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Images from Argentina: Tango Callejero

David Sasaki · 22:27 · Americas

“Tango Callejero” by Osvaldo Ponton

“Tango Callejero” means “Street Tango.” The photograph was taken in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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Pakistan: Blogspeak

Omer Alvie · 07:24 · South Asia

So, what's going in the Pakistani Blogsphere? Quite a lot actually, but let me just bring everyone up to speed on some of them.

Starting with blatant self promotion, the olive ream comments on the expected Mike Brown (FEMA) resignation; the Republic of Tea pours out a deeper meaning and lesson from Hurricane Katrina, Suspect Paki complains about the ruin of the English language; the Fountainhead explains the affect of John Bolton on the UN; Teeth Maestro commends G. W. Bush for accepting the responsibility of mismanagement the New Orleans disaster; and Politically Incorrect pontificates about Dan Brown's talent as an author.

Lots more coming in weeks to follow…stay tuned.

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Inside The Japanese Blogosphere

Nevin Thompson · 02:39 · East Asia

David Jacobson at Japan Media Review has prepared an excellent summary about how Japanese bloggers covered the country's recent parliamentary elections on September 11.

As part of the post, Jacobson documents the emergence of “housewife-turned-journalist” Ai Izumi, who, at 38 and despite having no training as a professional journalist, was able to interview some of Japan's top policy makers, and posted transcripts of the interviews on her blog.

Besides the election, Japanese bloggers are trying to get to the bottom of the “White Wristband Fraud.”

“Every three seconds in the developing world, a child dies,” the Hottokenai organization reminds Japanese internet users, who can help by purchasing white wrist bands sold by the organization at convenience stores and other locations for 300 yen (US$2.70). Modeled on the “One” campaign in the United States, proceeds are supposed to help alleviate poverty in the developing world.

However, as one blogger points out, none of the proceeds from the sale of the white wristbands in Japan will be directly donated to people in need, and the Hottokenai website even admits as much.

Instead, 90 percent of the money raised will be spent on manufacturing and distributing the wristbands (which are made in China), while the remaing 10 percent - 30 yen per white wrist band - will be used to create a “campaign” to change government policy towards developing nations. Activies include organizing events, educating people about the campaign, and buying media time.

So, while not exactly a fraud, many bloggers say Japan's white band campaign is a waste of money.

“It's unfortunate,” says one blogger, “that there is no mention in stores of how money raised from the writstbands will be spent, and people who buy them will probably think they've donated money to less fortunate people, when really they haven't.”

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Welcome to the Kurdish Blogosphere

Deborah Ann Dilley · 02:11 · Middle East & North Africa

The subject of Kurdistan (be it in a political or idealist setting) has always been a controversial one. While no political entity of Kurdistan exists, the topic of establishing a homeland for the Kurds (the largest single ethnic group in the world without their own state) is still a primary political aim of the majority of Kurdish peoples. Kurdish history, culture and language is decidedly rich; and many of the Kurdish bloggers have made it their mission to disseminate as much information as possible about the Kurds to a wider audience. Countries with large populations of Kurdish peoples and/or have regions referred to as Kurdistan are: Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. The majority of bloggers who blog from Kurdistan are located in Northern Iraq, however the Diaspora movement has been gaining more and more ground in the blogosphere. The goal of this weekly posting is to introduce readers to the world of the Kurdish Blogosphere and provide updates onto the current issues being discussed and debated within their blogs.

Perhaps the best site for an introduction into the Kurdish Blogosphere is the Kurdistan Bloggers Union, which has done an excellent job of bringing many diverse voices together in support of the Kurdish peoples. Recently celebrating its one year anniversary, the Kurdistan Bloggers Union has tackled topics ranging from the history of the Kurds, current events in the region, to more whimsical subjects such as combining popular culture with Kurdish culture. Reader support has even lead to the creation of a KBU Forum, used to discuss everything Kurdish, and a News-site. The links on this blog are highly recommended as they have one of the most comprehensive lists of Kurdish Blogs that are written in English. Recent activity on this blog has been focused on the activities of the various members. Vladimir, a Dutch journalist, was recently highlighted for his efforts in the Kurdish cause and an intro was given to his new blog From Holland to Kurdistan, which focuses on the history of the Kurdish people. Piling, another member of the Kurdistan Bloggers Union, gave a photo tour of the Library in the Kurdish Institute of Paris where she is employed as a librarian.

Thematically, the Kurdish Blogs can be divided into 3 main areas of content: Culture, History and Political Commentary. A more detailed explanation of these areas will be given in next week’s installment. However, within the Kurdish Blogosphere it is important to note that in times of crisis the Kurdish Bloggers have proven themselves to be surprisingly quick to respond to issues and, in some cases, fill in the gaps left by media coverage. An example would be of the July 2005 violence against the Kurds within the borders of Iran, most notably in the province of Mahabad. When little or no news was to be found on the events taking place, Kurdish Bloggers formed a site dedicated strictly to giving news about the happenings in Mahabad. This ability (while still in its infancy) to form grassroots activism in the blogosphere is a sign of strength within the Kurdish bloggers and should prove to be interesting to monitor the political development that will generate in the days, months and years to come.

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