Global Voices Online

Onnik Krikorian reports more swastika graffiti in Yerevan while Thomas Seropian has photos.

Sean Roberts reports on the reconfiguration of Kazakhstan's political party landscape.

Raffi K. reports that there is finally some strong evidence that Armenia's internet monopoly will be broken up.

Hans reports on difficulties explaining blogs to Georgian youth.

Rantings, ravings and musings of a twenty somebody goes to the India Social Forum and finds the mood to be rather activist. “And I realize that Indian Social Forum is the biggest mela for all kinds of social activism. I am amazed that there are so many people who care about such a vast array of issues.”

Jhansi Ki Rani goes to the Indian Social Forum (part of the World Social Forum) and reflects on what she calls the Great Indian Picnic. “I realised that the vast collective was almost like a little India. Everyone was there. from rickshawpullers in Delhi, to Women's groups in Kalahandi to beedi workers union in Tirunelvelli”

Cities with a colonial history often undergo face lifts, including a change in the public art and sculpture. Metroblogging Lahore on the stature of Alfred Woolner and a picture. “This I believe is the only statue of a human figure left in its original place in Lahore. Located across the street from the Lahore Museum, I think not many of us actually notice it.”

Unreformable Muddle on the lack of privacy for confidential information in Sri Lanka. “One is bombarded with a gazillion ultra personal and highly confidential questions when obtaining bank a account, phone connection, insurance, lease etc., but what assurance do we have that all the information we provide are confidential as they say it is?”

Salam Dhaka posts a link to a video that highlight “The five year reign of terror that branded the Nizami-Khaleda rule.” (2001 - 2006). [Note - Video contains graphic images.]

La Russophobe's reader provides a translation of a Russian-language piece on Anna Politkovskaya, written by Yevgenia Albats.

Sean's Russia Blog translates a 1985 Soviet-time internal document listing the “ideologically harmful” Western music bands.

White Sun of the Desert writes about spending part of the Police Day at a police department in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

A trip to Sergiev Posad, travel by Russian trains, and a joke about the Communist hell - from the Turkish Invasion.

Foreign Notes points out that Ukrainians are very concerned with the soon-to-be-raised communal services tariffs: “My bet is that this is a far greater worry for most families that questions about NATO, special status for the Russian language, possible entry into the EU, squabbles in the VR, and so on.”

Desperate Serbwife writes an open letter to the Belgrade City Manager: “I have a few ideas. Instead of spending money on digging up perfectly good sidewalks and resurfacing streets that don't need it, put the money towards more parking garages. God knows that the entire city is in desperate need of more parking.”

The Swanker introduces an ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) TV series on Islam in Indonesia. The blogger links to the transcripts of the program and asks “anyone with even a passing interest in Indonesia, Islam or both” to read them

Sjroeplog in Papua New Guinea writes about a dish he tried recently. “And to be honest; it tasted good. Just like eating chips.”

Ecuadorean blogger and communications professor, Christian Espinosa publishes the agenda of an international conference on “the evolution of the technological revolution, which will be held in Quito, Ecuador from November 27 to December 1. Sponsored by the Organization of American States and the Center for Higher Studies in Communication (CIESPAL), the conference [ES] will include a workshop in weblogs by Mexican blogger Octavio Islas and Patricia Pomies of Educ.ar [ES].

Cities of Joy describes the sustainable legacy of Bogotá's former mayor, Enrique Peñalosa. Bicycle Mark recently featured current Bogotá mayor, Luis Eduardo Garzón (”Lucho”) as part of his “global mayors” podcast series. And finally, a Creative Commons-licensed video interview with Enrique Peñalosa is available at NYC Streets Renaissance.

Costa Rican native Andres Guadamuz examines the nexus of book publishing and Creative Commons.

Shirl, a horseback riding guide in Ecuador, describes the differences between bullfighting in Spain and the Ecuadorean Andes and gives an account of a lassoing competition. Complete with photos.

Bolivia Rising has translated an article by former Bolivian Minister for Hydrocarbons Andres Soliz Rada in which he articulates a “an indomestiza vision, which, ‘as opposed to traditional nationalism, rescues the potentials of those peoples oppressed for five centuries by internal and external colonialism, without denying, through mestizaje, Western or European contributions.'” Will Evo Morales' MAS government be able to carry through such a vision?

Javier Aroche notes [ES] that “a few days ago the BlogChapines [ES] directory hit 150 registered blogs, when just four months ago were were only at 100 [ES]. On this occasion, the 150th blog corresponded to Notas al Margen [ES] by José Joaquín.”

Lee Iwan meditates on the meaning and many proclaimed etymologies of “gringo.”

You Missed This analyzes assassination claims made by two Kenya's leading politicians, “My view is that by making this thing public Raila has halted any such plot, if it existed. But if I were him, I would be much more careful from now on and I would loosen my iron grip on ODM affairs and develop as many prominent foot soldiers as possible.”

Black Looks wins user prize for Best Weblog in English, “I Just received an email from Sean Sinico of the BOBS award congratulating me on winning the public’s choice award for the Best WeBlog in English.”

Jamie introduces the English verison of Migrant worker television Korea (MWTK), which has multilingual internet broadcast.

Robert Koehler in Marmot's hole comments on the clearing of 83 Koreans (out of 148) conscripted by the Japanese military during the World War II of war crimes.

Neomaxisme has an interesting post on Japan lines culture: ever since I first lived in Tokyo back in 1998, the concept of lines/queues has always been inextricably central to my understanding of Japanese consumer culture.

ESWN translates a post from Southern Daily written by Fu Jian Feng on his expectation of journalist professional attitude.

Michael Turton has a very well written post about Taiwan's development and environment in term of gravel supply.

Let's discover graffitis on Tehran's walls, thanks to Kamangir. The blogger considers the photo not very Islamic one.

South China Morning Post Editor Mark Clifford fired staff members for producing an in-house spoof. In an unprecedented action, an estimated 80-plus newsroom staffers – male, female, Chinese and western alike – have signed what amounts to a no-confidence vote in Mark Clifford.- more from Shenzhen zen and Asia Sentinel.

One Man Bandwidth discusses about the situation of peasant riot in China.

DANWEI has a translation on a report on the life changes in Beijing in the past 20 years: women have more fun, men cook less.

Collectif Haiti de Provence points to a Radio Kiskeya news article stating (Fr): “The 2d Caribbean Women's Forum ended the evening of November 10th in Fort-de-France, Martinique with the participation of a Haitian delegation led by Feminine Condition Minister Marie-Laurence Jocelyn Lassegue … Delegations from various Caribbean countries (Guadeloupe, Dominica, Saint-Lucia, Haiti, Jamaica, Antigua, Martinique) had a two-day exchange around the theme ‘Women and Decision-making'.”