Global Voices Online

Noting the recent arrival of American restaurants like Chilis and Starbucks, Ocho Cuartos is still a bit surprised to hear that IHOP, or International House of Pancakes, will be making its debut [ES] in the upscale Monterrey neighborhood of San Pedro.

Writing from Cochabamba, Jim Shultz reports that soldiers are maintaining at least a façade of calm while Bolivia Rising translates an article from La Razón about demands from El Alto for the immediate resignations of Cochabamba Prefect Manfred Reyes Villa and La Paz Prefect Jose Luis Paredes.

Chileno points his sarcastic pen first at a man who burned himself alive (only to jump into a nearby fountain) and then the Chilean telecommunications monopoly, Telefónica.

“In early December, shortly after President Álvaro Uribe confined most of Colombia's paramilitary leadership in a maximum-security prison, an article in El Tiempo, the country's most-circulated newspaper, contended that the paramilitaries had one 'secret weapon' left. If they felt they were getting a bad deal out of the negotiation process, they could always reveal the truth about who in Colombia's ‘legitimate' society - businessmen, landowners, military officers, politicians - had founded, financed and supported them.” Instead, it appears that the paramilitary leaders are now the ones who are threatened, writes Adam Isacson who goes on to list a calendar of developments and disappearances.

A controversial Ukrainian politician is in critical condition after a hunting accident, reports Abdymok.

White Sun of the Desert writes of an evening spent with a former captain of a nuclear submarine - and about dentistry in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

White Sun of the Desert writes in the aftermath of a recent and not-so-distant earthquake: “That you live in an earthquake zone and are a potential target for a building collapse or a tsunami are easy things to forget for a Brit, but in any case there is precious little any of us can do about it. All I can do is hope that the ground will be nice and steady during my stay on the island.”

Further Ramblings of a N.Irish Magyar writes about Catholic priests who served as informers during Hungary's Communist regime.

All About Latvia posts an update on the unresolved border dispute between Russia and Latvia.

The Turkish Invasion writes about alcoholism in Russia - and posts Soviet posters on the topic.

Two-Zero warns of a possible terrorist attack on public transportation in Moscow.

David McDuff of A Step At A Time translates an article on Chechnya: “Today (January 15) marks the end of the amnesty for members of armed groups and federal servicemen which was declared by the Russian State Duma in September 2006. According to the data of the various law enforcement bodies, from 470 to 546 guerrillas turned themselves in during the amnesty. The oldest was aged 75, and the youngest 16.”

Ukraine List writes about Dolphin-Assisted Therapy in Crimea.

indi.ca on the need for speeding up the peace process. “If 25 years was too long for a political solution, then 25 is far too long for violence. Sri Lanka needs to return to civility, and it needs time to heal. That has to start with Tamil voices, but the momentum of terror and pride may simply be too much.”

groundviews on sea, sand, tourism and suicide bombers. “But it seems that no amount of catchy slogans and idyllic images of sun, sea and sand can deter some people from the grim reality.”

Nepal Monitor on the interim constitution and messages to Nepal from the world. “Foreign nations congratulate Nepal on the promulgation of a new interim constitution. Both the United States of America and India emphasize arms management before forming an interim government.”

Blogdai is a little annoyed with the portrayal of Nepal in the western media. “he lazy Western media has never once waivered from their “we don't care what happens in Nepal, as long as they call it democracy” stance.”

Almost as good as chocolate on Galle in Sri Lanka. “Looking down over Galle, I wished for Galle and Sri Lanka a lasting peace that such a beautiful place and such a warm people truly deserve.

In Muslim Bloggers we read that on Thursday there will be the first meeting and conference where members of Muslim Bloggers can participate and meet each other. In their blog we read that their goal is to react against Satan's activities in information field and to promote Islam in cyber world[Fa].

Kianoosh Sanjari,a blogger and reporter who was recently released from prison, says authorities made it clear for him that he has no right to write about his experience in prison or to criticise government.The blogger says they made it clear that I can not even talk with media.He says if I do not obey I will be sent back to prison [Fa]. He says I don't want to go back there.

Don't judge a book by its cover. That is, unless you want insight into how major publishing houses try to market the translations of foreign writers. Noting the difference between Isabel Allende's original book covers in Spanish and their subsequent English releases, Posthegemony postulates: “Perhaps this is a tension for her publishers: whether to sell her as Virginia Woolf or as Gabriel García Márquez.”

Baturrico posts a photo of a street side bookseller in Haiti and a list (ES) and a hyperlinked list of the “10 essential figures of Haitian literature”.

Burma Underground introduces Dr. Lian Hmung Sakhong, the winner of the Martin Luther King Prize for 2006. Dr. Sakhong is the General Secretary of a grouping made up ethnic minorities in Myanmar.

Flickr user Dirk-Jan has a lovely photo set featuring birds of Suriname.

Jamaican Leon Robinson presents his thoughts on Martin Luther King Day (observed on January 15th in the US): “Though Martin Luther King Day is an American celebration, I think blacks everywhere should celebrate it, as we are one race, and a victory for one is a victory for all.“

Taran Rampersad drops by Otaheite Village in Trinidad, the site designated for the construction of an aluminium smelter after protests the community at the previously designated site brought a halt to the project: “It is apparent how the residents near Bay Road in Otaheite Village feel about ALCOA's Smelter . . . . The only people who seem to want this smelter are [Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister] Patrick Manning and our loving, health and environmentally conscious ‘friends' at ALCOA.”

Brunei's Bloggers are setting up a blog to help tourists get more information about their country. Writes AnakBrueni “This site is created in the run-up to Visit Brunei Year 2008 to provide as much “informal” information to those who will be interested to visit Brunei Darussalam, the Land of Hidden Treasures, in 2008.”

Yulia translates a Russian-language post reporting on the use of abortion as birth-control in Kyrgyzstan.

Leila reports that Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev has a new book out, and she takes a look at his prolific publishing career.

KZBlog notices that the head of the NurOtan party was present at the first meeting of Kazakhstan's new government and says that this is a sign of the party's growing importance in Kazakh politics.

At Blogrel, Harmick reports on the first step of a project designed to eliminate bribery by traffic police.

At neweurasia, Peter reports on developments in Turkmenistan's presidential campaign.

Vadim explains how the imbalance in Tajikistan between males and females has an impact on how people choose spouses.

Safrang notices some calls for a troop surge in Afghanistan that, though it may not come to pass, draws attention to the situation in the country and keeps it from being ignored.

Cuba-centric blogs and bloggers, including Marc Masferrer, Luis M. García, Babalú and Ziva, are abuzz with speculation in the aftermath of an article in Spanish news daily El Pais about Fidel Castro's medical prospects, and the subsequent denial of the article's accuracy by Castro's chief surgeon.

A medical student from Nata village in Botswana writes about the impact of the Nata village blog on him, “Before the establishment of this website I must confess that I was a bit naive in as far as the exact impact of HIV/AIDS in Nata. I read thru the website that almost 50% of pregnant women attending Nata clinic are HIV positive, and since my arrival late last month I have witnessed first had the impact of AIDS in my Village Nata.”

Black Looks writes a post, which illustrates the clash between the older and younger generation in Nigeria when it comes to sensitive issues such as homosexuality.

Kenya Democracy Project reports from the 2007 World Social Forum secretariat in Nairobi, Kenya, “That is exactly how many days remain between now, when I am keyboarding these lines, and next Saturday when a Peace March segues into the opening ceremony of the 2007 world Social Forum at Nairobi’s historic Uhuru (Freedom) Park.”

Bella Naija writes about Calabar Carnival and Parade and The Nigerian Fashion Show, “The Calabar Carnival and Parade was one of the most colourful and exciting events ever witnessed in Nigeria. Of course, Nollywood stars were not left out.”

Recently the Korean Supreme Court ruled against Starbuck’s appeal against Elfreya (dba Starpreya Coffee), Dram man from Marmot's Hole goes into the details of the trademark debate.

David Bandurski from China media project summarizes the Chinese media's criticism on Hunan “watchdog journalism” prize with some contextual information on the political meaning of “watchdog journalism” in China.

Touched by an Angel has a post on how she helped her daughter to stop smoking. “Our children need to be taught how to help themselves. They need our love and guidance. They need consistent enforcement of boundaries, once we’ve established limits. They need a supportive nurturing environment in which to grow. They need to help learning values. But as parents, we are not responsible for controlling our children.”

Maryannodonnell in Shenzhen fieldnotes has a nice post about text message culture in China.

Michael from the Opposite end of China, puts together reports and comments on the recent discovery of a terrorist training center run by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) announced by the China government. The reports echo with his earlier writings on “Xinjiang 2021″.

The Citizen on Mars is surprised but pleased that the Filipino president Glorial Macapagal-Arroyo, who is herself accused of human rights violations, “showed no qualms at all in broaching the very sensitive issue on the discussion table, risking bruised emotions and possibly deteriorating relations among the member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations”. The blogger refers to the call by the president to encourage Myanmar to adopt a roadmap to democracy and release political prisoners.

Lyn Jeffery from virtual China notices that citizen reports in China have more stories on the urban poor.

Indonesiamatters looks at the latest updates on the spread of bird flu in Indonesia. There are fears that Bird Flu may flare up again in Asia with cases being reported from Thailand and Japan.