Archive for
May 27th, 2005
Stories
Glutter: Awaiting A Democratic Hong Kong
For the next few weeks, we’ll be offering profiles of bloggers nominated for the Reporters Sans Frontières weblog awards. This profile is part of the series. Please visit the RSF voting page and vote for your favorite blogs. - Your friendly editors.
Glutter is arguably the most vocal voice from Hong Kong in the English language blogosphere.
A native of Hong Kong, Yan Sham-Shackleton, the blogger behind Glutter, started blogging the day after she took part in a half a million people march against a pending legislation which, if enacted, would threaten free speech in Hong Kong.
The government eventually back down on the law. But Sham-Shackleton had continued to write relentlessly on free speech issue and tracking the ups and downs of democractic development in Hong Kong since then. At times, her blog would also feature news on human rights violations in China.
“Because I am afraid that if we don't talk about it now, if we don't fight for and protect our freedom of press and freedom of speech, we will not have it anymore, and we can't protest every day nor is Hong Kong a democracy, so we have to work towards this goal in as many channels possible,” she wrote recently when she reflected on why she blogs.
Her blog is also a personal record in history where she hopes her writing will “turn into a historical record of the Hong Kong Story.”
But Glutter is more than an aspiration for free speech, democracy and the rule of law in Hong Kong.
It is also about showing the world graphic design, documentary-making, art, music, travel and women issues from a Hong Kong perspective.
Lately Glutter has been featuring musicians, t-shirt designs and musings on her life in a new apartment.
“Blogging is internet culture and the internet culture is a global culture,” she said recently in a local television news program in Hong Kong.
“You can have conversations with people in all over the world.”
As for her thoughts about being a freedom blog nominee herself, she wrote:“I am not here to “beat,” or “Compete,” with the 59 blogs. There is no real “Competition,” between us because none of us are working against each other. In fact we’re all working towards the same thing together. We are a team. All of us in our own way are trying to “Defend the Right of Free Expression,” through the blogging medium.”
Links for Fri, 2005-05
Middle East
More pictures from the demonstrations in Egypt, from the Arabist Network. From Cairo with Love shares a wrenching anonymous email from a woman who says she was assaulted in the riots.
Nearby in Tunisia, Zizou from Djerba and Subzero blog about Tunisian emigration. The numbers they have are:
- 80% of Tunisian youth would like to emigrate.
- 80.000 to 100.000 Tunisian youth leave Tunisia each year (Some come back of course).
- 25 to 35% of Tunisians abroad are jobless.
According to statistics from 2003, the number of Tunisians abroad is 850,000.
Sabbah is enthused about Israelii, Iranian, Syrian, Bahraini, United Arab Emirates, Egyptian, Palestinian, Moroccan, Saudi Arabian, Lebanese, Algerian, and Jordananian (and many other countries) cooperation the Sesame project – the Jordanian based Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East.
Also in Jordan, Abu Aardvark discusses the political situation facing prime minister Badran.
Africa
Friends of Ethiopia report on thousands of Ethiopian protests in D.C.
And Meskel Square reports that the Sub Saharan reformer has two “scoopettes”:
- The first is that the CUD is calling on its supporters to hold mass prayer protest sessions in mosques today and churches on Sunday
- An interview with Information Minister Bereket Simon over his fight for his seat in Lalibela.
- Ethiopian ministers are on a mission to Somaliland to look into using its Red Sea port Berbera for commerce.
4 Sheezy reflects on stalled government projects in Kenya.
Kenya pundit opens a thread asking for Africa stories -good stories - that people wish were written about more. Help her out here.
South America
Daniel Venezuala talks about the High Court drama going on there – with lots of comments and discussion following.
Europe
A fistful of Euros, despite the sunny afternoon, posts throughout the day, diggin deep into to Euroconstitutional arguments, and predicts greater efforts to enforce the Stability and Growth pact.
Central Budapest talks about the future of digital TV in Hungary.
South Asia
Kiruba asks for help: “Would you know any person or shop which services digital cameras either in Chennai, Hyderabad or Bangalore?” Answer here.
Anyone?
Lazygeek talks about the politics (and marketing) of the saucy posters for the movie Vallavan.
And Anita gives props and the trademark to the Bangalore bloggers bLogout to Suman.
Rich pickings today from Southeast Asia:
The Filipino Librarian has launched a campaign with the Filipino blogging community to correct the online image of Filipinas - women of the Philippines. Click on all these links and support their campaign.
Inside PCIJ blogs a recent report about the state of women on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines.
Vietnamese women may attempt an online campaign like the Filipino bloggers someday. Noodle Pie takes a break from his usual Vietnamese food-blogging to reveal a scandal surrounding Miss Vietnam.
Sarasonteh posts on Thailand's “most embarrasing ad contest” and the “fawning correspondents' club” in Bangkok.
In Singapore, Mr. Brown reports on a blogger flash-party. [LINK CORRECTED] There are Flickr pix too.
Another great Globalvoices Star Wars Post: Mystery Tan Lines does Return of the Sith in Singlish!!
Some people are getting a bit too carried away by this Star Wars craze… Mack at Brandmalaysia reports that a man in a Darth Vader suit has been flashing his “sabre” at unsuspecting women in Bandar Baru Nilai.
More seriously, Mack has a guest editorial on the balkanization and compartmentalization of Malaysian society.
East Asia:
The Mask of China reports that while Starbucks is coming to Dalian, their local staff can't spell.
South Asia:
United We Blog in Nepal expresses solidarity between Nepali and Iranian bloggers.
In India, Vantage Point meets a Muslim taxi driver who is investing in his daughter's future high-tech career, while encouraging his son to drive a taxi because the boy is nowhere near as smart.
3rd World View discusses the Bangladeshi rock scene.
Central Asia:
Nathan at Registan.net has a thorough Uzbekistan news roundup.
Latin America:
Devil's Excrement continues his regular criticism of Venezuela's state oil company, the PDVSA.
Venezuela News and Views has more on the PDVSA and allegations of corruption.
Barrio Flores on the protests in Bolivia.
Europe:
Neeka's Backlog recounts how a primary school class in the Ukraine is basically required by their teacher to support Yushenko.
Scraps of Moscow says: “Russia…appears to be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with China in its response to the events in Andijan.”
According to Fjordman, Dutch Muslims are encouraged to vote “yes” to the European Constitution.
Middle East:
Spark Armada shares his presentation for the Israeli “Blog Day” in which he talks about “The New People” and the role of blogs in people's identity.
In Syria, Amarji believes the President is bound to fail.
The Syrian News Wire analyzes Syria's admission that foreign fighters have been entering Iraq over the Syrian border.
Crossroads Arabia on how the Arab world is reappraising America.
Rafah Pundits Radio comments on a “blogfight” between semitism.net and Israellycool.
Lebanese Political Journal has details on the first round of parliamentary elections to take place this coming Sunday, and argues that Hezbollah is an international issue, despite the fact that politicians have been claiming the contrary.
Sami at An Iraqi's Thoughts thinks Zarqawi's arrest is “irrelevant”.
Hammorabi comments on a civilian's capture of terrorists.
Raed in the Middle wants Al Arabiya to change its policy of filtering viewer comments on its website when those comments are critical of the U.S. presence in Iraq.
Mr. Behi, Iranian Prospect and Farideh at IranScan are all talking about whether Iran's reformers should or shouldn't boycott the election. Neda calls for a boycott.
“Hello from the Land of Pharaohs” describes a failed attempt to vote.
1 Pissed Arab on why some people have problems with the spread of democracy in the Middle East.
Africa:
Commentary.co.za points out South Africa's mainstream media is having credibility problems.
Chippala has an update on the Nigerian presidential campaign.
Black Looks links to a report on Nigerian police abuse.
Black Star Journal points out Africa's 2004 growth rate was highest this century.
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