Archive for
February 9th, 2007

   

Stories

Arabisc: Egyptian Women a Cut Above the Rest

Dr Hala Sarhan

Prostitution, female circumcision and lesbianism aren't vices restricted to Egyptian woman, says Egyptian blogger Tamr Heneh, in an open letter to Egyptian talk show hostess Dr Hala Sarhan.

According to the blogger, the Arab world has much more problems which Dr Sarhan could focus on, instead of continuing to drag the reputation of Egyptian women to the ground.

تابعت حلقات فتيات الليل ….. أيون : أعترافات الساقطات المصريات و كيف انخرطن فى هذا المضمار و كيف تحولن الى مومسات و مدمنات و ساقطات ..بالصوت و الصورة …تابعتها ليه؟ لأن هالة سرحان أعلامية بارعة و ممتعة و قعدتها حلوة .
بس يعنى يا دكتورة هى كل المواضيع الشائكة بتاعتك تنحصر فى المرأة المصرية؟ بغاء .. سحاق .. ختان .. هباب ؟؟ للدرجة دى لحمنا رخص
“I followed the episodes on the girls of the night which was about the confessions of Egyptian prostitutes and how they got inticed into this business and how they became addicts. Why did I follow them? Because Hala Sarhan is an interesting media personality and her programmes are attractive. But seriously Dr, why are all your hot topics focused on Egyptian women? Prostitution..lesbianism..circumcision..other problems…Is our meat this cheap?” she claims.

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Afghan Whispers:National Reconcilation and Ashura

Askar Gu Raiz talks about national reconcilation in country.The blogger writes

I believe the mere debate around the hostilities of the past three decades, and the indirect confession that parties involved in those wars shoulder responsibility for the destruction and bloodshed, yet are entitled to forgiveness, is a positive start. I think the resolution will not look as ugly as we feared it can be if a couple of amendments are introduced to it, and a slight change of language happens.

Notes from West says the news in media was that war criminals gave amnesty to themselves[Fa]. The blogger writes

the meeting of jihadist leaders for national reconcilation followed by another meeting,one moth ago, where war lords met to condemned Human Rights Watch report ctalking about war crimes. The blogger asks the reason of this amnesty was the power of war lords or their fear from human rights organisations.

Afghan Lord talks about Ashura, the religious ceremony. Ashura, the 10th of Muharram is a holy day for Muslims and especial day for Shi’a. This day is a remarkable day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar, the day of mourning for the martyrdom of Hussainn the son Ali and the grandson of Muhammad in the unequal battle of Karbala in the year 61 (AD 680).The blogger writes, as one sees in the video, people are beating on their backs, shoulders and chests with sharp knives at the end of chains. They bloody themselves to show their feelings in Ashura and Hussain’s martyrdom. Although making themselves bloody is banned by Shi’a Muslim leaders but this still goes on and never stopped. This is not only for the people in Afghanistan but different countries like; Pakistan, Iraq, Palestine and Iran.

Afghan Lord adds

I got a chance to ask questions of a few of them - why are they beating and making bloody. A young man said; I have wishes to gain, before I bloody myself I have reasons for that. When I asked him to tell me what your wishes, he to me; is I want to get marry, I don’t have money.Another told me I am not using chains with the sharp knifes at the end because I last year I did in order to get the result but I didn’t.

Kazakhstan: Money, Kidnapping, Money, Power, Money…

“The headline is not a text from James Bond film trailer. It is how they do business in Kazakhstan”, wrote Jana Zhukova is Livejournal community of Almaty residents (RUS). She referred to mysterious set of events that surrounded “Nurbank”, the seventh largest bank in Kazakhstan connected with the President's son-in-law Rakhat Aliev. On January 31 five armed people stormed the building of the bank but were stopped by the bank's security guards.

Karaganda Nurbak

Image used courtesy of Joshua Foust

In the following several days the news came with amazing speed: Janna writes on (RUS). First the law-enforcement agencies said they had no idea of what was going on. Then, it turned out that the armed people were … the officers of the special forces of the police, who came to free the hostage! And finally, on February 4th several local and international media outlets received a letter from Kapasheva Armangul addressed to the President of the country Nazarbayev. Armangul is a wife of Timraliev Zholdas, the first deputy Head of the Board of “Nurbank”. In this letter, she claimed that her husband was kidnapped. Twice. (more…)

Flooding, Pisco, and Free Education

La Merced, 26

In the last couple weeks there has been flooding and landslides in the beautiful region of Chanchamayo, located in the central jungle of the country. Even though the media have covered the situation extensively, it seems that bloggers haven't been interested in the topic. However, it's likely that, there, they have written about it and I haven't seen the posts, except for Peru Llacta: “Lessons unlearned“, which reflects on our deeply rooted lack of foresight and the consequent wastefulness of resources. From the USA, Peruanista writes for English speaking readers in “Peru floods: How to help:”

Recent floods and mudslides have ocurred in the central Andes of Peru, as a result of an unexpected and larger than normal rainfall, that is going on since the end of 2006. Over 16 people are dead, dozens are missing and thousands have lost their homes, businesses, lifestock and farmland. The reconstruction process will take over 6 months according to Peru's government, but for many it will take much longer before they can return to normal life.

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Who is visiting Africa?

Chinese President Hu Jintao is on a 10-day-visit to Africa now. Many state-owned news media such as Xinhua News Agency and People’s Daily, headline his visit on their websites’ front page almost everyday. His tour has also attracted attention from Chinese netizens.

The Chinese government regards Hu’s visit as a great diplomatic victory. Many Chinese echo with exultance.

A popular post applaudeded Hu’s effort in Sudan’s Darfur crisis, China vs. the US in Africa: Bush failed, Hu Jintao succeeded!!!

在俺们胡哥的亲切的微笑中,达尔富尔问题就这样解冻了!在俺们胡哥的亲切的微笑中,联合国的维和部队就快要进住了!

布什做不到的,胡哥在微笑中做到了!!!

中非友谊是真正的友谊!!!!!!!!!

支持胡哥!

Our brother Hu thawed the Darfur crisis with his cordial smile! The United Nations peacekeeping force is going to station (in Darfur) with his cordial smile!

Bush failed, brother Hu succeeded with smile!!!

Sino-Africa friendship is a true friendship!!!!!!

Support brother Hu!!!!

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