Amer over at Hilaliya gives his reason why he is so into the elections this year:

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not 'social' individual, not social in the Kuwaiti ‘political animal' sense of visiting diwaniyas, campaign headquarters, and ‘getting out the vote'

“What's gotten into you?” relatives and close friends ask.

But the answer is simple really…The country is in a severe state of gridlock, buffered by corruption, waste and inefficiency. Now we have no control over who the government appoints to run the country but we do have the power to make the right choice on May 17.

Forzaq8 over at 5-Q8 writes his final thoughts on the elections:

Election should be taken seriously , it is not a game
Tomorrow your Vote decide your future and your sons future
for example don't ask why didn't they build a new hospital when the member you voted for didn't approve the funding for it , and more example could be said

Still on the topic of the elections, Aggz The Aggressor writes a brief history of democracy in Kuwait:

Many may argue against this post, though I hope it ‘at least’ makes sense to most readers.

We’ve come to realize that democracy in Kuwait is something of a unique experience, especially to those of us that never saw Kuwait in it’s infancy

Away from the elections, Dr Mahbob brings us news of an agreement between the government and Knet (Knet is a national company providing electronic banking services to all the banks in Kuwait) and what he thinks of it.

I think this is big step toward e-payment and I hope hackers don’t show up when the smell chance of stealing money online.

Q8Ba7th writes about his experience going to P2BK2008:

P2BK is a new youth initiative to organize annual forum for small and startup businesses. A healthy and definitely needed concept I say for startups and small business who can’t afford to take place in big expos like Info Connect and others.

And finally Ducatiq8 explains his feelings when he abides by the new law of not using his cell phone while driving:

اليوم كان اول يوم يطبق فيه قانون منع استخدام الهاتف النقال يدويا أثناء القيادة
طبعا ديكاتي مواطن صالح وملتزم و تقي وورع وكل الصفات الزينه فيني
اليوم اول ما ركبت المركبة(أخييه يا انا يا ابو مركبه) المهم حطيت عدتي
وطلعت السماعه وقعدت اضبطها لإن وايراتها متعربكه فقعدت اطلعهم وحطيتها على رقبتي

Today was the first day for the implementation of the law that forbids using mobile phones while driving. Of course, Ducati is a good law abiding devout committed citizen and all the good things are in me. As soon as I got into my car today, O got my kit out and the earphone and started setting them up because wires were tangled and then put it around my neck.

ووصلناها بالتلفون واستلمت القياده
الواحد واهوه يطبق القانون يحس بشعور حلو يعني وانا اسوق واطالع يميني ويساري يعني شوفوني ترا مطبق القانون
المهم وصلت الكلية ونزلت من السيارة وانا معلق السماعه
والناس تشوفني الله شوفوا ديكاتي مطبق القانون والبنات يأشرون شوفي شوفي مطبق القانون

I then connected it to the phone and started to drive. When a person follows the rules, he develops a good feeling. I was looking left and right, trying to show others that I was abiding by the law! I then arrived at the college and got out of the car, with the earphone dangling around my neck and people were looking at me and saying to themselves: ‘Oh look! Ducati is abiding by the law! Even the girls were pointing at me.

وصلت عند المحاضرة والربع واقفين سلمت عليهم والكل يقولي ها ديكاتي مطبق القانون
اقولهم اي والله شسوي طبقت القانون
دشيت المحاضرة وبدأ الدكتور بالكلام وافتتحها بالكلام عن القانون واخذني كمثال جيد لتطبيق القانون
يقولي الدكتور ها ديكاتي اشوفك مستانس شكلك اول مره تطبق القانون
وانا اضحك اي والله شنسوي يا دكتور طبقنا القانون

I arrived at my lecture location and found my friends standing there. I said hello to them and everyone was saying: ‘Oh Ducati, you are implementing the law?' I told them I had to. At the lecture, the professor started his talk speaking about the new law and set me out as an example of someone who abides to the law. He then told me it looked as if it was the first time for me to implement the law. I laughed and said: ‘What can I do Doctor, we followed the law?'

تدش الجمعيه ويشوفك الكاشير ويقولك طبقت القانون اتقوله اي
تروح ستاربكس يطلعلك الفلبينو هاي سير يو سيم ذات يو طبقت القانون او الرول
وانا اقوله يس يس مي طبقت ذا قانون
تروح المسجد تصلي ويقولك الشيخ احسنت جزاك الله خير انت مثال يحتذى به لتطبيق القانون
ترجع البيت ابوك يشوفك يقولك عفيه على ولدي انا ربيتك على تطبيق القانون وتربيتي ما راحت بلاش وهذا انت طبقت القانون

You enter the supermarket and the cashiers see you and asks: ‘You are following the law?' and you say yes. And then you go to Starbucks and the Filipino there says: ‘Hi Sir. It seems that you implemented the new law!' and you reply: ‘Yes, yes, I did.' You go the the mosque to pray and the Imam tells you: ‘May Allah reward you for being a good example and abiding by the law. And finally you return home, where you meet your father, who tells you: ‘Congratulations to you my son. I raised you to respect the law and I have not failed in that as I see you implementing the law!'

za3tar, the organizer of the event, blogged about being Palestinian, sharing a story of his family and concluding:

For us Palestinians, only two things remained true during the past 60 years; First, life for ordinary people only gets worst every year. Second, from the minute you are born in Palestine, you are immediately a suspect, and you are continuously treated so for as long as you live. No one in the world can condone mass punishment of civilians, but punishing suspects is not a big deal.

We must be suspects, otherwise what explains 60 years of Israel’s direct violation of numerous UN resolutions without any consequences. We must be suspects, otherwise what explains our denial of basic human rights. For me and my family, the only crime that we are suspect of, is simply existing!

These stories are not unusual for Palestinians. As a matter of fact, i come from a blissed family, my parents were able provide us with food and shelter, and none of my relatives was killed. Unfortunately however, the stories of average Palestinians are much grimmer still.

Rebellious Arab Girl, a Canadian resident, also blogged about being Palestinian:

What do I represent?
I represent my self, a Palestenian with hot blood through my veins and a voice to speak about my existence. I am Palestenian. I will always be one. I was born as one, and will die as one.

It has been 60 years since my home was taken away, isn’t that too much?

I may be one person. I am not a celebrity or someone who is famous and well known. However, I have the right to speak out when I say, “we had enough!”

Vivirlatino blogged about the Palestinian population in Chile:

Last month about 40 Palestinian families, refugees from Iraq, were welcomed into Chile.

“We hope that suffering will be a thing of the past, and Chile the source of your new happiness,” Deputy Interior Minister Felipe Harboe said as he welcomed the 16 adults and 23 children who had spent months stranded at a desert camp on the Iraqi-Syrian border.

The rest of about 117 refugees from this specific camp arrived in the Santiago neighborhoods of La Calera y San Felipe this week. They were welcomed with flags, dancing, and music.

While these homes in Chile, which come with the support of the Chilean government and all of it's resources (including a monthly stipend and counseling services), do not replace or erase the need of Palestinians to have a home in their homeland, the right to return, historically it makes sense. So many people left Chile after the 1973 U.S. backed military coup. So many lives lost and disappeared through state sanctioned violence. The links are there. The connection is there.

And Far Away blogged about the changing face of both Palestine and Israel, sharing fascinating photographs:

It’s been 60 years since the Palestinian Nakbeh. That means around four generations of Palestinians.

Of course, in these past 60 years, life for Palestinians for those still living in Palestine and the ones living in exodus have changed drastically. Thanks to ethnic cleansing, injustice, barricading, lack-of-educational means, poverty, bad health care, constant pressure, among other racist and unjustifiable actions, life has changed.

Life for “Israelis” has also changed.

The wheels have turned…

Bruised Earth wondered about the false hope being given to Palestinians…

So on this day of of the Nakba, the catastrophe, all this site can ask and ‘hope’ to encourage is the ongoing search for the truth. Hope more people can wade through the politics and media that filter what we all need to know; what we all must confront. Everyone must find that for themselves.

…and encouraged readers to seek the truth from outside sources:

Read other Web sites - beyond Fox, CNN, BBC, and Reuters. Forget about the 30 minute news updates - and instead piece together 30 minutes of real news from other sources every day.

Read the facts. Find more facts. Find more truth.

Syrian blogger Maysaloon discussed the Nakba:

In many ways, how we choose to commemorate May the 15th says a lot about us in the Arab world. Those of us who remember it as something from the past and, to put it biblically, with much “wailing and gnashing of teeth”, miss the point. The Nakba did not happen and end in 1948, it has continued to this present day. You can see the Nakba in Gaza, in the refugee camps and, dare I say it, it has expanded to Iraq. However, from the Nakba we also saw the birth of resistance. From the heroism and selflessness of al Husseini and the resistance in 1948, to the battle of Karameh in ‘68, Beirut in ‘82, Iraq today and the South of Lebanon in 2006. The struggle against occupation continues, as it does against those who collaborate. May 15th reminds us of the tragedy which befell a people, our people but also strengthens our resolve to resist and to push on. Am I the last person to talk about resistance from the comfort of my home, in a country which was Israel's midwife? Perhaps, but just as a first person is necessary in a set, so is the last, and it is belonging to the set and playing your role in anyway possible which is what counts. The only thing, the easiest thing, for us to do is to forget, to count ourselves defeated or irrelevant. Each of us has a moral duty to resist zionism, empire and neo-colonialism in all aspects of our lives and it will be a poor excuse to say, one day, that you were only being realistic. The enemies of Palestine know that every person they kill or bomb they drop only creates more determination to fight them, that their time is running out. Sixty years on, the dream of ending Israel is that little bit closer. Sixty years on, the struggle continues.

Finally, My Home Away From Home, who lives in Canada, shared her desire to go to Palestine, the country of her ancestors:

Palestine…it is my home that I have never set foot in, it is the land I love without boundaries.

My heart cries for Palestine, I want to touch its soil even once in my life. My heart and soul are always with Palestine, it is a part of my prayer ritual. I pray that one day we get our freedom we get our right to return. I pray for the gruesome murders and unfairness to stop, for children to start living like they are supposed to without fear, for mothers to be able to sleep the night without worrying that tomorrow or the day after she may lose some or all of her children. I pray for families to live together all in one place without a brother, a son an uncle in the isreali prisons for life. I pray that children can go to school or out to play and come back home safely. I pray that wives and husbands are not widowed too soon, and children are not orphaned when they are still young. I pray for people to live in peace and harmony and for all of us Palestinians born all over the world to reunite and meet in our homeland, a land who’s love was born in our heart…

In spite of these restrictions on people carrying cameras and taking pictures, some have gone out to record the extent of the damages. It would seem that their disregard for the junta's guidelines for reporting on the cyclone is strictly tied with their anger at the junta for not evacuating the affected villages even when they were aware of the impending cyclone and the possible devastation it could cause. The following images, uploaded by YouTube user aungsayapyi may affect sensitive people: they are very graphic, include dead bodies and should be viewed with discretion and an adult's consent:

YouTube user AfterNargisYgn has been uploading a multipart series of videos featuring images of the effects of the Cyclone in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, previously known as Rangoon. People removing downed trees, wading through waters and drying up their mattresses, clothing and in general trying to clean up and move on.

YouTube user Burma4u uploaded a video of the aftermath in Latbutta, with Cyclone Nargis' victims crowded in refugee shelters, trying to sleep as they mull over what will happen to them in the near and far future.

An insightful video about the Burmese people's future has come from myochitmyanmar, another YouTube user who has uploaded a video with some English subtitles, interviewing Laputta survivors and refugees on their current situation: at the refugee camps, on the streets: rice donations and clothing hand-outs for children, private initiatives done without the State Peace and Development Council who governs them. Meanwhile, a picture on Burma News shows what looks like Red Cross aid, which is supposed to be for Cyclone refugees, being sold on the streets.

The following video, also from aungsayapyi shows how people are experiencing life in the refugee camps, private organizations' donations: both from people and stores, and a Military General's arrival, carrying promises instead of clothing, food or water. They proceed to tell refugees that the people who died, died because of bad karma, and that they should consider themselves lucky enough to be alive. They give some recommendations about grouping themselves according to villages and then leave. It has been subtitled in English for a better understanding of the events:

In the YouTube Blog they've also highlighted the video community's efforts to help Myanmar and provide aid, and they highlight both news networks and private initiatives who are documenting the cyclone and letting the world know what is going on in this small Southeast Asian country. For example, Nightwatcher1982 of the Netherlands has promised that for every video response to his video he gets, he will donate $5 to the Red Cross, and if it's a good video, he'll donate $10:

Global Voices Online has been doing extensive coverage of the disaster and aggregating information from different sources in Myanmar and outside about what is happening with food aid, water and the refugee situation as death tolls continue to rise. Please don't hesitate to go over to our Special Myanmar Cyclone Coverage page and read the posts that the amazing team of volunteer authors have been writing with translations from Burmese blogs telling first hand accounts of live in Myanmar right now. You can also follow our Myanmar feed on twitter. There will also be a global action day on behalf of the Burmese victims on May 17th, when people are asked to tell others about the crisis in Myanmar, and some are already organizing fundraisers and events.

How do you evaluate the presence of homosexual blogs in the Iranian blogosphere? Are there many bloggers that talk about their homosexuality?

Yes, we have many Iranian LGBTIQ bloggers, and most of them live inside Iran. They have nicknames and write anonymously, which is safest for their security, but sometimes the government finds them through their IP addresses. But they do exist and are very active.

How do you use the Internet, including blogs and video films, to talk about Iranian homosexuality?

The Internet is one of our most important communication tools. Without the internet our organization could not do many things. We don't have representatives in Iran because we fear for their safety; we don't want to make problems for them. We monitor their weblogs, and it is one of our resources. The Internet is a gift to us.

What about Iranian reactions to your website/blog? Is there any dialogue there between people who are homosexual or defend homosexual rights, and people who consider homosexuality a “sin” or “an immoral act”?

There are different reactions. We receive many hate messages, and also many messages of support. In the Iranian queer weblogs, they have dialogues with other people, and sometimes bloggers address these issues. But in general, people have changed their views in the last few years.

Is there any online forum where Iranian homosexuals exchange their ideas or leave comments?

We have a magazine, Cheraq. And we have a forum for Iranian homosexuals too. It started a few months ago. But weblogs are more common.

How you see the situation of homosexuals in Iran? Are they involved in cyberspace in order to express themselves?

As I said, a lot has changed. I remember a few years ago, nobody talked about our rights, but now you can find thousands of pages online. According to them, they cannot have physical relations freely, but they exist and they try to be active. I think now, Iranian queer issues have become a human rights issue.

When you look at Iranian gay and lesbian blogs. Do they face different kinds of difficulties?

Of course yes, it is totally different. They have different situations. Lesbians are more invisible, and it is because of Iran's general lack of women's rights. We don't have many lesbian blogs, and those that I know, are active in trying to say lesbians exist too. We have an online magazine for lesbians, Hamjens-e man. It is the first magazine for Iranian lesbians.

Do you have any project, comment or idea to share with us?

We exist, but we cannot speak out. We should support each other. It is our freedom tax.

Martian Martin gives the details in his post.

지난 2월 옥션을 해킹해 회원 천만 명의 개인정보를 빼내간 중국인 해커가 이미 한 달 전에 중국 공안에 붙잡혔다고 합니다. 체포된 중국인 해커는 산둥성에서 활동하는 중국인 전문 해커인데 아직 공식적인 발표는 없었지만 산둥성 공안은 이런 사실을 부인하지 않았습니다. 그런데 이 해킹 사건의 배후에는 한국의 개인정보 암거래상이 있다고 중국 해커들은 전했으며, 또 그들에 의하면 옥션의 발표와 달리 1800만명이 넘는 옥션 전체회원의 정보가 모두 유출되었다고 합니다. 이들 중국 해커들은 중국에서 한국인들을 위해서 일을 하며, 의뢰를 받아 해킹을 해서 한국으로 건네주면 한국의 정보 암거래상들이 다시 한국에 판다고 합니다. 개인정보의 가치는 중국에서 보다 국내에서 더 효용이 있는 것이 당연하겠지만, 이 정보를 습득하는 과정은 중국을 통해 이루어졌기에 우리나라 국민의 절반의 개인정보는 중국을 비롯한 여러 나라에 수출이 되었다고 해야 하나요? 인터넷과 디지털 정보의 특성상 한 번 공개된 정보는 어떤 방법으로도 회수할 수 없으며 회수한다고 해도 일부에 지나지 않을 것입니다. 이번 옥션의 경우도 유출된 모든 정보는 이미 중국과 한국에 퍼질 대로 퍼져서 해킹범을 잡았다고 해도 이미 회수도 불가능하며, 우리나라 국민 1/2의 주소, 전화번호, 주민등록번호, 계좌번호 등이 포함된 고품질의 개인정보는 세계적으로 떠돌게 되었습니다. 국내의 개인정보 암거래상도 이미 옥션에서 해킹된 DB의 데이터가 우리나라에서 거래되고 있는 것을 인정하고 있습니다.

정부는 자국민의 절반의 정보가 사기를 비롯한 각종 불법행위에 이용되고 있음에도 해결과 보완에 대한 어떤 움직임도 없으며, 솔직히 적극적인 해결 의지가 있는지 조차도 의문스럽습니다. 이만한 규모의 손쉬운 해킹 결과와 그 후속조치의 미비와 부적절한 대응과 소극적인 의지로 우리나라의 보안 수준은 퇴보했으며,[…] 이미 회수할 수 없는 정보라면 피해를 최소화 할 수 있는 대책과 개인 정보 관리에 대한 법적인 방안과 앞으로 재발을 방지할 수 있는 강력한 장치가 있길 바랍니다. 그리고 이번 해킹을 의뢰한 한국인과 그 정보를 거래한 모든 취급자들을 반드시 잡아서 온 국민 앞에 공개해서 매국노의 최후가 어떠한지 본보기로 삼았으면 좋겠습니다.

Not a few netizens worry about how the personal information is used and feel insecure.

[…]최근 중국을 다녀왔다는 한 사업가는 “중국학생들이 PC방 등에서 한국인의 실명과 주민등록번호 등이 있는 사이트를 이용해 아무런 제한없이 국내 게임에 회원으로 가입하고 있다. 이 사이트에는 수백명의 한국인 개인정보가 고스란히 올라와 있다.”라고 귀띔했다. 기자가 방문한 중국 내 또 다른 사이트도 상황은 마찬가지였다. 한국인 이름과 주민등록 변호, 연락처 등이 고스란히 개제되어 있었다. 최근 해킹을 당한 옥션의 아이디 및 비밀 번호를 벌써부터 이 사이트에서 판매한다는 문구도 올라와 있다[…] 중국의 사이트에는 심지어 국내 최대의 포털 사이트인 네이버의 아이디 및 비밀번호를 판매한다는 글도 간간히 올라오고 있다. 네이버측은 해킹 가능성을 일축하고 있다. 그러나 네티즌들은 각 포털이나 블로그를 통해 네이버가 해킹되었을 가능성을 제기하고 있다[…]

Current chaos in Korean society over other issues generates criticism toward the present government.

탄핵이다..광우병이다. 청문회다. 이명박이다…[…] 이런 망할 와중에… 좋겠다 옥션…이명박 정부덕에 조용히 잊혀질 분위기가.. 남들이 다 이명박을 버려도 너희는 버리면 안되겠다. 허허…

A netizen criticizes the attitude of people toward computer hackers and how to react to this coming threat.

지난 2월초 국내 최대 오픈마켓인 옥션이 한 해커에 의해 뚫렸다. 1000만 여건이 넘는 개인정보가 속수무책으로 빠져나간 것이다. 해킹과 협박에 가담은 일당 3명이 중국에서 붙잡혔지만, 주범의 행방은 아직까지도 오리무중이다. 게다가 LG텔레콤의 가입자 정보가 인터넷에 노출되는가 하면 하나로텔레콤은 회원정보를 고의로 외부에 빼돌렸다.그외에 국민은행 인터넷 뱅킹 서비스에도 악성코드를 통해 해킹당하는 사고와 포털업체 다음도 전문해커에 의해 해킹당했다. 이렇게 해킹으로 유린당하는 사고가 계속적으로 벌어지고 있다.이처럼 계속 사고가 벌어지는 이유는 무엇일까 가장 커다란 요인은 전문 인력 부족과 보안의식의 실종을 들 수 있다. 아직까지도 해커와 크래커를 구분하지 못하고 컴퓨터 기술이 뛰어나면 부정적으로 보는 시각이 존재한다. 또한 해이해진 보안의식이 더해져 이러한 사태들이 끊이지 않는 것이다. 전문인들은 큰 기업을 해킹하는 것도 어느정도의 지식과 툴만 있다면 불가능한 것이 아니라고 말한다. 또한 이를 막아야 하는 기업 관계자들의 보안의식도 문제라고 지적한다.안철수바이러스 연구소의 안철수 소장은 이러한 일들은 이미 예견된 인재였다면서 허술해진 보안을 지적했다. 앞으로는 철저한 사이버세계로서 보안전문가를 육성하여 다가올 사이버전에 대비해야 한다. 심지어 한 중국 해커는 마음만 먹으면 대한민국 전체를 무력화 시킬 수 있는건 일도 아니라며 호언장담하고 있다. 이러한 상황에서 우리는 서둘러 보안전문가를 육성하고 이러한 인력들에 대한 지원을 아끼지 않아야 한다. 하지만 가장 큰 문제는 이들에 대한 시선이다.어둡고 음침한 사람이 아닌, 미래의 중요 인재로 인식하고 뒷받침 해줘야 한다. 그것만이 다가올 사이버 전쟁에서 승리할 수 있는 길이다.

This photo shows ID numbers and Korean names after putting a random Korean name in a Chinese portal site

Enquanto em alguns países o uso da maconha é restritamente aceito, no Brasil esse tipo de debate não é nem ao menos permitido. Falar sobre maconha se tornou mais que um tabu, visto que poucos dias antes da marcha acontecer ela foi proibida pelo Ministerio Público, decisão essa que impediu um recurso contrário devido a proximidade da data do evento. Fica clara a incapacidade desse país em permitir com que seus cidadãos possam debater em prol das relações que temos com alguns problemas vividos por aqui. Seria uma passeata, apologia? Debater se tornou influenciar? Alguns termos estão muito mal definidos na cabeça do poder legislativo, o que impede o cidadão de se reunir para reivindicar o que lhe julga de direito: a liberdade de expressão.
Fascismo Tropical - Obrog!!!

Obviamente, decisões judiciais não se descumprem, mesmo que as achemos inconstitucionais, pois gozam da presunção de legitimidade necessária à segurança jurídica das relações humanas e sociais reguladas pelo direito, valor maior a ser preservado no sistema jurídico. Mas nada impede que sejam objeto de debate acadêmico e mesmo político, sob um ponto de vista crítico. Os direitos à livre expressão do pensamento e à reunião são garantidos pelo artigo 5º de nossa Constituição como valores fundamentais do regime democrático. Princípio democrático é a norma constitucional que determina não apenas a adoção de decisões por uma maioria legislativa ou social, mas também - e em especial -, a preservação dos direitos das minorias… Subtrair de parcela da cidadania o direito de protestar contra a vigência de qualquer lei, penal ou não, é ferir de morte o regime democrático. É subtrair-lhe o sentido, traduzindo-se em ato imperial, impróprio ao Estado Democrático de Direito… Se postular pela revogação de uma lei não é conduta salvaguardada pelo direito de livre expressão, que condutas da cidadania seriam salvaguardadas por este direito? Posso expressar que sou contra as normas vigentes, mas não posso dizer quais e as respectivas razões?… Fica agora a questão: será que passeatas em favor da descriminalização do aborto e outras semelhantes também serão proibidas? Podem também serem compreendidas como um estímulo à prática do aborto, conduta tipificada em nossa ordem penal. Se forem, obviamente o sentido da democracia brasileira se esvairá.
A Marcha da Maconha e o direito à livre expressão, por Pedro Estavam Serrano - Última Instância

Cannabis was brought to Brazil by the first Africans arriving from Angola, and it's use and cultivation was encouraged by the Portuguese, which resulted in it being culturally assimilated by the mestizos and by some Indian groups. Medical use was also common, mostly during the second part of the 19th century, and even advertised in Brazilian medical journals up to the first years of the 20th century. Some commenters focused on the cultural aspects of the censorship.

Tal proibição numa cidade como Salvador, afronta um significado étnico e cultural do uso dessa planta, que é uma parte da herança cultural africana. Sobre esse aspecto assim se expressou Gilberto Freyre: “as tradições religiosas, como outras formas de cultura, ou de culturas negras, para cá transportadas, junto com a sombra das próprias árvores sagradas, com o cheiro das próprias plantas místicas – a maconha ou a diamba, por exemplo – é que vêm resistindo mais profundamente, no Brasil, à desafricanização. Muito mais do que o sangue, a cor e a forma dos homens. A Europa não as vencerá.” (Sobrados e Mucambos, 2003, p.797). Poderia Gilberto Freyre ser enquadrado como “apologista” da maconha?
Democracia Cultural e a Marcha da Maconha - Blog Oficial do Tio Tod

Recentemente, o Ministro da Cultura Gilberto Gil apresentou uma proposta p/ tombar a Ayahuasca, planta alucinógena que compõe o chá do Santo Daime, como patrimônio cultural nacional. Se a “Pequena Morte” pode, por que não a Manga Rosa, o Cabeça de Nego, o Cabrobó?… Enquanto não se chega a um consenso, e muito menos a uma solução p/ o problema, o presidente do Conselho Federal da OAB, Cezar Britto, defende a liberdade de expressão como bem primordial de um Estado democrático: “O maior mal que se pode impor a um país é calar, censurar o pensamento.”
A marcha que não quer calar - Viva la Brasa

The 20th century brought about the spreading of the notion of the plant as a great danger to individuals and society, and also a surge of international agreements for the adjustment of national laws criminalizing the use of cannabis. Ecologia Cognitiva offers a good account and links showing how the the early Twentieth Century American movie industry played a key role in disseminating the new cultural references for the plant, and the ideological elements displayed by some commenters adds up to the notion that politics seems to play a role bigger than science when it comes down to defining how harmful cannabis really is.

Ao examinarmos os fatos percebemos claramente que os mais comuns e perigosos mitos e inverdades sobre a substância ilegal mais utilizada no mundo são concebidos e difundidos pelo governo americano, em desacordo com as descobertas oficiais… Em 1936 o filme Reefer Madness (vale à pena assistir) inaugura a perseguição mostrando como apenas uma tragada da fumaça maldita pode levar jovens sadios a uma escalada de violência e luxúria que resulta em morte e insanidade. Apesar da declaração de que os fatos narrados no filme não apresentavam nenhuma relação com pessoas ou situações reais, o filme explicita que cumpre a missão de informar a população incauta sobre o ‘novo inimigo público número um' (veja ao lado)… O famoso estudo de 1972 da ‘National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse', formada por especialistas e congressistas convocados pelo então presidente Nixon, sugeria no relatório final que “deveríamos desenfatizar a maconha como um problema” e afirmava que “o uso de drogas por prazer ou outros motivos não-medicinais não são inerente irresponsáveis”. Tal resultado certamente não atendeu à agenda política da época e foi totalmente ignorado pelo governo — o período que se seguiu foi marcado por grande censura à pesquisa com psicoativos.
Em 1988, após 4 anos de estudos envolvendo centenas de testemunhas e milhares de páginas em documentação, Francis Young, Chefe do Depto. Jurídico do DEA publicou relatório onde sugeriu uma reclassificação de periculosidade da cannabis declarando: “é razoável concluir que existem utilizações seguras para a maconha sob supervisão médica — afirmar o contrário constitui claro erro de julgamento”. Novamente os estudos oficiais foram desconsiderados, e aproximadamente 10 anos depois o drug-czar do presidente Clinton (Barry Macfrey), afirma à imprensa que “não existe nenhum traço de evidência científica sobre segurança ou benefícios medicinais da maconha.”… Enquanto isso, na Europa, pesquisa encomendada pelo governo inglês em 1996 registrou parecer que também recomendava a reclassificação da substância, indicando que “os malefícios não devem ser superestimados: a cannabis não é venenosa e não apresenta algo grau de adição”. E o National Institute of Health (EUA) promoveu em 2001 workshop sobre as possíveis utilizações médicas da cannabis, e dentre as conclusões afirma que podem existir casos específicos de pacientes onde o uso da cannabis (a fumaça) supera em resultados os medicamentos que utilizam o princípio ativo (thc) em cápsulas.
Planta proibida, perseguição denunciada - Ecologia Cognitiva

… Deputado Federal Marcelo Itagiba (PMDB-RJ), ex-secretário de Segurança do Estado, que entrou com uma ação contra a passeata que resultou na sua proibição pela Justiça, contrapôs que o ato era ilegal, pois diligenciava em favor do uso da maconha: “A marcha foi criada para promover um crime, que é o consumo de drogas. Eu não sou contra a liberdade de expressão, mas essa discussão não deveria ser feita em local público, e sim em meios acadêmicos e no Congresso. Essa é um movimento de meia dúzia de burgueses que buscam satisfação pessoal para o seu vício”. O deputado Itagiba está coberto de razão, mas, coitado, não sabe com quem está lidando, ou sabe e não quer falar: pois é justamente no seio da “comunidade” acadêmica, no âmbito das ONGs ambientalistas e, de forma camuflada, nos bastidores dos partidos “progressistas” - e radicais - que se trama a luta pela descriminalização da droga e a sua posterior liberação. O ex-presidente Fernando Henrique Cardoso, o Vaselina, e o governador Sérgio Cabral, leitor do “Estado e a Revolução” (de Lenin), dois produtos típicos do nosso meio “politicamente correto”, são favoráveis e laboram, sempre que possível, em função da sua descriminalização. A tese é a de que com a legalização da produção, comercialização, distribuição e o controle da droga pelo Estado, a violência que a cerca acabaria como num passe de mágica… O fato concreto é que nos últimos 50 anos a droga massificou-se em escala universal. E, paralelamente, tornou-se um negócio (porco) dos mais lucrativos do mundo, com renda global em torno dos US$ 800 bilhões anuais. Por trás dele estão as máfias internacionais, o crime organizado, os guerrilheiros das FARC, interesses ideológicos e revolucionários de todos os matizes, para não falar da própria polícia, dos políticos e de setores do poder judiciário – justamente as instituições que deveriam combater a ferro e fogo o narcotráfico.
A Marcha da Maconha - Blog sem Máscara

One thing is certain: this year's edition of the Brazilian Marijuana March is to be remembered by activists from all the different positions of the spectrum. On one hand, it is the first time that the movement to legalize was spread across the country, and on the other, it is worth some reflection on what could be called a backfire in the repression strategy, as the issue earned even more visibility in the media. The two videos posted at Filipeta da Massa illustrate well the situation: the first is a brief documentary of the single legal March in Recife, Pernambuco and the other reports the negative reaction to the prohibition as shown on the main TV news program in Brazil.

Among the many different points-of-view, some people are just starting to approach the issue. For them, it seems illogical trying to understand something without having fair access to all sides of the debate. Kind of obvious, isn't it?

Sobre a marcha: fiquei sabendo há acho que faz duas ou três semanas e, assumo, achei ridículo. Imaginei que só teria um monte de gente que não quer saber de nada da vida, que acha que abala, fumando com a maior pose de ‘prenda-me se for capaz’. Mas, quando soube que, durante a marcha, o consumo da maconha não seria permitido, me esquivei. Esquivei porque senti que seria um negócio sério, mesmo que, obviamente, pessoas tipo citadas acima estariam lá estragando todo o ideal. No fundo eu achei que não fosse dar certo mesmo, a maconha é um grande tabu e ninguém – das pessoas ligadas à política - quer ser o primeiro a discutir sobre sua legalização. Eu não tenho uma opinião formada sobre isso. Lí um folhetinho sobre a marcha e não me convenci que isso deve ou não deve acontecer; tem seus problemas, tem seus benefícios, mas eu realmente não sei o que achar disso. Se fosse comprovado que iria diminuir o tráfico, eu até iria à marcha, defender de verdade a legalização, mas como isso é só uma dedução – mesmo que pareça lógico – e não uma certeza… De qualquer forma, barrar a manifestação foi o cúmulo do autoritarismo, e isso sim eu não apoio de verdade. O pior nessa história toda, é que ninguém sabe agumentar e respeitar. Todos têm suas opiniões a respeito, querem impô-las aos outros, mas não sabe ser pacifico e convincente para isso.
A história de como eu perdi um dente + A Marcha da Maconha - Grão de Estrelas

[two photos from the greenhouse]

Why is it considered romantic to give flowers as gifts? I went to [Podmoskovye], observed how they are growing roses there. It's easy. Dutch technologies. Expensive. The director is from Cosa Nostra or is representing it: black shoes, black jeans, black leather jacket and a black Beemer. The real owner is a deputy from the [Putin-led United Russia Party], still a businessman, but a future politician, too, or, more likely, both. Engineers and the agronomist are Dutch. The workers are [gastarbeiter, migrant laborers], and they have fewer rights and respect than Moscow bums from [Kurskiy train station]. And a corresponding salary - “whatever God sends down.” One rose costs 30-40 rubles [$1.25-$1.70] at the […] farm, and 130-140 rubles [$5.45-$5.90] in Moscow. Everything they produce goes to Moscow. There are not enough flowers. The business is flourishing and growing. Damaged flowers are sent to churches. For free. A way to atone for their sins, obviously. God is not at the market - won't notice the damage.

[Migrant workers] can barely speak Russian. They work almost illegally, and perhaps their status in the country isn't too official, either - but it's hard to find out. […]

A woman from Tajikistan, whose hands are all covered with bruises from rose thorns, said to me in Russian: “I love flowers, they are hope.” It was strange to see the silent and humiliated human beings - as if transfered from the Middle Ages - work next to the high-tech [equipment]. And I still don't understand why women like everything that has to do with slavery: diamonds, gold and flowers.

The front page of Li's blog

Clicked on the relevant articles of Li's blog, the page appears to be”Sorry, the blog you visit doesn't exist.”

A copy of Li Shihui's article on chinalabs.com:

地震预报专家欲哭无泪 :今天的强震有人预报

中国科学院工程地质力学重点实验室   李世煇

2008-05-12 23:45:02

在西方现代科学技术主导下，破坏性地震（5级以上）的预报，特别是临震预报是不可能的。这是国内外地震界主流的共识。从这个角度看，32年前的唐山地震和今天的汶川地震都是不能准确预报的。凤凰卫视“有报天天读”提到：有的报纸说唐山地震是“三分天灾，七分人祸”；“时事辩论会主持人说：如果唐山地震时不拒绝外援，不会死几十万人。这些看法不符合实际。实际情况是，如果尊重中西文化优势互补的科学家的意见，这些灾难倒是可以避免的。请参阅本人博客上转载的和发表的有关文章。

在中国，一批（1970年代）年轻的中国地震工作者学习中国传统文化的精华（包括充分利用历史文献记载和“取象比类”的方法等），取得遥遥领先国际的科研成果。例如，耿庆国根据历代(包括1956-1970年)大旱与地震关系的统计，发现“6级以上大地震的震中区，震前1-3.5年往往是旱区。旱区越大，干旱时间越长，相应的震级越高”的统计规律（公元512年-1879年中国大旱后2-3.5年,发生了7次7.5-8级大地震）。1972年耿庆国提出“旱震关系大地震中期预报方法”，根据这一规律，耿庆国预报了1975年的海城地震，特别是1976年的唐山地震。在1980年代出版了专著《中国旱震关系》（科学出版社）。这些成果触犯了地震界当权者的利益，耿庆国被调出预报队伍，去了地震报社。

今天，2008年5月12日，听到四川汶川发生7.8级强震，中国的地震科学家耿庆国欲哭无泪，心里在流血。2006年他根据旱震关系提出中期预报，近年阿坝地区将发生7级以上地震。2008年4月26日和27日在中国地球物理学会下属的“天灾预测委员会”经集体讨论,作出“在一年内（2008.5-2009.4）仍应注意兰州以南,川、甘、青交界附近可能发生6-7级地震”的预报（文字报告已报中国地震局等，4月30日密件发出），而且，耿庆国根据强磁暴组合，明确提出“阿坝地区7级以上地震的危险点在5月8日(前后10天以内)”（以上地震预报三要素均已明确）。明明是国宝，却受到当权的主流地震科学家的排斥，只能靠微薄的退休费坚持搞科研。可惜这位退休的地震科学家的话，没有起到作用。

我的感觉是满腔悲愤。什么时候耿庆国、汪成民、任振球、王迪兴等一批国宝才能不受排挤，放开手脚为振兴中华效力呢？

Seismologist with tearless grief: Today's strong quake was predicted
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Key Laboratory of Engineering Geomechanics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Li Shihui
2008-05-12 23:45:02
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Under the direction of the modern science and technology of Western World, the forecast of destructive earthquake（over 5 magnitude) is impossible, especially the imminent earthquake prediction, which has been a general consensus in the seismology world. From this point of view, there is no way to well predict the Tangshan earthquake 32 years ago or today's Wenchuan earthquake. The TV program “Read News Everyday”(有报天天读）of Phoenix mentioned: some newspapers said the calamity of Tangshan earthquake is “mainly caused by human error” ; the anchor of “Debate on Current Affairs”(时事辩论会) said: if China had accepted the international aid, hundreds of thousands of people would have survived. Those opinions are not in accord with the facts. The truth is the tragedy might have been avoided if authorities had accepted the views of the scientists, who combined the research of the east and the west. Please refer to the relevant articles I copied or published in my blog.
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During 1970‘s, a group of young seismologists in China had achieved great results which were well ahead of the world level by studying the essence of Chinese traditional culture(including the methods that fully make use of the historical documents and “analogy drawn from phenomena”). For example, according to the statistics of the relationship between drought and earthquake throughout the ages（including 1956-1970), Geng Qingguo discovered a law that “the epicentral region always suffered droughts 1-3.5 years before the earthquake over 6 magnitude. Besides, the larger the drought region occupied and the longer the drought lasted, the higher the corresponding magnitude would be.” (2-3.5 years after the long droughts during 512-1879AD, seven 7.5-8 magnitude earthquakes had occurred in China) In 1972, Geng Qingguo put forward a theory of “medium-term earthquake prediction based on the relationship between drought and quake”. By that law, Geng Qingguo successfully predicted the Haicheng earthquake in 1975 and especially the Tangshan earthquake in 1976. In 1980's, He published his treatise The Relationship between Drought and Earthquake in China (Science Press). However, those achievements challenged the powers in the Chinese seismology circle, so Geng Qingguo was shunted from the prediction team to an earthquake newspaper office.
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Today is May 12, 2008, Chinese seismologist Geng Qingguo is suffering with tearless grief. In 2006, according to the relationship between drought and earthquake he predicted in recent years there would be a serious earthquake over 7 magnitude in Aba autonomous region. After a group discussion on April 26 and 27, 2008, Committee of Natural Hazards Prediction subordinate to Chinese Geophysical Society (CGS) reported that “a 6-7 magnitude earthquake may occur to the south of Lanzhou, around the borders of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai.” (the written report had been sent to the China Earthquake Administration by confidential letter on April 30). What's more, Geng Qingguo clearly indicated that “the dangerous point of an earthquake over 7 magnitude in Aba region is on May 8 (within 10 days before or later)” in accordance with the magnetic storm Combinations.（The prediction above had obviously pointed out all the three essential factors). Geng Qingguo, an undoubted national treasure, is excluded by the earthquake experts of mainstream, and can only depend on a meager pension to continue his research. The pity is what this old seismologist said didn't make any difference.
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I am filled with grief and indignation. I was wondering if there will come a day when Geng Qingguo, Wang Chengmin, Ren Zhenqiu and Wangdixing such national treasure are not frozen out any more, and freely work for the rejuvenation of China.

摄于2006年12月17日“从海诚地震到青龙奇迹研讨会（第20次天地生人学术会议）”会前，左为耿庆国，右为汪成民，中为李世煇。

A picture taken before the “From Haicheng Earthquake to Qinglong Miracle Conference” on December 17, 2006. The one siting left is Geng Qingguo, Wang Chengmin on the right and Li Shihui in the middle.

The mass circulation of Li Shihui's article in the blogsphere and BBSs has provoked more criticism on China Earthquake Administration which did not publish any warning before the dreadful earthquake while some other netizens expressed their doubt about Li's unofficial statement.

Comments on KDNET:

作者：东风51 发布于 2008-5-15 0:11:55
……
总之，应以科学老实，实事求是的态度对待有关地震的信息，向民众讲清这些信息既不能说成是谣言，也还不足以可靠到可以公开发表的程度，相信人们是能理解的。简单粗暴的意识形态斗争式的处理方式只能适得其反，这个教训需要汲取的。
另外，拿耿庆国的预测说事也实在不可取，因事先并无法知道他预测的准确与否。
有朋友认为事先应对他的预测给予足够重视，因为人命关天。但这些朋友不知像这种“预测”成千上万，事先让人们从浩如烟海的信息中找到哪个是有价值的是困难的。
……

Author: Eastwind 51 Posted on 2008-5-15 0:11:55
…
In a word, the information about the earthquake should be treated with scientific and realistic attitude. Tell the people that those information is neither rumors nor totally reliable truth. I believe people will understand that. To deal with the situation only by violent ideological confrontation can only backfire. The authorities should learn the lesson.
On the other hand, it is really inadvisable to give too much emphasis to Geng Qingguo's prediction, because before the earthquake no one knew whether his prediction was right or not.
Someone may believe that it's a case involving human life, so the authorities should have paid more attention to his prediction. However, those friends may not know there are hundreds and thousands of such kind of prediction. it's not easy for the authorities to pick the valuable out of vast information.
…

作者：后台操作 发布于 2008-5-15 0:21:34
让政治需要下地狱吧！

Author: Background Operation Posted on 2008-5-15 0:21:34
To hell with political needs！

作者：李三来也 发布于 2008-5-15 3:28:16
如真有此事，地震局长应送交法办！

If the thing is true, the head of the Earthquake Administration should be handed over to the justice!

Comments on Tianya:

作者：中国结3 发布于 2008-5-14 11:13
如果地震局的领导有一丝人性的话 这样的预报至少也应该引起他的一些重视吧 密而不发 他居心何在！！让他去和温总理一起到四川 去挖那些遇难者！！

Author: Chinese Knot 3 Posted on 2008-5-14 11:13
If the head of the Earthquake Administration still had a little humanity, at least he should have paid some attention to the prediction, but he just kept it as secret. What was he up to!! Let him go to Sichuan with Premier Wen and unearth those victims.

作者：游客 发表于 2008-5-14 12:04
国家作了自己该做的事情,可是地震局是否履行了自己的职责?是否存在失职??国家是否应该追究???全国人民都在为温总理,为所有营救的官兵、医务人员、媒体工作者感到骄傲；为死难者感到悲哀的同时，那些玩忽职守的人，是否该去体验一下失去亲人的痛苦呢？？？
我不懂地震学，不知道上述人员是否是地震学的专家，如果是，那真是中国的一大悲哀。如果中国不重用人才，国将……

Author:Guest Posted on 2008-5-14 12:04
Our country is doing all that which is to be done, but whether the Earthquake Administration carried out their responsibilities? Is there a negligence of duty?? Should the authorities call the Earthquake Administration to account??? All the people are proud of Premier Wen, the rescue officers and soldiers, the medical personnel and the reporters; When those people who are negligent of their duties mourn for the dead, is it necessary to let them experience the bereaved family's feelings???
I have no idea of Seismology and I am not sure whether the person mentioned in the article is a Seismologist. If so, it's really a big woe of China. If China does not value talents, the country will…

作者：游客 发布于 2008-5-14 13:06
我觉得不是预测不出，也不是玩忽职守，而是怕负责任。如果预测的地震确实发生了，那么算是立了一功。但是更多时候可能是预测不了那么准确，责任谁来负呢？从技术专家到行政首长，谁愿意承担这个风险呢？

Author:Guest Posted on 2008-5-14 12:04
I don't think it's a negligence of duty or problems of prediction capability, but a terrible fear of responsibilities. If the predicted earthquake occurs, the prediction become an honor, but more often the prediction will fail, and in that case who is going to be responsible for the failure? From the technical experts to the chief executive, who is willing to take the risks?

作者：游客 发布于 2008-5-16 3:46
这些是地震一发生,我就产生的疑问了.地震局的相关人员还在打太极,说什么不能预报,不能预警.
狗屁,那要这个地震局是干啥的,就是为了测已经发生的地震的级数的吗
我们可怜的中国老百姓!!!!!那么多幼小的生命!!!!!!!

Author:Guest Posted on 008-5-16 3:46
I was in doubt about the earthquake at very beginning. The officials of Earthquake Administration are still practicing Tai chi chuan, prevaricating with a excuse that prediction and early warning are impossible. Bullshit！The work of this Earthquake Administration is only to measure the quake magnitude?
Poor Chinese!!!!! We have lost so many little lives!!!!!!!

In this global framework, John Palfrey led the conversation about ways to help Cubans find creative ways to circument their restrictions and overcome legal risks in order to blog freely in a country with restricted speech. There was also a special focus on two of the Berkman Center's projects: Open Net, which investigates and analyzes the various filtering and surveillance practices around the world. The project is a joint effort of four universities and a team of top-level investigators in the field.

Global Voices Online is another featured project, which focuses on global conversations in blogs, as well as the outreach projects of Rising Voices. A new project of GVO is Voices Without Votes, which covers what is being discussed about the US elections throughout the world's blogs.

All the attendees seemed to agree that the internet is nothing more than people linked together, who are learning how to interact on a daily, yet spontaneous basis. However, one hard question raised during the discussions is not necessarily about freedom of speech, but rather what happens after speech. Often the behavior of individuals and how they react to others' opinions are where the problem lies. Some attendees asked, “Do we need to fix people?” A Russian attendee and another individual working in Asia raised these concerns.

There was also a lot of focus on new ways to overcome problems. For example, computer games are being used to teach about technology and transmit expertise in developing countries, as well as new inventions to share information in Cuba. The Facebook campaign that mobilized Colombians against the FARC was also used as an example. However, access issues still remains a top concern, where it appears that the internet is only used by a limited group of people, and that it is not only a digital divide, but also a participation divide. The closing commentary was provided by Kevin Wallen of the Prison Diaries project, which has been funded by Rising Voices. He described the project, but also added that it is really hard to get people from the grassroots connected, involved and to become interested in the message. He asked how it would be easier to collaborate with people on the ground in order to make a real difference in the real world.

The Future of the Internet and the future of The Berkman Center is still “unforeseeable”. However, now they can proudly say that via action, via breaking the patterns that they are making a real change in the world.

Lord Nabeel [Ar], who lives in Jordan, writes about how Palestinians in diaspora dream of the day they return to their homes - and how the dream is kept alive, one generation after the other. He says:

كفانا صبرا
ومع ذلك فالنصر قريب
والحق كالشمس مضيء
حق العودة كالشمس يضيء ويرق بعيون وقلوب
وعقول كل الأجيال الفلسطينية
حق ملكية المفتاح ينتقل من جيل لجيل
أجمل ما سمعت وشاهدت
( جد يقول لحفيده : - سيدي هذا مفتاح الدار اللي في بلدنا
وهو أمانه بعنقك إذا ما رجعت أنت أمانه تسلمه لأبنك
وما تنسوا يا سيدي الدار والبلد وفلسطين )
وأنا أقول وأستحلفكم بالله أن تقولوا لكل أبنائكم أن لا ينسوا
ابدا بيوتنا وأراضينا
وحقهم بالعوده لها مهما حصل وصار
حق العوده مطلب حق وأساسي لكل فلسطينيي الشتات
ستون عاما واليهود يحتفلون بإستقلال دولتهم
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
أي دوله
ومين كان محتلها
وكيف إستقلوا
أنا ما بحب الحكي الكثير
وزهقت ومليت من السياسه والتنظير
مليييييييييييييييييييت
قرفت بجد قرفت
قال إستقلال دولتهم
؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟
هههههههههههههههه
وإحنا شو نقول
؟؟؟
ستون عاما على نكبتنا
؟؟؟
ستون سنة على هجرتنا
ستون حولا على تعاستنا
ستون عاما على تشردنا
الله كلمات ذات معان جزله ومنمقه جدا
الله الله الله
حلوة كثير مش هيك ؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟
ومفتاح البيت ينتقل من يد ليد ومن جيل لجيل
ويا الله كم من جيل سيستلمه بعد هذا الجيل
يا ريت ما ينسى الجيل القادم شو يعني فلسطين ؟
يا ريت ما ينسى شو حق العوده بيعني له ولسيده وأبوه
؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟
خلص كفايه
بجد مليت من الحكي واللت والعجن
عن جد بيكفي حكي
سلام

We have had enough of waiting,
And despite this, victory is close,
And truth is as bright as the sun,
The right to return shines through the eyes, hearts
And minds of all generations of Palestinians,
The right of ownership of the key, is passed down one generation to the next.

One of the most beautiful things I have heard and seen is a grandfather telling his grandson: Sir, this key is for our house in our country. It is a trust. If you are not able to go back, give it to your son. Sir, I don't want you ever to forget our home, our country and Palestine.

And I ask you to promise to tell all your children never to forget our homes and our land, and their right to return, whatever happens. The right to return is an integral right to all Palestinians in diaspora.

The Jews are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the independence of their country!!!!!!
What country?
And who was occupying it?
And how did they become liberated?

I would like to say a lot but I am fed up of talking, of politics and of theories. Seriously fed up.
They say the independence of their country??????
Hehehe

And what do we say?
Sixty years for our catastrophe (Nakba)?
Sixty years of us being forced to leave our home?
Sixty years of our misery?
Sixty years of us not finding a home?

Words with a lot of meanings? Aren't they nice?
And the key to that house being passed on from hand to hand, from one generation to the other, and God only knows how many generations it will still be passed on to.

I hope the next generation don't forget what Palestine means. I hope they don't forget what the right to return means to themselves and their fathers.

I am now seriously fed up of talking. Enough of talk.

Peace.

Still in Jordan, The Black Iris shares with us the following apology to Palestine on the 60th anniversary of Al Nakba, saying:

It’s been 60 years
And I am sorry for your loss
I am sorry for your continued loss
I am sorry for the sorrow
I am sorry for the grief
I am sorry for the bloodshed
I am sorry for the apathy
I am sorry for the indifference
I am sorry for the sympathy
I am sorry for the empathy
I am sorry for the funerals
I am sorry for the casualties
I am sorry for the politics
I am sorry for the history
I am sorry for the ongoing history
I am sorry for the injustice
I am sorry for the ongoing injustice
I am sorry for the past
I am sorry for the present
I am sorry for the future
I am sorry for the massacres
I am sorry for the darkness
I am sorry for the seconds
I am sorry for the minutes
I am sorry for the hours
I am sorry for the days
I am sorry for the weeks
I am sorry for the months
I am sorry for the years
I am sorry for the time we remained silent
I am sorry for the time we will continue to remain silent
I am sorry for not speaking enough
I am sorry for not saying enough
I am sorry for not caring enough
I am sorry for not writing enough
I am sorry for not acting enough
I am sorry for not saying sorry enough
I am sorry for the heart ache
I am sorry for the tragedies
I am sorry for this legacy
I am sorry for this exodus
I am sorry for this catastrophe
I am sorry for this calamity
I am sorry for this apology
And all other apologies
That seem to never
ever
end

Egyptian blogger Zagazig [Ar] has a different take on the issue and writes:

اليوم هو يوم التدوين عن فلسطين ….واليوم هو أيضا يوم التدوين عن النكبه …النكبه التي يصر الجميع - ولا أدري السبب – علي تسميتها النكبة وليست الهزيمة …ربما !!
.فلسطين التي كانت منذ سته عقود فقط ملكنا ! – ولو إسما – فلسطين التي كان الحجاج منذ سته عقود فقط لابد وحتما أن يمروا عليها وهم ذاهبون وهم عائدون من الحج …فلسطين التي كانت منذ عقود بسيطة تابعه لمصر – ولو إداريا - ، فلسطين هي الأرض التي يغني لها كل العرب من ستون عاما ” عائدون ….عائدووووووووون ” ولكن ياللحسرة فلم يعد أحد !!
….فلسطين هي أيضا الأرض التي يصر الجميع أننا بعد ستون عاما ” للعوده أقرب ” …علي الرغم أنهم لا يملكون – علي الأقل – أمخاخا تؤهلهم لهذه العوده !!
أما الكيان – إسرائيل – الذي يهنيء اليوم قائدنا ورئيس شعبنا المغوار الكيان الصهيوني بمناسبه إحتلالهم لأرضنا المقدسة ،،
الكيان الذي يصر جميع العرب – ماعدا الرؤساء بالطبع – أن مصيرها إلي الزوال !!
مصيرها إلي الزوال وهي تنفق 6.5 % من دخلها القومي علي البحث العلمي بينما ننفق نحن 0.2 % من دخلنا القومي علي الإنتاج ….فعلا إلي الزوال !!!
مصر التي تنفق المليارات علي التسليح – ليس للحرب أيها الأذكياء – بل لصد هجوم الشعب – القله المندسه – عبر مليوني جندي أمن مركزي !!
إسرئايل دولة – فعلا وأؤكد – مصيرها إلي الزوال بينما الحسين بن طلال يبكي شهداء اليهود في الهولوكوست !!
إسرائيل – دولة مصيرها إلي الزوال – بينما تقضي عائله أمير قطر ” الويك إند ” علي شاطيء تل الربيع ” تل أبيب ” في قصرها الخاص هناك وأرسل طائرة خاصه لإعادتهم بعد أن هدد حسن نصر الله بقصف تل أبيب …
إسرائيل دولة مصيرها إلي الزوال بينما التجنيد هناك إلزاميا للنساء والرجال ،، ومن يتخرج من التجنيد يكون جنديا إحتياطيا طوال عمره …ليس التجنيد هناك بأن ” يتشمسوا قليلا ” بل بالتدريب علي السلاح بأنواعه !!
نعم إسرائيل دولة مصيرها إلي الزوال ،، وهم يمتلكون القدرة علي البكاء علي الهولوكست حتي الآن وممارسة حق تطبيق قانون معاداة الساميه القادر علي الإطاحه بأعلي رئيس دولة من منصبه ولهم القدرة أيضا علي المطالبه بتعويضات بملايين الدولارات – من مصر – لمساعدتها الإرهابيين في غزة ….بينما نحن لا نجرؤ ، أو لم نفكر بالأساس في المطالبه بتعويضات لشهدائنا في 67 أو شهداء الحدود ، سواء كانو جنودا أو مواطنين تم قنصهم بالعمد من أبراج الحراسه !! بينما رؤساؤنا الأفاضل يمارسون ضبط النفس بكل قوة وحكمة !
نعم إسرائيل دولة مصيرها إلي الزوال وهي تمتلك من الأسلحه النووية وتعلنها بأن لديها أسلحه نووية ، ونحن العرب نرفض بكل شهامة وسماحه خلق وأدب أن نمتلك سلاحا نوويا ، لأننا – نحن العرب – مسالمون !! ولأن إسرائيل هي دولة صديقه !!
ونعم إسرائيل دولة مصيرها إلي الزوال وهم يحاصرون مليونا ونصف المليون في غزة ويقتلونهم – عفوا يذبحونهم – ولا من أحد يحرك ساكنا …ولا من أحد يسمع صرخات الباكيين …

Today is the day to blog about Palestine. It is also the day to blog about the Nakba. I don't understand why everyone insists on calling it the Nakba and not the day of defeat! Perhaps …

Palestine was six decades ago ours! Palestine was the place pilgrims to Mecca used to stop by six decades ago on their way to and from Hajj. Palestine, which was just a few decades ago administratively under Egypt's rule. Palestine is the land all Arabs have been singing to “We will return .. We will return..” for 60 years. The misery is that no one has ever returned!!

Palestine is the land which everyone insists on saying - after 60 years - that we are getting closer to returning to it - even they don't even have the mentality to enable them for this return!! But all Arabs (except their leaders) still insist that the entity - Israel - which the leader of our people congratulates on the occasion of their occupation of our land, will cease to exist!

It will cease to exist when it spends 6.5 per cent of its gross national income on scientific research while we spend 0.2% of our income on production. It will certainly cease to exist!!
Egypt spends billions on armament, not for war you smart people but to fend off an attack from the public!! Israel is a country, which I insist, will no longer exist, while King Hussain bin Talal cries on the Jewish martyrs during the holocaust!! Israel, a country will won't be there, while the family of the Amir of Qatar spends the weekend on a beach in Tel Aviv, in its private palace there, and who had to be evacuated by private helicopters, after Hassan Nasrullah threatened to bomb Tel Aviv. Israel is on its way to oblivion, while military service is mandatory for men and women and whoever drifts from training is made a reserve soldier for the rest of his life. Military service there is not for tanning purposes is on training how to use different types of weaponry!!

Yes, Israel will cease to exist, and they have the ability to cry over the holocaust until now and are able to impose the anti-Semitic law, which is able to bring the downfall of any leader. They also have the ability to demand millions of dollars in compensations - from Egypt - for its help for the Gazan terrorists, while we don't have the courage, and have never thought, of asking for compensation for our martyrs from the war of 1967 nor for the martyrs of the borders, whether soldiers or civilians, who have been purposely targeted by snipers from the guard posts. All this is happening while our leaders are exercising self-control, with all strength and wisdom!!

Of course Israel will cease to exist, while it owns nuclear weapons and announces to the world that it has nuclear weapons, while we Arabs politely refuse to own nuclear weapons, because we Arabs, are pacifists!! And because Israel is a friendly country!!

Yes, Israel will soon cease to exist while it surrounds a million and half people in Gaza, which it is killing - excuse me, slaughtering - without anyone doing anything about it nor hearing the cries of those who sob..

Of course, there is new hope: a deal brokered by the Arab League to end the strikes which have brought Lebanon to the brink of second civil war is being finalized.

But all signs point to a deal made on terms highly favorable to Hezbollah, which, according one blogger, means a return to peace is an “illusion.”

Here is a small selection of what some of those who write in French have to say.

Chroniques beyrouthines has been updating several times daily, with detailed bullet points of all the major events in Lebanon. As I write, they are on Day 8.

Le Jour du tac tac writes about the Homs road to Syria, rumored to be partially open; it eventually leads to the airport at Damascus, where the hotels are full of Lebanese attempting to flee. There are rumors: shuttles from Jounieh port and Beirut may run again tomorrow. The airport may reopen. tac tac writes:

Faut-il y croire? impossible de se prononcer pour le moment. Ne jamais planifier ni se projeter dans l’avenir lorsqu’on est libanais. Une leçon importante que nos politiciens tentent de nous rappeler, trop souvent peut-être.

Last week, Frencheagle was so incensed and pained by the crisis in his country, he “>contemplated the temporary closure of his blog.

Voila, cela faisait 2 ans que je disais qu’un conflit était inévitable vu la politique insensée conduite par certains et par les propos inconciliables d’autres que je soupçonnais vouloir construire des cantons religieusement “propres”

On en est la aujourd’hui.

Je n’aime pas parler de guerre, c’est pour cela que je pense temporairement fermer ce blog ou parler d’autre chose.

Je n’aime pas parler de guerre, parce que je suis un fils de la guerre civile. Je suis née durant la guerre civile, j’ai vu des personnes décédés, j’ai vu mon propre père ensanglanté mais vivant, j’ai vu le pire durant mon enfance.

I don't like talk about war, and for that reason I think I'm temporarily going to close this blog or talk about something else. I don't like to talk about war because I am a son of the civil war. I was born during the civil war, I saw people killed, I saw my own father drenched in blood but alive, during my childhood, I saw the worst.

Je ne peux souhaiter la guerre, la guerre n’est pas une option, la guerre est un échec. Un échec à cause du manque de vision, la politique menée aurait dû être différente. Notre révolution est désormais un échec, en raison du manque de maturité de certains hommes et du non renouvellement d’une classe politique déjà seigneur de guerre plus rêveurs de leur ancienne gloire de criminels que de personnes de paix.

Je voudrais dire merde à ceux qui durant les 3 dernières années étaient les prophètes du conflit fratricide, je pense à certains individus qui dénués aujourd’hui de tout scrupule veulent reprendre leur ancienne gloire.

Je voudrais dire merde à ces médias dit traditionnels mais au combien partisans qui ont abouti à non pas limiter la casse sociétale du partisianisme mais au contraire ont augmenté les tensions sociétales. Il faut être 2 pour faire la guerre, on connaissait le Hezbollah, on découvre aujourd’hui les autres milices dont celles de la majorité.

An Nahar, Al Manar, Futur, LBC, OTV, tous pareils en fin de compte, tous coupables.

His readers rallied, each echoing this sentiment, expressed by one reader: “I understand that you feel like closing your blog, but permit me to offer some advice, don't do it. Lebanon needs its children to express themselves.”

Fortunately, Frencheagle has kept blogging. In a recent post about everything he would do if he were president, a reader sarcastically replies: “One can always dream, but when you have good intentions, there is a 50pc chance you will be assassinated (Bachir Gemayel et René Mouawad). To be a politician in Lebanon is the most dangerous occupation in the world…”

And in response to what the government has compromised in order to secure a truce, including its decision to abandon plans to fire the head of airport security, a purported Hezbollah sympathizer, Frenchea