Global Voices Online

Collectif Haiti de Provence points to a Haitian news article that announces (Fr) the training since about two months ago of 22 local managers by a new Francophonia Institute. The program is sponsored by the Canadian and French governments among others.

James of neweurasia discusses reports that polygamy is on the rise in Tajikistan.

Yulia rounds up the Kyrgyz blogosphere.

Onnik Krikorian has an extensive update on Armenia's parliamentary election campaign.

Kyrgyz Report says that despite the recent reforms in Kyrgyzstan, reform of the media remains serious unfinished business.

Carpetblogger reports on a surprising new resident in Baku, Willie D of the Geto Boyz.

Blogrel sees great potential benefit in a new air link between Yerevan and the rest of the world, courtesy of Air Arabia.

Seckasysteme writes (Fr): “Baaba Maal will be the star guest of the upcoming World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD) festival, scheduled from 7/27 to 7/29 in Britain.”

Free Hugs are invading Latin America, explains Jennifer Woodard Maderazo. The web2.0 free hug movement has also generated lots of conversation on Flickr [ES] and throughout [ES] the blogosphere [ES].

A diverse set of Latin America's poll numbers this week from Boz including Transparency International's annual survey on perceptions of corruption. Also, Chavez up by 20 points in Venezuela and approval ratings of Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Peruvian President Alan Garcia.

Matthew Shugart takes an interesting look at the surprising stability of Daniel Ortega's vote-getting over the past two decades. Though he won this year's election, he actually received less than his mean percentage from all previous elections.

Giving the surprising news more context with recent developments in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay, Andres Duque the decision by Mexico City legislators to acknowledge same-sex civil unions.

The Manicou is even more appalled than usual at the conduct of Trinidad and Tobago's leader of the Opposition, who took the opportunity to complain to the vice president of India, who was in Trinidad on an official visit, that Trinidadians of Indian origin were victims of political persecution: “Obviously as an attorney and a former Attorney General she knows that India has no jurisdiction over Trinidad and that Mr. Shekhawat will under no circumstances get involved in the affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, so why even bring it up if not to embarrass the state of Trinidad and Tobago with unproven allegations?“

Jonathan Ali sits in Trinidad and thinks about jointpop, “the greatest rock band my island has ever produced,” about to start playing at their first gig of their UK tour: “I want to be there to see what these people who are not Trinidadian, who do not know us, will make of this band playing a music with which they are familiar, yes, but with a sensibility informed by things they do not know about, and may not understand.“

“10 Women Will Have Suffered Violence in Brazil by the Time You End This Article,” writes Joanne Blaney on Brazzil Magazine.

The audio wasn't good, ok. And, sure, they're no longer 20-years-old. But they're the Beastie Boys, writes Rosario Lizana [ES] in a post subtitled “more beasty than boys.” Leo Prieto was also there and agrees about the quality of audio: “the first song and all that followed sounded really bad. The high pitched sounds were clear, but the bass was barely felt. It's as if they had the treble to the maximum and the bass turned off - something inacceptable when listening to something full of beats. Maybe that's why the BBoys looked unenthusiastic and put on a boring - even mechanic - show.” Prieto also has photos and video from the concert.

Sk Thew in Malaysia blogs about the incident where CCTV operator in Penang Town Council was caught zooming his camera on women journalist's thighs. The council is now blaming the “sexy attire” of the journalists rather than punishing the CCTV operator.

Guyana-Gyal and her brother reminisce about going to the cinema in the days “of banned goods and scarce items, Wang Yu, Bruce Lee and vampires used to grab the audience by they eyeballs, hold them for a couple of hours, make them forget the lean times.”

Miguel A. Buitrago describes the marked improvement in diplomatic relations between Bolivia and Chile despite to delicate and long-standing issues of dissension. Otra Expresión (now located here [ES]) recently cited a survey [ES] by the Chile daily El Mercurio which found that 60% of respondents favored a solution in which Bolivia gains access to the sea. 47% believe Bolivians should have access to port facilities, 13% think their neighbor should be given a strip of coastal land, while 33% of respondents say that no coastal access should be given.

Stefan Falke posts photos of the artworks and studio of Tobago-based German sculptor Luise Kimme.

Diana, a Singaporean in Cambodia compares her working life in Singapore to her current location in Cambodia. The blogger also explains why flexible work schedule is not preferred in Cambodia.

Mariano Amartino explains the methodology [ES] behind Alianzo's first ever ranking of Argentine weblogs.

Afro-Caribbean musician Rasheed Ali releases a podcast featuring some of his original compositions recorded in Salvador, Brazil.

The annual blossoming of Buenos Aires' Jacarandá trees has inspired an army of expat bloggers to march the streets with their digital cameras. Robert Wright started much of the craze (follow-up here), convincing Jeff Barry to walk over to Parque Lezama and “PDF” to stroll down Belgrano Avenue in Rosario. “Miss Cupcake” uses the mark of nature to look back over the past year.

The Belize Jungle Dome Adventure Travel and Vacations blog highlights the 10th annual La Ruta Maya River Challenge, “Belize's most competitive sporting event. . . also one of the country's largest collaborative conservation efforts.”

Brunei resident Emma Good Egg visits Thailand and witnesses the Thai festival of Loy Krathong. “One lights the incense sticks and candles, make a wish and float the Krathong down a klong (canal or river). In Chiang Mai, the Ping River becomes a river of flickering lights and its skies a mirror with fireworks and Khom Loys, paper lanterns released into the skies similarly to a hot air balloon.” [Krathong = Lamps]

Barbados Free Press learns about Barbados' Jewish past.

An interesting discussion in the Sri Lankan blogosphere on homosexuality. True Sri Lankan appears to believe that homosexuality is not natural, however homosexuals should not be hated and instead need compassion. Indi.ca responds by point out that homosexuality is not a pathological condition to be treated.

Even when parents don't plan to stay outside of India for too long, they try and give birth to children in the US despite the lack of family support. The Mad Momma explains “It was just one thing - and they all made it abundantly clear - the fact that it was the easiest way for the child to get American citizenship.”

Democracy For Nepal on why the April Revolution consumed the author and why there is so much to learn from the process of democracy taking root in Nepal. “Nothing like it has ever happened before. In a country of 27 million, the second poorest country, a country that has little in the name of physical infrastructure, eight million people came out into the streets over a period of 19 days to ensure a total shutdown of the country, all towns, all villages. Nobody saw this coming. It was the ultimate flash flood.”

The Glory of Carniola writes about one local paper's extremely low-quality election coverage.

Andy H of Csikszereda Musings posts a language distribution map of Romania, which shows that he lives in an enclave where Romanian isn't the dominant language.

“Facilities for the disabled in Budapest leave a lot to be desired. So it's good to see some private businesses starting to take the initiative… Just don't forget to bring those three trumpets,” writes Paul of Further Ramblings of a N.Irish Magyar and posts a photo - click on it to enlarge ans see what he means.

a bengali in TO writes on sex-segregated schools in Canada and the Middle East, reflecting on personal experiences. “The reason Bengali class was so popular was that it was the only subject that was taught combined. So the scheduling would be such that Bengali boys would join the girls of the same class in some classroom for that period only.”

Itching for Eestimaa writes about the identity crisis of the Baltic Russians.

Bonjour l'Estonie wonders how Estonian birch-tree firewood can be so cheap.

Neretva River writes about Japan's growing popularity in Croatia's capital.

Neretva River reviews the hunger-striking habits of war criminals on trial.

Black Looks on art as activism and community, “Art as activism, as a tool for transformation, as community is something that I have come across more and more over the past few months particularly whilst in South Africa. Sculpture, portraits, photography, art from “rubbish” speak to a different audience and have meaning beyond merely the aesthetic.”

The Yoruba keyboard: a photo posted by Naija blog.

The Norwegian Refugee Council pulls out of Darfur: One can always hope for the best, but I very much doubt that the NRC will be the last organization to quit Darfur. In the past few months, many other relief agencies have cut back their operations in the area due to the deteriorating security situation, and the danger is only increasing as the fighting heats up.

What do you do if you want a public sign for your business in Kinshasa?, “For the most part, here in Kinshasa, if you want a sign advertising what you are selling, you don't get a poster from the company, you hire a sign painter.”

An interview with Mwalimu George Ngwane on the state of democracy in Cameroon.

Andrew lih has the latest update on the Chinese wikipedia accessibility in Mainland China: According to many folks around China, the Chinese Wikipedia (zh.wikipedia.org) seems to be widely accessible in the last 24 hours. Previously, the English language and other Wikipedias were unblocked with still roughly 50% of folks not being able to access zh.wikipedia.org.

Other bloggers also have similar reports: William long (zh) and Kuangfeng (zh)

inmediahk.net has a citizen report (zh with photos) on the student protest against the University of Science and Technology for giving out honorable doctorate for former Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa.

ESWN translates some reports and posts about a blogger in Taiwan who blogged about various ways to depose President Chen Shui Bian. The blogger is now investigated by the Criminal Investigation Bureau and may be charged with incitement of others to commit crime soon.

ESWN translates an investigative report from Youth Weekend about a gang who sold tabloid newspapers in the Beijing subway and train stations with fabricated sensationalistic news headlines such as Andy Lau being killed, Faye Wong committing suicide and so on.

Debito repasted another blog post from a German girl who has a Japanese policeman boyfriend: Policemen in Japan have to report their girlfriends when they become serious about their partnership. So my boyfreind reported me. After that we really had a lot of problems, because his organisation said that he can not have a relation with a foreign women.

Kai blogs about a new service emerging in China: nanny for single middle age or old men. It costs about 2000 yuan per month and most of the nannies come from rural China. (zh)

The image thief commented on the PR strategy of Chinese government in denoucning the research concerning the discovery of a new avian flu virus: This is exactly the kind of statement that makes my little PR molecules vibrate, because it is such a setup for humiliation.

Chinese Law Prof Blog commented on a court case about a journalism professor's defamation suit against blog host for not taking down insulting comments about him posted by a student.

Angry Chinese blogger has an interesting and thoughtful post on One Party, One China, One Child and One Dog policy.