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The Panama Canal Expansion, Labor Day Issues and Quingming

#1: Kleph's Blog reports on the Panama Canal:

After almost 100 years of operation, the historic waterway is having a tough time adapting to the demands of the modern world. Today the canal authority - known as the ACP - operates the waterway at an estimated 90 percent capacity with more than 14,000 ships completing transit each year. The waiting line to transit can be days and, when there are maintenance closures that can stretch to weeks.

Moreover, size is a problem. Gigantic container ships are now built to fit the size of the canal’s prodigious locks exactly. But the boom in international shipping has prompted the construction of a new generation of vessels – post-panamax – that can carry almost three times as much.

Last October, Panamanians went to the polls and approved a $5.25 billion expansion to the canal that will include the construction of a new lane of traffic and locks that can accommodate these larger vessels…Read the complete post.

#2: Kleph's Kitchen reports on Panamanian Cuisine, and shares a recipe to prepare the traditional "Sancocho"

Visiting Panama I was somewhat dismayed by the disjunction between the country's larder and the apparent cusine. There were dozens of varieties of fish and fresh vegetables in abundance but finding a Peruvian restaurant was a bit of a trick.

It seems the recent boom times have played against the country's rich culinary heritage. Typically, Panamanian food is cooked in homes and street restaurants. In the very modern urban metropolis Panama City is becoming, that's seen as a bit beneath the growing number of glitterati who are seeking out high end restaurants boasting European dishes. Read more…

Photo taken by Melissa De Leòn Douglass

#3: Boquete Guide reports on Cashews in Panama: Marañon

We discovered these Maranon trees at the Decameron Resort, hence the nice label on the tree. One of the employees there found me struggeling to open a nut shell and explained it was futile that then open when roasted. We later found bagged cashews at Quesos Chela and tried them, the were unsalted, and very tasty. Another natural bounty from Panama, cashews available now from a tree in the lowlands. Get the scoop now…

#4: Chiriqui Chatter on "Labor Day in Panama "

I hope you hadn’t planned on going to the bank or many stores because today is Labor Day and you won’t find many people working. Usually that won’t affect the stores in the Chiriquí Mall or Plaza El Terronal because the malls in Panama are open year around…I hope I can figure out something to do today that doesn’t require money. Read more…

#5: IT Buda on Quingming: Dia de los Difuntos Chino (ES)

Los chinos tenemos una forma muy peculiar de rendirle homenaje a los muertos.Las tumbas son visitadas por las familias, usualmente estas se ponen de acuerdo para ir en conjunto y repartirse el trabajo de limpiar la lápida, cortar la maleza entre otras cosas. A manera de ofrendas, se hacen rezos (en chino, obviamente) y se pide por el bienestar de los vivos.

También se ofrendan comidas, usualmente pollo sancochado, puerco, es importante incluir frutas y algun otro comestible dulce. Es importante incluir algun tipo de licor, servido en tres tazitas.Read the complete post…

The Chinese have a very peculiar way to honor their ancestors. Families get together to visit the graves and share the duties of cleaning and cutting the weeds surrounding them, among other things. They bring offerings, pray (in Chinese, obviously) seeking the wellness of their living relatives.

Food offerings are commonly found, usually boiled chicken, pork, fruits and sweets. It is important to include some kind of alcoholic beverage, served in three little cups…

Photo taken by Juan Lee and used by permission.

#6: Stephan Schuab on The impact of roadblocks on residential tourism:

Apparently Panamanian traffic police performs license checking campaigns preferably on major holidays. That's when you can see them on all major streets, but as well as in remote locations
where you really wouldn't expect a roadblock. They make you stop want to check your drivers license. I have no problem with that and see the reasoning behind these checks.

Another new measure to improve road safety is a new law that went into effect earlier this year. Every driver is required to carry a copy
of the traffic rules in the vehicle. I guess the idea is to make people at least skim the book once in a while. Read the complete post…

2 comments · »»

Swahili Blogosphere: State of education in Tanzania, M-Pesa and Open Source Movement in Kenya

J. Nambiza Tungaraza · 21:19

Higher education students in Tanzania are still finding it hard to adapt to the user-pay system in which they have to directly pay for the costs of university education. Under the Higher Education Sponsorship Loans Board (HESLB) arrangements, the government offers only 60 per cent scholarship to qualified students. Students are required to pay the remaining 40 per cent.

Recently, University of Dar Es Salaam students went on strike demanding 100 per cent government stipend for their studies and additional allowances. University of Dar Es Salaam (UDSM) students claim that most students are unable to pay the remaining 40 per cent of their fees.

Following that two-day strike, the University board suspended all undergraduate students and imposed conditions that all students who want to return must pay the required fee in full before resuming studies.

Chemi Che Mponda has two posts about the issue. In the first one, like many Tanzanians outside the country and to some within the country, Chemi strongly suggests that UDSM students face ‘reality':

Ni mwaka 2007, na siyo miaka ya 1960's au 1970's na hata 1980's. Na wajue maisha ni magumu duniani pote. Hata hapa USA kama huna full scholarship utafanya kazi mbili tatu, huko unasoma ili kuweza kumudu fees. Wenye wazazi wanaoweza kuwalipia ‘full' ni wachache sana ukilinganisha na idadi ya wanafunzi. Wanafunzi wengi wanasoma kwa mchanganyo wa mikopo, grants, scholarships na kazi.

It is 2007, not 1960s or 1970s not even 1980s. They should know that life is hard. Even here in USA if you do not have full scholarship you have to work two to three jobs a day to be able to pay your fees. Those with parents who can afford to pay for them in full are very few. Most of the students pay for their studies through a combination of loans, grants, scholarships and work

In her follow up post, she posts her readers' comments. Some outrightly reject students' demands while others sympathise with them.

Muhidin Issa Michuzi documents sequence of events as they unfold at UDSM. And again, readers' opinions vary from those who favour user-pay education system as practiced in most Western countries to those who favour full government sponsorship for higher education students as it used to be during the times of Ujamaa:

Kwa kweli nijitahidi kufikiria kama haya baadhi ya maoni humu ndani yameandikwa na Watanzania au Watanza-European, au Watanza-American, kwa kweli ni aibu kubwa sana kwa baadhi ya maoni hayo.
Hivi kwa vile ninyi mko nje au mna uwezo wa kifedha ndio mnafikiri kila mtanzania yuko hivyo? Hata hamjui world bank records zinasema vipi kuhusu average income per capita ya Tanzania ni U$350.00 (kumbuka ni kwa mwaka mzima), ambayo ina maana Mtanzania kwa wastani anaishi for less than a dollar per day?

Pamoja na kuwa na ukweli kwamba baadhi ya hawa wanafunzi wazazi na walezi wao wanaweza kulipa hiyo Tshs.800,000/-, lakini nina imani wengi tu hawana uwezo wa kulipa kiwango hicho, na sasa wanaambiwa walipe kwa muda usiozidi wiki mbili kutokea sasa, kwa kweli serikali yetu imelewa madaraka na labda huu ndio utakuwa mwanzo wa watu kuanza kuchallenge ahadi za wanasiasa, nanukuu, ” hakuna mtoto wa maskini ambaye atasimamishwa au kuachishwa masomo kwa kuwa hana fedha za kulipia ada” Jakaya Kikwete kwenye moja ya hotuba zake kuhusiana na maswala ya elimu bongo.

Kama nilivyosema hapo siku za nyuma, HUU NDIO MWANZO WA TANZANIA KUJENGA MATABAKA… Mungu ibariki Tanzania….

I am not sure if some of the comments here have been written by Tanzanians, Tanzanian-Europeans or Tanzanian-Americans, indeed, some of those comments are shameful.
Just because you are living abroad and you are financially secure, you assume that every Tanzanian is in your position. You don’t even know what the World Bank records say about Tanzania's average income per capita - it is only US$350.00 (mind you this is the annual income) which means an average tanzanian lives on less than a dollar a day.

Even though some parents can afford to pay Tshs.800,000/- [626 USD], I believe that most of them cannot afford. And now they are asked to pay that sum in less than two weeks. Our government is drunk with power and perhaps people will start to challenge politician's promises. I quote “No child from a poor family will either be suspended or expelled because of lack of fees” said President Jakaya kikwete in one of his speeches addressing educational issues in Tanzania.

Like I said before, this is the beginning of creation of classes in Tanzania… God bless Tanzania…

Still on education, Jeff Msangi posts a photo of one primary school “classroom” in Morogoro, Tanzania in a post titled: “What Do You See?” He asks:

Huu ni mfano mmoja kati ya mingi sana nchini mwetu. Hivi ndivyo tunavyoiandaa Tanzania ya leo. Ewe raisi wa nchi,ewe waziri, ewe kiongozi,ewe mwananchi mwenzangu,unajisikiaje kuona hali kama hii? Nini thamani ya uongozi wako?…

This is just one example amongst many in our country. This is how we build modern Tanzania. Mr. President, and you dear minister, and my fellow citizen, how do you feel when you see such a situation? What is the value of your leadership?…

In his follow up post, he offers a solution:

Tufanye nini? Hili ndilo swali ambalo hatuna budi kusaidiana kulijibu kwa pamoja. Jambo la kwanza ambalo naamini tunaweza kulifanya ni kutochoka kuhoji,kukemea na kusaidia kwa kutoa mchango wetu wa hali na mali. Tusiishie kuandika tu huku kwenye mitandao na wakati mwingine kutupiana lawama hata miongoni mwetu sisi wenyewe.Jambo moja ambalo ni muhimu sana ni kumuuliza mbunge kwa mfano wa jimbo hilo la Morogoro Kusini Hamza Abdallah Mwenegoha kwanini hali katika jimbo lake ni ya kukatisha tamaa na kutia aibu kwa kiwango kile? Binafsi nimeshafanya hivyo kwa kumuandikia barua pepe nikiambatanisha picha ile na kuhoji kwa kina,kulikoni? Ingawa bado sijapata majibu na pengine sitopata majibu kamwe nina uhakika kwamba ujumbe umemfikia na hivyo atatambua kwamba dunia inamtizama. Ukipenda kumtumia barua pepe pia unaweza kwa kutumia anuani ya hmwenegoha@parliament.go.tz

Usiishie kwa Mwenegoha peke yake bali pia mbunge wa jimbo lako, kule utokako au kule ilipo familia yako,asili yako nk. Kwa bahati nzuri anuani za barua-pepe,simu za nyumbani, za ofisini, za kiganjani za wabunge wetu zimeorodheshwa katika tovuti ya Bunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano Tanzania.

What can we do? This is the question that we have to help each other to answer. The first thing that I believe we can do is to be persistent in questioning, criticising and helping financially and in kind. We should not just write on the Internet or blame each other. One important thing is to ask the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Morogoro [where the school is located], Hamza Abdallah Mwenegoha, why the situation in his constituency is in such despair. Personally, I have emailed him with the photo in question attached. Although I have not received a reply and perhaps I will not get any reply at all, I am sure he got the message and he knows that the world is watching. If you would like to send him an email, you can use this one: hmwenegoha@parliament.go.tz

Do not stop there, you can also do the same to your MP. Luckily, members of parliament emails, their homes and office telephone numbers, their mobile phone numbers are all available at the parliament of United Republic of Tanzania Website.

While Jeff encourages his readers to write directly to members of parliament, Ndesanjo takes a look at digital tools for activists. He cites online media, blogging and SMS technologies as the latest weapons in the African activists' arsenal to fight for political, economical or social change. He gives an example of Zimbabwe where one Zimbabwe's online publication Zimdaily has started a campaign of naming all of government officials children living abroad, replete with their work, college or residence addresses. The logic of the campaign being “if you hate the West that much why send your children there?”.

Ndesanjo asks his readers for their views on this particular strategy that Zimdaily is using to fight the current Zimbabwe's government. His readers have expressed divergent opinions on the matter:

… Ni kweli si vizuri kuwapakazia watoto makosa ya wazazi, lakini mzazi anapoielezea dunia kwamba hazihitaji au hazipendi nchi za magharibi ilhali anapeleka familia yake huko huko, ni unafiki uliopita kipimo.
Nadhani wananchi wa Zimbabwe wanajaribu kuwaanika viongozi na familia zao (ambao vile vile ni wala matunda ya mfumo mbovu), kuonesha kwamba “you have to mean what you say”.

… it is not fair to smear the children when their parents makes mistakes. It is hypocricy if the parents tells the world that they do not need or that they hate Western countries yet they send their families to those same countries.
I think Zimbabweans are trying to tell their leaders and their families (who are the beneficiaries of a corrupt/faulty system), that “you have to mean what you say”.

While another reader does not think that this strategy will affect the targeted group:

… lakini si siasa safi kuweka picha na anuani za vijana hao kwenye tovuti. Wangeweza kuwasialiana na serikali za nchi hizo kimya kimya. Labda waneweza kuongelea hilo swala na kueleza sababu zao bila kutoa picha na anuani za watu hao. Na hata kama hao watu wakirudi Zimbabwe, hawatapata shida kabisa, wataendelea tu kula pesa hizo hizo za wizi.

… it is not fair to expose those young people's addresses. They could have consulted with the Western governments where those kids are residing. And even if those people were to be returned to Zimbabwe they would not suffer, instead they would continue to live a privileged life.

On development and mobile phones in Africa, Ndesanjo writes:

Matumizi ya SMS na simu za kiganjani kwa ujumla kwenye harakati na hata shughuli nyingine za maendeleo kama vile kilimo, masoko, biashara, afya, na elimu yanapanuka siku hadi siku. Hakuna teknolojia ambayo ni rahisi kupatikana na kutumika kama simu za mkono kwa nchi za Afrika ambazo zina mtandao mdogo sana wa simu za nyumbani. Simu za viganjani ndio zitakuja kuwa chombo kikubwa cha watu wa kawaida kuingia kwenye zama za habari na mawasiliano. Sio kompyuta za mezani au za mapajani. Kompyuta zao zitakuwa ndani ya simu zao.

The use of SMS and mobile phones in general by activists and in other development activities such as agriculture, marketing, trade, health and education continue to expand day by day. In Africa where the coverage of telephone landlines is not widespread, there is no simpler and easily available technology than mobile phones. Mobile phones will be the ordinary people's access into the new era of information and communication. Not personal computers or laptops. Their computers will be inside their mobile phones.

He cites M-Pesa as a good example of the use of mobile technologies for development. M-Pesa is a new service that allows members of the public to transfer money using SMS.

Maitha, who blogs at Mawazo na Mawaidha, writes about M-Pesa and open source movement in Kenya. Recently, he, used M-Pesa service. He points out an incorrect Swahili phrase used by the service and wonders why they did not consult a Swahili linguist.

He posts links to three Kenyan websites dedicated to the promotion of open source software. He believes that the websites will contribute to the growth of open source movement in Kenya.

8 comments · »»

China: Most influential unknown person

John Kennedy · 16:17

Late last year, Time magazine featured entertainment blogger Wang Xiaofeng in its 2006 person of the year issue, and while Wang's name is more than well known throughout the Chinese blogsphere, when 22 year-old Beijing-based blogger Zeng Jinyan (曾金燕) was chosen by the magazine this week as one of the world's most influential people, well, there aren't all that many reactions to bring you.

‘Who is she?,' was one of the few, from Lidan at Blog-City, on May 5:

胡总刘淇之外，还有曾妈妈

Aside from President Hu and Liu Qi, there's still momma Zeng

这两天，各大报纸网站争先报道胡锦涛、刘淇被列入美国《时代》周刊全球100位最具影响力的人物，不过国内多数人都不知道还有一个曾金燕的姑娘被列入吧！我第一次听说这个人，简单介绍如下。。。

These two days, every major newspaper and website have been trying to get the scoop on Hu Jintao and Liu Qi's having been chosen for Time magazine's world's 100 most influential people, but many people in China don't know there's one more: this chick Zeng Jinyan's been listed too! It's my first time to hear of this person[….]

A search at Sina blogs: nothing.

Hexun, one home of writer-blogger Yu Shicun, who has written on Zeng several times in the past: nothing since March 12

Are Sohu bloggers more with it? Or has the provider just not put Zeng's name on the block list? Three blog posts since the 100 list came out, first from XuXiao888 on May 5:

剩下的一位曾金燕女士，所有网站没有她的消息。她被《时代》杂志列为”英雄与先驱”类别。我在博客上曾见过她的有关报道：曾金燕的丈夫胡佳是中国爱滋病人权和维权人士。曾金燕因营救因从事维权活动而失踪的丈夫胡佳，通过博客等互联网方式向大众揭露事件真相，引起了国际关注，后来他的丈夫被释放。

虽然这有一点犯忌，但我以为，已经荣登《时代》全球百大影响力人物之一的曾金燕仍然是华人的骄傲。媒体不应该集体禁声，这样做无异于”掩耳盗铃”。即使如此，也无济于事。因为，世界已经是平的了，一切人为的封锁和障碍都是力不从心的，也是不符合中国政府提倡的开放的国策的。

The remaining woman, Zeng Jinyan, none of the websites have any information about her. She was listed by Time Magazine in the “Heroes and Pioneers” category. I once saw something about her on a blog somewhere: Zeng Jinyan's husband Hu Jia works to uphold the human rights of Chinese AIDS patients. Zeng Jinyan, as a result of having her relief and rights-protecting husband Hu Jia disappear, used the blog and the internet to reveal to people the truth, attracting international attention, and then later her husband was released.
This maybe be a bit taboo, but I feel that having already been honored by Time as one of the world's most influential people, Zeng Jinyan is still the pride of Chinese. The media should not be keeping a collective silence, this is just tantamount to deceiving yourselves. Even if they do, it's of no use. The world is already flat, all man-made blocks and barriers will never cut as much as they're intended, nor do they adhere to the open policies the Chinese government calls for.

Better than nothing, a copy and paste job of a mainland news report at CWD's blog, also dated May 5, and a brief passing mention from Jun Wenzhang the day before. Massive corporate blog providers aside, even Bullog has only been able to come up with one post thus far, from user Jing Ran, also dated May 4: ‘The news mainland media can't report.'

Zeng Jinyan put up a brief post when she found out, at can can be seen a few comments from her foreign fans:

早上朋友告知说，《时代周刊》今天发布影响世界100人，入选的华人有胡锦涛、刘淇、马化腾（腾讯老总）以及我。

今天是五四青年节，也是陈光诚的儿子小克睿的生日，小孩还是常哭着要爸爸。去年陈光诚是与温家宝齐名位列《时代周刊》影响世界一百人，今年此时，陈光诚还在狱中。

This morning a friend told me that Time magazine released its list of the 100 most influential people this morning, and of the Chinese selected there are Hu Jintao, Liu Qi, Ma Huateng (CEO of Tencent), and me.
Today is May Fourth Youth Day, and it's also Chen Guangcheng's son Little Kerui's birthday. The child often cries when he thinks of his dad. Last year, Chen Guangcheng and Wen Jiabao were named in Time's list of the 100 most influential people, and this year, at this time, Chen Guangcheng remains in prison.

Followed by this post, dated May 5, also translated at EastSouthWestNorth:

昨天，就我入选美国《时代》周刊”全球最具影响力100 人”之”英雄与先驱”（以下简称100人）一事，祝贺、采访和约稿的电话、电邮很多，反而让我觉得意外。面对这些问题，我简单归纳了回答，以答谢关注的朋友。

Yesterday, I was chosen as one of Time magazine's “world's 100 most influential people” in the “heroes and pioneers” category. Congratulations, interviews, phone calls and e-mails aplenty. I was actually quite surprised. To deal with all the questions, I've made up a simple summary of all my answers, as thanks for all concerned friends.

问：得知自己名列《时代》100人，有什么感受？

Q: How did you feel when you learned you'd been selected as one of Time's ‘100′?

答：昨天早上，蔡先生通过电子邮件第一个告诉我《时代》公布的100 人里有我。

A: Yesterday morning, a Mr. Cai was the first to tell me, over e-mail, that Time had released its 100 list and I was on it.

《时代》的记者和摄影师去年秋天开始和我联系，当时没有明确说明采访和拍照的目的。所以昨天确定地得知《时代》公布的100 人上有我的名字，我觉得高兴。倒是去年记者电话采访我时，我有点意外。不管是世界范围内，还是在中国国内，哪怕是在我们居住的北京，比我影响力大的人太多了。我年轻，做的是中国主流社会关注程度不高的社会工作，又是一个被警察经常绑架失踪、非法监禁的”活跃分子”的妻子，我的名字还被大陆的各个媒体封杀 ——总之社会角色很特殊，我没有想过自己会成为100 人之一。

Time reporters and photographers began to get in touch with me in fall last year. At the time they didn't say exactly for what the interview and photos would be used. So yesterday when I was able to confirm that my name was on Time's 100 list, I was quite happy. When the journalist phoned last year for an interview, I was a bit surprised. Whether you're looking worldwide, in China, or even here in Beijing where we live, there's way too many people far more influential than I am. I'm quite young, just doing work which to a large extent is not paid any attention by mainstream Chinese society, but I'm also the wife of an illegally monitored “activist” who's often kidnapped or disappeared by police. My name's been blocked from all mainland media—in brief, a tather particular role in society, but not one that I thought would make me one of the 100.

无论如何，我觉得这是《时代》给我的一种鼓励，是对我2006 年的工作的肯定。我发手机短信把这条消息告诉我远在福建的父母、干爸干妈，又打电话给胡佳的母亲。

But no matter what, I see this as Time giving me some encouragement, an affirmation of the work I did in 2006. I sent a text message to my parents and grandparents way off in Fujian province to let them know, and phoned Hu Jia's mother to let her know.

5 月4日这一天是陈光诚的儿子克睿的4岁生日，之前我一直惦记着，早晨醒来我就让胡佳先给袁伟静发短消息祝福小孩子，在我心中这一天是属于小克睿的节日。因为要赶路，所以匆匆通过电子邮件把关于 100人的消息发到博客，我们按原计划出发到密云水库和朋友聚会，又因为其他一些事情，到夜里近一点才回到家，所以今天才回应。

May 4, this day is Chen Guangcheng's son Kerui's fourth birthday. I've been keeping it in mind all along, and this morning when I woke up I got Hu Jia to send [Chen Guangcheng's wife] Yuan Weijing a short message to congratulate the kid. In my mind, this day belongs to little Kerui. I had to get on the road, so I just hastily posted news about the 100 list up on my blog, and we stuck to our original plan to head out to Miyun Reservoir for a party with some friends, and also because of some other things, we didn't get home until close to one a.m. and have only been able to reply now.

问：你认为什么原因使你能够名列 100人？

Q: What do you think the reasons were why you were included in the 100?

答：我不清楚《时代》用什么准则和标准来挑选这 100人，只能做些猜想。

A: I'm not sure what standards Time uses in selecting the 100, I can only guess.

博客的运用可能是我入选的其中一个原因。在我们这个没有言论自由的国家，新闻媒体首先是”党的喉舌”，记者和媒体的”生杀大权”都被中宣部掌控。纵使优秀的媒体工作者能偶尔突破新闻审查，也无法长期全面深入地报道社会底层最需要关注的事件和问题。在亲身接触社会弱势群体，亲自调查一些相关的社会问题，在开始阅读具有公信力的英文报道和学术报告后，我才明白，我们中国公民生活在一个谎言社会里，中宣传部就是《 1984》” 真理部”，每日用它的语言”修改历史”、”编写事实”。并指导、命令国内新闻机构作”感人至深的正面有益的新闻报道”。为了拒绝虚假的新闻，描述真相，越来越多的中国人，在网络开办自己独立的新闻机构——博客，就算不报道国家大事，也可以如实地记叙身边的社会百态，甚至只是在博客上说些”真心”的闲话。在现实生活中，人们因为担心惹麻烦对政治性话题很冷感。在可以匿名的网络上，你会发现无数热情关注中国社会现状、抨击时政的网民。而对于主流媒体不能报道的非法软禁、逼迫失踪、维权以及公民社会运动的重要事件等话题，博客成为社会工作者、有独立思想人士的一个平台和接触公众的机会。 2006年我通过博客持续讲述胡佳的失踪、长期软禁和我被跟踪的生活，以及中国类似遭遇者的故事，引起很多朋友的关注。尤其是胡佳失踪时，博客成为一个营救平台，发挥了我事先未曾想到的作用。博客成为维权运动、公民社会工作、甚至保护家人的一个很好的工具，而只要是记录个案描写个人的真实遭遇，就注定了博客内容与众不同。唯一遗憾的是， 2006年 9月份前后，我的博客被网络警察屏蔽后，在中国大陆就再也无法直接访问了。我连自己更新博客都常常要借助电子邮件。

My use of blogging could be one reason why I was selected. In this country we have no freedom of speech, the media are first and foremost “the Party's mouthpiece”, and journalists and media's right to continued existence lies in the hands of the Central Propaganda Department. Even if top-notch media workers can still sometimes break through news censorship, they've still no chance for long-term investigative reporting into the incidents and problems of society's lower levels' most in need of attention. After personally interacting with weaker groups in society, personally investigating some related social problems, and as I began reading some credible English-language reports and academic studies, I finally understood that we Chinese citizens live in a society of lies, that just like the Central Propaganda Department is just like the Ministry of Truth in “1984″, using its own language each day to “change history”, “rewrite the truth”. As well as ordering Chinese news outlets to produce “deeply-moving, positive and helpful news reports”. In a rejection of fake news, fake renditions of the truth, more and more Chinese are opening their own independent news outlets online—blogs, which even if they don't report on major national incidents, they can still record the hundreds of different nuances to society that they see around them, even if it just a few casual “sincere” lines on their blog. In real life, people are worried about creating trouble and so tend to be rather unresponsive to political problems. But when anonymous on the internet, you can see the countless and passionate opinions strongly concerned with Chinese society, netizens tearing away at current events. And as mainstream media are unable to report on such important events and topics as illegal house arrests, forced disappearances and the civil rights and civil society movements, blogs have become a platform and a chance through which social works and independent thinkers can interact with the public. In 2006 when I opened a blog to continue writing about Hu Jia's disappearance and long-term house arrest and my own life of being followed, as well as the stories of those with similar experiences in China, it attracted many people's attention. Especially while Hu Jia had disappeared, my blog came to act as a rescue center, things I'd never before imagined possible. Blogs have become a tool for those in the civil rights movement, those in citizen social work, and even as a way to protect family members, and as long as people record truthful portrayals of what they encounter, it's guaranteed that their blog content will stand out from others. The only pity is that since September 9, 2006, my blog has been blocked by police and cannot be directly viewed from within China. Even my own blog I often am able only to update it via e-mail.

中国优秀的博客作者众多，无论文采、深度，我都不能算是最好的。所以写博客这一形式肯定不是入选的唯一因素。因为中国的非法拘禁、失踪事件越来越多？因为我在写博客的过程中，实践着人权教育和社会工作对我的影响？因为中国乃至世界的人民非常关注中国维权运动与弱势群体和底层人民的反抗、挣扎？因为2006 年我给联合国机构、人权组织、艾滋病和环保人士、欧盟等真正有影响力的人写了太多的报告和求助信，还号召太多的人和我一起给中国的领导人写信？因为胡佳失踪时我成功地召开了世界各国驻北京记者的招待会，让媒体朋友把我的请求传遍世界？

There's so many outstanding bloggers in China, be they of literary talent or depth, there's no way I can be considered the best. That's why blogging can't be the only reason for my having been entered. Because incidents of illegal arrest and disappearing in China continue to increase? Because in my process of writing I make use of the impact human rights education and social work have had on me? Because people in China, even the world, pay close attention to the civil rights movment and resistances and struggles of ‘weak groups' and lower-class citizens? Because in 2006 I wrote too many reports and letters requesting assistance to the United Nations, human rights groups, AIDS workers and environmentalists, the European Union and others with real influence, calling for too many people to join me in writing letters to Chinese leaders? Because after Hu Jia disappeared I successfully held a press conference for foreign correspondents stationed in Beijing, allowing media friends to spread my appeals to the world?

有些人说是因为我的勇气。我很惭愧。大家不知道我以前是多么地恐惧，又是如何地隐忍。胡佳从2004 年开始就频繁地失踪或被软禁，我寻找过他，但更多地只是等待他从警察手里回来。当国保警察找到我的大学，通过学校党委要求我”不要和胡佳继续交往”、”不要花时间在艾滋病社会工作上”，否则”小心毕业证书”时，我是多么害怕以至于常常沉默。是的，06 年的失踪和软禁事件中我开始学着反抗后，渐渐地不再恐惧了。因为我终于意识到，如果最心爱的人我都不能守护，我还有什么可以失去呢？我还害怕什么呢？如果人不能有尊严地活着，苟且隐忍又有什么意义呢？如果我总是害怕来自政权强大的看不见的黑势力，那我的工作受阻，在艾滋病村的老人、小孩、病人还有志愿者又怎么办呢？那些比我遭受更多磨难的维权人士的家属，如陈光诚的妻儿怎么办呢？相信只要心中存有正义，勇气自然而来。我的宗教信仰也给了我很大的支持，帮助我从恐惧中解脱。根本上师和佛祖的笑颜常常突然出现在我脑海中，让我充满力量。佛祖说人生终归会受各种各样的苦，那就坦然面对吧！于是我渐渐地放下恐惧，纵然时常气愤、恼怒、悲痛，但从来不失去信心。

Some people say it's to do with my bravery. I'm ashamed. Nobody knows how fearful I used to be, or how forebearing I was. In 2004 when Hu Jia first began to disappear or be placed under house arrest, I'd go searching for him, but mostly just waited for him to come back from the police. When the secret police found out where I went to university, they went through the campus Party Committee to tell me “not to continue associating with Hu Jia”, “stop wasting time on AIDS social work”, or else “start worrying about your diploma”, I was often so scared that I'd just stay quiet. Really. In 2006 between the disappearances and the house arrests, I began to learn how to fight back, and gradually stopped being so scared. Because I'd finally realized that if I can't even protect the people I love the most, what else do I have to lose? What else am I scared of? If people can't live with dignity, what use is there in suffering in silence? If I live in constant fear of unseen dark forces from the powerful regime and my work is thwarted, then what are the seniors, children, patients and volunteers in the AIDS villages supposed to do? Those family members of rights upholders who've had to deal with so much more trouble than I have, like Chen Guangcheng's wife and son, what are they to do? I believe that as long as justice exists in our hearts, bravery follows in suit. My religious faith has also given me great support, helping me escape from fear. The smiles of my buddhist master and Buddha himself often appear in my mind, renewing my energy. Buddha says all life must deal with so some sort of pain, so I say bring it on! I gradually release my fear, but even if I'm often furious, annoyed or hurt, I still have never lost my faith.

问：名列100人会给你将来带来什么影响和改变？

Q: What sort of influence or changes will the list bring to you?

答：如果不是那么多朋友和记者的祝贺与提问，我意识不到这个问题。《时代》是具有世界影响力的媒体，发布名单肯定会让更多人知道这100 人。但是这只能代表着对过去工作和贡献的肯定，很快人们就会忘了，而去看新的名单、新的事件。所以我没有意识到也没有想过名列100 人会给我的将来带来什么影响和改变。将来要做的社会工作照做，方式也不会因此而改变。一时的国际知名度可能会让我更加安全，再加上我现在怀孩子，我想07 、08年他们也许会跟踪、软禁我，但不至于把我投到监狱。可是谁知道究竟会发生什么事情呢？我们最关心的朋友，盲人赤脚律师陈光诚，去年也是《时代》 100人的英雄与先驱，受到世界媒体、政界、民间的高度关注，但是他因出色的维权工作遭到报复，至今还在监狱中。

A: If it hadn't been for all the friends and journalists sending me congratulations and questions, I wouldn't even have noticed. Time is one of the world's most influential media, so releasing this list will of course allow many people to know who these 100 are. But this can only represent a confirmation of work and contributions of the past, people will quickly forget and go look at the next new list, new incidents. This is why I never realized or thought that the being on the 100 list might bring me any effect or change. For the future I'm going going to stick with my social work; my methods won't change because of this. Temporary international renown might make me feel safer, especially now that I'm pregnant. I think in 2007 or 2008 they might keep following me, keeping me under house arrest, but they won't go so far as to throw me in jail. But then who knows what might actually end up happening? The friend we're most concerned about, blind barefoot doctor Chen Guangcheng, was also chosen by Time as one of their 100 heroes and pioneers, which brought him a high degree of attention from world media, the political world and civilians, but as a retaliation for the outstanding civil rights work he did, until today he's still in prison.

倒是一些朋友告诉我们，当他们昨天拨打我家的电话和我的手机时，听到的答复是电话有故障或无此号码、请查实，甚至手机显示正在忙——有时我确实在接电话，有时我根本没有使用手机时它也显示忙音。后来更麻烦，因为国内的报纸在铺天盖地地报道胡锦涛和刘淇入选100 人，没有关于我的介绍，对此我早有思想准备，所以原本不想说什么，谁知家里来电话追问为什么。我怎么办呢，不解释似乎我在撒谎，详细解释原因岂不是叫家人伤心！一些网友也迷惑，问”是国内媒体封锁还是国外媒体造谣”？

Then some friends told us that yesterday when they phoned us at home or to my cell, they got messages saying the number was out of service or had been disconnected, to try again, and even a busy signal. I definitely did use the phone a few times, but even when I wasn't it still appeared busy. Then it got worse, as mainland papers went covering the land and sky with news that Hu Jintao and Liu Qi had made the 100, but there were no mentions of me. I was prepared for something like this, so at first I didn't want to say anything. Who knew people would start phoning me at home to find out why. What could I do? If I didn't explain it would have seemed like I was lying, but to explain in detail would just hurt my family. Some netizens got confused too, asking: “are mainland media being censored or are foreign media spreading lies?”

问：与胡锦涛主席同列一榜，有何特别感想？

Q: How do you feel about being listed alongside Chairman Hu Jintao?

答：没有特别的感受，我们的社会角色很不相同。我国是世界人口最多的国家，经济总量排在前几位，而我们体制权大于法，党大于国。胡锦涛主席作为一个大国如此体制下的最高权力代表，毫无疑问有着巨大的影响力。入选《时代》肯定有它考虑的因素。

A: No special feeling. Our roles in society are too different. China has the highest population in the world, our economy ranks in the top few places, our system's authority overrules our laws, the Party is bigger than the state. As the representative of a large country under this kind of system, Chairman Hu Jintao undoubtedly has greater influence. Time must have its own factors to consider in compiling the list.

我和胡佳都是普通人，我在一家小公司做一点工作挣钱养家，剩下的时间做艾滋病关怀、救助和维权工作。胡佳现在是自由职业者，抑或警方所言的”城市无业人员”。

Hu Jia and I are just average people, I work in a small company to make some money to feed the family, doing AIDS care, relief and rights protection work in my free time. Hu Jia is self-employed right now, or as the police put it, “urban unemployed.”

我对与胡锦涛同榜没有特别的感想，对他个人也没有抱怨。但是，中国司法部门对公民社会和维权人士的镇压，作为主席的他需要负责任。偶尔我会希望中国政府高层的”有良知的领导人”加速推动社会政治改革，以消除腐败弊端，减轻压在老百姓头上的重压，让中国社会真正进步，让人民自由而幸福。可是，随着政府出台越来越严厉的对网络和新闻审查、对民间打压的政策，绝大多数时候我不对当局抱幻想。我相信将来会更好，但是必须通过每一个的努力、挣扎和奋斗，而非等待统治者遥遥无期的” 恩赐”。

I have no special feeling about being listed alongside Hu Jintao, and have no complaints against this particular person. But, Chinese judiciary bodies suppress civil society and those who uphold rights; as Chairman he needs to take responsibility. Sometimes I'll hope that the “leaders with conscience” within the higher levels of the Chinese government will speed up the push for social and political reforms, and in wiping out corruption, reducing the weight pressing down on the heads of the common people, allowing Chinese society to effectively improve and granting its people freedom and happiness. But, as the government releases increasingly strict internet and news censorship, policies that strike down on the people, the sheer majority of the time I don't feel disenchanted with the authorities. I believe the future will be better, but that it needs everyone's effort, struggle and strife, and not just waiting for the rulers' bestowing of it upon us at some indefinite point in the future.

12 comments · »»

Landing at the Iraqi Blogodrome

Salam Adil · 12:50

Cliques of bastards and villains are controlling the living stream in a country that was once upon a time the prophets and messengers foothold. Slim after slim sits cross-legged on the f*** seat in Baghdad in what is so called now the Green Zone (Godzilla zone) … teaching their firing and blood squads and bogeymen some bloodcurdling lessons on how to torture and behead their compatriots

This week I have a heart rending story of a kidnapping, reactions to the Wall of Adhamiya, a comparison between New Orleans and Baghdad, opposition to the new oil law, and, if you read to the end, plastic palm trees.

The previous quote is from Marshmallow26 who has had enough. She sees her country being torn apart and vents her anger at all the groups in power in Iraq today. And she does not stop there…

Why are you making the Iraqi situation as a stinky play? Some onlookers are dying from the unpleasant odor, others are using masks, sniggering inside and point at us!! … YOU who slyly ornamented your harangues with secure, brave and restful words to protect Iraq and Iraqis, but those outlaid commercials were nothing but chicken shit and easier said than done!!

Most of you were barefoot and vulgar but this war served you a lot, now you became a bunch of Global pioneers, and war-horses…you bunch of highbinders…Each one of you have a diplomatic immunity… Go back to where you came from!

Ugh!!!!! I've had enough

If you read no other blog this week read this:

What did you do last week? For a week last month Fatima continually cried for a relative who was kidnapped, held for ransom then brutally murdered. Follow her trials through her tortuous posts every day of that week.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Crying for Bilal

Today I shed my first real tears for Baghdad. Every day my heart cries for what's happening there, but today my eyes joined my heart in sadness.
Today I found out that Bilal was kidnapped from university…

his mom got a call, the call that every mother dreads, from Bilal himself. He was screaming into the phone, “they got me, they got me,” and yelling at his kidnappers at the same time. I can only guess what my dear aunt in law is living through right now, recalling that call over and over in her head.

Bilal is not only a cousin to my husband and me. He's our neighbor in Baghdad, living two doors away. He's the kid who came over all the time, and the one who we visited all the time, at his parents' house. He played with my then one year old, carried her around with him when he went out, took videos of her entertaining the family. He came over to our house when we were out and needed someone to sit with the workers fixing the house. He's the one we sent on odd errands.

The kidnappers called his family and asked for $200,000. A few hours later, they downgraded it to $25,000.

Thursday, April 19, 2007 Crying for Bilal: Day Two

It turns out that Aunt N wasn't the one who answered her son's frantic call, but his ten year old brother, Ch. Ch picked up his mom's cell phone and heard Bilal screaming, “Wal, Ch tell mama they are taking me, they kidnapped me, leave me alone, leave me alone. Let me go!” Ten years old and having to live through this!

My hubby was telling me how tense it is in the house (he's staying at his aunt's, at Bilal's house). Everyone is screaming at each other. When my husband insisted that they stick to paying $12,000, before they had come to an agreement, his aunt yelled at him, “They'll kill Bilal.” It's scary for everyone, because they're basically bartering for their son/brother's life. Maybe their insistence on a lower sum will save them thousands of dollars, and maybe it will kill their loved one. It's kind of funny, but Iraqi families have started talking about what they would do in the case of a kidnapping. My husband told me long ago, should anything happen to him, not to ever pay more than $10,000. I always tell him, whatever, but when it comes down to it, everyone loses their minds. Bilal's brother, A, was always the smooth, smart negotiator. But when it touched him directly in his home, in his heart, he melted.

Friday, April 20, 2007 Waiting for Bilal: Day Three

They paid the ransom today, at a designated place, unspecified till they arrived in a general location. Our neighbor, (father of two sons and a son in law kidnapped more than six months ago, and still missing) insisted on taking the ransom to the evil people. I'll give you more details later. .. The family is frantic, depressed now.

Saturday, April 21, 2007 Hoping for Bilal: Day Four

My heart is heavy and I don't want to write this. I thought almost for sure that by today I would be writing good news. Bilal is still not home. The family has basically accepted his fate.

Sunday, April 22, 2007 Day Five: Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'oon: To God We Belong and To Him We Will Return

I don't feel like writing this post, but at the same time, I want to record this history down for my daughters and myself to remember.

They killed Bilal on Thursday, April 19, 2007. His body was found today, Saturday, April 21, 2007. He was shot in his arms, chest and head. He is our martyr. May God accept him.

We're worn out by our tears and sadness. But what I'm feeling is nothing compared to what his poor mother is living through now and what she will face the rest of her days.

Monday, April 23, 2007 Day Six: Bilal's Burial

‘A's friend brought Bilal's body to his family today, because its dangerous for Sunni men to pick their dead up from the city morgue. …

He has a smile on his face. Looks very serene and comfortable. Like he has rested from this world's burdens. I saw his picture. He is beautiful and shining.
His mother is holding up well. She's tough. She told us that she's patient on the outside, but her heart is burnt up on the inside, torn asunder. She told us that when she saw him, she kissed him and told him how much she missed him. She told him, “You don't have to study anymore, your finished with your college studies.” And it seemed like he smiled.

It's been six days, and the ordeal is finally over. Six hellish days. A week ago we never imagined that a week later we'd be left with broken hearts.

The Wall

News of a wall being built around the Baghdad district of Adhamiya has brought strong reactions from Iraqi bloggers.

The news brought back childhood memories in Adhamiya to Wafaa'. She writes:

This piece of news brought outrage to my feelings and caused prolonged weeping. As if my memory have been swollen for too long and at this piece of news, it exploded and began leaking. Yes, leaking childhood and teenage memories!”…

I am so worried about those who live in Al-Athamiyya. What will become of them if this UGLY WALL became a reality? Does this mean that I can not visit Athamiyya when I am in Baghdad next time? Will I need a permission or an ID to enter the area? When will this nightmare of occupation end?

Great Baghdad posts picture and maps of the wall and writes,

The Americans, and the Shiat dominated Iraqi government are claiming that this wall is a “protective security wall and Not a separation wall”… all of this is a big Piece of Crap… It is simply that the Government is not able to get there to root out the terrorism there, and at the same time they do not want terrorism to spread out to the rest of the city. The government has simply tagged the entire city of A'adhmayia with Terrorism, which is outrageous and it also shows how incompetent this government is in cracking down terrorism.

So the solution they came up with is that they just imprison the whole city there and let every one eat the other. And they stay out of it. So much for law enforcement security plan!

Riverbend is driven to write after a long absence:

The wall, of course, will protect no one. I sometimes wonder if this is how the concentration camps began in Europe. The Nazi government probably said, “Oh look- we're just going to protect the Jews with this little wall here- it will be difficult for people to get into their special area to hurt them!” And yet, it will also be difficult to get out.

The Wall is the latest effort to further break Iraqi society apart. Promoting and supporting civil war isn't enough, apparently- Iraqis have generally proven to be more tenacious and tolerant than their mullahs, ayatollahs, and Vichy leaders. It's time for America to physically divide and conquer- like Berlin before the wall came down or Palestine today. This way, they can continue chasing Sunnis out of “Shia areas” and Shia out of “Sunni areas”.

LORD gives us a historical perspective: “America already tried the wall idea in Vietnam, they called it strategic hamlets. They forced the peasants to leave their original villages, confine them all in these strategic hamlets, which is protected by barb weirs, mine fields, bamboo fields, watchtowers, and walls. … This plan backfired, because these peasants became more sympathetic with the Vietcong, because they felt no threat from them. … This is nonsense; they reached a new record of stupidity. Nobody can be that stupid, nobody. Even George bush is not that stupid. I’m beginning to think that they want it that way, that they want civil war and turmoil in Iraq, that they never want to see Iraq stable. … Algeria, Belfast, Vietnam, the west bank, and finally Adhmiyah, they haven’t learned anything from history. They haven’t learned that these walls don’t just separate people, they separate hearts, anger, grudges, suffering will grow behind these walls no matter how noble the purpose was, if noble at all.”

24 Steps to Liberty asks:

What is this wall going to do other than provoke the Iraqis against each other more and more?

Who is going to prevent the Shiite militias from killing the Sunnis then? The victims of terrorism in Iraq are only Shiites?

You still don’t believe there is civil war in Iraq?
…
Is that what the Iraqi government promising Iraq now? Sectarian divisions?

and answers:

The U.S. administration and the Iraqi government have to know that this will be interpreted, like many other issues before, as a way to oppress the Sunnis and satisfy the Shiites. And this is in my opinion is not true, because the Shiites are getting nothing out of anything the government and the Americans are doing in Iraq. The average Sunnis and Shiites are the only losers in Iraq now. But, everything the Americans and Iraqi government are doing in Iraq now is provoking more and more sectarian divisions and civil war. It is like they insist on destroying my country.

Omar cannot see what all the fuss is about:

There are definitely downsides that come from surrounding communities with walls, mostly psychological and social. It’s sad to watch the capital of your country become the only city in the world that resembles a compartmentalized fortress where you need tall concrete walls to slightly improve the margin of safety.

But this is war and we can’t afford living in denial of the seriousness of threats. Emotions must not be allowed to disrupt taking practical steps that can save lives.

And aNarki-13 could only respond with five letters: WTF??

Not very different from Baghdad

24 Steps to Liberty visits New Orleans and discovers similarities to his home town: “New Orleans looked like Baghdad after the war in 1991; I swear I kid you not. The devastation, empty houses, the people returning to their life in the city, the “rituals” people practice before they completely come back, the bumps in the streets and the smell of destruction [it has a distinctive smell people. Yes it does.]”

But with a difference:

In 1991, Iraq was destroyed, mainly Baghdad and other big cities like Mosul, Basra. The Americans made sure that the average Iraqis didn’t get water, electricity, or food. And they made sure to also bomb the communication buildings so the average Iraqis didn’t have a way to know about each other and what was going on. Within three months after the end of the war, most of the government building and services, including potable water, sewer system, paving bombed streets, phones and electricity. That was under the rule of Saddam Hussein, whom Bush’s administration accused of depriving his people from their share of oil revenues!

What about people in New Orleans. They don’t have a dictator to rebuild their city. They have a democracy that is fighting its way to spend 100 billion more dollars on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Who will help the people of New Orleans?

And he makes a discovery: “I got it now. I know why the invasion of Iraq was messed up and there was no planning for post-war Iraq. The same people that are messing up New Orleans were involved in Iraq. The same officials, contractors and unqualified “experts.” “

Oil, Oil Everywhere

Raed gives us the essential summary of the progress of the Iraqi Draft Oil Law. He writes:

Passing a new Iraqi oil law is not an urgent item on Iraq’s agenda. This is what Iraqi experts have been saying for the last year… More than 60 Iraqi experts and officials signed a petition against the new oil law. One of the MPs participating in the Amman-Jordan conference said that “this law must be rejected as whole, there is no way it can be enhanced or fixed”. Many Iraqi and Iraqi MPs think this is true. Another conference held in Dubai-UAE during this month, April 2007, by the Iraqi parliament included many Iraqi experts (including the three Iraqis who helped write the original version of the law) and Iraqi MPs. The majority of the participants thought the law should not be passed

Al-Ghad posts a back-room agreement to divide up Iraqi oil and concludes “What is clear is there is frenzy to grab Iraqi oil riches depriving the Iraqi people of the sources of there lives.”

And Finally…

Great Baghdad bemoans the appearance of plastic palm trees in Iraq. ” It really aches the Heart of every Iraqi who looks to this great Generous if Not sacred tree, to see Plastic palm trees Made in Iran, filing the streets of Baghdad and Najaf ( the Heart of Palm tree Land) and replacing the Ever green, Beautiful, tall and glorious trees .” He writes.

“This is the Blessed tree In Judaism, Christianity and Islam ” Shake the trunk of the palm tree towards thee: it will drop fresh, ripe dates upon thee. Eat, then, and drink, and let thine eye be gladdened!” (Qur'an 19:25-26). And that is why you see Dates on the Christmas Banquets in some Christian societies. And the Palm tree leafs is what is carried as part of a ceremony in Jerusalem. Fronds used on Palm Sunday, commemorating the entry of Jesus in Jerusalem (Lion's Gate or east entrance to Jerusalem, through which Jesus is supposed to have entered the city).”

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