction because of the worldwide spread of the swine flu. According to Musakeev's words the import of meat to Kyrgyzstan will be allowed again after the stabilization of the situation with swine flu.
Kyrgyz government has already set up a commission to monitor and to take urgent measures in case of swine flu among the population. The health control will be strengthened at the meat markets.
Despite the fact that we have a favorable situation with this disease, it is necessary to keep this issue under special control, prime-minister Igor Chudinov said.
Head of the Health Ministry, Marat Mambetov  said  [ru], that there is still no registered case of the swine flu in Kyrgyzstan. He assured that his department holds all necessary measures to prevent the possible occurrence of this type of flu among the population.
According to words of the Chief Medical Officer of Kyrgyzstan Sabirzhan Abdikarimov, his department has the adequate supply of disinfectants and personal protection from swine flu.
More than weird decision of officials to ban the import of meat was commented by Diesel forum users.
Swine flu now spreads droplet from person to person. There is no reason to ban any kind of meat. The stupid bureaucrats are working in the department of veterinary. Really, was it difficult to ask epidemiologists and infectiologists  about the sources and transmission of swine flu?, user Cosmopolit surprised [ru].
User  Oldman   was  [ru] categorical:
They have no brains. The transmission of swine flu is not going through the pork meat.
According to the World Health Organization on April, 27, the number of cases was 1600, of which 103 cases ended in deaths (from 22 confirmed dead pig flu, the rest have symptoms similar to the disease).
World Health Organization published [en] FAQ about swine flu. One quotation:
Is it safe to eat pork and pork products?
Yes. Swine influenza has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and prepared pork (pig meat) or other products derived from pigs. The swine influenza virus is killed by cooking temperatures of 160°F/70°C, corresponding to the general guidance for the preparation of pork and other meat.
In this case, it is not quite clear why the officials banned import of meat to Kyrgyzstan.

author: Elena Skochilo


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Libya: Qaddafi’s Fashion · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

In a “little sartorial digression” Lalla Lydia picks on Libyan president Colonel Muammer Al Qaddafi and Oman Sultan Qaboos bin Saeed's fashion.


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Morocco: Exercise Blues · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

American Liz, who lives in Morocco, writes about the difficulties of exercising there.


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Myanmar: “Worst violator of Internet freedom” · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Myanmar is the worst place in the world to be a blogger.


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Pakistan: Things That People Do During Rolling Blackout · Global Voices
Rezwan

Shirazi at Light Within discusses what Pakistanis can do during Electric Load Shedding.


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Palestine/Canada: On Arabs Abroad  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Why Arabs abroad feel obligated that they MUST know everyone in their city? Even Arabs in nearby cities? Who they are/were friends with? Where they buy their shoes from?” rants Rebellious Arab Girl, a Palestinian who lives in Canada.


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Qatar: Royal spending $10m a year on a drag racing team · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

At Qatar Living, OfMyHeartShape links to an article which says that 22-year-old Qatari Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani will be spending $10 million a year on a drag racing team.


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Saudi Arabia: Dan Brown Vs Arab Authors  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Saudi blogger Ndhm [ar] is looking forward to the Arabic translation of Dan Brown's latest book The Lost Symbol. The blogger notes: “It took him five years to write the story which takes place in 12 hours. This reminds me of great Arab authors, who come up with a new book every six months, half of which tackle sex.”


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Saudi Arabia: Journalist Al Rabea Arrested · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Saudi Arabian blogger Tamem [ar] reports on the arrest of journalist Adel Al Rabea and notes: “It is no surprise that Saudi Arabia heads the list of countries considered as enemies of the Internet. If this is how journalists are treated, what is the situation of bloggers?”


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Singapore church supports same sex marriage · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Church of Our Saviour, a Singapore local church, issued a statement expressing support for same sex marriage


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Singapore: Homeless people · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Online Citizen is worried that Singapore is “ill-equipped to cope with a possible increase in the number of homeless people.”


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Singapore: Swine flu as scare campaign · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

A Singapore blogger wonders if the swine flu threat is a scare campaign to make people take vaccines.


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Syria: Drugs Vs Alcohol  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Syria, An@s Online [Ar] argues why are drugs banned when alcohol is allowed.


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Syria: “I am not a sexist”  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Syrian blogger Yaser defends himself after being accused of being a sexist in this post at Tajreed.


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Thailand: Circumventing censorship · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

FACT or the Freedom Against Censorship Thailand suggests tips to readers on how to circumvent censorship in Thailand


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Trinidad & Tobago: Exclusive Summit · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The Voice of the Taino People Online says that a delegation of indigenous leaders that attended the Fifth Summit of the Americas was disappointed at their reception: “While Trinidad’s Prime Minister Patrick Manning publicly declared his desire for the Summit to achieve prosperity for the peoples of the Americas with commitment and mutual respect, the Indigenous leaders experienced discriminatory exclusion.”


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Trinidad & Tobago: Geographical Prejudice · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“With increasing vigor, I continue to find content being blocked from entering Trinidad and Tobago and other countries”: KnowProSE.com suggests: “What it is, from the outside, is geographic profiling or geographic censorship. And that comes from a geographic prejudice.”


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World Videos: “Swine Flu” Perspectives, Humor and a Grain of Salt. · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

Videos tend to reflect people's states of mind at a set moment in time. People react different ways in the face of crisis, and for all those who have been reading, viewing and absorbing information on the “Swine Flu” (properly known as Influenza A virus subtype H1N1), it might get complicated not only to sort out factual information from rumors, but also to deal with the new restrictions and recommendations.  Some find a way to share their state of mind through videos, and this is what I bring to you today: thought provoking, skeptical, musically inclined, creative and humorous videos.
First off we have the Atomicos, an indie rock band from Puebla  who have written a song and uploaded a video with English Subtitles regarding the swine flu and the different measures taken. The video has also been translated into French for the videoblog Le Buzz Dorothée. The band's videos and other non-swine flu related songs can be found on their MySpace page.
Big bands are also cashing in on the Swine Flu: The Agrupación Cariño has the Influenza Cumbia which has been dubbed in English, for the listening pleasure of many more people. Following is the English version, and after that you may also view the one in Spanish.
The Bandaloz Group from Durango in Mexico also produced a quite catchy Influenza song where they sing about all the security measures needed  to protect oneself from the virus:
In Mexico, people have also been making videos of how life is going on for those who live in the cities, how the situation is being faced at the origin. shizo79 uploaded this video taken on the streets of Mexico City, where of the few people who are outside on the streets some have their masks on, some are mask-less and others wear their masks around their necks:
This cute Mexican girl named Jimena wrote a song about how daily life is going in for students like her, and the smooth rhythm and poignant lyrics reflect what the safety measures are doing for the citizens. Part of the lyrics of her song We're out of Face Masks (which she translated into English on her YouTube page) say:
CHORUS
Damn flu
I can't get out of my house
the news tell me to get rest
naaananana
don't start saying bullcrap
cus is not the world's end yet
We're out of face masks
a note on a door: “There's no vaccines till november”
peoples gettin crazier
panic purchases & we don't even have enough food
Bars, concerts & festivals
shows, “antros” & restaurants (that kind of rimed yay)
the movies, coffee shops & sweet16s
everything was cancelled to keep us safe
So what about the rest of the world? From Australia where a Swine Flu case was already confirmed, Community Channel's Natalie  posts a video commenting on the paranoid reactions people have been having to anyone who makes the mistake to cough or sneeze:
And last but not least: it was only a matter of time before someone came up with a video game for the swine flu. In SwineFighter, you have to aim a syringe to flying pigs over a map, innoculating them and preventing the virus from spreading before time runs out. You can play HERE.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Egypt: Combating H1N1 with pigs culling · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

While the world is busy trying to figure out a way for necessarily precautions to stop swine flu or H1N1 from spreading, the Egyptian government decided to take one more step forward and cull all pigs in the country. Since then bloggers, as well as mainstream media, have been engaged in a long debate whether this is a wise decision, or whether the crisis should have been managed in a better way. Some are convinced Egypt should get rid of all pigs as soon as possible, so as not to repeat its experience with bird flu. Others are curious to know how the government will reward the pig farmers.
Maryanne, an American expat living in Egypt, wrote a short post with her reaction about the slaughter:
It was announced on international news that the Egyptian government would force farmers to slaughter all their pigs to prevent swine flu. This is almost as intelligent as Paris Hilton telling people that she wasn't worried about it because she doesn't eat pork. The pigs are irrelevant at this stage. The flu is transmitted from human contact and according to some WHO officials isn't nearly the threat that the bird flu is. I suspect the combination of the word “swine”, the cultural taboo on pork, and the almost universal ignorance among bureaucrats of how disease is spread is almost irresistible. There are quite a number of modern, properly run pig farms in Egypt…just as we have quite a few properly run examples of almost anything here…except maybe government officials
Moftasa, an Egyptian doctor who was as provoked as Maryanne, wrote two posts. One of them asks if people really think slaughtering pigs in Egypt will prevent swine flu from entering through the airport:
Swine flu will enter Egypt through its borders and not from pigs. The funds that will go in compensating farmers can be better directed to improve the appalling sanitation of the pig farms and the conditions of their farmers not to the eradication of a local variety of an entire specie.
Then Alaa, replied to Moftasa's twitter that he believes there might be a sectarian zeal behind such decision.
Bent Masrya, a female blogger, wrote her thoughts against the government's decision, despite her hatred towards pigs – as she admitted:
In agreement with Moftasa, Bent Masrya expressed her fear that the flu might hit Egypt though the borders, especially after the discovery of two infected cases in Israel:
AbdelRahman Ayyash, who didn't agree with Bent Masrya‘s opinion, commented to her post:
@Fustat asking why "Swine flu" has been named to H1N1 just after Egypt decided to kill all "swines"  in the country.
Egyptian Watchman, a blogger and human rights activist who started a fierce fight against the government decision of culling 300,000 pigs, highlighted other important precautions people should follow to prevent infection on the individual level.
Similarly, Ghawayesh, in a post entitled save miss piggy, named a few benefits of keeping pigs to the balance of the eco-system, as well as highlighting other important precautions to fight the disease starting from now.
On the other hand, Zeinobia who was with killing the pigs, discussed her concerns towards the dirty conditions Egyptian pigs are brought up in, that might as well be one of the reasons behind spreading of bird flu before. She also criticized the opinions that claimed killing pigs will lead to sectarian division.
Those dirty pigs should be eliminated as soon as possible ,we can’t jeopardize the life of millions for no good reason. Already you can’t imagine how those pigs live or where they live in ,they do not suffer yet from H1N1 but for sure the unhealthy environment they live will make them suffer from other diseases.
[…]
Those pigs are raised eating garbage only with no medical care , only now the ministries of agriculture and health are paying attention to them !!
Please do not tell me this will lead to a sectarian division as this is the most ridiculous talk I have heard because for years now we are speaking about how dangerous those pigs are in Egypt in the time of H5N1 !! I do not know why no one has objected when poultry were eliminated from three years ago !!
She further explained how she thinks the disease might spread, due the lack of medical awareness on the part of the pigs’ owners and garbage collectors:
Now if the pigs are infected ,they will infect the farmers and their kids whom by their turn will infect other people in a direct contact including the garbage collectors and the garbage collectors have a direct contact hundreds of citizens !!! We are talking about uncontrolled industry.
On the other hand, Mohamed Hani notified his readers about a new Twitter account to follow global Swine flu updates, and as usual Hossam was in solidarity but  with pigs -this time- against the slaughter.
Photo by Per Bjorklund — People's uproar in Ezbet el-Nekhl after the government's decision to slaughter all pigs in Egypt.
You can also check Per Bjorklund‘s photographs set on flickr from Ezbet el-Nakhl, were pig farmers and garbage collectors were in an uproar over the government's decision to kill all pigs over the “pig flu pandemic”, and his thoughts ; and visit Egyptian Facebook groups with and against the government's decision to cull all pigs: Egypt without pigs, cull all Egyptian pigs, and together to get rid of pigs.

author: Eman AbdElRahman


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Japan: On Takiji’s “Cannery Ship” · Global Voices
Tomomi Sasaki

‘The “Boom” was Manufactured and Real’ – ikjeld.com offers an online edition of Norma Field's “Commercial Appetite and Human Need: The Accidental and Fated Revival of Kobayashi Takiji's Cannery Ship” (published in the Asia-Pacific Journal) on how and why Takiji's pillar of Japanese proletarian literature hit it off with the masses almost eighty years after its publication.

author: Tomomi Sasaki


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Japan: Tsukiji Fish Market · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

Check out Davewalsh's precious photos  of the tuna auctions and of the whale meat shop, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market (or Tsukiji Fish Market).


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Kenya: The state of Kenyan public universities · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Odegle thinks something needs to be done about Kenyan public universities: “What I wonder is, are we as Kenyans losing the meaning of everything? Yes I appreciate the need to have more people go through university. But should it be for its own sake. The simple truth which does not require a commission of inquiry is that the colleges are overcrowded. We either stop further admission or we build more lecture halls, hostels and even play grounds.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Peru: Newspaper Questions Spanish Language Proficiency of Indigenous Congresswoman · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

The Lima newspaper Correo published a front page story [es] about the low level of Spanish language proficiency by the indigenous Congresswoman Hilaria Supa and saying that in order to be a Congressional representative one should have a minimum level of education. As a result, the Peruvian blogosphere put forth various opinions including agreeing that legislators should speak and write well. There are also accusations of racism and discrimination.
Nila Vigil of Instituto Linguístico de Invierno [es] repudiates the Correo newspaper and its editor Aldo Mariátegui:
Cuando he leído lo escrito en Correo me he llenado de rabia e indignación. Se ha descalificado a la congresista Supa porque no tiene una escritura “correcta” del castellano y se ha pretendido que en el parlamento no pueden estar representados todos los peruanos sino solo los que saben leer y escribir “bien” (aunque sabe Dios qué signifique eso). O sea, la palabra no vale sino que “papelito manda”. Yo no creo que es así y por suerte tampoco el Congreso lo cree y ha condenado al diario Correo y se ha solidarizado con la congresista Supa.
Miguel Rodríguez Mondoñedo of La Peña Linguística [es] provides examples of linguistic differences and says that the newspaper is trying to point out spelling and grammar mistakes, but essence they are providing the opportunity to “ridicule a political adversary.”  Gustavo Faverón of Puente Aéreo [es]  has no trouble in calling the editor Mariátegui a racist and says that he judges Congresswoman Supa's personality through her grasp of written Spanish.
Silvio Rendón of Gran Combo Club [es] sees the political context of the proposal to require higher education in order to be a Congressional representative:
Bueno, la intención es clara: excluir las opciones políticas con las que no se coincide. La democracia actual estaría permitiendo que las opciones “humalistas” tengan una numerosa representación congresal. Se trata de cerrarles el paso cambiando los requisitos para ser elegidos. Hace cuarenta años los analfabetos no podían votar, con lo cual en el departamento del Cusco sólo votaba el 5% de la población en edad de votar. Los campesinos más pobres e indígenas que eran analfabetos no tenían representación, con lo cual el congreso no pasaba leyes que los pueda beneficiar. Hoy se trata de erigir barreras de entrada a la actividad política, con un objetivo parecido.
Not everyone agrees, the blog Sale Caliente [es] writes:
una congresista (Hilaria Supa) se ha sentido humillada por que un periodista (Aldo Mariátegui) dice que escribe mal, y muestra pruebas. O sea, ¿ahora ya no se puede hablar mal de nadie? ¿y donde quedó la libertad de opinión y expresión? A este paso terminarán bajandose a todos los diarios, programas de radio y televisión, y ¡cuidado! hasta a los bloggers. … Es muy fácil hablar de racismo y discriminación. Nada se puede criticar. O sea, la señora se agarra del tema del racismo para tapar una gran verdad: no sabe escribir en castellano, es más, tampoco lo habla bien. … Pero, saber hablar y escribir si es importante. Y en vez de sentirse ofendida y discriminada, la congresista Hilaria Supa debería sentirse avergonzada, y debería preocuparse por estudiar.
The blogger from Perú es Babel [es] poses a couple of questions about these claims:
Por otra parte eso de querer hablar en quechua todo el tiempo en el congreso cuando sabe bien que sus interlocutores no le van a entender, ir con ropas “típicas” y hacerse la discriminada de todo y por todo no son más que una pose para hacerse la más peruana de todas las peruanas del ande. Pose y nada más. Más allá de la pose cabe la pregunta: ¿Qué hace en el congreso la Sra. Supa? Es decir ¿Qué ha hecho hasta ahora?
Matt from The ONE Blog [es] pushes for the annulation of the obligatory vote:
ME INDIGNA QUE EN EL CONGRESO DEL PAÍS EN EL QUE VIVO, HAYA GENTE GANANDO MILES DE SOLES OBTENIDOS DE MIS IMPUESTOS ESCRIBA PEOR QUE UN REGGAETONERO DE 10 AÑOS MANDANDO SMS EN UN CELULAR SIN DOS TECLAS. Mariátegui se mide, pide que se cancele el voto obligatorio y se instaure el voto preferencial; yo sigo pidiendo lo de hace años, cancelen el voto obligatorio, olviden el voto preferencial e instauren el voto restringido para la gente con un mínimo de conocimientos prácticos para elegir a los más capacitados. Ciérrenle la puerta a todos los ignorantes e incapaces ya sea que se apelliden “Supa”, “López”, “Fuentes del Río” o “Goldstein” y permitan que ingresen los “Quispe”, “Linares”, “Posada de Gamboa” o “Levesque” que tienen la suficiente experiencia profesional como para dirigir este país y llevarlo a buen puerto.
Supa addressed Congress [es] saying that she is proud of where she is from and will not lower herself to anyone.  From that moment, she indicated that all of her Congressional speeches will be in quechua. While there is not a consensus view with the ingredients sensitive to Peruvians in respect to racism, it is interesting to read the different positions on the issue and draw out the best of them.

author: Juan Arellano


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Brunei now a rice producer · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Pixelated Scribbles is happy that Brunei has started producing its own rice as it lessens dependence on food imports.


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China: He saw no conscience, no sympathy.  · Global Voices
Bob Chen

At the end of the blog entry, the professor and lawyer Xu Zhiyong （许志永） wrote down the line:
突然忍不住失声痛哭。我打个车，回到家，跪倒地上，再次痛哭，我感谢上帝让我来到这世上承受这一切。然后，我平静地起来，写下这个故事，为我们的子孙后代，我要告诉他们什么是苦难。
Here is the partial translation of Xu's blog about his experience of helping a petitioner who was beaten up in Beijng.
晚上七点多刚打开手机就接到盛其芳老人的电话：“许教授，一直打不通你的电话，山东临沂被打的那个人八点多就被停药了，没钱治病，在同仁医院。”
Xu asked what happened and Sheng
她上访，被临沂驻京办的打成重伤。昏迷，可医院不给治了，怎么办啊。”
‘She came to Beijing to appeal about her grief to the central government, but was beaten up by the officials sent from the town she's from. She fell unconscious but the doctors refused to treat her; how should we do?’
When Xu rushed to the hospital, he found the victim lying on the bed with her sister and mother accompanying. But there was no dropping bottle. Her sister told what had happened:
姐姐说，4月27号她被关押在青年凤凰宾馆，那天下午妹妹也被临沂驻京办从马家楼拉过来，头栽倒在汽车里面地板上。姐姐听说后过去扶起她，问怎么了，她很费力地说被打了，肚子痛，然后就又昏迷了。打了几次120和 110，终于把妹妹送到右安门医院。医生说，没事。求医生给开点止痛药医生也不给开，说回家吧，没事。只好偷偷把妹妹送到同仁医院。拍片子的时候不敢说她是被接访的打的。但是后来向一位医生说了实话，医生就说，没事的，医院没病床了，你们回家吧。幸运地是终于找到了一位有良心的医生，他看了之后很吃惊，着急地说，千万不能让她动，有生命危险，赶紧抬她到床上，不能让她动。后来知道，妹妹被打脾破裂。带的几千块钱很快花完了。今天早上，开了药，但是没钱了，拿不了药，吊针就停了。找马家楼派出所，派出所也只是说在协调，从早上一直到现在都没有用药。
At first she dared not say she was beaten because of petitioning. When they told the truth, they were again informed that no room was available. Finally a doctor with sympathy came up. He was so surprised to see the victim, urging them not to move her or there was life risk. Afterward, they knew she had lienic rupture. A few thousands were quickly spent up for the treatment. This morning the prescription was suspended. Since then she got no more care.
As a professor of law, Xu has been helping petitioners and minorities struggling for their rights. Therefore he has maintained contact with various petitioner groups and that's why he was so quickly informed about the situation. Hearing the victim's story, Xu ran downstair to find the doctor.
来到一楼。急诊医生办公室。我问医生，这个病人需要不需要紧急治疗？医生跟我们来到病房，摸了摸病人的腹部。然后问我，“你是他什么人？”
我只是一个普通公民，我说。
“那我不跟你说。”
“那好，你跟她家人说，她需要什么治疗，需要什么条件。”
“按照开的药治疗。”他说。
“但我们没钱拿药啊。”姐姐哀求。
“走，我们下去拿药。”我平静地说，正好，今天我身上带了银行卡。
划价，这个晚上的药费是850元。似乎这个过程很漫长，终于拿到了单据，一直很坚强的姐姐突然跪到了地上，泪流满面。我扶起她，想我应该早一点来，应该早一点。从来没有像此刻觉得这点钱这么有价值。
他们一家来北京上访，因为2006年妹妹和母亲被人欺负，打伤很重，但对方被判缓刑。妹妹不服一直上访。2007年被临沂驻京办的打成了脑外伤，也曾经被送过精神病院
Xu described the Phoenix Hotel the victim's sister was locked in:
那是一个很黑很黑的黑监狱，我听到的同样的故事太多太多了，我怎能不去黑监狱呢？
在一个特权腐败成为常态的社会里，他们没有任何社会关系，可是他们偏偏认死理，执着上访，他们是这个国家的贱民，他们是我的同胞，我的兄弟姐妹。
In a state where privilege and corruption turned routine, the petitioners had no connections at all but they believe in justice stubbornly. They are the ‘untouchable’ in this country, but they are my countrymen, my brothers and sisters.
走廊里突然传来呼救声，一个妇女被五六个男人拖走了。护士进来说，“待会外面有吵闹不要开门。”也有一个男人挨个进门说：“把门关好。”
我和盛其芳来到走廊里。又有两个妇女一先一后被五六个男人拽着拖向电梯。我问怎么回事，没人说话。那个妇女在电梯关门前喊了一声“中国没有人权！”
姐姐在一旁说，听说他们是东北的，在天安门服毒自杀被送到这里的。一个接访的恶狠狠地问我干嘛的，我说在这里看病人。“没你的事，一边去。”
“绑架！怎么会没我的事？”我说，“应该报警。”
可惜这时我的手机没电了。一个挂着同仁医院胸牌的男人过来说，“我就是同仁医院保卫处的，你少管闲事啊。”
刹那间，我终于爆发了，我听到了一个仿佛穿破时空的惊天动地的怒吼：“丧——尽——天——良——！你们知不知道什么是——丧—尽—天—良！丧—尽—天—良！”
恍惚中，我穿过人群

author: Bob Chen


text:
China: Quarantining all Mexicans · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Health officials in China might be reading too much Michelle Malkin these days; following a decision to cancel all flights from Mexico, which then warned its citizens to stay away from China, authorities in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are reported to have rounded up at least 41 Mexican citizens, none of whom are said to be showing any symptoms of H1N1.
Portal news websites such as Global Times are closely reporting on all developments of the global endemic; in a story on the “dissatisfaction” expressed by the Mexican ambassador to China, Jorge Guajardo—who earlier suggested that H1N1 originated in Eurasia—at seeing Mexican citizens being singled out, readers have written:
自己生病的时候本就应该为了别人的健康老实在家里待着养病而不是到处传播病毒。谁又没请你们来，不来正好。
对于这种程度的传染病，我们就是要怀疑一个，隔离一个。怀疑一堆，隔离一群。为了13亿人口密度。我一百个赞成。
唉，别说了啊，他想要我们国家大乱啊，把我们国家搞垮啊，他们真是居心叵测
对于对中国如此敌视和不友好的国家，我们为什么要帮它？！ 我们的外交人员究竟是干什么吃的？ 为什么不能把所驻在国对我国的真正的态度反馈回来？ 看来，我们政府这次五百万美元算是白花了。 应该追究我们的外派外交人员的失职！
倒是理解墨外交人员的“不满”，可这种不满对保护人民生命安全丝毫起不到作用，墨西哥几天内如此大规模的扩散已经说明他们政府的措施不得利。
撤换该大使
做的好，必须考虑到我们人民群众的生命安全，如果病毒扩散到我们全国，那西方政客会帮我们么？不要指望他们，暂时停止航班是真确的。政府这次做的非常对，全力支持
全部送回去最好，赞成隔离，不愿意回去呗，万一传染了怎么办？这个时候，应该为大多数人民的利益着想，隔离了还送东西给他们，吃力不讨好
滚回墨西哥去！
流感也是有潜伏期的，我们自己人都隔离，你们凭什么有特权？！况且，中国境内的首例病例就是你们墨西哥人！如果你们不来，中国的感染和疑似病例仍然为0！！！！！
为了大家安全有什么不对？非常时期是哪里人不重要，中国人倒霉与病人乘了同一架飞机也被隔离呀！被病毒感染了吧这位？！
Another story from Global Times writes of netizen anger in response to the Mexican Foreign Minister's warning for his country's citizens to stay away from China; other comments there read:
所有网民们:你们好
现在你是代表全中国人吗?你们对中国的现实有多少知道?”墨外长“别赴中国旅游”言论引发中国网民愤怒”这个中国一字是可以让人去用的吗?我也是一个网民,可是你说的是在我还没看到.请问环球网????????????????????/
紧急情况下别管人家咋说，只要国民安全，个人意见
Over at NetEase, news that H1N1 has now passed from a human to pigs on one farm in Western Canada has received over a thousand comments; those currently being highlighted read:
乱了乱了,到底是猪不对还是人不对啊
全世界的猪都在恐怖：“人流感来了”
以前我好像看过，如果传到猪身上它就会变异，加拿大遭殃了
原来还是猪的错“
说猪不能得此病的专家估计跟猪有血缘关系,
否则他怎么了解得如此清楚!
Typical of NetEase readers, sarcastic comments further down appear to be in reference to the health official mentioned above, someone it seems who was quoted as saying that a virus such as H1N1 could not be jump species between humans and pigs:
猪和人是近亲！所以两者的病容易互传！专家这个难道不说吗？想隐瞒大家？我这个不是专业的人都知道，你们专家为什么不说？是不是不敢说？
猪和人是血亲！所以两者的病容易互传！专家这个难道不说吗？想隐瞒大家？我这个不是专业的人都知道，你们专家为什么不说？是不是不敢说？
猪和人血浓于水！所以两者的病容易互传！专家这个难道不说吗？想隐瞒大家？我这个不是专业的人都知道，你们专家为什么不说？是不是不敢说？
猪都是人民的公仆！所以两者的病容易互传！专家这个难道不说吗？想隐瞒大家？我这个不是专业的人都知道，你们专家为什么不说？是不是不敢说？
猪都为人民服务！所以两者的病容易互传！专家这个难道不说吗？想隐瞒大家？我这个不是专业的人都知道，你们专家为什么不说？是不是不敢说？


text:
Growing Military Repression in Madagascar · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

While more protests  have erupted in Madagascar and were repressed severely by armed forces,  the members of the transitional government of Madagascar have been hard at work explaining the circumstances of their rise to power to the international community. The recent reversal of the high constitutional court (HCC) decision on the  illegitimacy of the power transfer (fr) seems to have caught the transitional government by surprise and was what most likely led to the arrest of the head of security at the  HCC.
Representatives  of the UN security council and the African Union are meeting for a “Madagascar contact group” in Addis Ababa to ensure that the nations take a common position in pushing for a return to constitutional order in Madagascar.  Although each Malagasy political party announced that they had representatives present at the meeting, it turns out that  none of the opposition parties were present during the decision-making process meeting.
In the meantime, former president Marc Ravalomanana, in exile in South Africa, appointed a new prime minister, Mandandafy  Rakotonirina,  to  form a new  government, in effect disputing the legitimacy  of  the transitional government.  A few days after  Rakotonirina listed the new members of his cabinet, he and his acquaintances were arrested by the security forces on charges of “illegally declaring himself as prime minister, vandalism & possessing weapons”.
Malagasy bloggers were quick to react news of the arrest:
Rakotonirina arrested by Commander Andrianasoavina via andrydago.wordpress.com
Malagasy blogger, andrydago posts photos and describes the circumstances of the arrest of Rakotonirina in details and wonders whether the military thinks that this arrest will put an end to the movement.
Avylavitra posts the video of the arrest on his blog:
Jentilisa describes and transcribes what is happening on the video:
Efa tsy zoviana intsony fa ny Komandà Charles Randrianasoavina no nitarika ny miaramila hisambotra ireto mpitari-tolona ireto. Io Komand io no nitazona tamin'ny vozon'akanjony ny praiminisitra Manandafy sady niedinedina hatrany niteny hoe : “Ahy ialahy manomboka androany! Ahy ialahy manomboka androany!”.
The transitional government justifies the arrest by saying that Manandafy Rakotinirina is charged with illegitimately declaring himself prime minister, instigating the destruction of property and illegal possession of firearms.
A video taken the day after shows an assigned to residence Rakotonirina with bruises on his face.
The instances of dubious actions by the military forces are not limited to the excessive use of force during arrest. Many bloggers report that armed personnel are roaming around in the city in 4X4 vehicles and shooting in the air to intimidate passersby.  Solofo posts photos of  a vehicle showing a man with a rifle standing outside the car window following a military truck full of armed soldiers.
Vola, in the comment section of the post, writes that the head of the army explains thusly the cause of death of 2 protesters:
… ils se sont cognés avec des véhicules dans la mêlée [..] il est comique Noël Rakotonandrasana sur ce coup là quand même. Ecoutez l'interview [RFI] à la fin
Another instance of abuse of power by the military can be found in the ongoing case of Razily. Razily is the young man who marched towards the armed forces carrying a flag and who was arrested on the spot for flag theft. Ethan Zuckerman explains the background behind Razily ‘s story. A petition has been created to demand that the armed forces provide updates on the status of Razily and a time frame for his trial date. The petition has already gathered a few signatures and has been relayed by a few twitter users:
twitter users concerned about Razily's fate

author: Lova Rakotomalala


text:
Indian Elections 2009: Lower Voter Turnouts And Questions Regarding Campaigns · Global Voices
Gaurav Mishra

Photo courtesy Chhavi Sachdev
The Indian blogosphere and mainstream media is abuzz with debate on why the voter turnout in Mumbai has decreased to 44.21% in spite of voter registration initiatives like Jaago Re and transparency initiatives like Vote Report India.
Most people are trying to explain why Mumbaikars didn't vote.
On a CNBC-TV18 panel discussion, independent candidate Meera Sanyal, Madhav Bhatkuly from Empowered Mumbai, B Venkatesh Kumar from Mumbai University and Vivek Gilani from MumbaiVotes try to explain the low voter turnout in Mumbai.
IANS explains the low Mumbai voter turnout by arguing that most Mumbaikars are only concerned about local issues, which were not really highlighted in the election campaigns. Neha Bagoria on Twitter says that most of the educated young voters in Mumbai are from other states for jobs and can't vote as their names aren't in voting list. Niyukti on Twitter believes that voter apathy to the ‘same old politics’ and heat wave are the two top reasons for lower voter turnout in Mumbai. Bombay Addict says that the apathy of the middle class is the reason for the low voter turnout.
Harshad Oak argues that the low voter turnout numbers may be a reflection of the Election Commission's inefficiency, instead of voter apathy. Neelakantan also points to issues with how voting lists in India are maintained. Amit argues that broken voting machines and missing voter names can't be an excuse for not insisting on voting.
Randheer Singh develops an elaborate conspiracy theory on why the Indian middle class doesn't vote. The Acron at National Interest calls for a more in-dept analysis of the Absent Indian Voter Syndrome.
Mohyna Srinivasan and Vrushali Lad are shocked and saddened that Mumbaikars didn't go out and vote. Kamal Chaturvedi didn't vote himself, but calls Mumbaikars shameless for not voting.
Subin, Dina Mehta, Chhavi Sachdev and Kayezad Adajania share their experience of voting for the first time. It's a sad story of missing voter names, confused poll officials and shoddy poll arrangements. Model-turned-writer Shobha De had an easier time voting. Rajesh Jain explains how he ended up not voting for the first time since 1992, because of his name missing from the voter list. Priya Ramani at LiveMint explains why she didn't vote.
Another set of people believe that the expectation that voter turnout in Mumbai would be high was wrong to begin with.
Columnist Vir Sanghvi is not surprised by the low Mumbai voter turnout and argues that we were deluded in believing that the Mumbai terror attack will lead to higher civic engagement amongst India's urban youth. Ananth Krishnan blames the media for creating a false expectation of higher voter turnout. Kaushal Karkhanis on Twitter says that most outreach effort focused on the classes, not the masses, who form the majority of voters.
Finally, a third set of people are trying to think of ways for encouraging people to vote in the future.
Rediff asks its readers if voting should be made compulsory in India, given the low voter turnout. Mohit Atale believes that the ‘none of the above option’ would have led to a higher voter turnout.
I personally believe that this was an unprecedented election for India in terms of online voter registration, transparency and outreach initiatives.
These initiatives have tapped into the sense of outrage after the Mumbai terrorist attack, channeled it into constructive conversations, and created an online space for civic engagement. It is because of this groundswell that people like writer Shashi Tharoor , danseuse Mallika Sarabhai and ABN AMRO India chief Meera Sanyal stepped up to contest the elections.
Perhaps, these initiatives haven't resulted in a significant increase in voter turnout but they have laid a foundation for engaging India's urban middle-class youngsters into serious civic issues. Talk is cheaper than action, but civic engagement must predate collective action. It's a cycle we have seen in the US. In 2004, online engagement didn't get the nomination for Howard Dean, or the presidency for John Kerry, but it set the foundation of the netroots movement that Barack Obama tapped into in 2008. The 2009 elections in India are similar to the 2004 elections in the US.
Perhaps, in 2014, we will see a charismatic leader emerge on the national scene, who will capture the imagination of India's youth. In these elections, neither Congress nor BJP had a charismatic prime ministerial candidate leading from the front. Also, young people in India are disappointed with the sycophancy in the Congress, wary of the communal extremism in the BJP, and alarmed by the fragmentation in Indian politics as a result of the growing power of the regional parties. Therefore, we have seen discussions on section 49(O) and negative voting ever since the Mumbai attack. Hopefully that will change in 2014.
Cross-posted at Gauravonomics, my blog on social media and social change.

author: Gaurav Mishra


text:
Industries Doing Well Despite Recession · Global Voices
Rezwan

Sunday Posts highlights a list of industries which have escaped the current recession and doing well either because of it or are simply recession proof.

author: Rezwan