Global Voices Online

Afghan Warrior writes about Abdul Rahman, the Afghan who converted to Christianity, saying that Afghanistan should be allowed to enforce its laws.

Kaukasus wrotes about over-hunting and mistreatment of wildlife in Georgia.

Tim Muth documents a December court judgement which rewarded a McDonald's franchisee $24 million in damages from the “Golden Arches,” noting that “some will view it as a sign that El Salvador's legal system is not ready to protect the rights of foreign investors. Others will view it as a story of a successful fight against a rapacious multinational corporation.” Commenters say that the San Salvador-based McDonalds was famously bad.

Steven Taylor laments Colombia's dubious distinction as country with the most landmine deaths in 2005.

Daniel Duquenal says that the Venezuelan documentary, “La Lista” is starting to get the attention it deserves. Both Duquenal and Miguel Octavio have reviews of the film.

Andrés Duque announces two planned protests in Lima against recent anti-homosexual statements by the mother of presidential candidate Ollanta Humala.

Oscar Mota notes that April first (ES) is April Fool's Day in much of the world, unlike Latin America where “Día de los Inocentes” falls on December 28th. Several fictitious stories were mistakenly submitted to the Digg-like Spanish aggregator, Menéame.

Boz criticizes the special coverage by the BBC, arguing that they are “falling into the usual memes about Latin America,” including a biased view of Latin Americans' reactions to increasing Chinese influence. Investment Opportunities in Argentina believes that China will soon invest heavily in Argentina. Georgina, writing from Havana, says (ES) that China is selling locomotives to Cuba while Havana Journal writes about the 300,000 refrigerators being shipped over by the Chinese company, Haier of eastern Shandong province. Finally, Perú Político says (ES) that Peruvian textile manufacturing cannot keep pace with China's low wages.

At Perspectivas en Movimiento, Marie-Dominique Bertuccioli (es) counters the United States' “Plan to Assist a free Cuba” with her own “Plan to Assist with Democratic Transition”. Among her proposals to the US: “Free healthcare for all children so as to reduce infant mortality to the level of Cuba” and “Evacuation of Guantánamo, so as to improve the country's image as well as relations with Cuba”.

“Not much gets prepared in our kitchen without a bit of nutmeg being added,” writes Francine over at The Pan Collective in a post which celebrates the versatility of Grenada's signature crop while lamenting its devastation by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

Two participants in the Bronx Blog Project share their experience of emigrating to the United States.

Cristin of AmericanExpat, a blog on Ukrainian adoptions, is fundraising for Project Empty Orphanage: “Currently there are approximately 125,000 children in Ukrainian orphanages. Many of these kids are “stuck” there because of inaccurate or missing paperwork. This project was designed to help kids' paperwork problems that stand between them and a loving family. […] It is hard to imagine that for so many children, the only thing standing between them and the chance for a real family is $60 and a signature.”

Ethan of Room 12A recounts his experience as an election observer in Kyiv.

Dan McMinn of Orange Ukraine examines coalition choices for the blocs and parties, which - according to the still preliminary results - have made it into Ukraine's parliament: “Politicians Fighting So Voters Don't Have To […] Politicians are going to have to swallow their disgust and make necessary but odious political compromises. Not incidentally, these compromises should help, or at least reflect the views of, most Ukrainian citizens.”

Timbo of The Hungary Years reports on what it feels like to be in Hungary on the eve of this weekend's national election.

A.M. Mora y Leon at Publius Pundit writes about Hugo Chavez' remark on the Ukrainian Orange Revolution of 2004: Venezuelan president has called it a “pink revolution” done by the “gringos” and said he expected his rivals to use a similar strategy in the December presidential election.

Andrei Khrapavitski reports on president Aleksandr Lukashenko's return from the undisclosed location he has been at since March 20.

All About Latvia writes about energy policy and politics of the Baltic states and how some of them contradict the EU's requirements.

At the Caribbean Beat weblog, Nicholas Laughlin posts an image and short commentary on an early — “pre-canonical” — costume by renowned Trinidadian Carnival designer Peter Minshall.

Friend Gram at Holidarity links to a recent Reuters story which takes a look at the Singapore-based publication Epoch Times' claim of the existence of a Falun Gong “concentration camp” in northern China.

“Epoch Times,” says Gram, “is deeply Falun Gong, and is committed to the belief that the Chinese government is ‘evil' - something that rings more true of the Mao era than today, but this is a difference they hardly recognize. If this concentration camp story is true, international outcry will be warranted.'

Orackay looks at North Korean apologist voices in the South Korean media in “just say no to workers' rights.”

“Even if one assumes that publicly taking issue with the gulags can only be motivated by selfish political motive (and that certainly seems to be the motive with some people),” writes the blogger, “shouldn't South Koreans be especially conscientious about not exploiting workers in Gaeseong? It's not like you trust the big-name South Korean companies doing business there to care about workers' rights. The North isn't going to care, and while the South's government might, it is not going to hold South Korean companies accountable.”

Pondblog finds two interesting items on Fidel Castro: an online newspaper report citing excerpts from a forthcoming book on the Cuban leader, and an article by a Canadian journalist which opens, “By so many measures, Fidel Castro has been the modern world's most transparent leader.”

Simon World blogger HK Dave sees some meaning in a photo which, although admittedly doctored, came away with the top prize in this year's China International Press Photo Contest．

Rank's Beginner blogger finds humor in a television debate between two of Taiwan's top politicians, Ma Ying-jeou and Chen Shuibian.

“This may be the first time I've seen Chen in a conversational context and it's the first time I've understood his appeal. He makes me laugh. The most amusing part of his ‘conversation' with Ma was when he asked him to define the boundaries of [the Republic of China] under his ‘one China, each his own interpretation' ('92 consensus) model.”

The EastSouthWestNorth blogger translates a report on a recent protest in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen and finds some missing details in corresponding English-language coverage.

A new campaign advertising Bermuda as a tourist destination prompts Sean to offer his own list of recommendations for promoting tourism in the island.

Sir Arthur Foulkes discusses the banning of the film “Brokeback Mountain” in the Bahamas, comparing the incident with another film banned back in 1950: “No Way Out”, starring Bahamian-born Sidney Poitier.

While the notion of foreign hospitals in Bangladesh may have economic or even populist reasons, imperfect world 2006 muses on why the word ‘unholy' is used in conjunction with these hospitals.

Bangladesh was on the cover of the Times, and that had quite a few bloggers reading into the text. Salam Dhaka on some of the comments made by the Prime Minister.

Female politicians in India end up playing roles of sacrificial or raving ones. More than their ideology, their behaviour seems to indicate their acceptance and standing. More on this at Nikita's GenderBenders.

Ashok, an Indian design director in Kabul has a photo post on the changing face of Kabul.

With political dissent being the dominant theme in the public discourse in Nepal - Democracy For Nepal on beating the curfew.

Ktemoc says the destruction of the causeway that carries the pipeline with which Malaysia supplies 50% of Singapore's water needs is not a coincidence to Malaysia's proposal to build a bridge where the causeway is. He says it is related to the unrealistic price that Singapore pays for the water that Malaysia supplies.

Noemi, whose daughter Lauren is the first Filipino blogger, reminisces about a 1997 meeting of some of the earliest Filipino kids on the internet–a time when parents were concerned about the (possible) negative impact of the internet on children's intellectual growth and social skills. Today, she views the internet as a tool that gives our kids “the advantage of being exposed to global thinking, varied ethnicities, cultures and religion which they might not have learned in the classroom” and so long as parents take on a hands-on role, set time limits and create a balance of healthy activities for their children, our kids will do just fine.

A. Fatih Syuhud laments that mainstream media still fails to appreciate blogs apart from the context of technology and as a playing field for the young.

Fuel is more expensive in Singapore than in Malaysia and, according to H J Angus of MalaysiaWatch, it is not uncommon for Singaporeans to drive to Malaysia to fill up their gasoline tanks. But Malaysia is now considering imposing a fee on all foreign cars entering Malaysia to effectively prevent foreigners from enjoying the subsidized fuel rates. Angus thinks the proposal will backfire on the Malaysian economy.

Thai bloggers Bangkok Pundit and Bookish are still discussing the turnout in the parliamentary elections. Bookish thinks that the legal status of the spoiled ballots will probably end up in court. Meanwhile, caretaker PM Thaksin Shinawatra has gone on national television–what Bookish calls the first mover’s advantage to announce that his Thai Rak Thai Party has won 60% of the votes cast–a figure that the Election Commission has not confirmed.

Zimpundit conducts an interview on the streets of Harare to find out what life is like for the people.

SoundRoots reports on Hugh Masekela's birthday celebrations today….”When you think of Masekela, you have to think not only of his music, but his role as something of an ambassador-at-large for South Africa (and specificically, black South Africa). The stories he tells in his songs capture snapshots of life, past and present, for ordinary South Africans”

South Africa writes on the politics surrounding the building of the World Cup Stadium in Cape Town

Grandiose Parlor wonders if Charles Taylor received help from the Nigerian government in his attempted escape….”Taylor definitely received some help to escape; however, to assert that his escape was probably orchestrated by the top hierarchy of the Nigerian security forces is troubling and warrants a thorough investigation”

Inside Somaliland points to an article in the Sudan Tribune which asks “Will the Arabs dare to listen to Somaliland?” referring to the Arab League's failure to act on other issues such as Sudan and Darfur.

Addis Ababa Rocking Fun Zone posts on the banking sector in Ethiopia which he believes may be growing as the ordinary person on the street begins to use banks. This has helped fuel investment and maybe one contributory factor to the huge amount of construction work taking place in the capital.

The Vision reports that in six months Liberians will no longer be considered for resettlement in the US and refugees will be encouraged to return home.

Black Star Journal posts on Charles Taylor's day in court and lists the many charges against him including murder, use of child solidiers, sexual violence, physical violence, abductions and forced labour.

Kenyan blogger 4Sheezy asks Kenyan women to stop complaining and vote for women - “No this is not feminism. It is a fact. The fewer women are in government the fewer issues that concern us will be taken seriously.Women voters need to understand that women can make good leaders if given a chance.”

Zarchka writes that Armenia has a long way to go before April Fools' Day is celebrated as widely as it should be. (Though, stepping out of the impersonal voice, I should say that they did well enough to trick me.)

David Read writes adoringly on Bishkek's central department store, which he calls “temple to dodgy goods and illegal stuff.”

Luke Distelhorst asks whether or not Mongolia is going over-the-top with its celebrations throughout the year of the country's 800th anniversary.

Christian Garbis writes about the difficulties involved in buying a home in Yerevan.