Global Voices Online

Blasts reports that a series of photos were widely circulated in China internet these days. The photos show “the world's leading” government building campus (the so-called “white house” among netizens) in a district level town at Zhengzhou city in Henan province (zh). There are several links to local BBS discussing the social and psychological implications of this district government project.

Chinese Law professor blog reports that on June 29th, the National People's Congress Standing Committee adopted a number of amendments to the Criminal Law, effective immediately. Sex-selective abortion has not been criminalized. The existing ratio of male and female birth rate is 1.19 : 1 indicating that sex-selective abortion has been rather serious. However, representatives from the national congress stressed that gender inequality culture and tradition could not be dealed with by criminal law (Xinhua news via blog) (zh).

Lawson from Frog in a well visited a Korean Folk Village near Suwon and had some very delicate observations of what were included and excluded. The discussion is related with “the conflicting goals of wanting to celebrate the rich culture of the past (a matter of national pride) and preserve accurate or “authentic” representations of that culture. “

Yang in Esouth blog reflects upon a rally to conserve a Hansen disease hospital from being demolished and replaced by a giant metro train factory. The issue has unveiled a hidden history of the city, the disease and the people. She is touched by the demonstration as the participants came together and transgressed the existing political boundary of blue and green (zh) .

Bazungu Bucks, on a hot night in Pittsburgh, sees for himself the effects of the Liberian war on a former child soldier, when someone lets off a string of firecrackers.

Ainashe.net recommends an article on AntiWar.com about the failure of U.S. foreign policy in Somalia, and how it led to the emergence of an Islamist regime there. “It is a good read,” the blogger writes.

UKNaija makes a comparison between the loss of freedom of speech in Britain, where he lives, and Nigeria, where he used to live. He also mourns, unexpectedly, England's exit from the World Cup.

Ahmed Quick, at the Voice of Somaliland Diaspora, asks if the government of the emerging democracy of Somaliland has given enough thought to the state of the country's armed forces.

Timbuktu Chronicles points to a long essay on the blog of Nokia researcher Jan Chipchase, detailing the cultures of repair which spring up in developing countries.

Dialogue3 says many try to launch their own TV channels in Kabul (Persian). He also says many worry about security in Kabul. Dialogue3, despite everything enjoys being in Kabul.

Pakistan seems keen to build the image of a tourist and investor friendly country. Metroblogging Islamabad says “The new visa policy announced here Friday allows Pakistan's missions in 175 countries to grant visas. It also envisages promotion of travel and tourism between Pakistan and India.”

Onnik Krikorian has a roundup of the Armenian blogosphere.

Yulia translates a post on squatter protests in Kyrgyzstan that urges the Kyrgyz government must avoide making decisions that could encourage further demands.

Christan Garbis has photos of the new construction in Yerevan that is taking place of the city's historic structures. His photos show that poor materials and techniques are being used to construct the new buildings.

Leila translates a post about the debate over media regulations in Kazakhstan that argues that societ needs protection against abuses of the truth by journalists.

Shirazi writes on the Kelash, their culture and religion. “The Kelash are called Kafirs (infidels) and their land is known as Kafiristan. Between the 13th and 16th centuries the Chitralis gradually subdued the Kelash.”

Ben Paarmann says that by focusing on the boom in Almaty, journalists paint an inaccurate picture of Kazakhstan.

Days go by… on the kind of peace Sri Lanka needs. “I spent the last weekend being too drunk to worry about the happenings of this country and it felt damn good to be free. I spent the last weekend wondering how two Latin-American football giants could not make it to the Finals. This is what every Sri Lankan needs, wants and deserves. Peace, peace of mind and a place they call home; Sri Lanka.”

Drishtipat on the changing face of street food in Dhaka. Jhalmuri replaced by Popcorn. “However when I was in Dhaka earlier this year, I found jhhalmuri vendors being replaced with popcorn vendors. You hardly can stop in any traffic light without being solicited to buy the pre packed popcorns.”

Chlim01 points to a friend's blog that argues for more economic involvement in Myanmar instead of sanctions.

The bloggers at babasiga wants Fijian newspapers to give more coverage to the Fijian junior table tennis team. The team is currently in Australia competing in a regional tournament. ” the players are really professional, always talking seriously with their coaches, thumping the floor, leaping about and are as active as in a Fijian spear dance!”

This year many bloggers explain why they still joined the July 1st marches in Hong Kong even the agenda was not very clear. Duimanpark says that even though universal suffrage is impossible under the existing political situation, he continued to demonstrate for it (zh). HungOneBean in InMediaHK describes people who joined the rally as Sisyphus and democracy was like the rolling stone (zh). Glutter says she went out “because it's a beautiful day and it's a good day to walk with a few hundred thousand people who believe in freedom“.

A dead tycoon’s granddaughter is appealing to her family to stop the sale of a vast private garden, famed as the setting for films such as James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun, to a property developer. BigWhiteGuy comments that “Hong Kong is a city with no memory. Whether deliberate or ingrained, the desire to tear down the old — regardless of historical or cultural value — is rooted in nothing more than greed. Such is life in a property-driven market.“

James in two Koreas reports that three automobile companies: Hyundai, Daewoo, Kia company just chose to join the Federation of Korean Metal Workers Trade Unions under the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions. “The move is expected to bring big changes to labor negotiations between union and company management, allowing each labor union to raise questions about the industry’s overall problems. In addition, temporary workers, who have not been allowed membership in most company-wide labor unions, will be accorded the rights of union members“.

Negah says specialists who are living abroad, have no idea what is going on in Iran and they can not be helpful to talk about women situation in Denmark, Thailand or Nederland. The blogger says condom was considered for many years as a luxury product, prostitution is everywhere, sex and love relations are considered as criminal acts. The blogger adds many old people marry with teenage girls in Iran (Persian).

Dokhtare Danshjo says discrimination against women starts from Iranian Constitution where man was named as the head of family and woman as take caring nurse for her husband and childern. This blogger adds even if a woman becomes Foreign Affairs Minister, she needs her husband's permission to leave country or to get a passport (Persian).

The Spirit of Man thinks US government does not understand who the Leader in Iran is. The blogger writes while supreme leader of the regime says NO to the US-Iran talks, Bush's press secretary Tony Snow says that Khamenei's response is not official and does not have any official value. But I can say this to US government's Tony Snow that, when Ali Khamenei says NO, it is NO, it is official.

China inaugurated the Tibet railroad on July 1. Mainland blogger like Bingfengteahouse believes that it is a truely blessing for Tibetian. However, The China Confidential comments that “Tibetans are rapidly becoming an underclass in their own country as a result of the government-sponsored Chinese influx and persecution of Tibetans“. A writer from InMediaHK criticizes that China and Hong Kong media are overwhelmingly positive about the railroad without questioning the power relation between the Chinese and Tibetian (Zh). ESWN translates a Chinese reporter Fu Jianfeng's notes on his personal experience at the Tibet railroad inauguration trip. Sun Bin has a collection of videos.

As Ammar reports,

Sources are reporting that Aref Dalilah’s health is failing quickly and that he is liable to collapse at any given moment. Prison doctors have reportedly recommended that he be subjected to a variety of tests and scans, but, so far, prison authorities have not responded to their demands.

Prof. Dalileh is one of the most well-reputed economics academics in the Middle East, he was a major idol in the Damascus-Spring movement in 2001, was arrested then by the Syrian authorities and he's serving a 10 years sentence in jail since then.

Alex(ei) of The Russian Dilettante's Weblog writes about what Vladimir Putin is doing to Russia and what could be done to Vladimir Putin. Vilhelm Konnander reports on “Putin's power purge” that wasn't. Sean Guillory writes about “Putin A” and “Putin B” and other theories of Russia's development. Yuri Mamchur of Russia Blog posts a link to a much-discussed video of Putin kissing a little boy's belly in the Kremlin. The revived RUBLog (aka Travel Russia!) notes that 7,382 internet users are mystified by the kiss enough to ask Putin why he did it; the president may answer the question on July 6.

Megan Case writes about the effect the current foreign-made wine shortage in Russia is having on her life: “When wine started disappearing from the shelves last week, we were unconcerned. Kostia’s theory was that it was all bought up by high school graduates preparing for the all-night graduation party last weekend. […] But now all of the shelves are bare, waiting for the new import tax stickers to be printed, and we’re forced to drink beer.” Vilhelm Konnander explains the situation.

Romerican writes about the “garbage day” and 48 waterless hours in Brasov, Romania.

W. Shedd of The Accidental Russophile posts a link to a collection of unique photos of the Moscow Metro by LJ user russos: “He makes a point to say that he won't answer questions about where his images are made, or what they specifically might show. He also adds that he doesn't have problems with the police (and he won't explain why) - but he does have problems with passengers who stick their nose into his business.”

All About Latvia highlights a contradiction much talked about in the EU now: “Citizens of Britain, for example, can travel to the U.S. without any visa, while citizens of Latvia cannot. Yet, citizens of Latvia can travel to the U.K. visa free. That simply does not make sense.”

LEvko of Foreign Notes posts two updates on Ukraine's political mess and the role of the Party of the Regions in it. Adrian J. Erlinger of Leopolis sums it up: “Fire them all.”

The beatroot looks at unemployment figures in Poland.

The beatroot writes about a Polish “lawmaker (law breaker)” whose party “led the crusade against political corruption” and who, despite this, was caught falsifying 1,700 names on her electoral sponsorship list. The beatroot is now considering starting “the Polish Pro Corruption Party (PPCP)” and having this politician head it.

Paul of Further Ramblings of a N.Irish Magyar writes about the Hungarian Tourist Board's creativity: “Hollywood stars” are sought “for an ad campaign to popularise Hungary. […] So, this weekend’s question: If you could choose one Hollywood star to promote the delights of Hungary, who would it be and why?”

Rachel of Pustolovina: Adventure in Serbian lists a couple of Serbia's pop culture appearances.