Global Voices · Citizen media stories from 2008 July 18

18 July 2008

Daily archive · 11 posts

Stories from 18 July 2008

Lebanon: Return of Prisoners - Part 2

Written by Moussa Bashir · Middle East & North Africa

Moussa Bashir takes a second look at the posts of Lebanese bloggers and their reactions to the latest prisoner swap with Israel. While some are celebrating - others are warning that the swap is yet another victory of Hezbollah. More reactions to follow soon.

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Angry Arab: Israel Humiliated in Lebanon

Written by Amira Al Hussaini · Middle East & North Africa, North America

“Israel has been humiliated in Lebanon in the last 2 decades, and its ability to inflict pain on Lebanon and the Lebanese without restraint or punishment (as it has done in 1950s, 1960s, 1970s) has been deterred,” writes The Angry Arab, whose views on the latest prisoner swap between Lebanon and Israel are compiled in this post.

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Nelson Mandela, 90 years

Written by Paula Góes · Sub-Saharan Africa

Nelson Mandela is 90 years old today and the celebrations have crossed the borders of South Africa to make the world sing happy birthday and clap hands together. Join the celebrations with this round up of many happy returns from the African continent.

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Argentina: Senate Rejects Tax Hike on Agricultural Exports

Written by Jorge Gobbi · Latin America

The Argentinean Senate recently rejected the proposal to increase taxes on agricultural exports. The poll ended with a tie of 36 votes, and the country's Vicepresident broke the tie with his vote against the retentions. Such decision is a victory for the sectors linked to the so-called “countryside." This continues the internal political crisis of unpredictable consequences for the Kirchner's Government, which still has three more years to govern.

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Macedonia: Traditional Media Demonize Gamers

Written by Filip Stojanovski · Eastern & Central Europe

Two influential Macedonian media outlets, Dnevnik daily and A1 TV, have recently published technophobic articles portraying the gamers as menace to society, using language bordering on hate speech. Filip Stojanovski reviews the reactions of Macedonian bloggers.

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Korea: Chopsticks… Rather Complicated…

Written by Hyejin Kim · East Asia

Why does Korea use iron for chopsticks while other chopsticks countries use wooden materials? What is the history of the use of chopsticks? When do kids learn how to use it? Hyejin Kim answer these and other questions about this ancient eating utensil.

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Environment: Updates from African Bloggers

Written by Juliana Rotich · Sub-Saharan Africa

In this edition of Global Voices environment we check in with the African environment bloggers, who have fascinating pictures to share, discussions on solar technology, concerns about forest re-allocation and updates on past stories.

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Iran: Bloggers campaign to save wetlands

Written by Fred Petrossian · Middle East & North Africa

The great and diverse Iranian wetland ecosystems could disappear in the near future. To increase public awareness of the problem, several green bloggers launched a campaign, which run from July 5 through 10, to show people the beauty of these places in contrast to the critical condition they face.

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Japan: Chinese Novelist wins Akutagawa Award

Written by Chris Salzberg · East Asia

On Tuesday, the Akutagawa Award for Fiction, considered the most prestigious literary prize in Japan, was awarded to Chinese novelist Yang Yi for her work, “Tokiga nijimu asa”. Yang, who was born in Harbin and whose native language is Chinese, learned Japanese after she came to Japan in 1987. In this post, reactions to the award in Japanese and Chinese media, blogs and forums.

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Nicaragua: Open Source Software in Public Institutions

Written by Rodrigo Peñalba · Latin America

A local Nicaraguan blogger has been working with public institutions in the city of Jalapa to take full advantage of open source software. Some of the projects involve the digitalization of public records and cashier counters that use Linux-based computers.

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Updates from 18 July 2008

Israel

“Yesterday the world was treated to an image of Lebanon that was ugly as can be. […] The Lebanon we saw yesterday simply did not correspond to the kindhearted, friendly Lebanese we have always known,” writes Jewlicious, in response to the festivities which greeted the return of the Lebanese prisoners from Israeli prisons.

• Amira Al Hussaini

Israel

“We need to pass a law prohibiting the exchange of murderers or anyone convicted of a violent crime for kidnapped Israelis, soldier or civilian, alive or dead. Gilad Shalit needs to be the last such exchange that is made,” writes Israeli blogger Yael.

• Amira Al Hussaini

Ghana

Ghana Unite for Development comments on the recent gold medal controversy in GhanaCan we really continue producing gold here in Ghana: “I was really surprised when I read that the award medals were purchased for the total price of £740,000 from a jeweler in UK […] Can we really continue producing gold here in Ghana, selling the raw gold and then after that buy back our own gold for outrageous prices from those same people who bought it from us”.

• Elia Varela Serra

Egypt

“Too many people are jovial about the return of Samir Al Kuntar, with even Nasrallah informing him that the 2006 war was for him. The question I would like to pose here, regardless of whether or not Kuntar is a child killer , is it worth it?” writes Sandmonkey, from Egypt.

• Amira Al Hussaini

Kenya

AfricanHipHop posted a music video by radio presenter Jimmy Gathu from around 1992, which he describes as follows: “not only is it one of the first ever rap videos in Kenya, it also gives a unique view into [matatu] culture as it was back in the days”.

• Elia Varela Serra

Palestine

KABOBfest mark Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday with this photo post.

• Amira Al Hussaini

Madagascar

Mialy, a blogger in Antananarivo, describes the plight of young married girls in rural areas who are subject to health and social concerns stemming from early pregnancy (fr). She explains that fistula, a consequence of giving birth at an early age, results in incontinences and therefore health complications compounded with social rejections. Malagasy laws allowed girls to be married as early as 14 years-old until 2007. Health care costs and lack of education are the two other main aggravating factors.

• Lova Rakotomalala

Israel

“New York Times and other U.S. newspapers casually publish articles by Israelis and Zionists calling for the bombing of this Arab or that Muslim country. Would the New York Times publish articles by Arabs who call for bombing of Israel?” asks The Angry Arab News Service.

• Amira Al Hussaini

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