Archive for
April 13th, 2006
Stories
The Week That Was - Bolivian Blogs
A controversial document instructing public servants to contribute to the Movimiento Al Socialismo (MAS) political party generated words of discontent among some Bolivian bloggers. The letter in question was directed to Cabinet Members, Vice-Ministers and Directors and instructed them to contribute 5% of their salary to “cover National and Departmental events”.
Alvaro Ruiz Navajas characterized the request as extorsion and also cited contradictions from within the party structure. In his blog Off Topic, he is also highly critical of cases of nepotism within the different branches of government. Jaime Rubin de Celis of JCR's Place also raises the question of this document insisting that President Evo Morales is failing to distinguish between his political party and the government (ES). In addition, Miguel Buitrago of MABB believes that this directive coincides with the administration’s desire to cut off funding to all political parties for the upcoming campaign.
The authenticity of this document is discussed (ES) by Jaime Humérez Seleme. He draws attention to statements made by the Vice-President of the political party, Zacarias Flores, whose signature figures prominently on the letter and who also denies ever signing such a document. However, in the end, the letter was confirmed to be authentic. Humérez Seleme, author of Boliviscopio emphasizes that these contributions are nothing new for party members working inside the government, yet he still remains critical of these contradictions of those claiming a conspiracy and those who readily admit that this request for voluntary contributions exists.
Much of this controversy was generated because of the upcoming election in July to elect the representatives to the Constitutent Assembly. These contributions would theoretically go towards the campaign. Last week, the different political parties and citizens’ groups submitted lists of candidates for the election. However, not everyone was please with those selected. Mario Ronald Duran Chuquimia wrote in Palabras Libres about the different groups, from Afro-Bolivians, the disabled, gay and lesbian groups, labor unions and indigenous groups, that felt excluded from the selection process. As a result, various outward displays of protest, such as hunger strikes and even the announcement of a parallel Indigenous Constitutent Assembly, indicated that there was much displeasure.
Finally, Miguel Centellas of Ciao! provides a thorough overview of the format to elect the district and departmental representatives to this assembly, complete with links to the law of convocation and a sample ballot from La Paz.
Revolution In Nepal: Monarchy On Its Way Out
The movement has turned into a revolution.
Democracy For Nepal has collected many photos from many sources: Protests, Protests, Protests, Protests, Protests.
DFN also has taken a clearly republican line: Zero Tolerance Policy Towards Monarchy, Nepali Congress Or Praja Parishad, Malaria, Polio, Monarchy, Hamro Nepal: Draft Constitution, Interim Constitution, Revolutionary Parliament, Shoot At Sight Order: Dead End For The King.
DFN has also covered two events in New York City and has mentioned a huge rally planned for Friday: Happy New Year 2063, Nepali Mandir, Friday Rally. There are video clips and photos from the two events.
Samudaya has taken the lead on fundraising among the diaspora for emergency medical services in response to the Gongabu massacre. The site also has an audio interview with the famous student leader Gagan Thapa out in the streets of Kathmandu. There are extensive photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Pulse of the Saudi Blogosphere
It had been a relatively quiet week in the Saudi blogosphere this week. However, several good posts can be found by bloggers from inside the country, and also by those who live abroad. So, let's get it started…
A new community website for Saudi bloggers has been causing much controversy, and Saudi bloggers, as well as some Arab bloggers, have reacted to a post written by the co-founder of the first Saudi blogging community. Farooha, the other co-founder, wrote: “you cannot regulate the Saudi blogosphere. You cannot “refine” it nor “filter” it or whatever else I read that you wish to do to it.” The Egyptian Sandmonkey also wrote on the same topic:
They know that this is the one medium of free thought and expression left in the arab world, and that scares the shit out of them, because, as they so rightly fear, Freedom of speech, expression and thought is their enemy. They can only prosper in an environment of censorship, rules and restrictions put and approved by them, while us, the evil old guard, will prosper anyway.
Aya, another Saudi blogger, says she is proud not to belong to the new community: “I have a couple of questions here, first: What makes this community official ? As far as I know, there is nothing official about blogging. Bloggers are independent individuals who don’t officially belong to anyone. Isn’t this an oxymoron “Official – Bloggers”?” she wrote.
Moving to another topic, Fedo has noticed a new fad among Saudi female bloggers, which is writing about sex, and called them to stop doing this because “writing about sex is cheap.” After reading some news of a recent sex scandal, hibbalicious seems to be worried. “This is such a bad situation, what does it reflect about what is happening in our societies now?, not just in Kuwait but in many Arab countries, people are becoming more and more sexually promiscuous, and thats not just single people but married people as well,” she wrote. Meanwhile, Ubergirl calls to change the name of Saudi Arabia to Sexist Arabia. She also has an interesting post on demonic possession.
Responding to a post by another blogger, Dodi wrote on women's rights: “Discrimination and racism do exist everywhere in your society and ours!! A woman is my country is very well respected. Go to a travel agent and you go first, a bank or any other office and you will be served first. I went the High Minister of Education and we waited in a room and the employee himself came to us, took our papers helped us with all he could and even offered us BREAKFAST!!!” Now to let's go to Misso's questions: “What happened to the gallant and chivalrous image of a man? What happened to the dream of a “they lived happily ever after”? Is this sensible thinking that comes with the wisdom of age? Or is it the resignation of women who saw and knew better and are just trying to make it work. But then again, I can’t help thinking why try to make it work if it is not working for you?”
Finally, here are three more posts that also worth mentioning: Aya asks: What Saudis are famous for?. Dotsson was getting bored with Saudi blogs, but he found six new bloggers that really changed things around, and last but not least, let's see how a weird coincidence brought two Saudi bloggers to meet.
Flying over the Iraqi Blogodrome
I am still on holiday and the blogs are still running. So here is a summary of what I liked up to the point my kids wake up…
First a special mention to new Iraqi blogger Zappy. According to his profile he is a “34 year old Male living in Baghdad I love Marmite,I hate veggiemite ugh!,love Sea food, hate Green Veggies and stupidity.” His blog is Where The Date Palms Grow.
Aunt Najma says this about his blog.. “Please read this blog, I'm getting addicted to it in a very bad timing. 60 days of studying left, plus 16 days of exams.” If it pulls Najma from her studies it must be worth reading!
If you read only one post this week read this
A lot has been said recently about the bias of journalists. I was there explains the journalist's side of the argument: (more…)
Polish Blogosphere Update
On the literary front, As the Warsaw Crow Flies notes the death of Polish author Stanislaw Lem. On Lem, Warsaw Crow writes:
Having only read his novel Solaris, I can't say I'm at all familiar with his work. But from that one book it was clear just what an exceptionally imaginative chap he was.
Not to be confused with Lem's science fiction, The Real Warsaw reports on a recent strike of doctors protesting their paltry incomes.
Currently an average Polish doctor at a state hospital makes less than 10 złoty per hour. That's equal to about 2.5 Euro or 3 USD per hour.
According to Real Warsaw, Poland's health care professionals are demanding a 100% increase in salary by 2007. In the comments section, Hikin Mike argues that Poland needs to spend a higher pecentage of its GDP on the health care sector if things are to improve:
…within your country you need to pay specialized prices for it or you will lose all of the talent to countries willing to pay more (the United States pays 15% of GDP compared to Polands 4%). When it comes to maintaining a healthy society, health care is not where you want to cut corners - pay them what they deserve.
According to P3, Poles won't have to worry about doctors if they keep eating all the fresh fruits and veggies from their local green grocers. But be warned, the vendors are in no mood to haggle over prices:
Me: I'd like some tangerines.
Her: How many?
Me: Well, I'm not sure. How about 2 zl worth? (Not even knowing how much that'll be)
Her: Prosze (she then grabs about 15 tangerines and weighs them out.
Her: That'll be 2.50.
Me: ??
Her: 2.50
Me: Well, it could be worse. (Hands over the money)
Yes, it could be worse, she could be basing her voting choices on the latest transmission from Radio Maryja. Perpetually in somebody's doctrinal doghouse, this time Pope Benedict XVI's, the beatroot reports that Vatican “top collars” (perhaps in move to indirectly indict the Polish Church) sent a letter to Polish Church authorities requesting a concrete response to the station's cosy relations with the ruling political party (PiS). Already infamous for its anti-Semitic, conspiracy-theorist audio screeds, Radio Maryja is now under increased Papal scrutiny for its close ties to politics. I suppose there's room for only one theocracy in this neck of the woods.
And if that wasn't “putting one's foot in it all,” spring hungry Poles might wish it was according to As the Warsaw Crow Flies. As a new season thaws the “glad to see your back” winter, additional shortfalls are afoot: Warsaw Crow marvels from “Dog Poo Avenue” at the “testament to artistic capabilities of the canine digestive system, for about eighty metres 'solid' it represents a pantheon of perfectly preserved doggie deposits.”
Perhaps not the most appealing note to end on, but we promise that next time we will bring you some additional updates regarding Polish language blogs (we will translate some).
That’s the Poland blogopshere update! Until next time - Do widzenia!
Links for Thu, 2006-04
The Golden Road to Samarqand reports on university students' opinions on the current political situation in Kyrgyzstan.
Christian Garbis writes that Armenians are blinded by their past and do not appreciate that their current problems deserve their full attention. The Basturma Chronicles responds.
Tom Terry also comments on the protests in Mongolia, calling on protesters to show a little more wisdom and restraint and warning them that Eagle TV, which he manages, will hand over any tapes of illegal acts by protesters in accordance with Mongol law.
Luke Distelhorst of neweurasia has more updates on the escalating protests in Mongolia at his site including news of clashes between police and protesters and the Democratic Party showing signs of solidarity with the protesters.
Oneworld Multimedia notes that Azeri military officer Ramil Safarov has been sentenced to life in prison by a Hungarian court for the murder of an Armenian counterpart at a NATO Partnership for Peace training program two years ago. It is not clear whether or not he will serve his sentence in Hungary or Azerbaijan, where many consider him a hero.
The Guatemala Solidarity Network is distributing a declaration, which demands that the Marlin Mine of San Marcos be closed.
Over at the Caribbean Beat weblog JT waxes poetic, defining genius and describing the view from his office window.
It's iguana season in Belize, writes Simone Engeln: “If you were to drive though Belize these days, you would notice people standing by the side of the road holding up Iguanas. These are not their pets. They are offering them to you to buy. Again, not to keep as a pet….but to have for lunch.”
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