Archive for
December 16th, 2005
Stories
Selections from the Caribbean blogosphere
· 19:29
Barbados
- Campfyah, writing from Caracas, fills us in on some of his Christmas activities and Barbados's participation in an international Christmas charity fair.
- In a post which sparks a healthy string of comments, Jdid spares a thought for Stanley “Tookie” Williams on the day of the latter's execution in California, and is appalled at the lack of empathy shown by a former death row inmate interviewed by CNN.
- Titlayo discovers a Barbadian web site offering “Discrete and Professional Services for Ladies”, and concludes that “the rent-a-dread phenomenon gone upscale”. (Personally, however, I like my services “discreet” as well as “discrete”!).
Belize
- Manolo Romero reports on shenanigans in the public transportation sector as one bus company in receivership goes on strike, leaving commuters stranded all over Belize; and a tour company which is facing the music over the disappearance of a tourist during a snorkeling trip.
- Andy Hunt posts a gorgeous photo of the Tikal Mayan Temples in Guatemala.
Bermuda
- Christian S. Dunleavy wonders who's in charge as Bermuda's Governor appoints a senior police officer from the UK.
Cayman Islands
- Cayman Time links to some interesting satellite pictures of Grand Cayman.
- For a change, Mad Bull agrees with George W. Bush.
Dominica
- Billy wonders whether it's possible to obtain a world passport.
Guyana
- Inspired by a carpenter's request for a “morti-slock”, Guyana-Gyal engages in some syllable-busting word play.
- MediaCritic remembers Guyanese jurist Sir Lionel Luckhoo, “the winningest lawyer that ever lived” and publishes photos of the country's television news anchors.
Haiti
- Alice Backer confesses to having spent more time lately to reading “OPB's” (Other People's Blogs) than posting to her own, so devotes a post to her recent “blogcapades”. One of the issues she's trying to understand is homophobia in Jamaica.
(more…)
Echoes from the Tunisian Blogosphere
· 13:35
The first Tunisian blog awards Tunisie Blog Awards 2005 have been launched to promote the Tunisian blogosphere even more, encourage bloggers to work more on their blogs and give credit to the bloggers who are doing a great job.
The process will be going through 3 phases:
Phase 1: Blog submissions for each category (12 - 18 December)
Phase 2: Jury votes for top 5 submitted blogs in each category (19 - 25 December)
Results: Results are announced (26 December)
Tunizika release the seventh episode of their musical podcast, with a mixture of Tunisian Jazz, Electro and HipHop.
Tarek thinks that Tunisian youth have truly messed up our language with imported and disfigured words. He's worried that we are slowly losing our cultural heritage.
Sailor writes about the professors at INSAT (National institute for applied sciences and technology) and how, to him, the issue of them being good or not is being overshadowed by how unjust some of them are with the students, favoring some over others for different reasons like gender, belonging to the same town, …etc. (in French)
Mochekes complains about the situation of IT engineers and programmers in Tunisia, how the salaries are unfair and unrelative to the amount of work being done, how they are somehow treated like low-level workers or even slaves, how the companies aren't well developed yet…etc. (in French)
An article about homosexuality in Tunisia (in French), and how it is viewed by the society and the law, was published in Tunisian magazine Réalités and was picked up by a number of bloggers like Houssein (in French), Hannibal and K-pax (in French), who think that it was a daring and courageous effort to bring up the issue.
Iskander writes about a discussion he had with some older people from his father's and grandfather's generations, who talked about life in Tunisia before independance and how they were somehow nostalgic and thought that it was a better time socially and that there was a greater racial mixture. (in French)
Tarek disagrees and replies that Tunisians were always an open and tolerant people, and that it wasn't a few years of colonization that taught us that. He also thinks that the racial mixture just changed and evolved because of factors like tourism and travel. (in French)
Adib does some research about a weird story that was published in a Tunisian paper about a 2 ton, 8 meter long anaconda that was found on the Tunisian-Libyan borders in November, and finds that it's a hoax, and that the pictures are those of a python that was caught in South Africa sometime ago. He criticizes the writer of the article for publishing such a false story.
The Soccer World Cup draw has put Tunisia in Group H with Spain, Ukraine and Saudi Arabia. Chouchitou thinks that Tunisia has a chance of making it to the second round for the first time in its history. (in French)
1 comment · »»Voices from Kiswahili Blogosphere
· 05:27
Mawazo na Mawaidha from Kenya follows closely localization of different versions of computer software and programs in Swahili. This week he writes and comments briefly on the launching of Swahili Windows and Office programs. Kilinux (the Open Swahili Localization Project) released its open source Swahili office suite, Jambo Open Office, December 2004.
Studying the new Microsoft version and Jambo Open Office, he observes that the choice of words and terms between the two initiatives is so different that it makes one think that they are using two different languages. He also thinks that Microsoft’s Swahili words for its Windows and Office programs might be confusing to users.
Mwandani is happy that Bi Kidude, the 93 year old musician from Zanzibar, received the Womex Award at the 11th annual Womex World Music Expo in England. Bi Kidude, who started singing in the 1920’s, is the subject of a new documentary “As Old As My Tongue: The Myth and Life of Bi Kidude,” which was also released during the Expo. Following the footsteps of the legendary Siti Binti Saad, Bi Kidude is credited with the reinvention of Taarab by incorporating local flavor and unyago drumming.
Mwandani informs us about another less known group from the outskirts of Dar Es Salaam, Jagwa Music, which participated in the Expo. The group plays a very unique type of music called Mchiriku. Mchiriku is a very popular style among low income communities in Tanzania, particularly along the coast. Its repetitive, fast paced rhythms are considered unsoothing and too disturbing by most wealthy and educated Tanzanians. Very few radio stations play Mchiriku. Mchiriku is played with a small hand-held keyboard, usually resting on the musician’s lap, a battered old tin, which is beaten with sticks, a tin full of pebbles or sand, whistles, and drums. Mchiriku songs are known for biting social commentary.
Harakati revives the discussion about the current Swahili word for blog: blogu. Harakati does not like the word. Several Swahili bloggers have expressed the same feelings in the past. Harakati wants the discussion to continue.
It is a common practice among Swahili poets to challenge each other using various poetry techniques and deep Swahili. For example, one poet writes a poem and another poet responds to that poem through a poem of his/her own. This practice has long been associated with Uhuru, the only Tanzanian newspaper that for many years provided a space for Swahili poets to publish their work. Two poet bloggers, Kasri la Mwanazuo and Fasihi za Ufasaha are moving this practice to cyberspace through their blogs.
This is a particularly interesting moment in the Kiswahili blogosphere. The possibility that blogging can become one of the ways in which Tanzanian writers and poets can bypass problems related to cost of publication and economics of distribution is an exciting one. For example, because of limited distribution, Swahili novels are mostly read in Tanzania and Kenya. If Swahili literary works are available online in digital format, making them globally accessible, Swahili speakers in Oman, India, the US, China, Mexico, South Africa and elsewhere will be able to read them. Utilizing this opportunity, Kasri la Mwanazuo is planning on releasing his first novel on his blog.
On December 14, 2005 Tanzanians went to the polls to elect the Union President and Members of Parliament who will serve the country for the next five years. As it was expected by those following Zanzibar politics, there are reports of violence. Fikra Thabiti writes about the election from Zanzibar. He tells us that the opposition, the Civic United Front (CUF), has won the hotly contested Mji Mkongwe constituency.
The Civic United Front is very strong in the Island of Pemba, the home island of its Secretary General, Seif Hamad. Seif Hamad was narrowly defeated by the current President of Zanzibar, Amani Karume, in October this year. In the last two multiparty elections, CUF won all seats in Pemba and one in the Island of Unguja (the seat of the government of Zanzibar). The only constituency CUF usually wins in Unguja is Mji Mkongwe. Fikra Thabiti witnessed heavy police presence around the area trying to stop CUF supporters from celebrating their victory.
Photoblogger, Issa Michuzi, shows us Tanzania’s “white house” where the next president, to be announced shortly, will reside.
And if you did not know that animals in Tanzania use public transport look at this photo.
1 comment · »»Pakistan: Blog-o-furious
· 05:07
Over the course of the last few months, the responses to my personal blog have become “interesting” to say the least. I am not talking about the usual comments posted by friends and fellow bloggers regarding their review of my latest post but of HATE messages that are addressed to me sent via email. Apparently, ‘they' believe that a profanity filled critique of my person (and not my work) would convince me to stop writing. Ironically, it has the opposite effect, as usually it gives me even more motivation to continue writing my drivel to further infuriate my ‘enraged' audience.
It is understandable though, that as governments becoming more and more intolerant of dissent (of any kind), they are likely to influence their non-thinking sycophantic constituency to take up arms against those who critique their favourite leaders.
A basic fact is so easily forgotten by most in general populace. Government is there to serve you. It is NOT the other way round. Questioning authority and criticizing the government is also Patriotism but I digress.
For this week's update, I bring a small collection of links for your perusal.
Lightwithin paints a picture of the popular Basant Festival in Lahore; Suspect Paki highlights a rather disturbing incident of intolerance; Organic Brew complains about the content of the English dailies in Pakistan; Glasshouse writes about thugs in Pakistani politics; and finally, I comment on the Pentagon's new plan to influence the international community.
That is all for this week. I am off to write another article for my blog, which might enrage some readers resulting in uncontrollable wailing, gnashing of teeth and prolapsing of certain scrotums - so be warned!
2 comments · »»Egypt: Elections ends and more
· 03:48
Finally the elections of the People's Assembly (the lower house of the Egyptian Parliament) are over. With a bloody end and surprising results, that would probably heat the political debate in Egypt for the next five years.
Summary and results
With a 26% voter turn out and out of the 444 contested seats, Mubarak's National Democratic Party (NDP) secured the majority (77%) of seats in the Parliament. The Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan) gained a surprising 20% of the seats and the secular opposition and independents were heavily defeated and only secured the remaining few seats. President Mubarak appointed 10 members, among them 5 women and 5 Christians as they are remarkably under represented in this term. There are still 12 seats to be decided.
Only 33% of the candidates running as NDP won, the remaining were independents who ran against NDP candidates but rejoined the party as soon as they won.
The final day of the elections
The re-run of the third stage being the bloodiest of all, 8 died and 500 injured. War like scenes were shown on TV and other media.
Baheyya says:
As many feared, the last day of voting today saw security forces intensifying their use of violence against voters to thwart any further gains by opposition candidates, especially the Muslim Brothers. Security forces did not confine themselves to blockading roads and closing off polling stations, but fired tear gas and rubber bullets into crowds of voters.
Baheyya also posts lots of photos of the Intifada like scenes.
Sandmonkey posts lots of photos too.
Boody reports that in his city of Zagazig police blocked the polling stations from the early morning. He witnessed thugs exchanging rocks with Brotherhood members. While the anti-riot forces used tear gas.
Previous GlobalVoices coverage of the elections:
- First stage of the elections
- First run of the second stage
- Re-run of the second stage and the first run of the third stage
Kefaya protests the thuggery and forgery
Freedom for Egyptians mentions the protests which have seen from 1000 to 2000 persons marching in downtown Cairo.
While Sandmonkey asks if, after the loss of secular opposition in the elections, the movement lost steam.
More photos of the protest
Telecom Egypt IPO
Telecom Egypt's initial public offering made a storm in Egypt. Ikhnaton2 says that he doesn't know much about finance but he heard people who never dealt with the stock exchange before selling their valuables and buying as much as they can in this IPO. He says that people see this a very valuable stock to own with a big potential. He says that this IPO however might hurt small investors. (Arabic)
Zein takes some photos with his mobile of masses of people trying to get in a stock broker's office.
Abo Islam
We have mentioned before the arrest of the Egyptian journalist Abo Islam. You can follow what the Egyptian blogosphere is writing about Abo Islam.
Football
Mo Nassar analyzes in detail the defeat of the Ahly (representing Africa) against Saudi Itihad in their first match of the World Club Championships.
Finally something positive
The Lady Ostrich (El Set Na'ama) writes in Arabic with photos about a project that improved the conditions of parts of a slum area in Cairo.
Links
Eastern & Central Europe
Onnik Krikorian reports on a hunger strike in Yerevan to protest the seizure and destruction of homes in the center of the city.
Eastern & Central Europe
Scraps of Moscow continues its “End of the Line” series with photos from the southern end of Moscow's green line, Red Guard station.
Eastern & Central Europe
Pestiside.hu reports that the government has launched an investigation into an “egg mafia” (that may or may not actually exist).
Middle East & North Africa
Sabbah wonders if Fox News can stand for their slogans, specially after hearing the influence of the Saudi Prince, Al-Waleed Bin Talal, on changing the channel reports of the Paris riots. “Within 30 minutes, the title was changed from Muslim riots to civil riots”, Al-Waleed said.
While talking about media, a recent report by Committee to Protect Journalists ranks U.S. Sixth among countries jailing journalists.
Middle East & North Africa
Today marks the 34th of Bahrain independence day. While Silly Bahraini Girl sees it as a time for fun and parades and fireworks and … rallies.. and demonstrations.. and the sound of explosions… chaos… anarchy.. the ugly smell of fear; Mahmood hopes that the 35th anniversary would be happier if Bahraini’s concentrate on few things.
Middle East & North Africa
Nouri bin Ziri is asking us to put the city of Annaba and the surrounding area in our prayers, so that they may recover rapidly from the floods (French). Many schools, houses and other structures have been ruined or destroyed.
Middle East & North Africa
The UAE's telecoms regulatory authority has blocked the blog Sorry Dubai, following a post that criticised the monopoly state telco Etisalat. The blog also attacked Etisalat's blocking of popular Internet telephony website Skype. UAE bloggers are in a nervous mood after this.
The blog, written by someone who goes by the name of FeedYourHead, has since deleted his blog, some of which can still be found in Google's cache. His posts were often very negative and always very spirited.
East Asia
The Paper Tiger wonders whether the violent crackdown on peasant protesters in Dongzhou represents a turning point for the Chinese government.
East Asia
Sinosplice discovers Douban, a successful Chinese book-sharing site that now has an English (Flickr-like) beta. “The site allows you to share what books you are currently reading, what books you have read, and what books you’d like to read.”
East Asia
Talk Talk China goes after China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC, pronounced “see-nook”), which changed its “no-compete” promise to investors who bought shares in its New York and Hong Kong publicly listed subsidiary CNOOC Limited. The pledge was meant to assure investors that the state-owned parent wouldn't steal away the publicly-held subsidiary's lucrative business. Now it can.
East Asia
On the occasion of the WTO meet in Hong Kong, Glutter shares her frustration with the rhetoric on both sides of the WTO debate that has obscured much understanding. “As usual I think everyone should take a deep breath before we all start screaming and shouting on both sides, because right now we are all looking stupid.”
East Asia
Mutant Frog Travelogue translates from the Japanese the first blog post by the son of famed animator Hayao Miyazaki, who is coming out with his own animated film that his father was against him directing.
South Asia
Metroblogging Islamabad has an interesting report on Turkey and China conducting a seismic study for the construction of a new general headquarters (GHQ) for Pakistan Army in Islamabad.
South Asia
The recent race-riots have seen quite a reaction from the expat community and Indians in general. Sakshi has a take.
South Asia
Mezba's Blog on 16th December as Victor's day and if the day is significant in contemporary times.
South Asia
A victory of sorts for women in Nepal as Legal News from Nepal reports on The Supreme Court ruling that women are not required to obtain consent from their father, husband, son and unmarried daughter, if they want to sell and hand over ownership of their property.
Americas
Boz offers his typically thorough, Thursday collection of poll numbers from across the Americas.
South Asia
Why do some rallies do better than others in Nepal - at Democracy for Nepal.
Americas
Steven Mansour asks for the justification for not allowing Cuba's baseball team to play in the inaugural World Baseball Classic. Meanwhile, World Baseball Classic Blog says that New York-born Alex Rodriguez is currently leaning towards playing with the Dominican Republic team instead of the U.S. team in the tournament.
Americas
Doug congratulates the Boca Juniors for becoming champions of the Argentine football league while The Global Game is accepting submissions for a “forthcoming anthology of literature on world soccer, women’s soccer and culture.”
Americas
If you're tired of the consumerist Christmas spirit, Nick Buxton recommends giving a “Bolivia gift,” which he promises to divide between four development projects.
Buying a hybrid in Costa Rica? Costa Rica Blogs says you'll soon pay less taxes.
Americas
Jorge Gobbi of Buenos Aires returns to the topic of internet anonymity following recent criticisms of Wikipedia.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Ethiopian Paradox discusses ethnicity in Ethiopia and ” Melese's strategy to establish a governing system of ethnic federalism emphasising rights of “nations, nationalities, and peoples.” He writes that in Ethiopia ethnicity has gone too far…..”Instead of ethnicity referring to cultural-linguistic communal groups, built around ties of real or putative kinship, taking pride in the in-group, common consciousness and identity of the group-as is the case in most multi-ethnic societies–under the TPLF, cultural prejudice and social discrimination against “others” has been encouraged and perverted into denying others basic human and economic rights. This ethnicity run wild exaggerates differences, intensifies resentments and antagonisms, and sharply divides races and nationalities. Mutual suspicion and hostility are bound to emerge in a society bent on defining itself in terms of such jostling and competing groups.”
Sub-Saharan Africa
Friends of Ethiopia has a list of the 14 worst corporate “evil doers” - just the usual suspects…Nestle, Coke, Chevron etc
Sub-Saharan Africa
Curious has a brief comment on the WTO….“f those responsible for distorting world markets want to do something about it, it won't be because a trade-round made them. It will be because they want to. And from that, I can infer that they don't want to, regardless of the consequences, which they are well aware of.”
Sub-Saharan Africa
What an African Woman Wants asks if God is not going to give her what “he” wants then “what on earth is God for“? Good question!……….”If only He would see that all I want Him for is to serve me hand and foot, meet my every need and cater to my every whim. Who on earth does He think He is?”
Sub-Saharan Africa
Nigerian World News writes about the “brutal” nature of Ibadan politics which is once again rearing its head. . Ibadan is the capital of Oyo State in Yorubaland.
Sub-Saharan Africa
New Vision Online reports on the plight of refugees from Togo and Liberia who are still living in the Krisan refugee camp in Ghana’s western region.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Nigerian Times writes about the Nigerian film industry known as Nollywood. “Nigeria is Nollywood and Nollywood is Nigeria! It is the story of a people who dream dreams shaped by material reality elsewhere - in fancied societies. They identify and lift (for adoption) features of better organized and sophisticated societies, but stop short of the effort to make those things real in their own societies.”
Sub-Saharan Africa
African Refugee based in Australia has an interview with a young Malawian girl
Sub-Saharan Africa
My Heart is in Accra points to two stories on Africa in this week's Christian Science Monitor.…One on “yahoo-yahoo” boys comes from Nigeria and the other on Ghana's chicken industry.
Middle East & North Africa
Irangraffti shows urban art and graffti in Tehran. (English & Persian)
Eastern & Central Europe
Onnik Krikorian reports on youth and the potential for an explosion of HIV infections in Armenia.
Eastern & Central Europe
PolBlog.pl has launched a new anti-corruption project called “Whistleblower 24/7″ that will take individuals' reports of corruption and pass them on to the proper authorities.
Eastern & Central Europe
Scott W. Clark discusses the gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine and how the EU may become involved.
Eastern & Central Europe
Susan Wunderink reports that now that it has become well and truly cold in Kazakhstan, it is meat season–the time for slaughtering of animals.
Eastern & Central Europe
Onnik Krikorian has photos from a mobile concert in Yerevan to protest the destruction of green spaces in the capital.
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