Global Voices Online

Francis Wade remembers taking tours of “slum” areas in South Africa and Brazil, and the lessons he learned from these experiences. “It would be powerful if we in Jamaica could get over our embarrassment long enough to realize that we are the ones in the way of giving structured tours of places like Trench Town (which is more famous than Montego Bay) to thousands of visitors with an interest in learning more about the forces that shaped the great Bob Marley.”

It is “irresponsible politics” for Bahamas opposition leader Hubert Ingraham to say that if his party came to power he would downgrade the Bahamian embassy in Havana to a consular office, says Andrew Allen at Bahama Pundit. “Myriad Bahamian interests deserve representation above the consular level.”

Wednesday 17 May was International Day Against Homophobia. Guyana's Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) reports on its programme of commemorative activities: a film screening, a radio discussion, and an interactive forum at the National Library.

Barbados has the highest Internet penetration rate in the Caribbean? Titilayo is surprised.

Today the West Indies cricket team won its third One Day International match in the current series against India, in which Guyanese batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan scored 115 runs not out. “He’s coming of age before our eyes,” says the West Indies Cricket Blog. Ri at Revolution Island reminds us that “during a very threatening innings by India, Rammy also got a wicket bowled. I'd never seen him bowl before … I was in paradise.” He adds: “I believe West Indies will win this series.”

In a post titled “unfortunate name Eduardo Arcos says that the Policy Interpretation Network on Children’s Health and Environment (AKA “PINCHE Project”) will need to change it's name if it ever comes to Mexico. In a related item, León Felipe Sánchez has posted a photograph of an attention-grabbing, if not mysterious, election campaign billboard.

It's mango season in Jamaica (and the rest of the Caribbean), and Geoffrey Philp rhapsodises his four favourite mango varieties: Bombay, Number 11, East Indian, and Julie. He even writes a mango poem.

Don Ball Carbajal explains the infamous Latin American game of sapo.

Eduardo Arcos has posted another letter from Chilean anthropologist Valentina Palma [ES] who was detained by Mexican police in the violence that erupted outside Mexico City earlier this month. Al Giordano has posted a video of Palma being led away by police armed with firearms (contradicting earlier official claims).

Jon of Posthegemony reviews Avi Lewis's and Naomi Klein's film “The Take” about the Argentine movement to take over and recuperate abandoned factories and argues that “Lewis and KIein are blithely unconcerned by the fact that the justification for the factory takeovers is presented very much in line with neoliberal rationality itself.” Follow-up thoughts here.

José Luis Orihuel has posted a compilation of all the Spanish-language weblogs devoted exclusively to this year's World Cup. “El Expatriado” says that Argentina is getting ready and Franco Giménez notes that the Argentinean company Neyra Hermanos has launched a World Cup blog.

Andy H of Csikszereda Musings writes about the Eurovision Song Contest, which he watched in Lithuania this year: “Lithuania got maximum points from Ireland, in what I thought was testament to the Irish love of a good joke, but was told today that it’s because there are loads of Lithuanians in Ireland.”

Balkan Ghost of Finding Karadzic writes that Montenegrin politicians have succeeded in convincing the world and the world media “that Karadzic was Serbia's problem and not theirs”: “Today, newly independent Montenegro is seen by the world as the “next Croatia,” a country that will quickly become prosperous and European through its tourism industry and beaches. Though this newest country does have great beaches, world perception is undeservedly rosy. In reality, Montenegro remains a lawless smuggling cartel run by Russian biznizmen, and an uncontested safe haven for Radovan Karadzic.”

Otto Pohl posts a list of English-language publications on Crimean Tatars.

Oleksa writes about a strange law regulating the way Russia's national flag can be displayed: “t’s illegal in Russia to have the national tricolor displayed permanently unless it’s a government institution. Apparently, one can do it freely only during national holidays. Or, translated from the bureaucratic lingo, the national flag belongs to the state, period. One can’t find a better metaphor to describe in what direction Russia is headed.”

Hungarian tourists were detained by the Slovak police for violating the law that states that “all sightseers in Bratislava must use the guides of the Bratislava Cultural and Information Service,” writes Paul of Further Ramblings of a N.Irish Magyar.

Romerican posts an amazing collection of mailbox pictures from Braşov, Romania.

Peter Myers of Doi Ani de Zile: Adventures in Moldova has examined internet connectivity data for Moldova and other former Soviet republics and is eager to share his findings: “So best of luck to anyone who wants to play around with this data. Whatever you do with it, keep me posted via e-mail; because I'm in Moldova and not Liberia (three users per 10,000 people), I'm 300 times more likely to receive your e-mails.”

How does one effectively use a collaborative space? Wicked Angel has some thoughts on some collaborative spaces being used for personal agendas - “Do we have a right to use this space to further ones political views? I am not sure, in my view No we don't. If there really is a need to write about the issue because its affecting the city, I only think its fair that the readers get to hear the opposing view too.”

Textile works in Bangladesh are protesting. Drishtipat covers the protest - “And now as I am writing Dhaka, Savar, Tongi and Gazipur are riot-zones. Thousands of ready-made garments workers are now on the street burning factories, cars and pelting stones at what to them are icons of endless repression they are suffering for years.”

Moju has statements issued by “two NGOs, Non-violent Peace Force and ZOA, who have been attacked in Trincomalee on Sunday.“

The Great Bong recycles an older post on how porn can drive technology, and the demise of a once famous desi (South Asian) porn site.

Some self-confessed geeks like Geek with an Attitude in Sri Lanka have taken quite a liking for Lawrence Lessig's style as he was in the country launching Creative Commons Sri Lanka.

I am the Japanese rightist blogger yellowpeep continues her series of posts this month exposing religious and right-wing terrorist groups in Japan with a story that shows the various roles Koreans expats play in the organizations and violence.

Celia in her China Activist Weekly news roundup this week looks at Kofi Annan's recent visit to China, the media ban on coverage of the fortieth anniversary of the beginning of the Cultural Revolution, the completion of the Three Gorges Dam, another mine collapse trapping at least forty miners and the upcoming release of civil rights lawyer Zheng Enchong:

“His family suffers constant harassment from authorities, including constant monitoring and being blocked from travelling…Even if Zheng is released on schedule, harassment and constant monitoring of his whereabouts and activities will doubtlessly continue.”

Two questions from reading posts from Joshua and James J. Na today at The Korea Liberator: Do comfort women still exist in North Korea today? Does Kimchi cause cancer?

Haven't had time to follow the news out of northwestern China's muslim-dominated Xinjiang province over the past three months? Davesgonechina at Musing Under The Tenement Palm rounds up the relevant stories, including two discoveries in the desert; one of a 2,200 year-old peach-shaped city and a 26 year-old mummy, the corpse of renowned naturalist Peng Jiamu.

Curzon at cominganarchy.com has a discussion on the latest thinking behind the collapse of the civilisation that built the Angkor monuments in Cambodia.

The Sassy Lawyer spots a footwear ad where the model's pose and attire overshadows the actual object meant to be advertised. The blogger asks “will they remember the woman, the plunging neckline and her spread legs and exposed thigh?”

Nik Nazmi takes on the Malaysian obsession with tutions - the extra classes that students attend to get better scores in exams. “The reason the tuition culture is so much part of our society is easy to comprehend: our exam oriented system and the lackluster pay of being a teacher is a potent combination that fosters this trend.”

Juliana has pictures from the Opening of Jakarta Biennale 2006.

Mythicaldude wanders into the alleyways of Phnom Penh, the Cambodian Capital city. “These long and sometimes winding alleys host entire communities that are normally invisible from the main streets and from traffic. You gotta go there to see what's up.”

Tumbleweed has found the solution for recurring strife in East Timor. “Remember that Robert Redford movie “The Horse Whisperer” about a guy who tamed wild horses by connecting with them and gaining their trust? Perhaps we now need a few “People whisperer” here in this country - not the police, not the military, not peacekeeping forces.”

Dr. Ali Akbar Velayati, Leader's advisor and former Foreign Affairs Minister, started his blog. Concerning Iran-US negotiation about Iraq or other issues, Dr.Velayati says Iran has never had such a strong influence in Iraq & Palestine like today. He adds we have the best advantages to bargain now (Persian).

“The place occupied by the Haitian mango is threatened on the international market given the demands of foreign consumers looking for a quality product,” says (Fr) Haitian newsfeed Alterpresse. “Ranked among the 10 highest worldwide producers of mangos, Haiti needs to do everything to better exploit this niche. A study by LAREHDO [Laboratory of Haitiano-Dominican Relations] reveals that this niche represents 20% of mango consumption in the Dominican Republic,” continues the newsfeed.

An article posted by Rewmi Abidjan says (Fr) Cote d'Ivoire is preparing for the Soccer World Cup. The team will be recouping from the African Cup during its first week of training, says its trainer Henri Michel. The team will then prepare for a friendly match against Switzerland to take place on May 27 which its trainer calls a “test”.

CollectifHaitideProvence announces (Fr) they received an invitation by Collectif Haitien de France [Haitian Collective of France] to participate in a series of meetings taking place June 3 and 4. The main themes of the meetings will be humanitarian solidarity and education, development, the problems of Haitian migrants in France, and partnering with Haitian organizations. The blogger deplores that issues of double nationality for the Haitian diaspora are not on the agenda but calls the meeting ” very important and promising for a more efficient help of Haiti and Haitians.”

CollectifHaitideProvence [Haitian Collective of Provence, France] is the name of a new French and Creole language blog launched by a Haitian organization of the same name made up of nine organizations that seem to be based in either France, Haiti or both. Their first entry posted yesterday explains (Fr & Kr): “This entity which took birth after the floods of Spring 2004 that affected (…) the border (…) between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, encompasses a group of interested associations, attracted and touched by Haitian issues (…) This is neither yet another personal page nor an attempt to embrace ‘blogomania'.” The blog plans to expand into a full fledged site over time.

On the latest episode of Danwei TV we see EastSouthWestNorth blogger Roland Soong take Danwei's Jeremy Goldkorn around Hong Kong in search of landmarks featured in Eileen Chang's (张爱铃) novel Love in a Fallen City (顷城之恋).