Global Voices Online

Collectif Haiti de Provence posts (Fr) pictures of a benefit for Haitian Schools held in France.

Peijin Chen from Shanghaiist translates a post from Southern Metropolis entitled “A China This Big Cannot Tolerate Even One Li Yinhe?” The article is not only about Li, but also about freedom of speech.

Barbadian blogger Titilayo adds her two cents to the debate over whether the reggae category at the Grammy awards should be split in two.

“The irony is that the American achievement of new community and the Jamaican devolution into isolation is fueled by the same source: the Internet,” writes Jamaican novelist Marlon James. “Through the internet Americans have found a new way to interact while Jamaicans have found a new way to cut off from community, perhaps to build what they have always wanted instead of the what they have always been subjected to.”

Marc Masferrer has news for Cuban Communications Minister Ramiro Valdés, who said recently that “The wild colt of new technologies can and must be controlled”: “What Valdes either doesn't know, or chooses to ignore, is that the Internet is not built to be controlled, with easy access points for censors.“

Marta Darby remembers arriving in the US from Cuba with her family in 1961, on the day before Valentine's Day: “Back then, in early 1961, Cubans would still go to the airport to greet other arriving exiles. I remember being oh-so-tired and happy. I remember seeing my dad on the other side of the customs counter and not being allowed to go to him. I remember that he and my brother were yelling directions to my mother: “Ask for 3! Ask for 3!”. . . . I remember the cheering and clapping when we finally made it through customs.“

The First Congress of Puerto Rican Educational Blogs took place on February 8-9, 2007. Here's the Congress blog (ES).

Jesús Risquet reports on Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka's attendance at the 16th International Book Fair in Havana, Cuba.

Law in Moldova poses law-related questions to Moldova's president Voronin: “Does the President care about the country's image that exist among its own citizens? It seems from the words of Mr. Voronin that he is concerned only about the image of Moldova beyond its borders…”

Via EuroBillTracker, The Glory of Carniola tracks his 20-euro bill from Slovenia to Italy, where it was printed. A reader is disappointed his bill's origin isn't as exotic.

The Glory of Carniola writes about Preseren Day and the Slovenes of Alexandria.

The Turkish Invasion writes about the celebration of the Pancake Week in Russia: “For the Russians Maslenitsa is like a carnival for the Italians, especially because the initial sense of festivals is the same: the Italian word “carnival” (carne-vale) means “farewell the beef!”, and Maslenitsa that precedes the Great Lent, in old time was called “Myasopust” because it was forbidden to eat meat during this week.”

A Step At A Time reports on the protest against hate speech initiated by the Ukrainian Gay and Lesbian Center “Our World” following the homophobic remarks made by Leonid Grach, a Communist MP.

UAE-based blogger Cowboy Media links to news reports on an oil spy in Qatar and a sex expert in Saudi Arabia.

Kamangir reports that Basij members protested in front of Nestle branch in Tehran.He adds one of the slogans was “to save Al-Aqsa Mosque, we do not eat Nestle.” We can see a few photos of this demonstration here.One of the slogans in photo is “Nestle Chocolate, Zionists’ Bullets”.

Spanish-speakers and lovers of language should check out Incendio en el Jardín de la casa, a podcast series by Octavio Isaac Rojas Orduña about the history of the Spanish language.

Both Leftside and The Latin Americanist give some analysis to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's recent enthusiasm for environmentalism.

“In Uruguay pizza is not round, and slices are not triangular, well now [it] is getting more common, but when I was a kid, round pizzas could only be seen in movies.” Gabo of From Uruguay explains why.

Citing a recent study by ECA International, Alfredo Sánchez of the business blog Olganza writes that real salaries in Latin America are forecasted to increase less in 2007 [ES] compared to the rest of the world. Writes Sanchez, “the five countries where real salaries will increase the most are all Asian: India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Thailand.

Changes in Heineken's global supply chain inspire “Don Godo” of Honduras Living to put together a guide of “vital info.” That is, descriptions of the four major domestic beers available in Honduras.

Twilight Fairy goes to the Qutub Minar and takes some wonderful photographs. ” I rushed around, clicking pictures feverishly, trying to gauge for spots which would be a little higher and might be the recipient of some last dying rays of the sun. I took some quick shots of the 72.5 m high towering minaret - the tallest brick minaret in the world. “

Wayward Mind writes on Organized Love. “Now a days love reigns supreme; it’s everywhere, on the idiot box, on radio shows, trashy songs and exploitative marketing and urbania is drifting away in an oscular hysteria. It appears that Cupid has shaken hands with the prophets of neo-liberalism.”

Madhesh.com on movements and restructuring Nepal. “think the level of positive changes due to the instrument of violence, fear and exploitation of emotional fire has already reached an optimum level and the discrepancies among regions and races have been well identified by now.”

Dr Yunus's open letter gets some responses. “There should be a “bi-cameral house” in the legislative body, like that of India or UK but with slightly a different model. There should be a lower house and an upper house in the Jatiyo Sangsad.”

The Lao Cook is disappointed that a lovely Lao town is now turning into a tourist trap. “”Theres not much to say about the food scene, hardly authentic either unless you like Pancakes, Pasta and Pizza, or reclining on low chairs sipping beer in front of T.V. Sets. When I asked a local why there wasnt any restaurants, she told me that the visitors were only interested in the three P´s.”

The Daily Brunei Resources posts the history of Brunei's national anthem and flag.

Joshua Foust says it is a bad sign for drug eradication efforts in Afghanistan that the US is sending its former ambassador to Colombia to head its Kabul embassy.

The Armenian Economist discusses changes in preferences for family size in Armenia.

KZBlog reports that Kazakhstan's president now has a vodka dedicated to him.

Mary Joyce writes about her excitment about the Election Blogging Guide coming to Armenia and the importance of blogging. In the comments, Zarcha translates the post into Armenian.

Elena Skochilo has photos of skiers and snowboarders who took part in a recent “jibfest” in Kyrgyzstan (RUS). Don't know what jibbing is? Azamat explains.

Jordanian blogger Firas extends a warm welcome to visiting Russian president Vladimir Putin and gives him some advice - such as : “If you are walking in Wast El Balad (downtown) try not to make an eye contact with a policeman and smile in his face (I got IDed for that, for real!)”

You missed This writes about the 15th anniversary of Robert Ouko's murder, “You see the list of people who have died to stop the truth over the Ouko murder ever coming out is rather lengthy and includes several clear cases of poisoning. For example former police commissioner Philip Kilonzo who worked hard to sell a ridiculous suicide theory to Superintendent John Troon was lured away from his beer under the pretext of viewing a cow that somebody wanted to sell to him. When he came back to his drink and sipped I briefly, witnesses say that he made a comment about the drink having some strange taste. Moments later he was dead. No investigations have ever been carried out and nobody has been brought to book over this murder to date.”

Bloggers are still debating Nigeria's last year's census, “Last year’s census is still causing arguments here, with all sorts of wild claims flying around. One of the big problems has been the announcement that Kano state has a slightly larger population than Lagos state, when obviously there are more people in Lagos!”

A thought-provoking piece at Black Looks on defining the African Diaspora, “Then there is the latter group, whose relationship, I am finding, is astonishingly schizophrenic. I talk here of a specific class of Africans living abroad. The educated ones who on the surface are proponents of a “pro-Africa” sort of image. We are the ones who want the world to know that Africa is not one country, that there’s more to it than you see on National Geographic etc. I think it’s fashionable in certain circles.”

Mohammed Njie posts an article from the BBC about the world's first mobile phone base station powered by wind and the sun's rays in Namibia: MTC has been using base stations powered with just solar energy but will turn to the wind for the first time for the trial in the village of Dordabis, 40 kilometres east of the capital city Windhoek.

Blogging about Zimbabwe, Ethan Zuckerman asks, “What is the breaking point?”: Gono, who is either the most incompetent central banker in the world today or the most sinister and corrupt, has responded by illegalizing inflation. Betwen March and June, anyone who raises prices for goods or services, will be subject to arrest. The predictable result of this action will be a full shutdown of the Zimbabwean economy - if you can’t make a profit selling bread, why would you continue making it and selling it at a loss?

Arab American blogger Fayyad gives us his two cents on Iran's role in Iraq here.

It is time to select the best from the South African blogosphere: “As you already know - the SA blog awards showcase the very best of South African independent web publishing in various categories.New categories for this year include: Best SA Music blog: Best weblog about news of a musical nature, Best GLBT blog - Best SA gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered blog and Best SA podcast: The best independently produced video or audio podcast in SA.”

Are you an engineer or do you know one? Syrian blogger Omar has a hilarious insight into the lives of engineers here.

Juan - a Mexican native and Canadian resident - of the Bloggie-nominated site Global Culture tackles nationalism, identity, and why he writes in English. “My years in Mexico were great, but were mostly about survival in the sense that there was little time for any activities that would not contribute directly to advancing as an individual. The migrant experience taught me two things: 1) the survival skills are very useful when faced with the challenge of starting from zero in a new country; 2) there is more to life than surviving, but all those things will only appear once you have the basics under control.”

Colombian lawyer and blogger Carolina Botero notes that the multi-government-funded cable news network, TeleSur has decided to publish all of its content with a Creative Commons license [ES]. “Will this decision serve to distribute content especially on the internet? I imagine that only time will tell.”

Just back from a ten-day trip to Colombia and the United States, Daniel Duquenal returns to Venezuela and is infuriated by a parade commemorating “the February 4th coup attempt by Chavez and his pals against a duly democratically elected government.”

There is no shortage of anti-Valentine sentiment in the air as Cupid's Hallmark-enclosed arrow comes our way. For the more cyberactive of cupid curmudgeons, there is even a website, explains Rob Riviera: “Find out more about the “Cupido Must Die!” movement and how you too can participate by visiting the Cupido Must Die website. In just a few days since its conception many members of the Panamanian blogosphere have expressed their sentiments via Cupido, and if you feel identified I suggest you join us in our protest as well.”

As Carnaval approaches, an airport crisis could be looming, warns Sao Paulo resident Ricardo Carreón.

Tim Muth continues his “Water for El Salvador” series by taking a look at the country's water utility including the 1990's corruption scandal which just recently brought about the extradition of Carlos Perla who now awaits charges for embezzlement.

Chong from interlocals writes about the recent scandal about the education department's intervention into academic freedom, by giving pressure to the president of Hong Kong Institute of Education to stop outspoken professors from criticizing the government education policy. A group of university teachers released a statement to call for public hearing and investigation.

Chong from interlocals writes about the recent scandal about the education department's intervention into academic freedom, by giving pressure to the president of Hong Kong Institute of Education to stop outspoken professors from criticizing the government education policy. A group of university teachers released a statement to call for public hearing and investigation.

Asiapages discusses about the practice of selective abortions in favor of male babies in South Korea.

Matt comments on the news “Android to Get Plastic Surgery”, relating the plastic surgery culture to the suicide of an actress Jeong Da-bin.