Global Voices Online

James from Japan Probe collects a few youtube video on Japanese T.V programs (with English subtitles) about the tensions between South Korea and Japan. The video seems to suggest that anti-Japanese sentiment in South Korea is related with the nationalistic education.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) orders TV networks to limit “competition show” durations to two and a half months (instead of four and a half months). — more from China Media Project.

rustinpc has a set of photos on Flickr of this year's Mashramani celebrations in Guyana. “Mash” takes place annually on February 23, Guyana's Republic Day, and commemorates the country's achievement of independence from Great Britain in 1966 with float parades, masquerade bands, calypso competitions and other carnival-style festivities.

MediaCritic sees the “exodus” of Guyanese to other Caribbean territories as “likely to result in is a skewering of national identities and push those voices that trumpet and cling to narrow parochial inclinations into the background. With the inevitable cross-nationality marriages, dual-citizenships and other multi-national personalities single nation nationalistic fervor and dedication will become eroded and will fade to the point where politicians will be left with no alternative but to forge a move towards regional political and economic unity.“

Babalú Blog's Val Prieto posits an imaginary book entitled “Vamos a Selma” (”Let's go to Selma”) which offers a false and revisionist history of the American south and the civil rights movement, and asks: “How many of the same people that have lobbied for the “Vamos a Cuba” book to remain on the shelves in Dade County Public School Libraries, will lobby for “Vamos a Selma” to remain on the shelves as well?“

Bermudian blogger Christian S. Dunleavy has been the victim of a picketing as a result of views expressed in his newspaper column: “Evidently I was a little too close to the subject matter because a number of people have emailed me with the observation that this guy is so clueless that he can't see the irony in holding a sign with the term ‘media whore' while media whoring.“

Three French nationals, some Muslim, were shot dead in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in what seems to be a militant attack, according to breaking news from Crossroads Arabia.

Mark in Mexico cites a study by the Open Source Institute and the Centro de Investigación para el Desarrollo (CIDAC) which found that 42% (90,000 inmates) of those in prison in Mexico have never been sentenced.

The beatroot writes: “Protests turn weird as the religious in Poland turn up to demonstrate against environmentalists. It’s almost enough to make me turn into a tree hugger!”

Marginalia writes about a Russophone Latvian “self-described ‘apostle'” who “has suggested replacing Latvia's constitution, the Satversme, with the Ten Commandments, introducing Christian totalitarianism, and ‘humbling all liberals and homosexuals'.”

“Brasil has two Atomic reactors in one nuclear Power generation plant near Angra dos Reis. The reactors and the central have been controversial due to environmental concerns,” write Ricardo Carreón, who has published pictures of the Central Nuclear Almirante Álvaro Alberto power plant on his blog.

The massacre in Srebrenica was an act of genocide, declares the International Court of Justice. East Ethnia blogged while waiting for the verdict - and then provided an initial reaction as well as a guest-blogger's opposing point of view.

The prolific Alan Patrick has put together his 11th Buenos Aires Blog Roundup. Also, bowling in Baires.

Russian Marketing Blog writes about iVAN, a strange new Russian magazine: “Most of magazine’s article are dialogues between Ivan and experts in six areas: photo, video, audio, computers, play consoles, home cinemas, cars, gadgets and mobile phones. ‘Ivan follows the search algorithm of a typical college educated, 25-45 aged male' – editors claim referring to hundreds of consumer behavior and ethnographic research.

Bolivia Rising has translated an article [ES] by Alberto Cruz titled “One Year of Evo: economic boom, the threat of balkanisation and the role of the military.”

Two-Zero reviews Moscow's club scene - here and here: “There we were, 3 Westerners with Berlin style club wear against a huge club full of young and mostly beautiful rich Russians with any designerwear you could think off.”

The Turkish Invasion offers a classification of foreigners seen in the streets of Moscow.

La Gringa's Blogicito has three great posts on cultural differences between Honduras and the United States. On the pervasiveness of guns: “Armed guards are outside banks, grocery stores, other stores, gas stations, restaurants, government offices, hospitals, inside malls, on delivery trucks, you name it. I doubt if you could walk one block anywhere in downtown La Ceiba without seeing a gun.” On how to point: “Here in Honduras, many people point with their chin, as pointing with the finger, even at an inanimate object, seems to be considered rude. Accurate directions from points with a chin are just a little harder to decipher.” And on the cross-cultural interpretations of compromiso: “Compromiso means commitment in English. It seems to have no meaning in Spanish.”

How do young men of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk celebrate the Army Day? Why do Russians hate George W. Bush? Tim Newman of White Sun of the Desert answers these questions - here and here.

Vilhelm Konnander writes on whether an economic crisis is something that awaits the Baltic states in the near future.

“…the strong rouble message is obviously good for Russian’s self-esteem,” writes Copydude (and the weak dollar news is probably even better): more on the “Hunt The Dollar” spectacle by the Kaliningrad's Nashi branch is here.

Scraps of Moscow, Sean's Russia Blog, and Robert Amsterdam discuss this New York Times Magazine piece on Russia's post-Putin future.

Thadhaea and Scraps of Moscow desribe what the Army Day in Russia feels and looks like.

Ukraine List writes about the Ukrainian dubbing debate.

Ukraine List posts an entry about Ukrainian fortress town Kamyanets-Podilsky. Olechko writes about the Palanok Castle in Mukachevo.

Swajana has a video post of a paan waalah. (Paan seller). “Theoretically a Paan can be compared to an after dinner mint, but culturally it plays a far more significant role. Thereby the maker of the Paan takes on a key sociological role. His role can be considered akin to that of a bartender - where he develops an interesting relationship with his customers, and the good paan wallahs have quite a sense of humor - as you will see in the main character of our video here”

Tiny Little Fractures on the exploration of identity in the Sri Lankan blogosphere. “Here’s the thing, I think barking up the tree of a “Sri Lankan national identity” is a mistake, especially when it seems to involve pigeonholing people into being Sri Lankan. I mean what makes a Sri Lankan, our ancestors landing here 2000 years ago from North India, coming in with the invading armies of Elara, evolving in Balangoda, coming to trade with the Arabs or being brought as slave labour by the British. There are so many people who do not fit into the traditional pigeonholes that have contributed so much to Sri Lanka in both traditional and non-traditional fields.”

Are blogs in Nepal not being given their due? Nepali Voices says “All Nepali bloggers will agree that blogs influence in the country is very little; but bloggers like me who blogged during the King’s direct rule will also agree that during the period blogs were something unavoidable – and all those with internet access will at least visit blogs – mostly United We Blog! and Mero Sansar, frequently.”

Unheard Voices points out that while big players were arrested in Bangladesh, the consequences are yet to be known. “As the initial euphoria over the arrested political leaders dies down, concerns are now seriously beginning to crepe in whether due process is being followed to prosecute these people. While some of you may actually be happy in seeing some of these leaders in jail, if you dig down a little deeper, you will want to ask if due process is being followed to convict these people on accurate charges.”

the shad king on the discovery of India becoming a destination for people other than nirvana seekers. “There is a significant population of Ethiopian immigrants in Washington DC, a vast majority of whom support their families (and often finance their own higher education) by driving a cab. As I grumpily got into a cab the other day, I was met by a beaming Ethiopian driver who eagerly asked me where I was from. India, I replied. The pride in his voice was apparent as he told me about a friend that had just left for India to study.”

Lola discusses what being Muslim means to Tajik identity and what cultural and religious practices make one sufficiently Muslim without being considered what many in Tajikistan consider a “fanatic.”

neweurasia posts a fascinatin interview with a veteran of the Soviet war in Afghanistan.

At News from the Caravan, Nyura posts her recipe for “cheerfully heretical borscht.”

Tolkun Umaraliev explains the situations in which Kyrgyz students pay bribes to receive good grades. He says that it is horrible to think about what this widespread practice means for the future of Kyrgyzstan.

The CRD/TI Armenia Election Blog surveys the latest news about the upcoming Armenian parliamentary election and urges Armenian readers to get involved by serving as election observers.

London-based Trinidadian Sinistra launches a series of posts about being “young and black” with a piece on being “Young and black in Babylondon”.

In appreciation of the Trinidad and Tobago police force's service over the Carnival season, Keith Francis wishes to designate this week “Thank a Policeman Week”.

Omani blogger Nabhan Abdullatif has just bought the Nintendo DS and can't get his hands off it. I finally got my hands on this baby and I'm seriously enjoying it. I've been looking for it ever since it was released and I was able to get a friend to buy it for me from Dubai (Oman and Jordan both suck when it comes to new releases!), he writes.

Are you willing to live without your computer for a good 24 hours? Sleepless in Oman says how it could be done on the International Shutdown Day here. The day is expected to be marked worldwide on March 24.

Kubatana blogs posts Robert Mugabe's inspiring speech, which was delivered in 1980: Yesterday The Herald published a compilation of speeches made by Robert Mugabe during his extended stay in power. Mugabe’s address to the nation on the eve of Zimbabwe’s independence was included under the title “An enduring legacy of principled oratory”.

Ethiopundit writes about the plight of Tigrayans in Ethiopia, “What Meles is describing is not a relationship with Tigrayans based on loyalty or common interest or affection but one based on coercion, fear and contempt. That is the only way that such absolute obedience can be rationally expected from any community and the only way that any opposition from any quarter takes on an apocalyptic tone of genocide.”

Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah marks the 13th anniversary of the “first of three massacres perpetrated by Israeli settlers accompanied by the Israeli Army. There were more than 30 martyrs and 270 injured. The main massacre toke place while the victims were performing al- Fajr (Dawn) Prayer at Al Ibrahimi mosque” here.

Bahrain-based blogger Bint Battuta shares with us one of her friend's experiences - that of being imprisoned during a period of political unrest in the country in the mid-90s here. “This evening my friend S. told me about the poetry lessons he used to give when he was in prison; he was in the wing for political prisoners, not the criminal, and he described with pride all the classes that the prisoners held for each other, ‘like a university',” she writes.

How will the Lebanese get over their past if they don't discuss it, says Syrian blogger Abu Kareem. “Many if not most Lebanese children get their education in non-secular schools that teach different versions of the history of Lebanon. All schools, however, seem to agree on one thing; when it comes to the history of the civil war, no one talks about it. It is as if history stopped in 1975 only to resume in 1991,” he writes.

Zhaihua discusses about the differences between Chinglish and Japlish (zh). He argues that Chinglish is speaking to foreigners hoping that they can understand, but Japlish is speaking to Japanese but taking English term for their own use.

Granite studio picks up a post in DANWEI about why Ming Dynasty has become so popular in China and carries on the discussion from a historical point of view.

International Herald has an article criticizing the use of cute icon for Japan's military aspiration. Lee from Tokyo Times blogs several pictures to show that Japan has been using cute icons for their police force as well.

Saudi Jeans reports about a bookfair in his country's capital Riyadh next month. “There will not be any days for families only. The book fair will be open to everybody, men and women, except for the evening period of three days which will be only open to men. I have to admit that such change is unusual and was not expected, not from my part anyway,” he says.

ESWN translates an article written by Wang Jinsi, a director of the China War-of-Resistance-against-Japan Historical Society, which explains why Chinese people tend to misread the world, especially Japan. Some hostilities are self-generated, such as a BBS post in 2000.

Neal of Arabia, a diplomatic spouse living in the Saudi capital Riyadh, takes us on a desert trek in nearby Dubai here, complete with an overnight stay in the desert.

A Swedish blogger, who lives in Saudi Arabia, sings laurels to the Spring of Culture festival being held in neighbouring Bahrain, which is linked to Saudi Arabia by a 25km causeway. From what I gathered by reading the information booklet about these events it is basically a combo of poetry, art, concerts, lectures, music and literature, she explains.

Writing hours before the Oscars, Saudi blogger Entropy says Leonardo DiCaprio deserves an Oscar for his roles in Blood Diamonds and The Departed.

Two Bahraini political activists have been released, following mounting pressure from supporters and international human rights groups, says Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights will be conducting a training workshop about Press Freedoms, the law and how it views freedoms of expression, practical demonstrations and tutorials on blogging and how to circumvent blocks to reach the content you require from March 1 to 5, announces blogger Mahmood Al Yousif.

Peijin Chen from Shanghaiist reports about the expensive Oriental Arts Center in Shanghai as an example of face project in China.

Li Yinhe explains why she is not a heroine (zh): 1. all real heroes were dead; 2. she doesn't like to fight (has closed down her blog's comments); 3. not an heroic age in China.

Wang Ning jokingly said that the characteristic of blogsphere in China is guerrilla kind of blocking and reopening, like the statement against cencorship of Sina blog, it has been closed in Sohu.com twice, but reopened again and again (zh).