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Pakistan: Blog-o-addiction

Omer Alvie · 14:54 · South Asia

Hi, my name is Omer and I am net-o-holic. I've been addicted to the net for the last 8 years and now I must admit I need help. My addiction started out as casual browsing of a few news sites, and has since then progressed to a daily 20 hour fix of what can only be classified as compulsion for the most trivial minutia of current events. The problem has been compounded by my fixation for the real heavy stuff; celebrity web sites.

Recently, I hit bottom, when I found my self reviewing the official Paris Hilton web site. The experience was traumatic; my IQ dropped to single digits in just a matter of minutes and my wife slapped me silly trying to bring me out of the resulting coma. It is because of this experience that I've had to go cold turkey on the internet the last few weeks, which is why you haven't seen a post from me for a while now.

Through the aid of several net therapists and the Al Gore Net Addiction clinic, I have recovered enough to bring you this recent update of the Pakistan blogosphere. I hope you appreciate the courage it took for me to bring you this information for your perusal.

ATP provides an important Pakistan cricket update; Kokaine writes about Musharaf's appearance on the Jon Stewart Show; PakCast discusses Pope's remarks and Musharaf's visit to the US; Suspect Paki showcases the video Ludicrous Diversions about the London bombings; Saad is an impeccable Pakistani photographer based in Singapore and his portfolio is worth seeing; Windmill details the religion war; and finally, I address the 9-11 conspiracy theories. (more…)

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The Week that Was - Bolivian Blogs

Eduardo Avila · 11:34 · Americas

Este artículo también está disponible en español en el sitio Blogs de Bolivia

Whispers of a possible civil war worried some Bolivian bloggers. A report completed by the government of Argentina estimated a 56% chance that Bolivia might fall into a civil war, with an estimated one million refugees crossing the border into Argentina. Miguel Centellas of Ciao! says it is not unheard of in this modern age to see a civil war. Miguel Buitrago of MABB didn’t think we should even be talking about such a conflict, but the recent declarations of the Vice-President Alvaro Garcia Linera may put that probability into an unfortunate reality. Garcia Linera made references to his time in the guerrilla army and called for the defense of this government through arms. He did apologize for his statement and said it was misinterpreted. The anonymous blogger from the blog Morir Antes Que Esclavos Vivir (ES) touches on both of these topics.

However, Garcia Linera did manage to negotiate with some members of that region that threatened to blockade the city of Santa Cruz and prohibit the opening of the international fair EXPOCRUZ. This gathering of stands from national and international companies attracts visitors from all across the country. However, for some the fair may only be for those that can afford it. Andrea, one of the youngest Bolivian bloggers, writes in her blog Lo Digo Yo (ES) that the relatively high price of admission may keep large parts of the population unable to attend this grand attraction.

Cuando llegamos, dimos con la sorpresa de que la entrada era de 30 Bs. Me parece un precio excluyente. La Feria es un evento que muchos esperan con ansias para ir con familia o amigos, pero al parecer sólo está destinada a la gente con grandes ingresos, y el resto que mire también…pero de afuerita. Una familia de 5 personas que quiera ir a pasear un ratito y a comerse “alguito” (lo cual no viene incluido en el precio) termina pagando 150 Bs. Solamente entre mi grupito gastamos como 300 Bs. en total. Muy fuera del alcance de la mayoría, sobre todo jóvenes.

When we arrived, we were surprised that the admission fee was 30 Bs. (approximately 4 USD). It seems to be a very exclusionary price. Many anxious await the arrival of the Fair and want to attend with family or friends, however, it seems it is only for those with large incomes and rest watch…from the outside. A family of 5 that wants to spend some time and eat something (which is not included in the price of admission) ends up paying 150 Bs. My group spent approximately 300 Bs. in all, which is out of reach from most, especially young people.

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Taiwan: Media Riot

Portnoy · 10:35 · East Asia

There have been many complaints about mainstream media practice in Taiwan. Some feel that it hampers Taiwan from developing into a matured democratic society. Recently the whole island's news reports have covered nothing but the rallies either opposing or supporting Taiwan's President Chen Shui-Bian. Many Taiwanese bloggers are furious at what they see as the performance of Taiwanese mainstream media.

Senior reporter and blogger Guan-yu asks big media to care more about the natural environment. She says:

前陣子還會被那些偏激言論弄得心浮氣躁、甚至怒氣沖沖，後來突然想通了：「許多偏激言論的背後目的，就在煽動所有人的怒氣，當人失去平靜，就很容易失去理性。但為了保護我所愛的故鄉和土地，平心靜氣就是面對動盪最好的盾牌。」電視新聞為了提升瞬間收視率，以二元對立手法操作、不斷放大某些偏激的言論和少數的衝突，確實某種程度撕裂著台灣，這部份是令人擔憂的，但關掉電視回到人民生活現場，我對未來時局還是比較樂觀，因為各角落都還是有人在默默奉獻、支撐著社會…

Earlier on, I was so frustrated and even angry because of those exteme opinions, but then I suddenly realized that “most extreme opinions have a hidden agenda to abet everyone's anger. When people lose their control, it is more easy for them to lose their rationality. But in order to protect my beloved native homeland, keeping calm is the best shield against the unrest.” In order to raise their temporary viewing rates, T.V. news manipulates antagonism to magnify extreme opinions and a handful of conflicts; to a certain degree they are tearing Taiwan apart. It worries me. But once I turn off the TV and return to the land of the living, I feel very optimistic about our future because around every corner there are still people who dedicate themselves to society…

Another senior reporter Chui Yung from Hong Kong quotes an article written by a Taiwan T.V. program producer, Lio Shi-feng, to back up his previous comments that Taiwan's media put their political stands before facts and emotions before objectivity.

兩位參選人的知名度，藉著街頭衝突一夕打開。雖然我們一再告誡記者和編輯注意措辭不要激化對立，但是在新聞台激烈的競爭下，我們被迫跟著政客的劇本走。

The two (city congress) candidates gained publicity through streetfight incidents. Though we cautioned our journalists and editors not to stir up antagonism, under the fierce competition between news channels, we were forced to follow politicians' scripts.

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Video: Vietnamese bloggers get “kinky” for charity

Rebecca MacKinnon · 08:05 · East Asia

Vietnamese blogger Elmooh has uploaded a series of four videos shot at an “Offline Party” - a blogger-organized charity fundraiser in Hanoi. The party included a game involving young men, young women, bananas and candles. (Don't worry, it's all g-rated and everybody keeps their clothes on!) I e-mailed Elmooh asking him about this game. He replied:

Abt the game: Chuối chín rồi. Banana gettin ripe.

3 pairs, 1 girl and 1 boy each.

The girl blinds the boy eyes with stickers, making sure no glimpse he can peek, then ties a rope with a banana at the other end around his waist, he must not know how long/far the banana hangs.

With verbal directing instructions from the girl, the boy have to stamp out the candle light with the banana…

So there you have it. As Elmooh reports on his blog, there was a serious point to the “kinky” game, the conga lines, and the hip-grinding dancing:

We, then, had a fab time with some friends from a vocational center for underprivileged children. Some of them are limped, some of them bear body deformation since birth but all of them have great skillful hands and creativity to make fantastic handicraft works.

We were sitting there for hours listening to their stories, to their singing and to make necklaces, bracelets, earrings, belts out of colorful painted pottery pieces.

The offline party and the previous raised enough money by entry tickets to buy them a fridge. Vietnamese youngsters, not only go for fancy vehicles, endless parties but do have hearts. The little we could do, but there will be more to come.

Blogger-driven charity is a growing, global phenomenon.

(Thanks to Noodlepie for the link.)

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Religion & festivity enlivens the Bangla world

Aparna Ray · 02:05 · India , Bangladesh

For Bengalis around the world, this is a much awaited season. It is a time for prayer, feasting and fasting. While for the Muslims it is the holy month of Ramzan (or Ramadan as it is called in some parts of the world), the Hindus are celebrating the Durga Puja. Understandably therefore, Bangali bloggers are talking about religion, the various practices, their significance and the emotions they evoke.

An integral part of Ramzan is the ‘Sawm', which the Bengalis refer to as the ‘Roja'. Fazle Ilahi traces the roots of the word ‘Roja' and explains the religious significance of the practice of fasting. Sayeed Abdullah talks about the season being a time for self evaluation, scrutiny and purification. However, Ramzan is also a month of getting together in the evenings with friends and family for the Iftaar meal. In the current times, unfortunately Iftaar has been commercialised to some extent and Addabaj wonders if overzealous feasting is overcoming the quiet introspective nature of Ramzan.

For the average Bengali, the cultural festivities of the Durga Puja tend to outweigh the religious significance, though the religious rituals are performed diligently. In Kolkata, the ‘baroari' (public) pujas today are more about expressing artistic creativity and tend to follow ‘themes'. There are also awards instituted by corporate houses and hence there is an element of competitiveness induced. The outcome is that the visitors to the various ‘pandals'(venues) is awestruck by the innovative lighting, hall decor and the images of the goddess. Bongonari talks of the inimitable joy that the Bengali experiences with the coming of the Pujas and Tushon reminiscences about the spirit of nostalgia that is evoked. Of course, as Bongopondit points out, this spirit is perhaps at its strongest among the Bengalis, spending the season far away from Bengal. For them, despite there being pujas being celebrated in their countries of residence, it is perhaps just not the same as being able to celebrate it with friends and family back home.

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Ukraine: Babiy Yar Massacre's 65th Anniversary

Veronica Khokhlova · 01:00 · Eastern & Central Europe

Stones and flowers were laid at the Babiy Yar Memorial in Kyiv Wednesday, to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the 1941 massacre - by Veronica Khokhlova

In 1941, at least 33,771 Kyiv Jews were shot by the Nazis on Sept. 29 and Sept. 30, in the Babiy Yar ravine of Ukraine's capital. Some 60,000 more Kyiv residents and POWs were killed there in the following months.

Yesterday, nearly 1,000 guests from 41 nations - including the Israeli president - gathered at the Babiy Yar memorial to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the massacre. A number of bloggers marked the anniversary, too.

LJ user ivga wrote (RUS):

And the morning was sunny. The sky was blue, with just a little bit of white here and there. The grass was green, and the leaves were just beginning to turn yellow. A beautiful morning, all in all. It would've been nice to go to the park, walk on the few leaves, still precious, dance on the grass… Nice. Cold air almost burns you in the shadow, but as you move into the sun, it's like a hand on your face, not a slap, but a tender touch. I don't know about 65 years ago - maybe the morning was beautiful, too. Sunny. Warm… It's warmer in Kyiv in general. Or maybe not. And, perhaps, they didn't care about nature. They didn't care about anything. They were busy. They were being killed.

Exactly 65 years ago, my grandfather was killed, the grandfather I've never known. My father almost never talked about him. All I've been told about grandfather were the two words - Babiy Yar. And also, with a sigh - “Must've been the neighbors who turned him in.”

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