Global Voices Online

Paula writes about a gadget for cooling camels' milk in Somalia: “My brother Dominic Wanjihia invented this gadget which he calls Fine Lined Evaporative Cooler, for rural application in Somalia - the cooling of camels milk for transportation . He was working on a project for VETAID, Somali Pastoral Dairy Development Program - SPDDP,in Burao, Somalia June 2008.”

Since it has become extremely dangerous for journalists to operate from Somalia, several Somali journalists have left the country for Kenya where they are working from. Rob writes about them in a post titled, “Somalia's Exiled Press Pack.“

“While our rich and much wealthier neighbors shun Somali refugees and keep them out, Yemen - one of the poorest countries in the world - is one of the very few places that Somali refugees are warmly welcomed, allowed to freely move and work; and have free health care and education,” writes Yemeni blogger Omar Barsawad.

Rob's analysis of international aid and the socio-political situation in Somalia: “It seems in the rush to apply standard developmental thinking no-one has remembered that this is Somalia. Policies are being implemented that would have been risky in fragile states emerging from war, the Ugandas, Rwandas and Ethiopias. But Somalia is no longer a fragile state or even a failed state. It is a post-failed state, with its own mechanisms and institutions for survival.”

Khadija discusses US military interest in Africa: “According to the US African Command website, Somalia -– invaded by US backed Ethiopian troops in Jan 2007, under the guise of hunting Al–Qaeda –- is in desperate need of assistance.”

White Africa writes about a map showing pirate activities in Somalia: “UNOSAT has released the following map of pirate activity off the coast of Somalia in 2007. Fascinating map.”

A U.S. airstrike this morning targeting a “known al-Qaeda terrorist” in Somalia destroys two houses, approximately the size of my bedroom, killing 3 women, 3 children and no terrorists, writes Egyptian blogger D B Shobrawy, who ends his post with: “And that's how you recruit a terrorist.”

Royale Somali blogs about Somali elders supporting Obama in Ohio: “I heard that a lot of Somali elders in Ohio who are also American citizens would be going to caucus for Obama , dressed like that notorious photo. Ohio has a large Somali community around 20 Thousand.”