Global Voices · Citizen media stories from 2007 May 17

17 May 2007

Daily archive · 5 posts

Stories from 17 May 2007

Chilean Gas Crisis: Biofuel Perspectives

Written by Rosario Lizana · Latin America

A reduction in the supply of gas to Chile due to colder temperatures in neighboring Argentina has opened a debate on the use of biofuels. The Chilean government provided a tax incentive for the further development and use of these alternative fuels. However, some bloggers discuss the pros and cons of the increased development of biofuels.

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Arabeyes: Memorial Translations

Written by Amira Al Hussaini · Middle East & North Africa

Whether it was a genuine mistake or part of a calculated propaganda strategy, the Middle East Media and Research Institute (MEMRI) sure has a lot of explanation to do as bloggers across the region started questioning their motives this week after glaring mistakes were spotted in the translation of a Palestinian children's television programme.

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Madagascar: Malagasy bloggers in France criticize Sarkozy's proposed immigration policy

Written by Lova Rakotomalala · Madagascar, France

The platform on which France's new president Nicolas Sarkozy was elected proposes the creation of a ministry of immigration and national identity. Immigrants who have been living in France for...

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Self reflection and the search for meaning in the Ugandan Blogosphere

Written by Rebekah Heacock · Sub-Saharan Africa

The Ugandan bloggers are having an existential crisis of sorts. The self-examination among the Blogren, as they’ve started calling each other, began in January when several bloggers objected to the establishment of Uganda Bloggers Happy Hour and the Uganda Best of Blog awards.

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Panama: Strange Sights on the Highways

Written by Eduardo Avila · Latin America

Every once in awhile, driving along the roads of Panama one sees the strangest sights. CaDs [ES] happened to have a camera handy and captured the image of a man...

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Updates from 17 May 2007

Russia

Via La Russophobe, the pro-Kremlin youth group Nashi demonstrates poor knowledge of English (among other things) - a forged International Herald Tribune headline in the Nashi's brochure reads: “Russian soldiers, that were named a heroes for the acting in chechen war, were nailed charges in murder of chechen rebels.” A Step At A Time links to an article by Leonid Radzikhovsky and writes: “…the actions and ideology of one of Russia’s principal opposition movements, the National Bolshevik Party, differ little from those of its opponents, the government-controlled Nashi youth movement.”

• Veronica Khokhlova

Bulgaria

In Bulgaria's capital this week, “there wasn't a strike of the drivers, but there was a protest of the cyclists,” Sofia's Hidden Beauty reports.

• Veronica Khokhlova

Bulgaria

TOL's The nEUrosis critiques a Times' story on the EU's newest members: “But rather than explaining the situation, the article goes on to provide no explanation or example why Bulgaria and Romania are in such a sordid state. In the same vein, anyone could say the same about any country out there - and let’s be fair, there are places in England which do a great job resembling Ukraine.”

• Veronica Khokhlova

Russia

Mark MacKinnon quotes William Montgomery, “the U.S. ambassador who headed the efforts to oust Slobodan Milosevic seven years ago,” on the current Kosovo situation: “Montgomery's point […] isn't that Kosovo should never receive the extra autonomy its people are demanding. He's asking why Washington and Moscow are hurtling towards a confrontation that both sides claim they don't want.”

• Veronica Khokhlova

Moldova

The Economist's Edward Lucas writes about his recent trip to Moldova, Transdniestria, Romania and Ukraine - here, here, here and here (the last installment is due to be posted Friday).

• Veronica Khokhlova

India

Deepa's Web Log on the sheer “show of democracy” in the recently conducted elections in Uttar Pradesh. “In the heartland of India's largest state where women are by and large in purdah, a woman, from the lower caste, with no pretensions to sophisticated qualification or degrees or mannerisms, managed to build a majority across caste-based divisions and clocked a milestone by winning the largest majority in 14 years.”

• Neha Viswanathan

Sri Lanka

Lankawatchh alleges that LTTE forces families to send their children to join their forces. “Reports from LTTE controlled areas reveal that the LTTE is on a fervent campaign to forcibly draft Tamil youth to fight the Sri Lankan government forces. The campaign called on every family in the LTTE controlled areas to give one child – regardless of age - to ensure security for the family. According to the reports, the children of parents who fail to comply will be abducted while the parents risk being murdered.”

• Neha Viswanathan

Sri Lanka

Why do bloggers get cynical about the motives of other bloggers? A Voice in Colombo on why we blog. “What can I gain by creating a popularity for a nickname like Voice in Colombo? Contest to become the next Mayor of Colombo? (If I wanted that, I would start driving a taxi, rather than blogging) These comments lead me to make a post on the subject “Why Do People really blog?”"

• Neha Viswanathan

Pakistan

iFaqeer compiles reactions of Karachiites on the recent events in the city. “A lot of the discussion around what happened in Karachi starting on the 12th of May has been centered on the role of the MQM. I thought readers might appreciate reading the following exchange between a few people who, though they spend most of their time living outside Karachi, strongly feel and identify with the city.”

• Neha Viswanathan

Russia: The RuNet's Top 10 Political Slang Words

In my opinion, the only slang from this list which is falling out of vogue is the nickname of Medvedev...
I'm from Russia, use internet daily, and I didn't know half of these words. The other slang words are not...