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Best Latin American Weblog: The Cooking Diva

David Sasaki · 21:12 · Americas

It seems, at times, that the only phenomenon growing faster than the explosion of weblogs themselves are the self-proclaimed award ceremonies that recognize their propagation and increasing cultural influence. Amid the orgie of link-seeking and back-patting however, one awards ceremony has long stood out as the sort of Nobel Prize of online diarists, even if it's selection has tended to be Anglophone-biased. More commonly referred to as “The Bloggies,” the sixth annual Weblog Awards are the creation of 23-year-old Michigan native and anime enthusiast, Nikolai Nolan.

According to Wikipedia, “The awards cover thirty categories, including eight by region … seven by subject … and awards for ‘Weblog of the Year' and ‘Lifetime achievement'.” This year's winners were published today and we are proud to announce that Cooking Diva, the personal weblog of Global Voices contributor, chef extraordinaire, and all around good person, Melissa De Leòn Douglass, was selected as “Best Latin American Weblog.”

It is no surprise that The Cooking Diva Blog often focuses on food, but De Leòn Douglass' content is far from mere gastronomy. Based in Panama, she has lived, worked, and studied in Mexico, California, Thailand, and around Latin America. That worldly experience often finds its way into her writing and attracts a readership from across the globe.

Whether it's meditating on mangoes, appreciating the artisanship of cheese making in Ecuador, or traveling to rural Panama in search of a cocada-making legend, her warm style of writing comes off like a written letter from a friend.

You can learn more about Melissa De Leòn Douglass by reading her biography or a fun post on “10 things you never knew about me” including her appetite for homegrown flowers.

Other finalists in the Latin America category were Bestiaria, a witty Argentine feminist's blog in Spanish, Motel de Moka, a bilingual music blog from Mexico, Ponchorama, also bilingual and also based in Mexico, and finally, Guyana-Gyal who was previously interviewed by Georgia Popplewell on Global Voices.

Congratulations to Melissa and all of the other finalists and nominees in this year's sixth annual Weblog Awards.

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Afghan Whispers: Justice, Discrimination & Poor Animals

Farid Pouya · 19:32 · Central Asia & Caucasus

Afghan Warrior is upset that a former intelligence chief during communist period was condemned but others who have done worse holding responsibilities in government. The blogger says

“It's so sad when the many criminals in high government posts are not being prosecuted - people who destroyed 70% of the capital Kabul and killed more than 70 thousand people just in Kabul from 1992-1996. Every single one of these Jihad commanders was acting as a king in their area. Looting and killing was done on a daily basis. But now some of them are in the current government and parliament and they are not being prosecuted. People are scared to appeal against them but if the government put these criminals in jail and bring them to justice of course thousands of people will be eyewitnesses of their inhuman crimes. It is clear to everyone that all governments have their opponent. Like the Mujahideen were against the communist government which ran the country from 1979-1992. During this time people killed from both sides and it is wrong to stand a former intelligence chief responsible for crimes carried out by others. “

Maykadeh says that animals are really mistreated & even abused sexually in Afghanistan. He writes

“They have to pull those heavy, over-loaded carts while being whipped mercilessly all day, then much like the women, they have to look forward to being screwed by some sexually frustrated guy at night.

Which brings me to another point, if they would cease this the masochistic sexual segregation, then they wouldn’t have to resort to buggering farm animals and little boys (which is so widespread here - how very strange for a Muslim country!)

Now I’m reminded me of a story. A guy working for some organization or another in Uruzgan province came across a Koochi (Pashtun nomads) settlement and they complained that the Americans had come down in helicopters and stolen a camel. Bewildered and somewhat sceptical, he asked why they would do such a thing? Well, according to the Koochis, it was a young and very beautiful camel so the Americans must have kidnapped it for sex. True story.”

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Polish Blogosphere Update

Jordan & Maria Seidel · 18:13 · Eastern & Central Europe

Don't ever lose your wallet in Poland, especially if it contains your bank card - that's the lesson gleaned from expat Wendy Lady of The Poland Diaries. After reading about her ordeal to a open a bank account, I have concluded that Eurocrats can learn a thing or two from Polish-style bureaucracy. Wendy Lady laments:

I've been trying to open a bank account for 2 months and it's still not open. No, that's not entirely accurate, I can now put money into the account, I just can't take it out.

But wait, digging a little deeper, I found a virtual “cornucopia” of stories, information, and even academic research on Polish bureaucracy.

Turning now to public health news in Poland, the beatroot and other sources report that “It's Official”: avian flu has been confirmed within Polish borders. Following the news, and subsequent media coverage, the economic fallout is discussed. In the comments section of the beatroot, Roman ponders the sale of his KFC stock, while P. Gentle sympathizes with poultry farmers…

…who are now facing an irrational consumer boycott of their products. Two hundred million birds have been slaughtered or have died from the disease so far.

Also ruffling feathers, in Germany this time, is Poland's President. On a recent visit to Berlin, Lech Kaczynski was confronted by protesters, but, unperturbed, he had this to say this about homosexuals:

I do not plan to persecute homosexuals or to hinder their careers. But there is no reason to encourage it because it would mean that mankind would slowly die out.

Never to be outdone by flamboyance, especially when it comes to stage garb, the beatroot reports that the 70's Swedish pop quartet ABBA dusted off their polyester pants in support of Warsaw Pride:

The four members of Abba, who have hardly been in the same room as each other since they broke up nearly two decades ago, have came together this week to sign memorabilia which will be auctioned off on the internet.

While the publicity generated by such stunts is sure to raise the issue in the public's consciousness, doubts remain. In the comments section of the beatroot, sonia says that many homosexuals in Poland are still ‘in the closet' -

…it won't be easy in Poland. Most Polish lesbians I know are in the closet and determined to stay there. Because of their families, religion, upbringing. The last thing they want are parades and publicity around them.

(more…)

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KenyanSphere this week

Juliana Rotich · 04:31 · Sub-Saharan Africa

In the followup to the government sanctioned raid on the standard newspaper on thursday March 2nd, kenyan blogger/journalist John Kamau gives a detailed piece showing John Michuki's background, thus giving a more in depth look at the man who defended the government over the attack. He notes,

A man who joined the civil service at the age of 25 in 1955, and at the height of Mau Mau war Michuki started work when the word state security was used to intimidate the African press.

[snip]

If he could crack down on the Mau Mau — or witness the crackdown — his recent efforts and threat to crack down the media will earn him wrath for his “tight-fisted” tendencies. Unlike in 1970 when he was asked by Kenyatta to start up the Kenya Commercial Bank after the government bought the former National and Grindlays Bank., Michuki is this time flexing his muscles on the wrong people. It is a battle he can hardly win. Or can he?

The mau mau war refers to the armed resistance against colonial occupation by Britain.

There were peaceful protests this past week against the actions of the government, and Kenyan analyst was there, giving a first person account of the rally from Uhuru Park.

Prior to the raid on the Standard Newspaper, an alternative weekly called Weekly citizen was raided in February and a journalist detained. KenyanPundit posts the articles that led to the raid, and Kenyan Analyst adds another article that would appeared on the Weekly Citizen. kumekucha notices that the weekly citizen staff [were]charged using an old colonial law.
On March 10th, President Kibaki made one statement regarding the press attack, stating that the government would continue to guarantee freedom of expression. This was reported March 11th by Nationmedia.(free subscription)

On to financial news, bankelele reports about Kenya's largest IPO in “here comes Kengen”, where “The Kengen IPO will open with rather short notice on March 20 with shares priced at Kshs 11.90 each.”. Bankelele also takes a look back at Kenya Airways when it was K7. Kamundulio is not happy with Kenya airways, as a result of an unfriendly experience, noting the stark contrast between the experience of passengers on the ground and the ads on t.v.

Kenyan Bloggers celebrated International womens day this past wednesday, with their entries being covered by global voices in Part 1 and part 2. Several gentlemen also joined the women in celebrating this day. Magaidi has a tribute, Ntwiga honors his wife Njeri, his mom and Wangari Maathai; Kenyan Analyst shares a piece about Liberia's Ellen Sirleaf Johnson.

Cirdan links to the Stanford Encyclopaedia entry on African Sage philosophy, on another post, he points to a Betty Caplan's website, lets just say Cirdan is not a fan of this columnist.

On the inspirational tip, there are two entries of note, the first by Rombo“What Inspires you?” and the second is an excellent piece “Afraid to be great” by Magaidi

If you like Kenyan music, Mocha has some links to music news and websites.

In sports, Kenyan Cricket reports that “Kenyan players ranked in the top 100 “. He also has an entry suggesting government funding for kenyan cricket.

Last but not least, mental acrobatics posts his first podcast, following in the heels of medusa and the boots of Msaniixl.

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