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Israel: Journalists Face Possible Jail Time for Visits to Enemy States

Maya Norton · 23:51

Three Israeli journalists who visited Lebanon and Syria are facing possible jail time for visiting nations that the government terms “enemy states.” Lisa Goldman, Ron Ben-Yishai, and Tsur Shezaf have been investigated and will spend a maximum of four years in jail if found guilty.

The Infiltration Prevention Law requires that all Israelis traveling to enemy states must garner permission from the government to do so. It is widely acknowledged that permission is rarely granted.

While the law was created in the 1950s to help protect Israeli citizens, it is applied inconsistently as many Israelis travel to hostile countries each year without being prosecuted. In the case of these journalists, it is important to note that all three traveled abroad on foreign passports, as many Israelis are dual citizens and find it safer to travel using the documents of their countries of origin.

LisaGoldman

“Lisa Goldman” by Ange

Lisa Goldman's own blog, On the Face, and her widespread activity in print and digital media, as well as the Israeli blogosphere are particularly useful for helping us understand the situation.

In her Ha'aretz article entitled, “Why Us– and Why Now?” Goldman defends herself saying that she did not know travel to Lebanon was illegal. She suggests that instead of upholding the old law whose application no longer seems relevant, it would make more sense to have journalists and other travelers sign a release waiver, relieving the Israeli government of its responsibility for their safety. She says:

“Before Gaza was closed to Israeli journalists, those wishing to enter that territory were required to sign a waiver releasing the Israeli government from responsibility for their welfare. I would happily sign a waiver in return for the right to endanger myself at my own risk.

Superintendent Alon Shaharbani's claim that I endangered my own life by traveling to Lebanon struck me as paternalistic, inappropriate and irrelevant to a criminal investigation. What next? Will I be forbidden to walk on London's Edgware Road, which is a hotbed of anti-Israeli sentiment?”

The Israeli blogosphere is alive with commentary on both sides of the debate. While those in support of Goldman are outspoken in her defense, a significant voice of dissent is critical of what they see as Goldman's and the other journalists' heedless choices.

Canadian Palestinian blogger Nizo voices his support:

“On the face of it, Lisa's visit to Lebanon did straddle the line between adventurousness and recklessness. If that's her crime, then she should be lined up and shot, along with all those independent journalists who have the audacity of reporting from dangerous locales. How dare they refreshingly complement the rather insipid mainstream media? By what temerity do they risk their lives to inform the rest of us arm-chair Marco-Polos?”

David Bogner of Treppenwitz disagrees:

“While not exactly a Hanoi Jane-worthy performance, there was absolutely no justification for breaking Israeli law to file such a story, and certainly no justification for potentially risking who-knows-how-many lives if someone had decided to disappear her.

Seriously, what if she (or one of her two colleagues) had been kidnapped? How many bus-loads of terrorists would Israel have had to release to buy their freedom? How many Israeli soldiers would have had to put their lives on the line simply because the Israeli Government's assessment of what is - and isn't - unreasonably dangerous (and illegal) didn't cross the minds of a few arrogant journalists trying to make a name for themselves? How much more impotent would our government have appeared if the worst had happened and, for whatever reason, we could not gain the necessary support to act???”

Bogner refers to the many incidents we have on record of the Israeli government engaging in massive prisoner exchanges for a single Israeli individual held for ransom. Over the last 30 years, Israel has traded over 7,000 prisoners to liberate 19 citizens held captive and 8 bodies of the deceased.

YNet News announced this week that a prisoner exchange for Gilad Shalit (pictured above) may be imminent. The current terms demand that 500 prisoners be released to pay for Shalit's freedom. Shalit was abducted on June 25th, 2006 by Palestinian militants during a border raid into Israel.

Liza R. of Something Something returns us to the discussion of the investigations:

“Why is there a witch hunt, and why is it happening now, when these kinds of trips have been made for years? As an Israeli, I am worried about our country's current state of affairs, our misplaced priorities… One of [Goldman's] primary reasons for visiting Lebanon had to do with her constant desire to build bridges – to learn about her neighbors and to, in turn, share her newfound knowledge with her countrymen. Yes, a law was unknowingly broken, but the intent was neither criminal nor malicious, and if anything, it was the opposite.”

Yael K. of the Oleh Girl points out:

“Did you know that quite literally 1,000s of dual-passport holding Israelis travel to places like Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, and so forth every year for business? Why not go after these profitable business people if they are going to apply the law equally?”

She adds, “Journalists are not supposed to “report” by passing on second, third, and fourth-hand information to the public. They are not supposed to engage in armchair reporting on events far afield from the comfort of their Tel Aviv or Jerusalem living rooms. They are supposed to investigate, to verify, to go to the source… But these three journalists under investigation were not throwing themselves into the middle of a combat zone, and they were not privy to nor reporting about top-secret information. In fact, their reports were pretty darn innocuous.”

As we conclude, here are some items to note.

Goldman, Ben-Yishai, and Shezaf visited countries hostile to Israel to get an understanding of life there from the perspective of the average person. Goldman filed reports for Channel 10 televison and Time Out Tel Aviv on life in Beirut after the Second Lebanon War (see the English version here). Ben-Yishai wrote for Yediot Aharonot on Syrian reactions to the alleged Israeli air strike in September. Shezaf reported from Lebanon for the Israeli travel magazine Masa Aher (”A Different Journey”).

You can read more about Shezaf at his webpage, which details his journalistic experiences here, and Ben-Yishai on his profile for the Israel Speakers Agency.

As you continue to think about this issue, also take into consideration that there is a communication disconnect between Israelis and our Arab neighbors, even when they are living among us. Did you know that while Israeli journalists are forbidden from traveling to hostile countries, even on foreign passports, Lebanese journalists and those from many other Arab countries working in Israel are prohibited from interviewing Israelis?

Palestinian American journalist and dedicated coexistence advocate Ray Haninia tells this story. Last June while he was performing on the Arab-Israeli Comedy Tour with two Israeli comedians and a Jewish African American comic, he was approached by a journalist from a popular Lebanese paper for an interview. When he suggested that the journalist also interview his colleagues, he was told, “It is illegal for me to interview an Israeli. I would go to jail.”

Goldman relates the same phenomenon:

“All the Arab news media outlets have correspondents in Israel and the Palestinian territories. They include big names like Al Jazeera, Al Houra, and Al Arabiyya… Why, then, are Israelis barred from reporting from Lebanon? Why are Arabic-speaking television viewers allowed the privilege of live reporting from Israel, while an Israeli reporter who does a pre-recorded, human interest report from Lebanon is accused of violating ethics and endangering lives? Surely there is one word to describe this situation: hypocrisy.”

So I ask you: with governments setting tight strictures on media relations, how can journalists expect to get a real story? If they can't talk to us and we can't go and visit them, how can journalists be expected to accurately and truthfully report on the perspectives of real people living their lives?

1 comment · »»

Burkina Faso Soon a Biofuel Producer

Ramata Sore · 18:46

lingua → pt · es · jp · zht · zhs

Last month, the Ministry of Agriculture, Hydropower, and Marine Resources and the French company AgroEd signed a framework agreement for developing a biofuels industry in Burkina Faso.

All entire process will take place in Burkina, from the cultivation of plants (cotton, Jatropha, etc.) to the production of fuel.

This idea has been greeted with enthusiasm by more than one person. Biofuel experts believe that, “Africa has a real chance to enter this industry, which is profitable now especially with the price of oil, rising day by day,” [FR] writes journalist Alban Kini.

However, many netizens have expressed skepticism about whether Burkina Faso can become a competitive producer of biofuels, and whether ordinary people, in particular the farmers, will benefit.

(more…)

1 comment · »»

Congratulations New, Rising Voices

David Sasaki · 17:52

lingua → pt · bn · mg · es · zht · zhs

The inaugural group of Rising Voices citizen media outreach projects have given us new and powerful voices from communities that previously were rarely seen participating online. Last month we put out a call for new citizen media outreach proposals, of which five would be selected to join our current projects based in Bangladesh, Bolivia, Colombia, India, and Sierra Leone.

In total we received 63 project proposals from over 35 different countries. Although the quantity of applications was less than the 142 we received in July, the quality and innovation that stood out throughout all of this round's proposals made the selection process far more difficult. The overwhelming response to the latest Rising Voices grant competition is, once again, a testament to the global enthusiasm for citizen media from rural Uganda to Orthodox communities in Israel, from the mountains of Guatemala to the working class neighborhoods of Serbia.

The five grant winners are representative of the innovation, purpose and good will that Rising Voices aims to support.

Youth Media Consultative Forum in Nakuru, Kenya

Dennis Kimambo, Collins Oudour, and the rest of the REPACTED team will train residents living on the outskirts of Nakuru, Kenya to collect local news and stories and share them with an international audience through the use of photography, blogging, video, and a local print magazine. REPACTED will continue its use of Magnet Theater to encourage participants to openly discuss taboo topics like HIV transmission. You can read REPACTED's full proposal on the wiki.

Iran Inside Out: A Videoblogging Initiative

Shaghayegh Azimi and fellow veteran Iranian videobloggers will partner with the Tehran-based Young Cinema Society to identify aspiring young filmmakers and teach them the skills to both produce compelling short videos and publish them online. In her proposal Shaghayegh writes, “the two most important goals we hope to accomplish are 1) to introduce and inspire Iranian youth of underrepresented communities to engage in interaction with the global online community and especially the videoblogging community and 2) to educate and inspire tolerance of Iran through human stories.” You can see examples of Shaghayegh's previous work on PBS's Frontline/World website.

Bloggers Desde la Infancia (Bloggers Since Infancy) - Uruguay

The One Laptop per Child (OLPC) project created by faculty members of the MIT Media Lab has received an enormous amount of international media attention as it tries to realize the goal of equipping every student across the world with a laptop computer. But, for the most part, we still have yet to see how young students in Uruguay, Peru, Nigeria, and beyond will use the small, neon-green laptops. Pablo Flores of Ceibal, the governmental organization in charge of distributing OLPC laptops in Uruguay, will organize a series of workshops which will gather national and international bloggers with the young laptop-toting students to show them how to set up a blog and take advantage of other social media tools. Later on, award ceremonies will provide incentives to the new bloggers to share their community stories both locally and internationally. Pablo's full proposal is available (in Spanish) on the wiki.

Bringing Malagasy Forumists to the World of Citizen Journalism - Madagascar

Serasera is a popular Malagasy-language discussion forum based in Antananarivo, Madagascar with over 400 active members. Mialy Andriamananjara, Lova Rakotomalala, Harijanka and other members of the Foko Madagascar team will outreach to this active community of internet forumists and teach them how to participate in the global community of blogs, podcasts, and online video. In their proposal, they emphasize that the project will give the participants “a voice and a digital imprint in the world … Also it is a way for the world to have a glimpse of Malagasy ideas, work and perspective on the world.”

Diary of an Inmate - Jamaica

As project founder Kevin Wallen points out, “over the last two years, Jamaica with a population of 2.6 million, has been branded internationally as the ‘murder capital of the world.' Already, 2007 has racked up a murder rate of over 1,400 individuals.” Much of Jamaica's culture of crime has been blamed on the popular veneration of gang leaders. The Diary of an Inmate project will attempt to confront this ‘badboy veneration” by training current prison inmates to blog and podcast. As Kevin describes the goals of project: “Through blogging, inmates will be able to tell their stories. They will be able to paint a realistic picture of life behind bars and the consequences of crime. Currently, Jamaica’s music and media idolize the ‘badman' or 'shotta' and portray as role models those who have been incarcerated. Many of our youths now think that prison is a ‘cool' place to be, until they themselves are faced with the harsh truth. The Diary of an Inmate blog will allow all Jamaicans to learn about the realities of Jamaica’s overcrowded prison system with the hope that this will counteract the false ideas implanted by the media.”

We are thrilled to welcome these five new projects to the ever-expanding and maturing community of Rising Voices citizen media activists.

4 comments · »»

Korea: Three Singers and Military Service

Hyejin Kim · 17:12

How much can military service change your life?

There were three singers in Korea. The first singer, Yoo Seung Joon, who grew up in the U.S., but still kept the Korean citizenship, debuted in Korea in 1997. With a sweet voice and fit body, he got attention instantly and has been popular as a good dancing singer. Another strong image of his was as an honest and sincere man who emphasized his Christianity. The second singer, Psy, who has an American education background and is famous for his musical talent and having unique stage manner, has been popular with his creative and bold singing life. Even though he doesn’t have a specific handsome character, his uniqueness led to huge popularity. Contrary to these two singers, the third singer, Moon Hui Joon has a pure Korean background and is famous for having the most haters in Korea. Even though he was one of the members of a famous singing group, H.O.T., his change to a rock singer and whatever he speaks in media became major mockery. Netizens mocked him with ridiculous graphics.

However, those three men’s lives have dramatically changed recently. One reason is military service. Even though Yoo Seung Joon stated that he would serve his military obligation for the nation in public and went through the physical examination for military service, he went back to the U.S. and obtained U.S. citizenship instead. After that, he attempted to return, but he was denied entry at Incheon International Airport upon his return to Korea, as he was on a blacklist. Incheon Airport did so by the requestof the Korean Military Manpower Administration, an organization under the Ministry of National Defense. Since 2001, he has been not allowed to return to Korea.
The second singer, Psy decided to go through military service. But his physical examination results made it so he should serve part-time military obligation and he worked as a professional technician in a company. Recently he was sentenced to go back to military service again after he neglected his duty and used authority to evade the duty.

The third singer, Moon Hui Joon just finished his military service and showed his first look in a popuar TV program. His first appearance in public after military duty has different reactions from netizens. It’s interesting to see how much his completion of military service has changed his image on the internet.

안티 10만의 문희준…이젠 미워하지 맙시다…ㅠㅠ

문희준은 구설수가 무서운 듯 털어넣은 고민은 “저는 말하는게 무서워요.”였다. 문희준은 “제대를 하다니 이게 꿈이냐 생시냐. 군대 다시 가는 꿈을 계속 꾼다”고 고백했다.

그러면서 문희준은 “군대에 다시 가는 꿈을 7번이나 꿨는데 가장 악몽은 동명이인으로 다른 사람의 군복무를 대신한 걸로 처리돼 다시 군대에 가는 꿈이었다”고 말했다.

Moon Hui Joon, with 100,000 haters… Let’s not hate him anymore…ㅠㅠ

What he confessed was “I’m afraid of speaking” because he’s scared of gossip. He also said, “I’m still confused about being dismissed from military service. I still have dreams to go back to military service.”

He continued, “I had dreams to go back to military service seven times. The most hideous nightmare was what I served before was for another guy who had the same name and therefore I had to go back to military service.”

Direct apology to him was not hard to find in the internet.

문희준 미안해요.

헌데 어느 순간 군입대 소식이 들리면서 아 군대 면제라는 루머는 말 그대로 루머였구나 싶었고 문희준에 대해 다시 새로운 눈으로 보게 됬고 제대 한 후에 무릎팍도사에 출현한 걸 본 오늘부터는 문희준 정말 괜찮은 사람이다. 이렇게 까일만한 사람이 아니다 라는걸 제대로 느꼈습니다.

I’m sorry, Moon Hui Joon.

Listening to the news of his entrance to military service from some moment, I realized a rumor I got about him before was just a rumor and looked at him with different opinions. After I saw him on the TV program, mooreuppak dosa, I felt that he’s a good person and he didn’t have to be criticized so much.

A netizen compares two singers’ issues and other entertainers.

문희준 유승준 - 군입대문제로 희비가 엇갈리다…

유승준 군입대문제

문희준 유승준의 군입대문제. 아니 연얘인의 총체적인 병역문제가 사회적이슈거리가 되었던 시기는 언제일까요? 시기는 약 6년전으로 거슬러 올라가봅니다. 2001년 당시 가수 유승준이 입대 3달을 앞두고 돌연 미국으로 귀국해 시민권을 획득. 국내 병역을 회피했다는 의혹을 낳기 시작했습니다. 2001년 병무청 신체검사후 4급판정을 받은 유승준이 공익판정이 억울하며 군징집에 우호적인 입장을 밝혀왔고 꾸준히 방송을 통해서도 연얘인 군입대문제에 긍정적인 입장을 가져왔기에 2003년 귀국한 유승준의 문제가 사회문제로 커지게 된 큰 이유중에 하나입니다. 또다른 사건으로는 2004년 운동선수 병역비리사건이 크게 한건 터졌습니다. 이후로부터 연얘인들에게 있어 병역은 커다란 문제로 가시화됐습니다.

당시 병무청에서 이 일을 계기로 가수 유승준의 입국을 거부하는 일이 일어나자 또 한번 큰 이슈가 됩니다. 이 문제를 가지고 TV에서는 토론도 벌어지고 미국시민권에 대한 사람들의 관심도 크게 일어났죠. 이것은 어제 오늘의 일이 아니였고 많은 특권층의 자제도 이러한 방법으로 군입대문제를 회피하는 일이 비일비재했다는 점에서 사회적 충격으로 다가오지 않았나 생각됩니다. 결국 그후로 유승준은 한국땅을 밟지 못하게 됩니다.

사건의 시간이 흘렀음에도 불구하고 2005년에 실시한 조사에 따르면 아직도 그의 귀국을 반대한다는 여론의 목소리가 크다는 것을 알 수 있습니다. 군입대문제가 아직도 사회적으로 민감한 부분이기에 당시의 방향과 현재의 방향이 비슷하다고 생각이 듭니다….

문희준 군입대문제

이러한 사건들이 다른 연예인들에게도 크게 영향을 끼쳤고 많은 가수나 연예인들이 자진해서 입대하거나 입장을 밝혔습니다. 그중에서도 가장 관심을 가지게 됐던 가수가 바로 문희준이 아니였나 생각됩니다.문희준 유승준 두명의 가수에는 앞서 얘기했던 것과 같이 일부 공통점이 존재하였고 특히 문희준은 많은 안티팬을 보유하고 있었기에 문희준 군입대문제가 조용하지 않을 수 없었습니다….

안티팬들은 문희준 군입대문제로도 많은 비난적인 공격을 쏟아냈습니다. 안티까페과 팬까페를 재미삼아 자주 구경간 저로서도 이런 점이 많이 기억에 남네요. 문희준이 병역면제라는 루머가 한동안 돌면서 많은 일들이 있었습니다.

이러한 문제를 한번에 해결하는 사건이 2005년말 육군에 입대한 문희준의 군입대사건입니다. (사건이라기에 조금 우습네요^^;) 연예사병이 입대시 특기를 처음으로 부여받는 방식이 아닌 일반병으로 6개월간 군생활을 마치기에 문희준도 운전병으로 자대배치를 받고 군생활을 시작했습니다. 이당시 저도 군대에 있어 군인들의 시선으로 문희준을 바라봤는데 따가왔던 시선이 긍정적으로 변해감을 느낄 수 있었습니다….

Moon Hui Joon and Yoo Seung Joon – due to military service, the joy and sorrow have alternated between them….

Military Service Issue with Yoo Seung Joon
The issue of military service of Moon Hui Joon and Yoo Seung Joon. From when has entertainers’ military service become a social issue? It might be from six years before. In 2001, waiting for starting military service for three months, Yoo Seung Joon suddenly went back to the U.S.A. and obtained American citizenship. He has been suspected that he intended to evade military service. In 2001, he finished the physical examination and received the fourth grade. He himself said that he didn’t want to serve for the public good and expressed himself that he would like to go to the regular military service in media. Therefore his final decision and return to Korea in 2003 turned into a social issue. In 2004, athletes’ scandals to evade military service shook Korean society up again. After that, military service of entertainers has become a big issue.

When the Office of Military Manpower Administration turned his entrance into Korea down, it became a big issue again. There have been panels about this topic in TV and people got to be interested in Koreans who have American citizenship. This has not been a recent topic like yesterday or today. Because not a few children from the priviledged class have avoided military service, it must have become a social shock. In the end, since the scandal, Yoo Seung Joon even couldn’t step in Korea.

Even though it was long time ago, more people are still opposed to his return according to the poll of 2005. The military service issue is still socially sensitive and therefore the opinions have not changed so much at that time and at present….

Military Service Issue with Moon Hui Joon

His scandal influenced other entertainers, and other singers and entertainers expressed that they will go to military service. Among them, the singer who got the most attention must be Moon Hui Joon. Both Moon Hui Joon and Yoo Seung Joon had the similarities. In particular, Moon Hui Joon had so many haters and therefore whether he goes to military service or not has been a popular topic….

Haters especially criticized the delay of his military service. I remember all those because I checked his fans and haters’ webpages. There have been a lot of things going on while there has been a rumor that Moon Hui Joon was exempted from military service.

An incident that solved all these problems was his entrance to military service in late 2005… As a general soldier, not as an entertainment soldier, he started his military service as a driving soldier after tbe 6 week training course. At that time I was in the military and looked at him as a soldier. I started having a positive perspective on him.

Another netizen categorizes male entertainers by how they deal with their military service.

▶ 군대에 대처하는 남자 연예인들의 자세

① 파렴치형

병역 면제나 근무 태만 등 각종 병역 비리를 통해 복무를 회피하려는 이들을 지칭한다. 얼마 전 결과적으로 현역 생활을 통해 제대했지만, 입대 전 병역 비리를 저지른 송승헌과 장혁이 전자의 대표적인 예다. 그리고 며칠 전 재입대한 싸이는 후자의 경우다.

② 해외도피형

언급하기도 부끄럽다. 외국시민권을 통해 군입대를 면제받거나 아예 대한민국 국적을 포기하는 경우다. 대표적인 예는 현재까지 약 7년째 입국조차 금지된 유승준을 들 수 있다. 유승준은 가수 활동을 통해 팬들의 사랑을 받아왔지만, 군문제로 대한민국 국적마저 포기하면서 한국 사회에서 완전히 매장당하고 말았다.

③ 미루자형

말 그대로 무조건 미루고 보자는 연예인들이다. 입대하는 톱스타들의 연령을 보면 대부분 20대 후반에서 30세 정도. 대학원 등의 이유로 입대를 미루다가 더 이상 연기가 허용되지 않을 때 입대를 하는 연예인들을 지칭한다. 현재 30세인 연정훈이 대표적이며 대부분의 남자 연예인들이 밟는 과정이다.

④ 구청형

마포구청에는 소지섭(현재는 소집해제 상태), 광진구청에는 이정진(현재는 소집해제 상태), 용산구청에는 김종국, 강남구청에는 고수, 고양시청에는 남궁민, 구리시청에는 조성모가 있다. 또 서울고등법원에는 김종민, 강남 연금관리공단에는 장우혁이 공익근무요원으로 근무 중이다.

요즘 구청은 연예 기획사(?)로 거듭나고 있다. 언급한 이들을 살펴보면, ‘출발 드림팀’ 선수 출신이 2명(김종국, 조성모), 가요계 Top 춤꾼이 2명(김종민, 장우혁), 몸짱 스타가 절반에 이르는 4명(소지섭, 이정진, 김종국, 고수)에 이른다.

⑤ 사나이형

당당하게 현역에 입대하는 경우다. 연예인들 중에는 드문 만큼 제대하면 많은 팬들의 환영을 받는다. 대표적인 스타는 아역 출신 이민우가 있으며, 최근에는 김태우가 연예사병이 아닌 휴전선 수색대에서 복무하고 있어 팬들의 사랑을 받고 있다…

요즘 시대는 입대를 앞둔 연예인들에게 축복받은 시대임이 틀림없다. 남자 연예인들은 정정당당한 현역 입대를 통해 진정한 사내의 모습을 보여주는 것이 팬들이 바라는 바임을 잊지 말아야 할 것이다. 장기적인 측면에서 군생활은 자신을 더 단련시켜줄 뿐만 아니라, 팬들의 기억 속에 떳떳한 연예인으로 기억되게 해준다. 군복무는 인기의 보증수표라는 사실을 명심하자.

Male entertainers’ attitudes toward military service
1. Impudent style
People who try to evade military service by means of exemption or negligence of duty. Song Seung Heon and Chang Hyuk are representatives who committeed this irrationality before entrance into military service, but had to finish regular military service. And Ssai who re-entered into military service several days ago is a case of neglect on duty.

2. Fugitive style
It’s even shameful to mention. Through foreign citizenship, they exempt military service or give up the citizenship of their mother land. The most representative example is Yoo Seung Joon who was prohibited from coming back to Korea seven years ago. Yoo Seung Joon was loved by his fans a lot, but was buried in Korea after giving up citizenship in order to evade military service.

3. Delaying style
Literally, it indicates entertainers who delay on and on. Checking entertainers’ ages, they are the late 20s or 30s. They delay it under the pretext of graduate school or when their popularity declines, they go to military service. Youn Jung Hun who is 30 now is a representative of this style.

4. District official style
Mapo district office has So Ji Seop, Kwangjin district office has Lee Jung Jin, Yongsan district office has Kom Jong Kook, Kangnam district office has Go Soo, Koyang district office has Nam Koong Min, and Kuri district office has Cho Sung Mo. In addition, Seoul high court of justice has Kim Jong Min and Kangnam National Pension Service has Chang Woo Hyuk as part time soldiers.

5. Macho style
This is the guys who bravely go to military service on the regular track. It is a rare case for entertainers and therefore they get warm welcome after dismissal. The representatives are Lee Min Woo and Kim Taewoo who serve in the Demilitarized Zone….

These days, it is a blessed period for male entertainers who are waiting for military service. Through fair military service, they can be shown as truthful men and fans are also expecting it. In the long term, military lives will train them and will help to implant the image as honorable entertainers. Bear in mind that military service is as good as the bond to be popular.

How can male entertainers get popularity among young men in particular in Korea?

그런데 스포츠서울 조사에서도 드러나듯, H.O.T., 젝스키스, G.O.D. 등 한때 인기를 끌던 댄스그룹 남성중 현역에 입대한 사람이 12% 밖에 안됩니다. 그리도 이들 중 대부분이 문희준군이 입대한 후에 입대하였죠. 그렇게 볼 때 문희준이 솔선수범해 군대에 입대했다는 사실은 젊은 남성들에게 잔잔한 감동을 안겨줄 수 밖에 없는 일이었죠. 이제 그가 군복무를 성실하게 마치고 제대하는 모습을 본 많은 네티즌은 그가 입대하기 전에 가졌던 악감정을 버리고, 그를 “우리처럼 군생활 한 사람”으로 환영하는 분위기입니다.

Like we can see in the poll from a magazine, Sport Seoul, 12 percent of the dancing group members who were popular, such as H.O.T. Jackskiss, and G.O.D., went to regular military service. And most of them went after Moon Hui Joon. Therefore, the fact that Moon Hui Joon finished military service sincerely made a deep impression on young men. Netizens who see him after the two year military service give up the bad impression of him before and welcome him as a ‘person who had military service like us.’

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Francophone Morocco on Eid Mubarak Said

Lydia Beyoud · 16:36

lingua → es

Last week, Morocco celebrated Aid el-Kebir (”Big Eid”), a festival commemorating Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac, and God's mercy in sparing him.

Family members visit each other over the largest meals they can afford, exchange gifts (often clothing), give alms (zakat, one of the five Pillars of Islam) and sacrifice many cuddly, tasty sheep, a tradition that symbolizes the lamb God gave Abraham to take Isaac's place.

While some bloggers content themselves with offering kind wishes, others focus on diverse topics related to the holiday.
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Morocco: Shock at Benazir Bhutto's Death

Jillian York · 15:28

The assassination of Benazir Bhutto on December 27 sparked reactions from around the world, Morocco being no exception. Moroccan bloggers were, on the whole, shocked and enraged at the killing of Pakistan's former prime minister. Here is a sampling of reactions from the blogoma:

Vagabondeuse of The Magic of My Universe summed up Moroccans' feelings most bluntly exclaiming:

Yes. Bhutto is DEAD. She was KILLED. LOOK AT THE WORLD FALLING!!! NO JUSTICE AND NO FREEDOM

Big World Learner finds that the world just keeps getting uglier:

All my mind thinks now is that Benazir Bhutto was a brave woman, and her assassination is the manifestation of utter cowardice.

The world where we are living is becoming ugly… extremely ugly.

May Bhutto’s soul and those of the other victims rest in peace.

Al Miraat/The Moroccan Mirror remembers Bhutto as a woman of courage:

Ms. Bhutto has been accused of incompetence and corruption in the past, nevertheless, she was never convicted nor any evidence has ever been brought against her. One thing is for sure: she was a hell of a courageous, beautiful and charismatic woman. A Muslim woman who undeniably loved her country and refused to hand it over to arbitrary rulers or to absolutist fanatics.

Lydia Beyoud discovered that the Francophone blogoma was just as vocal in their reactions:

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Uganda: Is Uganda mentally, intellectually and creatively broke?

Rebekah Heacock · 14:14

lingua → de · pt · es

An interview with a Kampala City Council official has blogger Tumwijuke wondering if Uganda is “mentally, intellectually and creatively broke”:

What else would explain the near absence of public art in the city? Rich men and women in Kampala are opening new hotels, shopping centers, office blocks and apartments every month. These are well traveled and widely read (I hope) people who are exposed to things like good architecture, art and culture. So why is the city so bland?

Tumwijuke follows her account of the interview with photos and descriptions of Kampala's existing public art installations, an excellent collection of what few pieces the city has to offer.

The post also calls attention to blogren newcomer kampala.ver, Uganda's first architecture and urban planning blog. Author Filoug's Yes Please! and Urban Sins categories chronicle, with photos, the best and worst of Kampala's architecture, and a multiple-post proposal details a central public transport terminal that would reduce congestion and provide a combined space for transportation and commercial activity:

Clearly, the downside to my previous argument for the need of an organized bus system including the construction of a Central Kampala Public Transport Terminal is this: With the stroke of a pen we have done away with one of Kampala’s prime tourist attractions, the Old Taxi Park.

So we better come up with something really nice as a replacement. Something that doesn’t exist anywhere in town. Something that improves quality of life, for everybody to enjoy.

Such as a shady, relaxing, traffic-free Public Square in the heart of the city. Again.

To achieve this, a ’spine’ of blocks is arranged along Luwum Street and Ben Kiwanuka Street, creating an urban frontage, at the same time shielding the square. Narrow alleyways cut trough the blocks, emphasizing the sense of openness and spaciousness of the square itself. Since Old Taxi Park is located right in between Nakasero and Owino Market, it is also suggested to strengthen this axis by turning Market Street into a pedestrian shopping street. It’s already got the right name for it.

Finally, writing from the United States, Uganda-CAN worries about the effect next year's 10% reduction in U.S. diplomatic posts will have on the ability of the U.S. to support peace talks like the ongoing ones between the government of Uganda and the rebel Lord's Resistance Army:

These cuts (in the midst of the massive disparity) come as U.S. policymakers are realizing the limits of military solutions to complex security problems. Yet, this institutional arrangement continues to privilege military approaches, while limiting the potential for diplomatic engagement. This is having a real impact in northern Uganda and the whole of Africa. The U.S. military, with the advent of AFRICOM, is increasingly becoming the face of U.S. policy on the continent. Though the military does often play a key role, this limits the creative space for the U.S. to support peace negotiations and promote sustainable conflict resolution.

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Pakistan: Why Bhutto, and what now for Pakistan?

Neha Viswanathan · 10:57

lingua → es · zht · zhs

More reactions are pouring out in the Pakistani blogosphere and elsewhere as it settles in that a very strong and capable leader is no more. Some bloggers are concerned about the law and order situation, providing personal accounts of the violence on the streets. There is also a lot of speculation about the impending elections, and the likely postponement. Taking the issue forward, some blogs are discussing the legacy of Benazir Bhutto, the future for Pakistan and the likely suspects who ordered the assassination, even as the Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility.

Red Diary discusses why Bhutto was a target, and the resulting riots.

The strong possibility of the rise of a secularist Benazir into power made her a mortal threat for those in the State who harbored sympathy for Islamic Fundamentalists, with whom the notorious intelligence agencies, such as the ISI, were closely knitted since the Cold War and the Afghan War. Benazir Bhutto become a symbol of resistance against Islamic Extremists - both residing inside and outside the State. She stood secularism and modernity against militant retrogressive and conservative trends.

Some bloggers assert that while they did not agree with Benazir Bhutto's politics, or support her part - Pakistan Peoples Party, an attack such as this is deeply tragic and reflects the turmoil that Pakistan is likely to find itself in. Muslim Matters calls it an act of terrorism, and condemns violence as a tool of resolution.

This is pure terrorism that must be condemned by all, religious or otherwise. If anyone had a problem with her politics, then the proper route is to use one’s pen and mind to argue against her ideology, not use the coward’s strategy of shutting up who you can’t argue with. Violence is the nemesis that will sink Pakistan if people don’t wake up and recognize its evil (both in an Islamic and social sense).

Echoing a similar point of view, Ali Eteraz writes an article on the Huffington Post.

Irrespective of one's views on Bhutto — mine were mostly negative — she was the primary secular-minded democratic leader of Pakistan. She had made statements about hunting Bin Laden, eradicating the pernicious madrassa system, as well as apologizing for allowing the Taliban to acquire power during her watch in the mid 90's. Her killing is a huge blow to the anti-extremist movement in Pakistan. Frankly, as it stands now, there are no other anti-extremist democratic leaders in Pakistan.

Metroblogging Karachi has a post detailing the panic on the streets. Tabish Bhimani focuses on the consequences of this tragedy, and recommends that people take caution when venturing out of their homes.

What I am trying to say here is not that one of these individuals or organizations have committed a heinous crime, a murder, deciding the fate of not just a country, but of human beings; rather what I am trying to say is that there are an equal number of possibilities as to what happened and why and that we must reserve judgement. What happens in a country such as Pakistan, which is so famous in the international media, has global repercussions.

Teeth Maestro who is providing constant updates on the event and its aftermath, sets up an online condolence book for Benazir Bhutto.

In an attempt to provide the online community and opportunity to offer their condolences to the grieving family and literally thousands of Peoples Party supporters I would like to initiate this condolence book for Benazir Bhutto. I will make it my own responsibility to present the entire list to the offices of the Pakistan Peoples Party to be attached with the main condolence book.

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Bolivia: Just Say Yes to the New Constitution

Eduardo Avila · 04:52

lingua → es

The political crisis pitting two sides in Bolivia has taken a break for the year-end holidays. While there is some indication that dialogue could take place right after the new year, things are rather calm. Bolivian blogs have also taken a break of their own, as many are providing well wishes to their readers.

Discussion regarding departmental autonomies, the new Constitution, and forthcoming referendum will also start back up after the first of the year. One site where this discussion may take place is the collective blog site that has already received quite a few comments and attention is El Taparaku [es]. As its manifesto states:

Vamos a exigir (sí, exigir) que Bolivia tenga una nueva Constitución Política del Estado. Que Bolivia logre un nuevo Pacto Social…Lo hacemos como ciudadanos sin militancia partidaria. Lo hacemos como bolivianos y bolivianas…Que el proyecto de Constitución aprobado en grande se discuta en detalle bajo el escrutinio público. Que se difunda, se conozca, se analice. Que la Nación toda, sin vetos-bloqueos ni exclusiones, diga su palabra.

We are going to demand (yes, demand) that Bolivia receives a new Constitution. That Bolivia achieves a new Social Pact…We do so as citizens without belong to any political party. We do so as Bolivians…That the Constitutional proposal approved as a whole is debated under public scrutiny. That it is distributed, read, and analyzed. That the entire Nation, without vetoes, blockades or exclusions, say what's on its mind.

The movement has called itself Los Montoneros, which as one commenter already has mentioned is not a favorable name perhaps to the group that shares the name. However, Vero explains how she interprets the name:

Un montonero es, por definición, un bicho raro. Es un bicho raro (como un taparaku) porque pretende lo imposible. No se cansa de soñar y porque vive acosado por la memoria. Es alguien que no olvida.

Por defecto, un montonero es un rebelde con causa. A diferencia de lo que se piensa no es uno más del montón, no es su origen pero si su objetivo. Ser montones.

A montonero is, by definition, a strange creature. It is a strange creature (like a taparaku) because it attempts the impossible. It does not tire of dreaming and because it lives from its memories. It is someone that does not forget.

By fault, a montonero is a rebel with a cause. The difference is that it not just one of the bunch, it is not its origin but its objective. To be a bunch.

According to one of the site's founders, Ciudadano K, the group was created during a meeting at a local coffee shop in La Paz and pledged itself to support the new Constitution and to bring the debate online:

7. La idea es lanzar una campaña ciudadana (con especial cuidado de no tener NINGÚN vínculo ni con el gobierno ni el MÁS ni nada que se les aproxime).

8. La campaña consiste en: a) Impulsar el conocimiento y debate de los contenidos de la nueva Constitución. b) Impulsar el siguiente paso democrático: referéndum constitucional. c) Impulsar el SÍ a la nueva Constitución.

7. The idea is to launch a citizen's campaign (with special care to have no link with the government or with MAS or anything that comes close).

8. The campaign consists of: a) Promoting the awareness and content debate of the new Constitution. b) Promoting the next democratic step: constitutional referendum c) Promote the YES vote for the new Constitution.

Part of this original team includes Al-Aznar, who also contributes with the illustrations for the site, La Vero Vero [es] Marco from Pandemónium [es], and Exeni from FadoCracia [es].

Marco explains why he joined this movement [es]:

Asumo una posición y tomo partido. Esto no me quita claridad ni me convierte en partidario de agrupación política alguna. Asumo posición por lo que creo y por lo que soy: Un demócrata, un ciudadano… que no pidan, los tibios, “objetividad”, por que no soy objeto.

Visión de país, acuerdo, objetivo…todo eso será nuestra constitución, constitución que deberá rendir examen en un instrumento de participación ciudadana llamada referéndum…allí, el único soberano, decidirá.

Yo votaré por el Sí.

I take a position, and take sides. This neither takes away clarity, nor makes me a partisan for any political group. I take a position for what I believe in and for what I am: A democrat, a citizen…who does not ask the lukewarm for “objectivity”, because I am not an object.

Vision for the country, agreement, objective…all of that will be our new constitution, constitution that should pass the test as an instrument of citizen's participation called a referendum…there, the sovereign ones will decide.

I will vote YES.

Since then, many other bloggers have joined the ranks and many of their RSS feeds can be found on the page's Feevy site. The posts that follow are mainly a series of one-liners and play on words in support of the current government and in opposition to autonomy movements of the east.

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Nari Jibon: Women bloggers and the dowry problem in Bangladesh

Rezwan · 01:47

lingua → jp · zht · zhs · es

Originally posted on Rising Voices

Sufia Khatun writes in the Nari Jibon Bangla Blog Amader Kotha about bride dowries which are still a menace in Bangladeshi society. Although the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1980 made dowry a punishable offence to prevent the oppression and even murder of married women, it is still stealthily practiced throughout Bangladesh.

Sufia describes her classmate who was married to a butcher because her father could not afford the dowry for a better groom. She expresses her anger [bn]:

Poverty does not bring happiness, but rather it destroys an organized life. Dowry has become an inevitable common practice in our society. The poor fathers in our society think that fatherhood of a female child is a curse. He has to spend a lot on girls from birth; carrying out expenditures of livelihood, education and what not. It’s the same for a male child, if not more. But during marriage the males do not have to go through what females endure.

It has become a practice in our society that if the daughter is to be married with an educated bridegroom, he and his house must be properly decorated (with dresses, furniture etc.). So many educated girls like Shilpi are married with an uneducated man. She has to stay back at home without applying her education. It can only depress girls like her.

She asks [bn]:

“The dowry virus has infected every woman in Bangladesh. How to get cured of it? Will Bangladesh not be freed from poverty? Will the Bangladeshi women never be free from dowry?”

In another post Sherin Sultana writes about her friend Muna who eloped with her boyfriend in an extra-marital affair. She points out how her boyfriend was able to trick her into draining money from her and resort to mental and economical violence instead of physical. It seems love does not understand logic and self-defence.

Ruma Akhter wondered what she would do if she were the Prime Minister of Bangladesh:

I have a dream to be A Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Though it is an impossible wish, but I really wish that. If it would happen in my life, I would like to use all the opportunities to develop our country.

I would offer a terrorism and nepotism-free society for the people of Bangladesh. I would try to turn the wheel of fate of the poverty-stricken people.

Education is the precondition of development. If I were the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, I would make education compulsory for all.

For the alleviation of unemployment problem and poverty, I would take some effective steps, such as- initiative of industrializations, agricultural development etc. To develop agriculture I would try to use scientific methods in agricultural sector.

I would try to do everything to make the people happy and prosperous of my country. That’s why I wish - if I were A Prime Minister!!!

Compulsory education prevails in many developed countries and education is the catalyst for development. No nation can be developed if they cannot understand their deficiencies. I am sure she would make a successful Prime Minister and, in fact, Bangladesh has already had two women Prime Ministers.

Nari Jibon celebrated the birthday of Nari Jibon founder, Dr. Kathryn B. Ward, the person behind Nari Jibon. Mayanur Akhter wrote her gratitude referring to Professor Ward as ‘mother' and then describing a bit of what the Nari Jibon project does.

Instructor Taslima Akhter posts a video-interview with Monwara Begum who faced domestic violence after marriage: Read the transcript here.

More Nari Jibon blogger profiles were posted recently.

In Nari Jibon’s regular fortnightly meeting on December 8, 2007 they discussed about their progress and the upcoming blogposts and trainings. Nari Jibon’s staff M.G. Rabbany Sujan decscribes how Nari Jibon is acting as an alternative skill provider to marginalized women in Dhaka.

Nari Jibon can surely boast of these successes.

1 comment · »»