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African Diaspora: Hard times for Africans in France and Belgium

Anthony Katombe · 20:52

Several francophone blogs have tackled African immigrants’ latest tribulations in France and Belgium.

Choosing Immigrants

Le Pangolin criticizes French interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy’s latest round of immigration policies. The blogger sees Sarkozy’s approach as a diversion from the real social issues raised by protestors of the CPE [Youth Employment Law]. Le Pangolin, belies Sarkozy's assertions that France wants to start “choosing its immigrants” through new, tighter policies:

La France a toujours choisi son immigration, rappelez-vous des balayeurs sénégalais que la France est allée prendre au Sénégal et Mali, des ouvriers des usines automobiles Renault et Peugeot qu’ils sont allés chercher au Maghreb pour casser le parti communiste et la Cgt qui étaient virulents et puissants dans les années 50 à 1970.

France has always chosen its immigrants. Remember the Senegalese janitors whom France imported from Senegal and Mali, the Renault and Peugeot auto factory workers they went to fetch in Maghreb to break the communist party and the CGT union’s strong influence between 1950 and 1970.

Le Pangolin ridicules a French government drowning under youth unemployment protests attempting desperately to redirect public attention towards a scapegoat, the African immigrant:

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Prominent Egyptian blogger arrested and several other activists

Haitham Sabbah · 12:01

Originally by Socrates

Alaa Abd El-Fatah, one of the Egyptian political activists, and one of the first bloggers in Egypt was arrested today together with around ten more activists during a peaceful demonstration in solidarity with sixty activists who were arrested over the past two weeks in a non-violent sit in, as well who were held in custody for two weeks under investigation for “crimes” that if anything would raise only mockery including, humiliating the president, possession of “publishing equipment”(graffiti spray) and blocking traffic.

The first group of activists arrested two weeks ago was supposed to have their cases reviewed by prosecution today, so as to release or renew holding them under investigation. In solidarity with them 200 lawyers approached as a defense council, a number of judges, and a number of activists among whom were Alaa and his colleagues gathered around the court house.

Authorities denied the activists entry to the court house, in addition to attempting to present the “detainees” files only, and not the detainees themselves to prosecution. For hours, Alaa and his fellow activists shouted slogans against the government, sang and showed solidarity with their detained fellow activists. At the end of the demonstration police forces surrounding the group increased, refused to let them leave and started picking those to arrest, Alaa and ten others. They were taken to the nearby police station were they were denied lawyers, or any visitors. Lawyers are now standing outside the station just monitoring in case the arrested activists are taken somewhere else, which is exactly what happened. Three of them were taken blindfolded to another police station and were released later.

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Echoes from the Tunisian blogosphere

Mohamed Marwen Meddah · 11:56

Swobodin writes about how Project Gutenberg has over 10,000 books legally available for download in more than 50 languages, yet none of them are in Arabic. He goes on to talk about the inexistence of any Arabic books in an electronic format, and how Arab national libraries and cultural centers are not doing their job in promoting Arabic literature and culture.

MMM writes about the International Book Fair taking place in Tunisia and his dissapointment after visiting it. He sees the same religious books every year at most stands with different covers and colors, the same translated books about Yoga, Macrobiotics and self-help, the same old Arabic books by old Arabic writers, semi political books talking about age old issues or supposedly “hot”, yet unimportant, topics. Only a few interesting or important books are to be found among all the clutter. He goes on about how new Arabic books by new Arab writers are almost impossible to find. He then gets into statistics about Arab books and content in the world, and how there is basically no support for new writers in the Arab world (Arabic).

Heliodore writes about attending Paulo Coelho's press conference at the International Book Fair of Tunisia and publishes a couple of photos he took (French). (more…)

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The Spice of Life

Melissa De Leòn Douglass · 08:59

#1: From Argentina, Pomelo Pleasures presents:

The Spice of Life: She wants it in her jam, me too!!! :)

I am an absolute nut about mulled wine, and perhaps with good reason. I remember France during the holidays, going to a bazaar full of baked goods and steaming vats of mulled wine, warming the hands and the belly against the chilly air. I spent Christmas in France in Stasburg, the place for Christmas, eating pain d'épices and downing bucketfuls of spicy wine on the snowy streets, but mulled wine is sold all over France during the winter season, and is also very plentiful around my family's home, especially during holiday parties. The wine fills the air with the unmistakable aroma of cloves and cinnamon, a sent forever linked in my mind with smiles and the good cheer of the season.

Now, I am sorry to reminisce about all of this Christmas business but I really am getting to the point; and that is the flavor of this mulled wine brings back memories of childhood and good times. Well, I want that in my jam.

#2: From the Raw foods world: Rani and Raja and his Raw Key Lime Pie.

I prepared it, it's…hmmm… fantastic! Go ahead, try it…and you will see :)

#3: From Karine's Food in China!

A wonderful, very colorful virtual trip to the Farmer's Market in Dali, Yunnan. The climate and geography around the ErHai Lake helps the farmers to grow a big variety of vegetables and fruits with an "eat-me" sign written all over the place. It really makes me want to go there right now!!!

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Russia: Ban on Georgian Wine and Water

Veronica Khokhlova · 04:52

Beginning today, Russia has outlawed Georgian sparkling mineral water Borjomi, a health product that many ulcer patients have been relying upon since the Soviet times. Gennady Onishchenko, Russia's chief health inspector, has ordered the ban allegedly due to the discovery of a batch containing fake Borjomi. A few weeks earlier, Onishchenko restricted imports of Georgian (and Moldovan) wine - allegedly on health grounds, too. It is widely believed, however, that the embargo is politically motivated. Both mineral water and wine are Georgia's most famous - and biggest - exports, and the ban is expected to have a severe impact on the country's economy.

LJ user plushev, a Moscow-based radio journalist, has been documenting (RUS) his hunt for the “disappearing” Georgian goods:

April 15, 2006

plushev:

Disappearing Goods

Aha, in addition to Georgian cognac, I now have to manage to buy a box of Borjomi. Interesting, but it is often recommended by doctors. Now, from the point of view of [the Russian Consumer Goods Inspection], they are killer doctors, definitely. The likes of Onishchenko [Russia’s chief health inspector] work to increase my stocks.

In summer, they'll find harmful substances in Moldovan apples, and towards winter - if the situation doesn't change - in tangerines. Needless to say, apples from Transnistria and tangerines from Abkhazia would be deemed ecologically safe.

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altist72: I've been to Ashan [Moscow shopping mall] today: the wines department looks very funny.

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