Global Voices Online

Wave Making notes that the popular, controversial (and often offensive) blog, Pinches Chinos has celebrated its one year anniversary and takes the occasion to examine the complex feelings Mexicans have towards China. As always, the post is also available in Spanish.

Leon Kadoch sees a bright future for up-and-coming Panamanian musician, Manuel Escala.

Author and activist, Luis J. Rodriguez offers his experience at last week's World Social Forum in Caracas.

Vikrum reflects on visiting Dharamshala - the town which is now home to refugees from Tibet, and houses the Tibetan Government in Exile.

BlogHer's new “internationalized” site is now online, with Karen Walrond covering Latin America and the Caribbean.

Indigenous issues blog Voice of the Taino people links to an article entitled “Christianity, Capitalism, Corporations, and the Myth of Dominion”, noting that the “Roman” Catholic Church still has not properly addressed the call by the Taíno and other Indigenous Peoples world wide for the revocation of the 1493 Inter-Ceatera Papal Bull” and that “as Samuel Alito is posed to be confirmed as its next justice, for the first time in U.S. history, five Roman Catholics — a majority — would now sit on the Supreme Court”.

Yamfoot posts two photos of Grand Anse beach, and wonders if the sea's unusual turbulence in the second could mean that submarine volcano “Kick ‘em Jenny” is acting up.

MediaCritic has begun posting a series of conversations with anonymous Guyanese figures. So far he's conversed with London-based Guyanese, Prodigal, a journalist who's moved to another island, and Young Bright Guyanese Female. And Guyana Diaspora profiles CCH Pounder, Guyana-born star of television series The Shield.

Caribbean Colors ventures out on to the highways and byways of Belize during the recent flooding, and takes some photos.

Simone posts Part 4 of her “Moving to Belize” guide, and solicits input from people who've “tried to set up a business abroad with friends”.

Caracas-resident Barbadian Campfyah discovers patilla amarillo.

Titilayo writes about the newly launched Barbados Music Awards, and thinks the event signifies good things for Barbados's music. But she also wonders whether they'll last.

Mzansi Afrika comments on the debate taking place in South Africa over whether condoms should be available in classrooms …”The main argument, surprise, surprise, was from the whole moralistic religious viewpoint that condoms encourage sex, and sex before marriage, especially among teens is bad. The other concerns were around sex and HIV/AIDS.”

Moral Fibre from South Africa, reports on a row over the Afrikaans language between opposition parties and a military judge who complained about the use of the language in an official context… “”… I must say it on record that to me it is disgusting that at this time and age we still find official correspondence or official communication in Afrikaans…”

Nigerian Times reports on the freeing of hostages in Nigeria's Niger Delta.

Molara Wood points to an interview with Kenyan writer, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, in Saturdays UK Guardian…..”I told them I wanted to be in touch with the everyday. But we returned to a nightmare”

Diary of a mad Kenyan woman writes on the “myth of the strong black woman“

At 25, ArubaGirl is wondering whether it would be wise for her to buy a house. “Am I being crazy to cling to the land?” she asks.

This is Zimbabwe comments on the lack of compassion and failure to manage crisis by Zanu-PF….

Danwei summarizes the recent crackdowns on print publications in China that characterized the end of the Year of the Rooster. But there is a note of hope: “Yet as we enter the Year of the Dog, things are very different than they were even a year ago. The Internet has proved itself a far superior medium for spreading information than any newspaper or magazine can hope to be, and Chinese journalists, editors and writers are taking full advantage of it.”

Indonesia Anonymous becomes curious about what effects the loud noise Indonesia's motorcycle rickshaws, a.k.a. “bajaj,” have on their drivers. It's called “noise-induced hearing loss.”

Meskel Square reports from Ethiopia on the three headline news items…Ethiopia indefinitely bans exports of four kinds of food crops ; Internet reporter held without charge in Ethiopia; Court orders death sentence for police officer in killing of students

Afrikan Eye publishes an article on the Africa's contribution to civilisation…..“Contributions to astronomy“

Nicholas Laughlin is finally embracing Carnival, the national festival of his homeland of Trinidad and Tobago. Caribbean Free Radio, on the other hand, may just have seen a few too many.

Watch France writes that France is only concerned with advancing French interests….”Anything that advances French interests is acceptable. Murder, corruption, the buying off of African leaders, disinformation and the list is endless. A look at what is happening on the Continent bears me out.”

Keith of under the acacias writes on gold mining in Burkina Faso and asks if they are a blessing and for who?…..Mining has been a controversial subject in Burkina Faso and elsewhere in Africa. Events in Ghana, South Africa, Namibia, Sierra Leone, and other places have highlighted common problems in mining, inlcuding impact on local populations and the environment, poorly treated workforces, corruption, and how the profits of the mine do not always benefit the local people or area.”

Mutant Frog Travelogue suggests that rather than hunt whales, Japan ought to focus on snaring jellyfish which have been multiplying in its waters.

Oranckay rebuts an article in the Japan Times that argues, among other things, that Japanese colonial rule benefited Korea. “It’s one thing to know that mentioning “Japan’s contribution to Korea’s modernization… only creates anger in Korea,” but it’s another to understand that one of the reasons it angers Koreans so much is because many among the Japanese Right talk as if it that justifies all Japan’s abuses or as if Korea has something to be thankful for.”

Another Hundred Years Hence, a blog by an urban planner, blames artificially low rents for the degeneration of the Philippines' capital city: “Want to know why Metro Manila is in a state of disrepair? Five decades of rent control. Want to know why we have squatter colonies? Rent control. Want to know why we're losing beautiful old homes? Rent control. Want to know why we have a small middle class? Rent control.”

Pinyin News puzzles over — at length — the mystery of the ‘g' in famous Taiwan director Ang Lee's name, which seems to be properly romanized as “An.” A commenter provides one answer: An Li or Li An sounded too feminine to him.

African Water Journal blog reports on the floods in Mozambique which is presently affecting some 12,000 people….”Water levels in the Zambezi River Basin were still precariously high”

Adam Isacson has a typically meticulous post documenting the visit by Senator Richard Lugar's assistant, Carl Meacham to Colombia where he released a report calling for the continuation of US aid in its present form.

Democracy Center director, Jim Shultz spent last week in Washington D.C. where he spoke on U.S. - Bolivian relations after the inauguration of leftist president, Evo Morales. In his notes on the visit Shultz calls Bolivia's new Ambassador-Designate, Sasha Lorenti, “a super pick for this job” who is “well-respected on all sides in Bolivia, having served as a mediator in some of the most serious conflicts between the social movements and past Bolivian governments.”

SaltShaker has a difficult time finding information about the Chinese New Year festivities in Buenos Aires' Chinatown.