Global Voices Online

Tolkun Umaraliev reports on the shooting of a fuel truck driver by a US Air Force guard at Manas Airport in Kyrgyzstan, which he says could spark anti-American sentiment.

Kaukasus gives a glowing review of Georgia's new passports.

Registan.net says that criticizing the supposed adoption of “US-style democracy” for Kyrgyzstan's ills overlooks much more realistic sources of the country's problems.

As of today, Armenia has no national anthem. Onnik Krikorian explains why.

Afrika-Aphukira writes about the intersection of language, politics, and development in Malawi, “The twin issues of language and politics are extremely important, and have consequences that affect the long-term development plans of any society.”

A South African peacekeeper and blogger in Darfur responds to questions from Sudan Watch :
Question: How can you tell who is a bandit and who is a janjaweed?
Answer: I wish I knew. The one is politically motivated and the other is not.

The Turkish Invasion writes about the Soviet idea of air conditioner: fortochka.

An update on “Poisongate” at Sean's Russia Blog.

Very Russian explains the origin of last name ‘Litvinenko.'

Naijaman is pissed off with people who label all Nigerians ‘fraudsters', “If all Nigerians committed fraud, the UK economy will probably collapse.”

Ruminations on Russia discovers a personal connection to Litvinenko's case: turns out he flew “back and forth to the UK three times on planes that have, or had traces of Polonium 210 on them.”

Fernando Casale publishes the new video of the Argentine band Los Alamos [ES]. They'll be playing a free show this Thursday at Radio Set in Buenos Aires.

Copydude posts photos of some weird street art in Novgorod.

Photos from Sakhalin at White Sun of the Desert: here and here.

The Straitjacket Diaries is rather annoyed with adverts run by fairness cream companies. “I mean, we're all supposed to buy that if a woman isn't possessed of a flawless, clear, peaches-n-cream, FAIR complexion, she is to be denied everything good in life, like a career and marriage and dates?”

Blank Noise Project compiles some testimonies from participants at a recent intervention aimed at increasing awareness about and combating sexual harassment on streets in a railway station in Mumbai. “At first, I found myself reflexively looking away when a man caught my eye. But once I got used to the concept, the feeling of empowerment was incredible. What I realised was that, true to the feminist axiom, it all just comes down to power.”

“Cvander” asks his readers which newspapers are most popular in their country according to Technorati [ES]. In Guatemala the most linked-to online papers are ElPeriodico.com.gt - 1,506 links, PrensaLibre.com - 1,128 links, La Hora - 114 links.

Noting the importance of Teleton in uniting Chile, Carlos Gustavo Machicado Salas argues that divided Bolivia is in need of its own Teleton [ES].

Bob Glass says that only 23.7% of the eligible voters participated in Costa Rica's Sunday municipal elections. Election results here.

Tim Muth looks at a recent poll by the University of Central America, which he says “provides an insight into the pessimism most Salvadorans have about the situation facing their country and the government's efforts to deal with it.”

Will Peter Minshall, perhaps Trinidad and Tobago's most lauded mas' designer, be returning to the Carnival arena in 2007? Trinidad Carnival Diary is excited at the prospect of another Minshall band…

On 6th December 1992, Babri Masjid, a mosque built in the 16th century was destroyed by fundamentalists. Synchroni-Cities remembers the day with much poignancy. “I was twelve years old when the mosque was destroyed. Why do I keep rememebering it? Because though I know it is a fantasy, an idealization, I do remember the world being a better, less fraught place before that date.”

New Mandala writes about a car rally taking place in north-east India and Myanmar. “The rally traverses a route that is maybe just starting to re-emerge as a viable conduit for everyday trade and transportation.”. A former supporter of democracy in Myamar, India is now open to seeking closer with the military government.

The Swanker blogs about imposition of strict islamic dress code on non-Muslims in Malaysian city of Kota Baru. “But I strongly doubt whether such laws would be acceptable in the rest of the country. And developments like these can only serve to polarise Malaysia's Muslims - between those that believe Islam should regulate all of society, from the Government down - and those that believe that practice of their religion should remain in essence a private matter”

True Sri Lankan writes on preserving old buildings in Colombo. “It is sad since we should be making an attempt to restore those old buildings since they are part of our history and we should make sure that they are preserved for the future generations.”

Rediff, an Indian portal has a series on the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 - which had a direct hand in the independence of Bangladesh. Drishtipat links to the same and feels the Bangladeshi perspective is missing. The comments for the post have interesting takes on history and the nature of the war between India and Pakistan.

“Despite the murder of Rachel Corrie almost three years ago in Gaza, international volunteers continue to arrive in Palestine to help bring justice to the people living there. These are wonderful, brave young people who have no fear for their lives, standing up to the very forces that killed Rachel,” Steve said.

Women's volleyball attracts a crowd in Qatar, John B. Chilton said.

“What do we get from the United States? What is this aid? And what are the conditions? A high percentage are loans, and of the “aid” most must be spent in the United States. This strengthens the Unites States economy, weakens Israel's military industries and gives the US the tools to control Israel. When Israel buys from American defense industries and improves on the weapon, America profits, not Israel,” Batya said.

Ahmad, Roba and Lubna are attending Jordan's ICT Forum (kingdom's premier international information and communications technology industry event). Keep an eye for updates and latest news from these bloggers.

“Last week's strike was over quickly after promises were made by the government offices, to transfer money to the municipalities who have not been paying their employees' salaries for many months now due to their dire financial situation. Some municipalities indeed paid, but the majority never received money and 12.000 employees and 40.000 pensioners are still waiting… The strike may be renewed tomorrow,” Yudit said.

“My mother saw a group of men collecting some wood off the beach the other day. She assumed they were custodial workers and thanked them for their work, asking why the Municipality didn't send people out to clean up the beach more often. It was then that she realized they were actually not trash collectors but Palestinians searching for driftwood to light a small campfire with. Not only that, but as she would learn, it was the Palestinian Minister of the Environment, Yousuf Abu Safiya and two of his co-workers. It appears they are also stuck in Egypt,” Laila reporting from Gaza/Egypt borders.

Hizbullah’s people are turning other Lebanese into enemies. Angry mourners chanting “death” to Premier Fouad Saniora buried Tuesday a young Shiite man “Death to Israel”, “Death to America” and now “Death to Siniora”. Somehow, these death threats always backfire and countless Shias under the spell of the lords of jihad die instead, Abu Kais said.

“Predictions: One week after the establishment of the moonbase the American media will declare the moon effort a quagmire. The European Union will complain that the USA is using 100% of the moon’s resources. Commentators on El Jazeera will report the moon is controlled by the Jews. China will provide the moonbase with cheap lawn furniture and televisions. Tunisia will not comment on the moonbase,” Leilouta said.

As though the Middle East needs more violence; a video game where the player controls a suicide bomber in a crowded street has gone on display in Israel. Among the other games was a Syrian-made game showing Palestinian gunmen shooting at IDF soldiers, and plotting to kidnap Bush. Some of these games are created by major gaming companies, and others by individual designers. “Who exactly is teaching whom what?” Dr. Marlyn Tadros wonders!

An anonymous blogger doctor report blogged an open letter to the Civic Party concerning the political campaign for election of Chief executives (zh) and there is a list of “media promotion fee”: Apple Daily: HK$ 50,000 (discounted); Ming Pao: HK$ 80,000 (discounted); South China Morning Post: HK$ 189,379 (to be confirmed); Hong Kong Economic Times: (awaiting reply).

ESWN asks a simple question: what exactly is a “promotion” fee paid to a newspaper? … Does this mean that the newpapers are getting paid for editorial content favorable to Alan Leong (top figure in Civic Party)?

Lee in Tokyo times reports two Japanese health ministers have started a website (with photos of their bellies) to document their fight against getting fatter.

Debito translates an article about the treatment of foreign workers in Japan and NGO's effort in advocating “free choice of work sector”.

Robert Koehler in Marmot's Hole puts together discussion about the meeting of North and South Korea journalists.

To get into the spirit of the season, Guanaguanare has compiled a fun list of Trinidad and Tobago's Top 25 Christmas songs that will get your feet tapping.

Arubagirl is grateful for small (if predictable) mercies when it comes to the inclement weather the island has been experiencing.

KnowProSE.com quotes from a SciDev.Net article on the ecological importance of old-growth forests.

At a time when regional airlines are struggling to stay profitable, Jamaican Blogger republishes an article from Jamaicaworldwide.com about the future of Air Jamaica. And Lifespan of a Chennette gets sentimental about the impending close of Trinidad and Tobago's BWIA.

Another Caribbean author featured at the 2006 Miami Book Fair is Deborah Jack, a multi-media artist who grew up in St. Maarten. Geoffrey Philp posts a podcast of Jack's reading of “The Rainy Season”, her first published book of poetry.

IMHO.bm dissects the state of race relations in Bermuda, following a recent confrontation in Parliament between Premier Dr. Ewart Brown and Former Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons.

Says Harinjaka of last Sunday's presidential election (Fr): “No surprise indeed … Ravalomanana will be reelected hands down by an electorate that was not particularly passionate about the event. Across from him were candidates who lost in advance and whose ballots were sometimes not even distributed to the voting booths for lack of ressources.”

L'odyssee de Tattum posts (Fr) pictures of the candidates in last Sunday's presidential election and the cartoons that spoof them.