Global Voices Online

April 7th marked the 14th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide and was an official day of remembrance in Rwanda. At Pour Une Afrique Plus Ambitieuse et Volontaire Ravel Thombet wrote [Fr]: “Rwandan youth should free itself of this heavy heritage, born of human stupidity… In my upcoming book Interrogations Troublantes [Troubling Interrogations], I try to understand the why and how of this … sudden and unexplainable animosity…this avoidable genocide.”

Rwanda-based expat Guillaume posts [Fr] a guided tour of his favorite hotels and guest houses in the Rwandan cities of Kigali, Kibuye, Gisenyi, Butare and Cyangugu. It is a greatest hits list so even if you don't read French, know that the cited hotels come recommended by a knowledgeable traveler.

Israelity offers Easter wishes and covers the celebrations in Jerusalem.

Guadeloupe Attitude posts [Fr] a picture of a solar installation in the town of Le Moule that should help lower carbon dioxyde emission into the island's environment. The blogger explains that the installation was inaugurated March 30th and joins a wider project encompassing 2000 square meters of solar panels in the town. The solar energy project delivers electricity to 6 schools, the local library and three municipal buildings.

Daoud Kuttab discusses bearing responsibility for the Palestinian refugee problem.

Based off of recent statements from Abbas, Aliyah advises: “Palestinians should also hold onto their hats –and find some basements to hide out in –because I’d wager that the gun battles and assassination attempts going on in Gaza without cease already between Fatah and Hamas, clan against clan, will also likely heat up in the coming weeks.”

Oranges and Olives poses some questions for Zionists who say that the Palestinians should assimilate out of the refugee camps: “But let us take a look at the issue from a different point of view: Didn't the Jews maintain their national aspiration for a return to the holy land? Did they not stay for 2000 years in the diaspora while maintaining themselves as a distinct group from those other groups they lived amongst?”

The Black Iris recounts the strange etiquette of homecoming…and the odd conversations required: “So no, I don’t feel obligated to “get together” or to “call you”. I don’t want to “catch up”. I don’t want a sit down where people try and gather as much info about your life so they can either compare their life’s situation to yours or gossip about you behind your back; probably both.”

Israeli blog Shiloh Musings muses on the predictions given by MK Dr. Arye Eldad, MD, an Israeli Knesset Member: “In Israel, the wars come when they're not expected, and, with the exception of Ehud Barak, rotten governments stick to their seats longer than anybody in their right mind would want or predict.”