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Uganda: Happy hour unrest, Blogumentary and Sam Cooke

Rebekah Heacock · 20:22

Ugandan blogger/hip-hop artist Saving a Generation Endangered (S.A.G.E.) stirred up controversy this week when he lashed out at Uganda Bloggers Happy Hour (BHH) attendees in a Blogging a Blogger interview conducted by Country Boyi:

He (S.A.G.E.) further lashes at the Blogger Happy Hour logo that describes Ugandan bloggers as “intelligent, witty, sexy and occasionally ridiculous.” He finds an alternative description for the Ugandan blogging scenario.

“I'll just call it the theatre of the absurd,” he says, “because the ‘best' bloggers are the same guys that have been setting themselves the goddesses and gods -the idols they worship. They don't want anyone to make negative criticism about these goddesses/gods; the whole thing is basically absurd!”

Bloggers were quick to respond, both in comments and on their own. From Dennis Matanda:

I fully understand that there is need to be open and direct - but to sour a club you found in existance is a little absurd. I was there for the first BHH and intend to keep going….

Magoola was a bit less tempered in his reaction, which took the form of a letter to S.A.G.E.:

I am not sure what got into you, but broadcasting your ignorance as featured on Country boy’s blog is uncool. Not only is it played out, it’s disgusting….

Blogging is such self-indulgence that you shouldn’t be harboring such opinions about it. Besides for all the preaching you do, what were you doing at those Blogger Happy Hours held at a bar?

Cheri defended BHH:

That’s why it’s called a blogger happy hour. They go there to meet Witty, intelligent, sexy and ridiculous people. People that will sit down and have a laugh at the end of the day. Oh, c’mon, they do it only once a month. Does it need to be a conference of sorts. Do we always have to discuss World Politics? It’s called a happy hour because we wanna just go to hang out. Not to wear hear phones and broker peace agreements.

S.A.G.E. managed to a find supporter in Phantom, who commented on Cheri's post:

i read SAGE’s blog and scoff at some of the things he says. but i also find some gems over there.

Without mentioning the blogger uproar, Ivan brings S.A.G.E. and BHH while live-blogging the Ugandan Blogumentary, a short film produced by four Danish students who came to Uganda in April:

Oh look its Sage, and Dee… and Rev returning the Nokia…and wrong-looking candle holders. Bad Mateos, BAD!!

Ladies and Gentlemen: Happy Hour!!

Expat blogger Kelly calls attention to another recently published documentary:

Yesterday they had a show on called “Return to Uganda”. It featured a young (strikingly beautiful) Canadian/Indian journalist whose parents were expelled from Uganda by Idi Amin when she was a child returning to the family home and taking stock of current race relations and politics between Asian Ugandans and Black Ugandans. If you have any interest in Uganda it was a great little special. Paul got really angry watching it, especially when Idi Amin's son, Taban Amin, was being interviewed. It brought tears to my eyes to see the recent violent riots on television. Filmed after the Mabira Forest riots in Kampala, it was the first time I had actually seen video footage of the anti-Asian protestors in action, burning cars and beating up Indians. Crazy to think that is my little Kampala. You can supposedly watch the special on YouTube.

And Iwaya closes the week with a tribute to Sam Cooke:

Switch that phone off. Let the curtain drapes down or throw them off! Fix me that drink. Hey, take off your shoes and let your feet get some air. Ain’t no need to be formal here. Cooke is in the house. I have been listening to Cooke since the beginning of this week. I have been reveling, drinking in, marveling, sitting back and then jumping up and stomping to a voice so pure, so rich, so varied, so beautiful, I can hardly believe it has taken me this long to listen to Cooke.

2 comments · »»

Bolivia: Wishes and Relief on Independence Day

Eduardo Avila · 17:23

lingua → pt · es

August 6th marked the 182nd anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Bolivia. The occasion was marked with the usual civic acts and festivities. Bloggers wished their country a happy birthday, but others wished for something greater. It was also a time to reflect upon their hopes for their country, while recognizing that there have been some bumps along the way.

Miguel Esquirol of El Forastero [ES] writes:

182 años no son mucho para construir un país, pero es bueno poder decir que la gente es boliviana porque lo ha decidido y lucha para conseguir la Bolivia que desea, y aunque esto a veces traiga problemas, a veces sentirse parte del país es suficiente.

182 years is not much to build a country, but it is good to be able to say that the people are Bolivian because it has decided to fight for the country that it wants, and even though that this sometimes brings problems, that sometimes just to feel part of the country is enough.

Andres Pucci, a blogger from Santa Cruz, has often felt discriminated against and laments some of the comments in earlier blog posts.

Bolivia hoy cumple 182 años de vida independiente, 182 año con mas bajos que altos, Canada tiene 76 años de independencia con mas altos que bajos, las comparaciones son odiosas, de acuerdo, pero, ¿por qué estamos asi? repito, por la actitud, la actitud de mirar hacia atras, criticar la colonización (que no existió, fue conquista), criticando al que tiene apellido “extranjero” a pesar de tener padre y madre bolivianos, abuelos nacidos y criados en provincia, tatarabuelos que donaron bienes a su pueblo y antepasados que murieron por la independencia de este país.

Today, Bolivia celebrates 182 of independent life. 182 years with more lowpoints, than highpoints. Canada only has 76 years of independence, but with more ups than downs. The comparisons are unfair, but why are we here? It is because of the attitude of looking at the past, criticizing the colonization (which did not exist, it was a conquest), critizicing those with a “foreign” surname even though one might have a Bolivian father and mother, grandparents born and raised in the provinces, great grandparents that gave land to their country and ancestors that died for this country's independence.

Some bloggers like Carlos Hugo Molina of Agora [ES] paints a picture of a Bolivia that he wishes to see.

El MAS deberá aceptar, una vez más, que ofreció lo que sabía no podía cumplir. Al hacerlo, estará demostrando madurez política y sentido de realidad.

La derecha deberá aceptar que fracasó en los modelos de estados que propuso, y que no queremos volver al país de las transas, los latifundios, el cuoteo del 60/40 y la corrupción.

MAS (Government political party) should once again accept that it offered much more than it knew that it accomplish. By doing this, it would show politicial maturity and a sense of reality.
The right-wing should accept that it failed in the state models that it proposed and that we do not want to return to a country of dealings, feudalism, the 60/40 quotas and corruption.

The anonymous bloggers at Morir Antes Que Esclavos Vivir [ES] continues:

Por un país sin marchas ni bloqueos, que respeta y asume su diversidad y multiculturalidad y que más allá del credo, cultura y color de la piel acoje a cada uno de sus habitantes.

Por un país sin odios, ni rencores, que no busca revanchismo ni venganza con enemigos imaginarios y que se maneja en la línea del respeto y la tolerancia.

For a country with neither marches, nor blockades that respects and embraces its diversity and multiculturalism and that includes each of its citizens irrespective of their creed, culture or skin color.
For a country without hatred or bitterness that does not look for revenge with imagined enemies and that maintains the line of respect and tolerance.

Finally, an independence day parade in Santa Cruz, which featured indigenous groups from outside the city was predicted to bring conflict. However, journalist José Andrés Sánchez of El Pais de las Maravillas [ES] was relieved and writes:

Muchos de ellos flameaban la bandera y a cada paso exhibían un civismo pocas veces visto. Debo reconocer que me emocioné como pocas veces frente a un televisor. Me sentí no solo maravillado sino orgulloso de que esta demostración de apertura y unidad se de en mi ciudad. Debo reconocer que me agradó mucho ver a Evo Morales y García Linera al lado de Rubén Costas y Percy Fernández. Los cuatro aplaudían y sonreían. Debo reconocer (aunque a algunos no les guste) que me gusta la paz y no la tensión del conflicto

Many of them waved the flag and at each step demonstrated a civid price seldom seen. I must admit that not too often have I been as moved in front of a television screen. I felt not only amazed, but proud of this demonstration of unity in my city. I must also admit that I felt grateful to see Evo Morales and Garcia Linera (Bolivian Vice-President) side by side with Ruben Costas (Santa Cruz Prefect) and Percy Fernandez (Santa Cruz mayor). The four applauded and smiled. I admit (even though some do not like to admit it) that I like peace and not conflict and tension.

1 comment · »»

Tunisia: Baklava Newspapers

Amira Al Hussaini · 17:12

lingua → hi · pt · es

null

This is an ad which appeared in a Tunisian paper, urging readers to subscribe in return for a package of almond baklava. Blogger Boudourou has something to say about this ad in this post (Ar), entitled the Press of Baklava.

نظرا لخصائصها المثيرة للأعصاب أصلا و قدرتها العجيبة على رفع معدلات السّكر و ضغط الدم لدى القراء فجريدة أخبار الجمهورية تدعّـم الفاعلية متاعها بكيلو بقلاوة سيبار , و ما نعرفش اذا كان هذا داخل في نطاق البيع المشروط او في نطاق التقنيات الحديثة للتسويق…
على كل حال بادرة طيّبة تفتح المجال أمـام المنافسة و اكتساح الأسواق و تخلّينا نأملو في ما خير , من قبيل “مع هذا العدد اطلبو الملحق و كعبة الغريّبة ” أو ” صحفة عصيدة للي يعمل اشتراك قبل المولد” “و الاّ “مرتك باش تولد ؟؟اعملها اشتراك و اربح الزرير بلاش”

Due to its characteristics which effect the nerves, and its strange ability to raise diabetes and blood pressure amongst its readers, Akhbar Al Jumhouriya newspaper promotes its effectiveness with a package of Baklava. We don't even know whether this falls within the terms of conditional sale or whether it is as part of the modern techniques of marketing…

At any rate, it is a good move which opens the door for competition, overtaking the market and makes us aspire for better things such as “with this issue ask for the supplement and a free cake” or “more dessert for whoever subscribes before the Prophet's Birthday” or “Is your wife expecting? Subscribe now and win a gift for free.”

0 comments · »»

Women bloggers targets for filtering in Iran

Hamid Tehrani · 16:45

lingua → pt · jp · jp · fa · zht · zhs · es

Mehdi Mohseni's blog Jomhour [Fa] (means Republic in Perisan) is a definitive source of information about social and political issues in Iran. If you “chase” Iranian blogs, you shouldn't miss this one. Around 1000 people visit daily.

Q: Would you introduce yourself and your blog ?

My name is Mehdi Mohseni and I was born in 1979 in Qom. I studied civil engineering. I am a sort of independent journalist. I published my first blog in 2002.

Q:You are based in South-West Iran. Can we talk about local bloggers? I mean bloggers that just talk about their own towns?

As you know blogs are borderless media. Bloggers can write from any place in Iran and have an audience anywhere in the world. They can talk about anything. I think there are local blogs that just give information about their town or location in their blog, but in general this kind of local focused blogging is not taken much into consideration.

Women in the line of fire

Q: What is the main problem of Iranian bloggers besides filtering? Do hackers create any problems?

Bloggers, like others, faces several difficulties in Iran. Many Iranian websites in general, and political ones in particular, have been filtered. In the last two years filtering and censorship has become worse. Especially many blogs by women were filtered. It is not really important what you blog about. If you are a woman, there is a real risk that your blog will get filtered. Political sites and blogs written by reformists and nationalist-religious people are targeted too. But the blogs hit the worst by filtering, belong to civil society activists such as students, women, and worker activists.

Hacking has not really been a problem for bloggers. So far only official sites have been hacked. In general, people also suffer form slow internet connections, high costs, and low quality technical problems.

Beyond imagination

Q: How do you evaluate the evolution of Iranian blogs in these recent years?

I can express my own ideas based on personal observation rather than a scientific analysis. I think there is a lot of pressure on people in society, and blogging is a good instrument to help people to express themselves in society. This may be the reason so many women and girls are blogging. Recently many middle aged people have started to use blogs to express their opinions too.

Q: How you see the influence of blogs in society?

There is growing censorship in Iran and in the absence of journals and news websites, blogs accomplish something beyond imagination even though we can not trust all the information that we find in them. Bloggers can transform a topics into hot issues in society, and force government to react.

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Madagascar hosts Indian Ocean Island Games

Lova Rakotomalala · 16:12

lingua → zht · zhs

jeux des iles The Indian Ocean Island Games are underway in Madagascar and people are quite thrilled about it.

Harinjaka gives us a preview of the anticipation back home:

“C’est parti pour le 7 ème Jeux des îles de l’Océan Indien (JIOI).
La flamme olympique arrive aujourd’hui au stade de Mahamasina (Tananarive) pour annoncer l’ouverture des 7èmes JIOI, qui se tiendront du 9 au 19 août à Tananarive.
Plus de 200 athlètes originaires de sept îles de l’océan Indien, à savoir les Comores, les Maldives, l’île Maurice, Mayotte, La Réunion, les Seychelles et Madagascar, participeront à 16 différents sports pour cette competition.[..]

j’ai pu ressentir l’excitation des malgaches dont l’émotion est vraiment palpable [..]
Sachez quand même que 86 pays vivront en direct la plupart des compétitions. ”

« the 7th Indian Ocean Island Games are underway (IOIG).
The Olympic flame arrives today at the Mahamasina stadium (Antananarivo) to signal the opening of the 7th IOIG, which will be held from the 9 to the 19th of August in Antananarivo.

More than 200 athletes from seven islands in the Indian Ocean: the Comoros, Maldives, Mauritius, Mayotte, Reunion, Seychelles and Madagascar, will take part in 16 various sports for this competition. [.]

One can sense the excitation of the Malagasy people whose enthusiasm for the event is undeniable[.]
Note that 86 countries will be able to follow live most of of the matches.”

Su adds in the comment section that the event is so important that the day of the opening ceremony has been declared a national holiday.

( Ravi, the official mascott of the Indian Ocean Island Games. Photo credit: http://www.jioi2007.mg/)

1 comment · »»

Part Two: Defending online free speech and environmental rights in Bulgaria

Sami Ben Gharbia · 13:34

lingua → pt · es

In Part One of this article, I outlined recent threats to the Bulgarian environment and the vibrant web-led protest movement that developed in response. In this article I speak to Milena Bokova, BlueLink Information Network executive director, who talks about the intimidation against her colleague, blogger Michel Bozgounov, the threats to the freedom of online expression in her country, and the Bluelink Freenet Campaign:

Sami: Why did the General Directorate for Combat against Organized Crime target Michel Bozgounov for blogging about the Strandja issue even though other Bulgarian bloggers were doing the same thing? And can you explain why this has been treated as “Organized Crime”?

Milena: This is a big mystery. So far the Bulgarian police authorities didn't give a relevant explanation on these questions. We can only make a guess. One of the reasons might be the fact that Michel is an average citizen without any political, financial or other protection. The other might be the fact that he is a BlueLink employee - a network that gives an alternative opinion and in some cases contradicts to the governmental one (like for instance a campaigning site BeleNE against the construction of a second NPP in Bulgaria). It might be an attempt to deafen our voice. Or it might be a random selection, we don't really know.

Sami: Does this investigation against your colleague Michel Bozgounov set a bad precedent for politicians to control what you can and cannot blog about?

Milena: It definitely does. The problem is that all these reflects on them badly. The case became really very visible in Bulgaria with its absurdness. The police absolutely has no right do tell people what they can and can not blog about. It is in violation of the Bulgarian Constitution guaranteeing freedom of expression.

Sami: What was the role of the Internet in general and the blogsphere in particular in organizing the flash-mobs and the environmental protests that some like to describe as “the largest since those against the Socialist government in 1997″?

Milena: The main tool for organizing flash-mobs was through discussion mailing lists (many of which BlueLink maintains and provides to users to communicate between each other). The organizers used these tools as a fast and direct way to reach many people at their private e-mail addresses. They also used SMS-s through the mobile operators. At most of the flash-mobs there was a ban on publicizing it until one or two hours before the events, in order to guarantee that authorities will not have enough time to prevent the events. Actually the blogsphere was mostly covering the flash-mobs after they really happened, not prior the events. There was one specially created site for publishing information about the upcoming flash-mobs (http://savestrandja.ludost.net/). The information there was usually published about 2-3 hours prior to each flash-mob.

I wouldn't say that these environmental protests are the largest since those against the Socialist government in 1997 - it is pretty much exaggerated, since the biggest protest gathered not more then 2000 people and it was not a flash-mob, but one that was previously announced at the municipality. But this is not the most important thing. The most important is that a very little group of people managed to make such a great impact on the media, government and the whole population of Bulgaria.

Sami: Do you think that the Strandja Mountain Nature Park is now safe and that the Bulgarian internet community has achieved its goal in protecting Strandja Nature Park?

Milena: I am afraid that it is just temporarily safe. Unfortunately the Parliament took a decision in changing the law for protected areas in a way which many jurists define as judicially inconsistent and might be attacked in court. Also jurists say that other Bulgarian parks are not protected either. But this is not the main issue here. Many of the laws in Bulgaria are quite good and strong and they envisage measures for nature protection. The problem is the implementation of the laws. There comes the authorities’ corruption, there are the doors ‘gray' business uses to avoid the law and to benefit from it unpunished.

Sami: From an environmental e-network created and run by green activists, we are witnessing, with the launch of the Freenet Campaign, how the BlueLink network is becoming involved in defending online freedom of expression. What is the reason for the switch and what are your future plans regarding this issue?

Milena: Actually it is not a switch at all. BlueLink, apart from being an environmental network, works on the field of information and communication policy since its establishment. We are a part of the international movement contributing to the WSIS process and lately to Internet Governance Forum. We even created a special portal ‘Bulgarian ICT policy monitor‘ . The issue of freedom of expression on the internet is something that we have been working on establishing it in Bulgaria since 1998. BlueLink is the Bulgarian member of the Association for Progressive Communication (apc.org) through which network we are able to connect with like minded people from all around the world.

Sami: Did the Bulgarian blogsphere and the environmental web-led movement get any support from other European communities or blogspheres? Does the dissemination of the information about the Strandzha issue via video and photo sharing sites like Youtube and Flickr helped somehow in attracting the attention of mainstream and/or citizen media outside the country?

Milena: The EU and world communities of blogsphere started to support us just after BlueLink started the FreeNet campaign. I have no info for any support before that. The dissemination of information about the Strandja and other environmental cases in Bulgaria via video and photo sharing sites helped a lot in attracting the attention of the Bulgarian mainstream media. So far we have no info on interest expressed from foreign media

2 comments · »»

Japan: 62 Years Later, Still Remembering

Chris Salzberg · 12:30

lingua → pt · jp

On the 62nd anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, many bloggers found themselves this week reflecting on the history of how World War Two came to a close, on the way that this history is viewed and taught within their own country, and on the connections between this history and current events. In the United States, a new uncensored HBO documentary, which features testimonial from survivors of the bombing (hibakusha), promises to re-open debate on the motivations for use of the atomic bomb; the anniversary was the topic of discussion in other English-language media shows in as well. Meanwhile, in Japan, the Nagasaki Broadcasting Company has posted translated interviews with survivors of the atomic bombing, interviews which, as one blogger has noted, everyone owes it to themself to read.

Interview with director Steven Okazaki about his documentary White light, black rain

The continuing relevance of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japanese political affairs was highlighted just a few weeks ago when former Defense Minister Kyuma Fumio made his famous statement that the bombing “could not have been helped”. The statement caused an uproar which culminated in his eventual resignation.

This week, bloggers in Japan and across the world discussed the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Blogger k2-s describes their experiences as a kid hearing stories about the bombing:

先日の広島に続き今日は長崎の原爆の日ですね。あと数日後には終戦記念日です。

私が子供のころ、祖父や親戚の人からよく戦争のことを聞かされました。空襲で防空壕に逃げ込んだときの話や、機銃が自分の目の前で撃たれていったこと、自分の家が燃えてなくなってしまったこと、そして目の前で人が亡くなっていくこと。

街を歩くと南方から帰ってきたという人たち、手がなかったり足がなかったりする人たちが街行く人にしきりに何かを訴えかけていたり。

Following Hiroshima a few days ago, today is the day when the atom bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. In a few days it will be the anniversary commemorating the end of the war.

When I was a kid, I heard a lot about the war from my grandfather and other family relatives. Stories about how, during aerial attacks, they would take refuge in air-raid shelters; about machine gun fire flying right by their eyes; about their own home burning down; and about seeing people die right there in front of them.

Walking in the city, [you could see] people who had returned from the south — people with arms missing, legs missing — repeatedly pleading for things from people going to the city.

ちょっと町外れに行くといたるところに防空壕のあとがあったり。

そして、この時期になると今よりももっともっと戦争について、平和についてみんなが考えていたように思います。戦争から時がたてば、それを体験した人も少なくなるのは当然でしょうし、人の記憶の中からも遠ざかっていくのは仕方のないことかもしれません。

でも今も地球のどこかでむごたらしいことが起きていることは事実ですし、絶対に忘れてはなりません。そのことをしっかり子供たちに伝えるのも大人の役目でしょう。

Outside of town, there were the remains of air raid shelters in every nook and cranny.

And then also, when this time of year approached, it seems to me that everybody thought much much more about the war, and about peace, than they do now. As the time since the war increases, it's natural that the number of people who experienced it decreases, and peoples' memories [of the events] move further into the distance, nothing can really be done about this.

But now as well, it's a fact that somewhere in the world there are gory things going on, so we should not forget. It is the role of adults to take care and transmit to children the story of what happened, is it not?

Aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima

Blogger sana, who just recently moved to Hiroshima, explains however that conveying this story has been very difficult in the past:

テレビでも、原爆記念日に合わせていろんなドキュメンタリーを放送しています。
私は今まで、被爆者の方こそが、原爆反対を積極的に働きかけたりしていると思っていました。
でも、それは違っていました。
原爆投下から６０年経って、ようやく原爆について話すことができたと。
それまで、友人知人、家族にも誰にも話さず封印してきたと。
誰にも話さず、話せずにいた長い年月を知ったとき、本当の悲しみを垣間見た気がします。

On television, on the occasion of the anniversary of the atomic bombings [of Hiroshima and Nagasaki], they are broadcasting a variety of documentaries.
I had thought that the victims of the atomic bombings had been actively involved in opposition to atomic bombs.
But actually this is not the case.
60 years have passed since the dropping of the atomic bombs, and finally they are now able to talk about the atomic bombing.
Up until now, they had been sealing themselves off, talked about it neither to friends, nor to acquaintances, nor to family members.
In knowing about it but not being able to talk to anybody for so many years, I think that they must have caught a glimpse of true sadness.

でも、被爆者の方も平均年齢７４歳になって、次の代に伝えることが難しくなっています。
だからこそ、自分が語らなければと、
封印していた気持ち、被爆当日の経験を涙ながらに話していました。
そんな方が少なくありません。

As the victims of the atom bombing reach an average age of 74 years, transmitting their message to the next generation becomes increasingly difficult.
For this reason, knowing that these things must be said,
with tears in their eyes, [the victims] spoke about the feelings that they had buried and their experiences from the day of the bombing.
There are many people who did this.

Atomic bombing of Nagasaki

One of these people was quoted in a blog post at komonet describing their experience:

「ある日突然一緒に遊んでいたクラスメート達が亡くなっていった。そして遊び場だった多くの川はあまりの喉の渇きに水を求める人で埋め尽くされた。
けれども自分は生き残ってしまった。その無念の思いと一緒に生きてこれなかった幼なじみへの申し訳ない気持ちは今でも心の中で整理できない。
そのことはとてもつらすぎて今まで話す勇気はなかった。しかし、未来を託すあなたたちには話さなければならない。」

“Classmates that I had played together with one day suddenly died. The many rivers where we used to play became filled with [the bodies of] people who had been searching for water to quench their thirst.
But I survived. Even now, however, I am still not able to sort out inside me the sad thoughts and the feelings of regret I have that my childhood friends could not live to be here with me today.
These things were so horrible that up until now I didn't have the courage to speak about them. However, I must talk to all of you, to whom the future is entrusted.”

While the quotes above focus on the Japanese perspective, there were also some bloggers who asked about the experience of Americans. One blogger describes the experience of hosting a home stay student from the U.S.:

ちょうど今、我が家にはアメリカ人の男子高校生Charlieがホームステイをしています。６日の広島原爆記念日のニュースでは　「広島に原爆を落とした」　アメリカの高校の教科書にはどのように記載されているか・・・などのトピックがありました。Charlieもついこの間、アメリカが広島と長崎に原爆を投下した事実を習ったそうです。アメリカでは、今までは単に事実の羅列として原爆投下は扱われていたそうですが、９・１１のテロ以降、なぜ原爆投下する必要があったのか、という議論もするようになってきたそうです。

Just right now, an American student named Charlie is staying with us on a home stay program. In the news on the 6th, the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, under the title “The atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima”, topics [were brought up] such as: what kind of information appears about this in American textbooks? I heard that Charlie only recently learned about the fact that America dropped the atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In America, up until now they have handled the issue of the atomic bombing by simply listing it as a fact. However, since the 9-11 terrorist attacks, they are now also debating the question of why it was necessary to drop the bombs.

とはいってもあくまでも、原爆投下によって広島や長崎で犠牲になった人以上の人を救うことができた、という見方が大半を占めているそうですが。教育は誰にどうやって教わるかによって、こんなに違うんだと改めて感じました。原爆投下はアメリカにとって、英断だったと若者は教えられているいるんだ、と思うと恐ろしいです。もっと恐ろしいのは広島と長崎の原爆投下によってどれだけたくさんの命が瞬時に奪われ、今も心と体の傷跡や後遺症に苦しめられている人がいることを教えられていないということです。しかしCharlieが原爆投下にも、今のイラク攻撃にも疑問を抱いていると聞いて、救われるような思いがしました。

However, from what I hear, the majority opinion clings to the view that the dropping of the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki saved more people than it victimized. I sensed again in this case that education, depending on who is being taught and how they are being taught, can be very different. When I think that young people are being taught that, for America, the dropping of the bomb was a courageous decision, I am appalled. What is even more appalling is that these students are not being taught how many people lost their lives in an instant as a result of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and that there are still today people struggling with mental and physical scars and aftereffects. However, when I heard from Charlie that he had doubts about the atomic bombing, and also about the invasion of Iraq, I felt that there is hope.

私がアメリカに留学していた時、大戦中に朝鮮半島や中国に日本が侵略して支配していた頃、日本人がどれほどひどいことをしていたか、真実を初めて知りました。異国に行って初めて識る母国の影の部分というのは相当ショックなものです。きっとCharlieも今回同じような思いをしたのではないかと思います。

It was when I went to study abroad in America that I became aware, for the first time, that Japanese people had done terrible things during the time that Japan had invaded and occupied places like the Korean peninsula and China. It is a considerable shock to go to a foreign country and become acquainted, for the first time, with the dark side of your home country. I am pretty sure that Charlie had the same kind of thoughts in this case.

Finally, in a post entitled “Nuclear weapons: the crisis in the modern age (核兵器—現代の危機)“, blogger Niphonese relates the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to talk in the U.S. of using nuclear weapons against Iran:

核兵器の違法性だとか，広島や長崎への原爆投下は正当だったか否かとか，そういう論議も大いに結構なのだが，もう少し現代のアクチュアルな問題に目を向けてもいいのではないだろうか。

The illegality of nuclear weapons, whether the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was justifiable or not, these debates are all well and fine, but wouldn't it be good if we turned our eyes a little bit more toward actual problems of the modern age?

なによりも昨春，イラン”核開発”をめぐってアメリカとイランの緊張が高まる中，ブッシュ政権が先制核攻撃をちらつかせてイランを恫喝していたことが想起されなければならない。この狂気としか言いようのない戦争策動に対し，”唯一の被爆国”であるわが国において，一体どれだけの人が危機意識を持っていたことか。一部の反核運動家などを除いて，ほとんど無関心に近い状態だったのではないだろうか。

Above all, as tension between America and Iran increases over Iran's “nuclear development”, we need to recall that the Bush administration has been dangling [the possibility of] a preemptive nuclear strike and intimidating Iran. How many people in this country, the “only country to have been the victim of atomic bombs”, have any sense of the crisis in this military scheme, this scheme which can only be called madness? Apart from those active in anti-nuclear campaigns, most people have an attitude that is close to indifference.

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Uzbekistan: Rumours and deception

Tolkun · 11:39

The most discussed issue in Uzbekistan these days is the decision of the government to renew all car license plates. Car owners are surprised. The government explains its decision with the need to comply with international requirements and standards. Jamiyat writes about this in his blog. He says that the decision of the government may create kickbacks for an unfaithful group of people.

Knowing the popularity of having special numbers on cars (likewise on mobile phones) among the Uzbeks, and high “prices” for such numbers, the likelihood that many registration agencies and unfaithful policemen might use this innovation to fill their pockets is very high.

The independent Internet newspaper Uzmetronom writes (RUS) that everyone who voluntarily applies for a new license plate till the end of 2007 will be freed from any taxes and get the plate for free.

On August 3, the human rights organization “Ezgulik” distributed the alleged last will of Mutabar Tajibaeva (RUS), a human rights activist who is currently detained in prison for fraud. In the letter, Mutabar Tajieva writes about the tortures of prisoners and says that she cannot stand it any longer. She also calls all international organizations to take appropriate actions to prevent this intolerable treatment in Uzbek prisons. However, Mutabar Tajieva believes that it may be too late when someone starts taking actions.

The opposition blog Turonzamin (RUS) quotes the brother of Mutabar Tajieva, who says that he does not believe in the veracity of the letter. In contrary, the information agency Ferghana.ru (RUS) writes that the letter is true and, strangely, also quotes the brother and daughter of Mutabar Tajieva. The blog Turonzamin justifies its point saying the government bodies will not be able to break the will of Mutabar, who is tolerating all hardships of the prison, even though she has become physically weak.

Turonzamin calls this another strategy of the government. The blog writes that using this strategy the government can get rid of Mutabar Tajieva.

Such strategies of the government may have really bad consequences for prisoners. The law enforcement bodies can kill a prisoner and explain it to the public as suicide. And the fake letter allegedly written by Mutabar Tajieva looks like to be one of such strategies of the government. Therefore, in this situation it is necessary to immediately demand a meeting with Mutabar Tajieva in order to make sure that she is still alive!

Jamiyat comments on the accusation of Vyacheslav Manokhin, a P-3 UN staff member, for using his position to obtain visas for Uzbek and Ukrainian citizens, who were supposedly going to attend conferences in the USA and France. Jamiyat writes about the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Uzbekistan that is a main implementer of UN policies in the regions, and accuses them for being nonchalant in carrying out their mission.

There were always dirty rumors surrounding the UNDP's activities… One of the most widespread rumors in Uzbekistan is that its mainly local staff is corrupt, and offers employment in various projects only to those who pay bribes… Also, it has been rumored that many of the Uzbek UNDP employees are in kinship relations with various Uzbek politicians and were employed simply for that fact… Who to blame… Perhaps, it is the US embassy's fault? For remaining nonchalant and ignorant towards checking up the fraudulent letters with the UNDP office in Uzbekistan… Perhaps,both [the UNDP and the US Embassy]?

Another interesting issue that was raised in the Uzbekistani blogosphere for the past two weeks is the problem with Uzbek Democratic Party Erk website that, according to the largest search engine Google, allegedly possesses harmful web content. In his blog, Jamiyat comments (ENG) about the fact that Google finds Erk’s site harmful to its users, where he wonders if Google cooperates with national security services of Uzbekistan. The comments to this post (ENG) mainly proved that the problem is in the malicious code that could be inserted by hackers to the opposition party’s website HTML content.

Sami Ben Gharbia commented:

According to the Open Net Initiative and the StopBadware.org that I’ve contacted about this, it seems that it is not a filtering case. Google has found some malicious code on the Uzbek Democratic Party Erk website, which is most likely has been victim of a malicious hacking attack inserting some bad code… In order to remove the warning the webmaster needs to find the code and then clean and secure the website. Then he needs to submit a request for review to StopBadware.org who will check the site and recommend to Google to remove its warning flag.

The blog Civil Society of Uzbekistan also proves (RUS) the point that in this situation Google has nothing to do with security services of Uzbekistan. All problems are in the HTML code of the site that may contain harmful software.

The Uzbek Democratic Party Erk’s vision (RUS) of this issue is different. They believe that politics plays a great role in this. They do not say anything about the technical side of the problem, however.

It is very interesting. How can the information website of the party be harmful to your computer? Maybe, because it gives you information about what is happening in Uzbekistan? About the torture that is done by butchers in the prisons of the country. About the oppression of the nation by the dictator Islam Karimov and his people. And your computer will start melting after accessing this information? Or millions of gigabytes of viruses will attack your machine?

Taking into consideration the party’s and site’s “popularity”, and also in the light of the upcoming presidential elections where Erk wants to field its candidate, one must not be a genius to see the obvious fact that Erk is using this problem for PR.

Kamron comments (RUS) on an article on the independent information agency Informator.uz (RUS). The author of the article claims that allegedly there is a conception among Uzbeks in Uzbekistan that Russian people (who live in Uzbekistan) pollute the environment more than anyone, because they like to keep pets in their apartments. Kamron got many responses to his post, where people agreed (!) that there is such a tendency among Uzbeks and that the mass media must cover everything that is going on in reality.

I wrote (ENG) about breaking news in sports: The WBA heavyweight world champion Ruslan Chagaev, an Uzbekistani citizen, cannot accept the challenge from the Russian boxer Sultan Ibragimov (a a WBO world champion himself) due to illness.

Is Rupert Murdoch coming to Uzbekistan? Rowan Wagner comments (ENG) on some Uzbek editors' and journalists' amazing ideas about the media mogul's takeover of the Wall Street Journal.

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