Global Voices Online

April 7th marked the 14th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide and was an official day of remembrance in Rwanda. At Pour Une Afrique Plus Ambitieuse et Volontaire Ravel Thombet wrote [Fr]: “Rwandan youth should free itself of this heavy heritage, born of human stupidity… In my upcoming book Interrogations Troublantes [Troubling Interrogations], I try to understand the why and how of this … sudden and unexplainable animosity…this avoidable genocide.”

Rwanda-based expat Guillaume posts [Fr] a guided tour of his favorite hotels and guest houses in the Rwandan cities of Kigali, Kibuye, Gisenyi, Butare and Cyangugu. It is a greatest hits list so even if you don't read French, know that the cited hotels come recommended by a knowledgeable traveler.

Israelity offers Easter wishes and covers the celebrations in Jerusalem.

Guadeloupe Attitude posts [Fr] a picture of a solar installation in the town of Le Moule that should help lower carbon dioxyde emission into the island's environment. The blogger explains that the installation was inaugurated March 30th and joins a wider project encompassing 2000 square meters of solar panels in the town. The solar energy project delivers electricity to 6 schools, the local library and three municipal buildings.

Daoud Kuttab discusses bearing responsibility for the Palestinian refugee problem.

Based off of recent statements from Abbas, Aliyah advises: “Palestinians should also hold onto their hats –and find some basements to hide out in –because I’d wager that the gun battles and assassination attempts going on in Gaza without cease already between Fatah and Hamas, clan against clan, will also likely heat up in the coming weeks.”

Oranges and Olives poses some questions for Zionists who say that the Palestinians should assimilate out of the refugee camps: “But let us take a look at the issue from a different point of view: Didn't the Jews maintain their national aspiration for a return to the holy land? Did they not stay for 2000 years in the diaspora while maintaining themselves as a distinct group from those other groups they lived amongst?”

The Black Iris recounts the strange etiquette of homecoming…and the odd conversations required: “So no, I don’t feel obligated to “get together” or to “call you”. I don’t want to “catch up”. I don’t want a sit down where people try and gather as much info about your life so they can either compare their life’s situation to yours or gossip about you behind your back; probably both.”

Israeli blog Shiloh Musings muses on the predictions given by MK Dr. Arye Eldad, MD, an Israeli Knesset Member: “In Israel, the wars come when they're not expected, and, with the exception of Ehud Barak, rotten governments stick to their seats longer than anybody in their right mind would want or predict.”

Iraqi blog In Iraq, Sex is like Snow, writes about watching the Good Friday celebrations in Damascus.

The Arabist comments on an article by the New York Times in which the “trials” of being fashionable and a Muslim woman are illustrated:” Ever since I read this New York Times article a few days back about the identitarian fashion issues of Muslim American women I’ve been trying to figure out exactly what bothers me about it. It’s not just the article’s utter naiveté (the New York Times discovers that Muslim women–even veiled ones–care about fashion!) or the trite dichotomies it sets up.”

What do the pastries Kipfel and Krapfen have to do with Ottoman history? Turkish blogger Mavi Boncuk fills us in!

Rwanda is set to export 3D computer design system to manufacturing companies in the US: “Capitalising on the growing pool of skilled engineers, the government, with help from SolidWorks Corporation, a US firm is to start an ICT project called Gasabo 3D Design that will convert two dimension (2D) data into 3D models required by US manufacturing firms that use computer graphics.”

Akin is happy to hear that FGM is banned in Eritrea: “Learning that Eritrea has banned the practice of Female Genital Mutilation or Circumcision (FGM or FGC) is definitely great news and to be celebrated.
It marks a beginning of what should be a wave of the civilising of customs, traditions and religious practices that cause undue physical harm without any particular health benefit apart from a modicum of social acceptance.”

The Muso writes about a Free Culture event in South Africa: We’re pleased to announce an event the intellectual magnitude of which has not been seen in these parts for some time. Later this month, Larry Lessig, Founder of Creative Commons and Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia, will be in Cape Town for a short visit. Their stay will culminate on the 20th of April at The Armchair Theatre in Observatory in an event that we are calling Bring ‘n Braai, a locally flavoured nod to the creative commons ethic of artistic collaboration.

Kenya Democracy Project on America's interest in Kenya's presidential elections:
Why on earth would the Americans want Kibaki back in office?
Well, because like Moi, he is the devil they know and his government seems to have no qualms whatsoever in doing the bidding for US geo-political interests not just in Kenya but in the eastern Africa, Horn, Indian Ocean and Middle-Eastern region.

White African on social change through technology in Africa: “Kabissa has applied for $500k worth of funding for their new Kabissa 2.0 project with NetSquared. They are talking big ideas. They want to use their knowledge of web-based technology tools to train and help grassroots African organizations grow community, build awareness and facilitate massive change through local tech ambassadors.”

Jaduong writes about a damaging postcard message about Tanzania's tourism sector shown on The Amazing Race reality TV:
“What prompted me to write about this is a “postcard” from The Amazing Race reality TV program that I came across on the web. Please view the postcard yourself here.
The card has so much (positive stuff) to say about Zanzibar as a tourist destination, but then at the very core of it, it drops a serious bomb on the Tanzania’s seriousness on tourism.”

According to Project 300 no other genre has seen a bigger growth than hip-hop, with virtually hundreds of new rappers sprouting both inside Iran and out. Recently the addition of a few female artists has broken the trend in this largely male-dominated playing field.

No Longer at Ease blogs about renewed conflict in Somalia: “I met a journalist friend of mine from Mogadishu in Qatar about a week ago, he give me insight into the current situation there. There was relative calm in Mogadishu for the past few days, most of the bodies laying in the streets were buried. It's estimated that more than 380 people died in the recent fighting in Mogadishu while thousands have fled the city.”

Finally, Gerard locates webcams in Namibia:”The search finally bears fruit, thanks to NamibiaOnline.net: two Windhoek webcams are indeed online, giving you a nice view not only of the Olympia scenery but also of the current weather situation (Weatherunderground information about temperature, humidity, visibility and wind conditions are included on the page).”