Archive for
December 4th, 2007
Stories
Iran: Blogger jailed over presidential dogs
Reza Valizadeh, 32 years old, journalist and blogger was the object of a complaint from the Iranian president's office and was detained on November 26.
Several Iranian blogs and websites say the main reason he was arrested is because he revealed that Ahmadinejad's security staff bought four dogs from Germany for about $150,000 each.
In recent months, Iranian authorities have cracked down on dog owners and arrested their dogs, claiming they are impure according to Islam.
Something interesting happened in jail. Valizadeh erased his post about Ahmadinejad’s dogs and wrote another one to explain his point of view on presidential dogs.
Valizadeh says [Fa] that the news about the dogs was misrepresented by some anti-governmental and anti-Islamic Republic websites, blogs and radios. The blogger adds:
… First, I wanted as a journalist just provide information on an interesting subject. Second, I think that using these dogs in presidential security teams is not a point of weakness but on the contrary, it shows the country moving towards technology and progress. Third, some religious leaders (Ulama) consider dogs can be used for security reasons.
Valizadeh concludes that it was just interesting news and that he did not intend to destroy Ahmadinejad. “He is our president with all good and bad sides,” the blogger wrote.
“Confession time as usual”
Iran Watch says, Shahram Rafizadeh a journalist and blogger, writes that Valizadeh on Saturday evening was transfered from Evin Prison to Ghazal Hesar Prison, and was left in a cell with drug addicts. Rafizadeh adds that in the last three years interrogators have learned about the internet and how to write a blog.
Fardablog says many political prisoners have been forced to make false confessions and adds:
In Iran, political prisoners used to appear on TV to “confess and repent”. Some were forced to write letters. It is interesting that confession and repentance exist for any taste! Bloggers do not need to appear on TV or write letters! They just write new posts!
A bitter joke
ZaneIrani writes that President Ahmadinejad has announced that Iran will not participate in the next Summer Olympics. He noted that, “Anyone who can run, jump, or swim has already left the country.”
The joke is circulating during the recent arrest of Reza Valizadeh, the blogger who revealed Iranian president Ahmadinejad’s overpriced dogs. These four dogs have been purchased from Germany for a total of $600,000.00 despite the recent call by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to impose sanctions on Iran.
Peru: All About Alan García
The topics discussed by Peruvian bloggers vary from day to day, but a reoccurring theme almost certainly has to do with President Alan García. The following are some of the issues on the minds of the Peruvian blogosphere that have to do with García.
Silvio Rendón of Gran Combo Club [es] discusses a few recent articles published by García, where he writes about Daniel Carbonetto, who was one of his chief economic advisors during García's first term:
La incursión de Alan García en la actividad periodística (artículo 1 y artículo 2) ha despertado una serie de reacciones … Lo que ha escrito García está en tono acusador, con lo cual lo que pueda haber allí de elaboración queda en segundo plano. García es un regañador nato. Cuando habla siempre parece que estuviera dándole una reprimenda a alguien. En mi opinión, es una indicación de que está en problemas. Quien va avanzando, así sea lentamente, no está para dedicarse a acusaciones subalternas. Sin embargo, hay otra forma de leer entre líneas, y esta es una total especulación. Y es que García no ha escrito el artículo o al menos no lo ha escrito solo. Tendría un “grupo de apoyo” que le haría el trabajo intelectual. Aparte de las reprimendas, García no es reconocible en el texto que lleva su firma, ni son temas de los cuales García haya venido hablando. …
Alan Garcia's foray into journalistic activity (article 1, article 2) has caused a series of reactions … Garcia wrote in an accusatory tone, and he did not elaborate. Garcia is fierce. Whenever he talks it sounds like he is reprimanding someone. In my opinion, it is an indication that he has problems, maybe he is advancing slowly, but he is not in his position to make accusations. One can also read between the lines and this is total speculation: maybe García did not write the article or at least he did not write it all by himself. He may have a “support group” that helps with his intellectual work. Beside the reprimands, it is hard to recognize García in the words that he wrote, nor are they topics in which García regularly comments upon…
José Talavera of Blogiarquia [es] also writes about the president and his disconcerting declarations. He cites an excerpt from one of García's articles:
Cada uno de nosotros sufre algo de lo que he llamado “síndrome del perro del hortelano”. Muchas veces el Estado, las instituciones y las personas padecen de “patrimonialismo”. Es decir, de la voluntad de no ceder ningún espacio y reservar para sí, para el ministerio o para la empresa, todas las funciones, los trámites y las decisiones. Ocurre también cuando un grupo que captura el poder, una región o un municipio, decide gobernar solo y bloquea el aporte técnico y profesional de muchos otros ciudadanos. En este caso, el perro del hortelano dice: “Si no lo hago yo, nadie debe hacerlo”, y concluye: “Solo puede hacerlo la gente de mi propio equipo”.
Each one of us suffers from “farmer's dog syndrome.” Often the State, the institutions, and people fall into “patrimonialism.” This means that there is no room to allow ministries or businesses to make decisions or complete paperwork. This happens when a group comes into power, a region or municipality decides to govern along and blocks the technical and professional contributions from other citizens. In this case, the “farmer's dog” says: “If I don't do it, then no one should,” and concludes, “only those from my own team should do it.”
Talavera responds:
Mi primera pregunta es, ¿en ese todos se incluirá el mismo presidente?… Y creo que la pregunta es además necesaria por la actitud que viene tomando García en el manejo del poder de su actual gestión. No seamos mezquinos y reconozcamos que no lo está haciendo mal, o tan mal en comparación con su gobierno anterior, pero hay cosas (en él mismo) que denotan esa actitud patrimonial que él critica…… pero nuevamente García no toca el tema educación, desarrollo, innovación, conocimiento, que toqué la semana pasada.
My first question is: does the president include himself in that group? This is a necessary question because of the attitude taken by García during his current term. We must recognize that he is not doing so bad or as bad as the previous government, but there are things (with him in particularly) that demonstrates this patrimonial attitude that he himself criticizes….but once again, García does not talk about education, development, innovation, or knowledge, which are things that he talked about last week.”
Juan Sheput of Mate Pastor [es] writes about the latest CPI Survey from November 2007, which asked about the president's approval rating:
Según la última encuesta nacional de CPI difundida por el diario Correo y RPP el señor Alan García tendría sólo un 28,8% de popularidad. En el oriente la popularidad ya es de un dígito: 8,3% con tendencia aún a la baja y en la costa sur el índice es de 16% a pesar de los disfuerzos del amigo presidencial el señor Hernán Garrido Lecca. La popularidad de Alan García es la más baja del continente. Sin oposición, con mucho dinero, con medios de comunicación mayoritariamente “comprensivos”, es decir teniendo todo a su favor, el gobierno de García brilla por su incompetencia.
According to the latest national survey from CPI published by the newspaper Correo and RPP, Mr. Alan García only receives 28.8% approval rating. In the east, his popularity is already in the single digits: with 8.3% and dropping and in the southern coast, he is at 16% even with the efforts from the presidential friend Hernán Garrido Lecca. The popularity of Alan García is the lowest in the entire continent. Without opposition, with a lot of money, with the media primarily “understanding,” it seems that he has everything in his favor. The government of García shines for its incompetence.
Finally, from the blog Menoscanas [es] Laura Arroyo writes about possible changes in the law that may benefit Alberto Fujimori:
Puede ser por conveniencia, complicidad o sincera cercanía; el punto es que el mandatario parece haber optado por obedecer a los intereses del grupo fujimorista que, desde hace buen tiempo, ha evidenciado tener un único interés: salvar el cuello de su líder. Ahora bien, me queda claro que esta cercanía no es nueva, ni se inicia con la llegada de Alberto Fujimori, sino mucho antes, desde que en la campaña electoral Alan García presentó una plancha presidencial que incluyera como primer vicepresidente a Luis Giampietri. Sin embargo, lo vergonzoso es la explicitación que, de pronto, ya no le preocupa al mismísimo Presidente García quien, sin asco, ha decidido impulsar una ley que “acelere los procesos judiciales orales” justo ahora que estamos ad portas del juicio de Alberto Fujimori. Con dicha ley, el ex mandatario podría optar por no enfrentar personalmente a quien fuera su asesor Vladimiro Montesinos.
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It may be due to convenience, complexity, or sincerity; but it appears that the president has opted for obeying the interests of the Fujimorist group that has, for a while now, shown that its only interest is to save its leader's neck. Now, it is very clear to me that drawing closer is nothing new, and it does not begin with the arrival of Alberto Fujimori, but a lot earlier, ever since the electoral campaign of Alan García, when he presented Luis Giampietri as first Vice-President. Nevertheless, it is shameful that President García has pushed for a law that “accelerates the oral legal processes,” right when the trial for Alberto Fujimori was set to begin. With this law, the ex-president could opt to personally not face this former advisor, Vladimiro Montesinos.
Laos: Boat Racing Festival
Boat racing festival marks the end of Buddhist lent in Laos and neighboring countries. Darly at Lao Voices site has posted videos of the recently concluded Boat Racing Festival in Pakse. Pakse is a city on the Mekong river in Southern Laos and a regional commercial hub. Here is one of the segment.
Darly also writes a bit about her childhood (in the comments section) of how she left Lao for Thailand on a boat like the one featured in the Video.
DJ at SaoLao posts pictures writes about the observance of Boun Ok Phansa - the end of Buddhist lent, by the blogger's grand mother.
Grand-Mama didn’t do anything big for Boun Ok Phansa and only spent $50.00 for a small donation in the form of a meal offering at her local temple on the day after the Boat Racing Festival in Pakse. My two aunts were busy making khao thom for the Morning Alms Giving. Since Grand-Mama can’t sit too long with her knees folded, she was not able to attend the service at the wat but my aunts and cousins made sure her bowl of offering made it to the temple.
The khao thom tua dam mentioned above is a snack made with sticky rice and black beans and wrapped in banana leaves. Laocuisine.la has pictorial instructions on how to prepare Khao Thom.
Korea: Foreigners and Crime
Since the number of foreign workers has been increasing fast, treatment of them and worries that they take locals' jobs have been ongoing issues in Korean society. On the 23 rd of November, a Bangladesh worker was arrested for sexual harassment of a primary school student. A presidential candidate promised to open labor markets for foreigners and to hire foreigners as government officials. While some foreign workers experience poor treatment in working places, human right organizations try to improve their status.
Darklone, criticizes foreign laborers' attempts against the law.
처음엔 3d 중소기업을 위해서 외국인노동자들을 도입한걸로 압니다.. 그런데 지금은 그런 노동자들이 공장에서 일안하고 불법으로 건설현장이나 식당등에 서비스업으로 취업한다는데 문제가 있다고 보네요 . 이러니 없는 사람들이 일자리를 뺏기는 거잖아요..
Another blogger writes about an internal problem.
흠 대한민국 젊은이들의 의식구조가 먼저 개선이되야겠죠 우리나라 젊은애들 머리엔 삼성하고 현대밖에없는듯하니까요 중소기업에는 입사할 생각조차도 안하고 있으면서… 요즘 공장가면 20대 인력많나요 ?? 아닙니다 거의 없다기보다도 없다고 보는게 맞지요 외국인들한테 정당한 수준의 세금을 받고 정당하게 고용해서 그들의 권익도 보호하는게 맞는 수순인겁니다.
A netizen shows two separate tables of criminal rates between American soldiers in Korea and foreign workers. The table shows the total number of crimes by the US army is 324 cases in 2004, 290 cases in 2005, and 242 cases in 2006, and that from foreign laborers is 9,103 cases in 2004, 9,042 in 2005, and 12,657 in 2006. And he criticizes the media and the government for not providing equal information.
… 2명의 중학생이 훈련중인 전차에 까려죽어서 촛불시위를 햇다. 잘한거다. 근데 매년 불법체류자와 외국인노동자에 의해 살해,강간,성폭행,피해받는 한국인이 매년 수만명이다 . 이런 보도 본적있나? 이거 보도하면 피해받는 이들은 누굴까? 미군범죄 보도하면 이득받는자들은 누굴까? 난 지금껏 언론에 조롱을 당해왔다는 기분이다. 황당함을 넘어서 내가 속아온 기분이다 . 이게 제대로된 국가의 여론이고 의식인가?
미군욕하는거 좋다. 근데 외국인범죄와 불체자범죄 그 흉악하고 경악할 범죄건수와 내용들엔 왜 눈과 귀를 막는가 ? 미군들은 헌병부르면 다도망간다. 불체자는 경찰부르면 오히려 인권운운하면서 난리친다 . 그ㅇ뒤에 인권단체들이 나와서 참 가관인상황이 나타난다. 이게 제대로 된 나라냐? 물론 미국의 국익을 위해서이겠지만 매년 엄청난 국방비를 들여서 한국에 주둔하는 미군은 그렇게 비판하면서 자기들 돈벌러와서 한국인을 고통스럽게하는 사람들은 천사? 로 묘사하는 그 뒤에는 누가잇나?
…그런데 이들 5만여명의 미군과 그 가족의 범죄는 통계를 보면 미군은 나름대로 통제가 어느정도 이루어진다는 것이다. 그리고 강력범죄는 일년에 다 합쳐도 백건도 안된다. 물론 미군에 의한 이런범죄는 없어져야한다.하지만 언론과 정부가 형평을 잃은것은 명백하다.
그리고 현재 한국은 외국인노동자들과 불법체류자들은 통제가 안되는 것이다. 그런데도 미군이 강간사건 저지르면 언론이 난리가난다. 근데 매년 수백건의 서민여성들의 불체자들과 외노들의 강간성폭행에 대해서는 너도나도 입을 다문다. 누가 이런말도 안되는 현상을 만들었나? 가장큰 책임은 보조금노리는 인권단체들과 언론의 일방적인 여론호도다. 현재까지 이들에게 피해당한 수십만명의 한국인들은 누가 책임질것인가?
…현정부가 외치는 세계화 인권….말은 좋다. 그 결과가 뭐냐? 인권? 시민단체지원법통과후에 늘어난 5000여개 시민단체들. 이들에게 보조금 나간다. 이 액수만 수천억이다.
It's fine to blame the US army. But why can't we get the number of crimes from illegal foreign laborers and the stories? If we call the police, the US army gets away. If you call the police, illegal sojourners cry out for human rights. And then human right organizations appear. Is it the right way? Even though it is for the national advantages of the US, we criticize the US army, which spends so much money for national defense and stays in Korea. But why do we describe people who come to Korea for their own sakes like making money as angels? I'm really curious….
Looking at the crime numbers from the 50,000 American soldiers and their families, it seems that they are reasonably controlled. And vicious crimes all together are not more than 100 cases. Of course the crimes by the US army should go away. But it is clear that media and government lost the balance.
And it's impossible to control foreign laborers and illegal sojourners at present. If the US army soldiers commit rape, the media is crazy about it. But about rape and violence of several hundred cases from foreign laborers, nobody talks about it. Who made this kind of absurd situation? The biggest responsibility is from human rights organizations and media….
…Globalized human rights, which the current government supports… it sounds good. But what is the result? Human rights? More than 5,000 civic organizations after the regulation to support civic organizations… the government gives the subsidies and the amount of the money is several hundred billions won.
On the other hand, a netizen demonstrates that a voice for sending foreign laborers back to their countries is useless in terms of market strategy.
외국노동자 내보내도 나아지지 않는다.
오늘 모 일간지 기사가 나왔는데, 막노동에 관한 것이였다 . 일단이 7 만원이라고 하더군..그리고, 방송국 엑스트라 출연도 봤는데 ..방송일이라는게 잘 알다 시피 시간대중이 없는데, (언제 시작해서 얼마나 하고 언제 끝날지 모름 ..) 많이 만지는 사람은 하루에 30 도 번다고 나왔더라..(물론 그러려면 거의 24 시간 촬영장에서 먹고 자고 해야 한다.)
외국인 노동자를 여기 있는 사람들 말대로 다 내보냈다고 치자.그럼 그 중소기업들이 한국인을 고용할까 ?
아니다..차라리 자동화 설비를 더 늘여놔서 결론적으로는 인건비로 인한 지출을 줄이거나 여차하면 공장 빼서 동남아나 중국으로 옮기면 그만이다 . 아니 그렇게 하지 않으면 버텨내지를 못 할 것이다. 그들이 외국인 노동자 못 쓰게 되었다고 갑자기 월 200 주면서 한국인 고용하지 않을 것이란 말이다.외국인들의 범죄나 사회 안전망을 파괴하는 행위에 대해서는 내국인보다 더 강력하게 처벌해야 한다 . 또, 세금도 우리 나라 사람과 똑같이 걷는것이 당연한 것이고, 4대 보험도 얄짤없이 내야 한다.
그런것에 대해서 반대하자는 것이 아니다. 성범죄자 살인자 아니 , 내 생각같아서는 금고이상의 형을 받으면 다 추방하는게 최선책이라고 본다.문제는 원하는 대로 외국인 노동자를 다 내보내면, 그 공장들은 100 % 중국이나 동남아로 갈 확률이 지금보다 수백배는 높아진다. 거진다 가버린다고 해도 과언이 아니다. 그럼 공장에서 내국인들이 하던 일자리 마져 잃어버리는 셈이다. 전같으면 공장에 한국인 50 명 외국인 300 명이 일하던 공장에서 외국인 300 명 내보내면 업주가 공장을 해외 이전해 버리면, 나머지 50 명의 일자리도 날라가는 셈이다.
…외국인들이 사라진다고, 업주들이 월급을 올려주고 노숙자를 고용할 것이라는 착각은 집어 치워라. 세상은 그렇게 만만하지 않다 .
외국인 추방을 부르짓으려거든 좀 더 확실한 대안이 필요할 것이다.
Let's imagine that we send all foreign laborers back. Then will those SMEs hire Korean employees? No… They will buy more equipment and therefore they can lessen the payment for human laborers or move to Southeast Asia or China. Otherwise, they can't survive. They will not hire Koreans with 2,000,000 won because they can't hire foreign laborers.
Foreigners who commit crimes and destroy social security should be punished more seriously than local people. Tax should be taken equally and four compulsory insurance should be taken as well. I'm not opposing to those. In my opinion, if there are foreigners who commit sexual harassment and murder, they should be exiled.
The problem is that if we send those laborers back to their countries, the factories will absolutely be moved to Southeast Asia or China. Then local people who work there will also lose jobs. Now the factory that has 50 Koreans and 300 foreign laborers might move to another country. Then 50 Koreans will lose their jobs as well…..
If foreigners disappear, those employers will increase the salary and employ the homeless. Don't delude yourself. The world is not that easy.
Egypt: Story of a Shop
I stopped by a blog today and was immediately captured by the way “Tak Hank” (Ar) describes the flow of life through a story of a little shop in his neighborhood.
هناك بعض المحلات التي يبدو أن لعنة ما حلت بها جاعلة منها محلات خاسرة تدفع بملاكها إلى الإفلاس. خطرت على بالي هذه الفكرة وأنا أتأمل محلاً بجوار منزلي مر برحلة طويلة تعاقب فيها عليه الملاك والمستأجرون وتم فيها تغيير النشاط ونوعية السلع المعروضة مرات عديدة.
There are some shops which seem to be cursed, forcing their owners into bankruptcy. I noticed this while looking at one shop near my house that went through a constant change of landlords and tenants, as well as a change of activity and type of goods being sold several times.
أول ذكرى عندي لهذا المحل تعود إلى طفولتي عندما كان محل خردواتي تقليدي أشتري منه بعض الالعاب البسيطة أو الحلويات، وفي مرة أردت شراء سيف بلاستيكي لعبة لأحمله أثناء أدائي لدور صغير في مسرحية مدرسية تاريخية( لا زلت أذكر العبارة الوحيدة التي كنت سأقولها والتي تدربت مراراً على قولها: أهذا جزائي أني أنقذتك من القتل!). ذهبت إلى البائع العجوز وطلبت منه بكل أدب سيفاً لعبة، لأفاجئ به ينفجر غاضبا كعادة العجائز نافذي الصبر. أخذ البائع يصيح لاعنا الأيام السوداء التي يعيشها، ويتحسر على الذي حدث للبلد وللناس حتى يأتي طفل ليطلب شراء سيف ، ويرتكب شاب جريمة فظيعة، متوقعا أن القيامة ستقوم قريبا داعيا الله أن يأخذه حتى لا يرى ما الذي سيحدث أكثر من ذلك. عجزت عن الرد طبعا وعدت إلى البيت حزينا، لأؤدي دوري في المسرحية ولأقول “أهذا جزائي أني أنقذتك من القتل” دون سيف أتمنطق به. كان حينا وقتها قد روع بجريمة قتل بشعة ارتكبها شاب ضد زوجة والده ، ويبدو ان البائع قد ربط بين الجريمة وبين ميول إجرامية عنيفة ظهرت في المجتمع حتى لتدفع طفلا بريئاً لطلب سيف للعب به. أحب أحياناً أن أفكر أن اللعنة التي أصابت ذلك المحل قد بدأت في تلك اللحظة التي صرخ فيها البائع في وجه ذلك الطفل كاسراً قلبه حارما إياه من متعة قول “أهذ جزائي أني أنقذتك من القتل” بطريقة مناسبة.
The first memory I have of this specific shop is back in my childhood when it was only a small traditional one, from where you can buy some toys or candy. I once wanted to buy a plastic sword to use in my small role in the historical play I took part in at school (I still recall the only phrase I was going to say and rehearsed repeatedly, “Is this my reward for saving you from death!”).
I went to the old vendor and asked him politely to give me the plastic sword; to my surprise he exploded angrily. He shouting damning the days that we live in, regretting what has happened to the country and its people; when young boys come asking for a sword, and a young man commits a terrible crime; then the old man started praying and asking God to take him away so he won’t see what else might happen in the days to come. I was unable to reply of course, and returned sad to my house. I will have to say “Is this my reward for saving you death!” without a plastic sword.
At that time, there was a story of a crime that terrified everybody, where a young man killed his step mother, and it seems that the vendor connected between that crime and criminal tendencies that had emerged in the community, forcing an innocent child to ask for a plastic sword to play with.
Sometimes I like to think that the curse that struck that store had started at that moment when the seller shouted in the face of this child, breaking his heart and depriving him of the fun of saying “Is this my reward for saving you death!” in an appropriate manner.
الذكرى التالية هي للمحل عندما أصبح محلاً لبيع شرائط الكاسيت، اشتريت منه شريط الفرحة لمحمد منير، وهو شريط رديء جداً على فكرة. بعدها بدأ المحل مرحلة التغيير السريع للأنشطة والملاك والمستأجرين، فقرر أن يجاري الموجة الرائجة في المحلات دون مخاطرة ليصبح محلاً لبيع الدباديب والتذكارات، لكن فشله على الرغم من نجاح أقرانه دفعه إلى أن يجرب أكثر مشروع مضمون لمحل في نفس وضعه وهو أن يبيع الموبايلات واكسسواراتها وكروت الشحن..الخ، لكن تلك المحاولة فشلت دافعة به إلى اكتئاب جسيم -فترة إغلاق- خرج منه بعزيمة قوية وببائع ملتح يبيع البخور والعطور والشرائط الدينية ، لكن التزام المحل الديني لم يكن كافيا للتغلب على النحس، فشل المشروع وأغلق لفترة، وعلى بعد خطوات منه جلس البائع الملتح يبيع بنجاح نفس بضاعته من العطور والبخور خلف طاولة صغيرة نصبها في مدخل عمارة ، ولا زال يواصل تجارته حتى اليوم. عجز المحل عن مواجهة هزيمته أمام مدخل العمارة وظل مغلقا لفترة طويلة، لكن حلاوة الروح جعلته يحاول التحول لمحل لبيع الأحذية ، فعندما مررت بجواره منذ شهرين وجدت بائعا يرص الأحذية في الفاترينة. لكن ككل حلاوة روح كانت مجرد ارتعاشات قلب يحتضر، فشل المشروع قبل أن يبدأ، فلم يتم افتتاح المحل كمحل أحذية واختفت الأحذية من الفاترينة، ولا يزال المحل مغلقاً حتى اليوم.
My next memory for this shop was when it became a cassette tape shop. I bought a tape called “El Farha” for Mohamed Mounir (it’s a very poor tape by the way). Then began the phase of rapid changes of business activates, landlords, and tenants. So it decided to match the current trend and started selling teddy bears, but failed despite the success of its competitors. A more “secure” option for a shop in its condition was selling mobile accessories, recharge cards.. etc. But even that attempt failed, driving it to serious depression (a long period of closure). A bearded man started selling cologne, perfume, and religious tapes, but the commitment of the religious center was not enough to overcome the jinx and the failure of the project which ended up closing for another period. However, a few steps far from the shop, the bearded man started to sell the same goods, to this day, successfully, behind a small table at the entrance of a building.
The shop was kept closed for a long time, yet persistence made it try to shift to selling shoes! When I passed by it two months ago, I saw a man putting shoes in the shop window. Yet, once again, the new project failed before it started and the shoe shop never opened. The shoes disappeared from the window.. and to this day the shop is still closed.
[GV Show Special] Interview with Wahda Masrya - An Egyptian Girl
During the closing session of the new media workshop I led recently in Alexandria, Egypt, practically everybody paid tribute to Shahinaz Abdelsalam, better known in the blogosphere as Wahda Masrya - an Egyptian Girl. The lone Alexandria native and one of the few experienced bloggers among the group, Shahinaz became for most of the participants a symbol of courage and deep commitment to the cause of human rights and of freedom expression.
As Delphine Nerbollier tells us in her interview (Fr) with Shahinaz on the NewsLab blog, Shahinaz broke with family tradition and left her native city in 2005, and now leads an independent life in Cairo. At 29 years old, she works as an telecommunications engineer with Orange, a job which, for her, raises a number of ethical questions. “Orange moved to this country to so they could pay engineers lower salaries, and I'm against that sort of thing,” she says. “But you still have to live, don't you?” Unlike the majority of Muslim women in Egypt, Shahinaz has never worn a headscarf or veil, and has no plans to do so in the future.
In this special edition of the Global Voices Show, Shahinaz talks about her own reasons for blogging; the risks faced by Egyptian bloggers who dare criticise the authorities; her friend, the imprisoned blogger Kareem Amer (whom she encouraged us all to write by giving us self-addressed stamped envelopes); and the activist blogging scene in Egypt.
[GV Show Special] Interview with Wahda Masrya - An Egyptian Girl [7:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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