Archive for
March 10th, 2009
Stories
Caribbean: Message for Rihanna
The Rihanna/Chris Brown headlines have been capturing the interest of bloggers Caribbean-wide recently, not only because Rihanna is Barbados-born and bred, but because the whole issue of domestic abuse hits really close to home.
Adding insult to injury for most bloggers are rumours that the pair have not only reunited, but allegedly got married, prompting Cheese-on-bread!, a Barbadian blog that has long been an avid Rihanna supporter, to write a post highlighting “six reasons why Rihanna would marry Chris Brown”:
1) She wanted to see Chris Brown in a suit. Granted, it's the most mature I've seen him look, since he often looks as though he's dressed by a group of deranged Sesame Street muppets. That suit would look real nice with a pair of handcuffs though…
5) She's getting bad advice. Already proven.
The blogger goes on to say:
All last week the net was inundated with stories of her being back with Brown, married to Brown, pregnant for Brown, beating up Brown first and to be honest I'm over trying to figure out the truth from the lies.
I think the biggest problem with this drama is that both Rihanna and Chris Brown's publicists are spinning out of control. A lot of bs is being slung and I fear it's all for ‘operation save Chris Brown's career' and not for Rihanna's benefit.
Trinidadian blogger This Beach Called Life is of the opinion that Brown will likely hit Rihanna again:
This was obviously no simple beating. I am no expert but I think Mr Brown will hit again and he may hit harder and choke longer next time. The message Rihanna is sending to domestic violence victims is that it wasn’t so bad. The message she is sending to abusers like Chris Brown is give her your best shot.
There is palpable disappointment in the regional blogosphere over the pop star's apparent unwillingness - or inability - to be a spokesperson for domestic violence. Another Trinidad and Tobago-based blogger, Attillah Springer, writes a stirring letter to Rihanna:
I don’t know if my words will have any effect on you, but I feel like I have to say it. The scary thing is that we are so comfortable with violence that your fans can get over Chris Brown’s behaviour. They say, small ting. Everybody has to get licks some time.
This is a country where we make a lot of excuses for men’s violence against women. This is a country where little girls can be abducted, raped, killed and then you hear people call in to radio stations and condemn them for being too ‘fresh’.
This scares me, Rihanna. Especially since women like you are role models. The epitome of this bizarre construct called modern woman. You, the post feminist self-determined Barbie, who have money, a top career, men the world over who practically worship you and thighs to make the rest of us women die of jealousy. You who are all these things can’t possibly accept such behaviour from a man.
I fear that the news of your return to your abuser sets a bad precedent to all the Caribbean girls becoming women who admire you, your rise to fame, your spectacular claiming of Hollywood. You, a regular Bajan girl that could be any regular other girl from any regular other island.
She adds:
We have this way of thinking that doesn’t always take reason into consideration, because we think we’re in love. We would rather take the occasional licks than lonely nights or trying to find someone else to love us.
And I look around at my other sister friends who are agonizing in relationships with men who either don’t deserve them…and I wonder about love and power and sex and if we will ever figure out how to balance them all.
If women like you can negotiate around and past the problem of abuse and add your voices and your strength and your ideas to women who don’t have the resources or the confidence in their own voices to break themselves out of cycles of violence.
Rihanna's compatriot Cheese-on-bread! sums up the feeling of the Caribbean blogosphere in one pointed sentence:
All I know is that if she marries or for that matter reconciles with Brown, she's going to squander a lot of goodwill being sent her way.
Egypt: Dalia Ziada urges Saudi Arabia to end discrimination against Muslim women
On the occasion of Prophet Mohamed's birthday, Egyptian blogger Dalia Ziada launches a campaign asking Saudi Arabia to end their discrimination against young Muslim women worldwide!
Dalia started her post by talking about this official holiday in Egypt:
Today, Egypt – and only Egypt – celebrates the blessed birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). We, Egyptians, call it: Mawlid Elnaby. On this day, Egyptian Muslims buy special desserts (halawet elmwalid), exchange cordial visits with relatives and acquaintances, and above all hold commemoration sessions to remember Prophet Muhammad.
Here is what triggered her campaign:
After performing the noon prayers, the idea of making a religious trip to Mecca and Prophet's tomb in Saudi Arabia popped up to my mind.
Her search results were shocking:
I am not allowed to do “O'mra!” [a lesser pilgrimage to Mecca] Why? Because I am a young woman under the age of 45! The only solution for me to get to my beloved Prophet's land is to be accompanied by a male chaperon. My mother is not enough!! Do you know what a male chaperon is? A first-degree male relative: father, brother, husband, or son! I am in a big trouble, then. My father is dead, my two brothers are not interested and I cannot afford paying for their tickets, I do not have a husband and of course I do not have a son!! What can I do, now?!
What infuriated the young activist more was:
I have traveled to places much far than Saudi Arabia. I was completely alone! I did not do something wrong, and nothing wrong was done to me in any of my previous trips overseas!!
Upon investigating this law further, she learnt that:
such an unjustified restriction is the pure invention of Saudi Arabia and has nothing to do with Islam! Thus, Saudi government is blocking one-third of Muslims (i.e. Muslim women) around the world from practicing a duty of their religion imposed on them by Allah! Who says that Saudi government's word is superior to the word of Allah?! Who told them that Mecca and Prophet Muhammad is their own and they have the right to prevent whomever they want from visiting them?!
Dalia then links her personal sense of injustice to her female counterparts living in KSA:
Actually, no wonder! Saudi Arabia is the biggest abuser of women rights in the whole region. They deprive women from showing their faces, driving a car, or even working or socially mixing with men! Saudis commit these awful violations against women rights in the name of Islam. They distort the image of our tolerant religion. But, I am not Saudi Arabian; why should I comply with their naïve rules, then? This is not fair!
Back to the issue of the Prophet's birthday:
Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia does not celebrate Prophet's birthday. That is despite the facts that: 1) the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born in Saudi Arabia; 2) his mission to call for the religion of Islam started in Saudi Arabia; 3) he lived his whole life in Saudi Arabia; and 4) Saudi government holds all property rights for Prophet's belongings and monuments. So, how come Saudi Arabia does not celebrate Prophet's birthday?!! They even consider the Prophet's birthday celebrations, we – Muslim Egyptians – do, a heresy (beda'a)!!!
Dalia is now calling upon:
world feminists, moderate Muslims, and those who believe in women rights in the Muslim world to join me in my upcoming fight against the Saudi government for getting my right (as a woman) to practice my religion with complete freedom, liberated from the unreasonable restrictions imposed by extremists and patriarchal governments like that of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia does not have “monopoly rights” over Islam!
Muslimah Media Watch tackled the issue of how women in KSA are treated like legal minors.
Zoheir al-Harithi, spokesman for Saudi’s Human Rights Commission, says that the report didn’t focus on productive efforts to improve the situation as well as confused tradition with state policy. “We agree with some points and we are working on that as a commission for the government, but we don’t agree with the generalisation.”
You can download the full report, Perpetual Minors: Human Rights Abuses Stemming from Male Guardianship and Sex Segregation in Saudi Arabia, here.
Dalia Ziada created a Facebook group here for her campaign.
Japan: Making money thanks to the economic crisis.
If on one hand libraries and newspaper kiosks overflow with books and magazines that examine, analyze and comment on the current economic recession hitting Japan, then on the other hand, many people have begun to think that, if there are losers (layoffs and companies in the red), there must also be winners somewhere, i.e. individuals or companies actually benefiting from the crisis.
Some Japanese bloggers, for example — most of them experts in economics or with extensive experience in the business world — reported news they learnt about through colleagues and other sources confirming that there are some who have been earning much more money in the last months than in any period of prosperity.
The president of Castanet Inc. Chikara Ueki (植木力) in his blog reveals details of a “whispered conversation” [ja] he had with the president of another company that deals with the processing and sale of raw materials. While he claims that the words, “there is a crisis, we are not making a penny” are the first ones people say nowadays when they meet each other, there are actually some who are making money from this unsteady economic situation:
鉄などの素材に近い材料を一部加工して、販売している中小企業です。
その社長と数年ぶりにお会いして、私の方から「厳しい業界と思いますが、会社の方は大丈夫ですか」と質問しました。
I met the president [of one of those companies] who I hadn't seen in a long time. “Seems like a tough industry [to be in right now],” I said to him, “how is your company doing?”
[…]
「植木さん この経済危機で売上が３０％ダウンしたが、儲かっています。メーカー主導から私たちの時代になりました。 植木さん、わかりますか？」
[…]
今までは、価格が厳しく素材メーカーとユーザーの間に入り、加工作業が入っても粗利益は１０％もなかった（口ぶりからして７％～１０％と予想しました）
そのために、社長も従業員も現場で朝から晩まで働いても、儲からず、会社の維持がやっとの状態だったようです。
そこにやってきた、昨年前半の原油、鉄鋼など素材の値上ラッシュ、そして経済危機。
ユーザーからは値下げ要請があり、少し答えているとのこと。
That is why, he said, both the president and the employees, despite working from morning to evening, didn't earn much, and why the company was only barely able to maintain its operations.
[However], in the first half of last year, all of a sudden the prices of crude oil, iron, steel and other raw materials shot up, followed by the economic crisis.
Users [began to] demand price reductions, [he said, and his company] has been meeting their needs, to some degree.
値下げしても儲かっている？ 不思議な話しです。
その答えは、素材メーカーの経営環境にありました。
日本国内の素材メーカーは、減産のため生産ラインを止めると、再稼動のために莫大な費用がかかるので、生産ラインは止めたくない。
The secret was in the raw material producers and their management environment.
In Japan, domestic raw material producers are reluctant to stop the production line because huge costs are required to put it back into operation again.
販売は、円高なので海外に出荷ではなく、日本国内で値引きをしても販売したい。
つまり、販売力のある会社には特別価格の提示があるのです。
それも、不景気度が増すごとに値引きが多くなっているとのこと。
顧客への販売価格もメーカーからの仕入れ価格の両方の主導権を握った結果、粗利益が１０％以上～４０％にもなっているそうです。
昨年の値上ラッシュ以前、それ以下で価格交渉が出来ているからです。
売上が大幅ダウンしても、利益が増える（最高益を更新）のが理解できました。
In other words, companies that have selling power can set a special price.
The more the recession worsens, the more frequently price reduction is applied.
And as a result of the fact that they have now managed to take over control of both the selling price to the customer and the buying price from the manufacturers, the gross margin [for the companies in the processing industry] has climbed higher than 10%, up to 40%.
Since last year, after the sudden rise in prices, it has become possible for these companies to negotiate the price.
They realized that even with a drastic reductions in sales, their profit increases (and set new records for highest profits).
１００年に一度と言われている経済危機、考え方を変えると１００年に一度のチャンスかもしれない。不況業種も含め、全ての産業に言えることかもしれません。
ただ、事例の通り何もしなくてもチャンスは生まれるのではなく、コツコツとやってきたご褒美だと思います。
However, as this case shows, it didn't just come out of nowhere. It is a reward for a long period of steady efforts.
By id:maxmana
According to some minor media [ja], there are some business sectors and some companies in particular whose balance sheet has been doing well since Japan entered in recession and the threat of a return to bubble times has made consumers more cautious. The fast food [ja] industry and the retailers of no-branded, medium-quality products seem to be very popular across all generations of consumers. The same can be said for the e-commerce service providers [ja], as buying online is said not to give people the feeling that they are actually spending money.
id:Warabidani comments [ja] on an article [ja] published on the news aggregator Netallica, which quotes a Forbes ranking of the 40 richest Japanese men. The top two positions are occupied by the President of the clothing company Uniqlo [ja] and by the honorary President of the pachinko company Sankyo [ja].
柳井会長は前年の６位（４７億ドル、約４４００億円）から一気に１４億ドル（約１３００億円）も資産を増やしてのトップに躍り出た。
いくら会長でも役員報酬が１３００億円もあるはずがない。どうやら持ち株が値上がりしたためのようである。
パチンコ人気もまだ健在ですね。パチンコは不況に強いのかねえ？
３位に転落した任天堂の山内相談役。「任天堂どうした？」
いえいえ、ここも儲けまくっている。
Nintendo's counselor [ja] Mr. Yamauchi fell to 3rd place. “What happened to Nintendo?”
Nothing bad, they are still making a lot of money.
Is it possible that all these companies, which are really earning money despite the crisis, have something in common? To answer to this question, Kôsuke Ideguchi (出口康介) has traced a profile of the emerging companies, basing the analysis on his ten years of experience.
それらの企業の特徴を考えてみると共通した特徴が見えてくる。
１）時流を読むのが上手い（不況期にあったマーケティングができて
いる）
２）本業に関連する新規事業に積極的に取り組んでいる
３）本業において一点突破できる強みを持っている
４）新規事業で本業の強みを上手く活かせている
５）社長の決断力と実行力があり、初動までのスピードが早い
６）業種を問わず上手くいっている企業の取り組みを取り入れている
（素直で勉強好きである）
７）定期的に経営戦略を見直しして柔軟に適切な戦略に変えている
８）利益が出ていても常に危機感を持って商売している
９）社員のためにお金を使っている（人材育成）
１０）若手（幹部）で会社をグングン引っ張るリーダーがいる（人材づくり）
1) They are able to interpret the trends of the times (they have a marketing [strategy] for the recession period).
2) They are proactive towards the new business [opportunities] related to their principal occupation.
3) Their strength is in their ability to excel in every sector of their business.
4) They are good at making use of their strengths when they embark on new activities.
5) The president has determination and is a person of action, and he has made moves very quickly.
6) They adopt the approach used by companies that are doing well, regardless of the type of industry [that company is in] (they are honest and studious).
7) They revise their managing strategy regularly and change it accordingly, with flexibility.
8) Even when they are earning good profits, they still operate their business keeping in mind that a crisis may occur.
9) They use money for the benefit of employees (personnel training).
10) The executives are young and there is a leader with energy who acts as a driving force for the company (fostering of talent).
Hong Kong: End of HSBC myth?
Yesterday (March 9) HSBC Holding, Europe's biggest bank, and an Elephant in Hong Kong Hang Seng Index plunged 24% to HK$33, its lowest level since 1995. Since the beginning of financial crisis, many Hong Kong people believe that the city will not be hit directly by the tsunami (partly because of China factor). However, as HSBC has been viewed as the foundation of Hong Kong's economy, the plunge to HK$33, is a hard hit to people's confidence.
A cable TV economic news commentator could not help shedding tear when the price was down to HK$33 during the auction period in the last minute before the market closed. The clip was circulated widely via youtube and becomes a hot topic today:
Those Were the days blogs a number of phone conversations on HSBC:
上午已收到A的電話，他說匯豐股價「唔多掂」，但仍死守38元上下。A說去到38元水位，他過去在匯豐的投資，已蒸發掉三分之一左右，若再跌下去，他不知應否供股
When HSBC plunged to HK$33:
B說匯豐跌至如此水平，已不是個別企業升跌的問題了，那，已是維繫港人信心的問題：港人普遍相信、甚至迷信，全世界股票跌到七個一皮，匯豐也是不會大跌的，所以為何一個又一個關鍵價位，港人散戶總會組成血肉長城，想頂住匯豐股價！匯豐與廣大香港散戶，已是血脈相連！
下場咖啡局是C，匯豐跌至33元，他歴年在匯豐的投資，已不見了三分二左右，還要動用流動資金供股，但，可有一對仔女在英、加讀大學。C說，他曾計劃十年八載退休時，可靠匯豐、恒生股息養老，現在，一切已成泡影之餘，還要面對流動資金緊張的情況，他，已決定減少不必要的消費，包括計劃中的復活節外遊了。
再之後是大迷信D的電話。他說特區政府拆掉天星碼頭之後，匯豐股價江河日下，明顯天星破壞了匯豐風水之言，並非沒有根據，為香港、為廣大匯豐散戶，他強烈要求天星碼頭原址重建…….
Mimi has not been affected by the crisis but pointed out that Hong Kong people should learn from Buddha's teaching:
數十年來, 匯豐控股 的股票 在港人心中是現金的代名詞, 是派息保障的同意詞, 是保障中的保障, 穩定中的穩定, 昨日一日暴挫十元五角, 跌至33元, 股評主持人當場淚洒機前, 整個港島一遍哀聲. 老咪在賺了點小錢的情況下,一早已出了匯控, 手上的幾十股碎股, 也從來沒放在心上, 只當散錢, 留給兒子無妨, 但多少香港人受惠於父輩, 靠匯豐股息讀書, 甚至過日子.
以前看這樣的老友, 會贊他福氣, 但私下會想: 這就是人的生存方程式? 今時今日, 再三思考此問, 惊覺, 此海嘯來勢猛烈, 明顯就是沖著我們自覺成功的生存方式而來, 所有我們過往以為的, 了解的, 信任的人, 機構, 甚至體系, 在這次大的沖擊下變得不了解, 甚至無法信任. 一切所為何事? 老咪不想說服任何人, 只想告知自己: 這世界是想讓我們知道:
一切有為法, 如作夢幻泡影, 如露也如電, 應作如是觀. (金剛經)
Ev'rything which derives from karma
are just like a dream, a mirage, a bubble, a reflection,
a drop of dew or a lightning flash,
which is a way a man of insight should take. (translation from zftrans)
Today, HSBC's stock price bounced back to about HK$38 and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited Securities and Futures Commission is reviewing the last minute auction arrangement before market close.
Madagascar: Amidst Turmoil, Media Misinformation and Hard Truths
More than a month and a half into the crisis in Madagascar, confusion grows crescendo as the power struggle between the president and a former mayor vying for the presidency extends, leaving many wondering when the political stalemate will end.
Additionally, the media wars have gotten so contentious that every single news items produced by local media is now questioned by many Malagasy citizens, all too weary of the risk of misinformation.
However, a few op-ed articles seeking to understand the roots of the crisis between President Marc Ravalomanana and the former mayor of Antananarivo, Andry Rajoelina, have struck a chord in the national psyche and were shared extensively within the Malagasy blogosphere.
On the heels of the media
Instances of contradicting information and confusion in mainstream media in Madagascar have been abundant within the past week:
- Reports on March 7th of Viva Radio station headquarters being attacked yet still broadcasting the day after (pro-Rajoelina Viva offices were in fact broken into by armed forces but not seized).
- Reports on March 8th of army mutiny echoed in the international media but still more or less denied by the head of the armed forces (EMMO-NAT).
- Reports of threats towards opposition leaders and of a hidden safety location for Rajoelina that turned out to be a residence under the protection of UN officials. The latest report states that Rajoelina is now residing at the French Embassy because the UN as mediator could not keep him.
- Reports of severe repression by armed forces (followed by removal of online video evidence ) in turn followed by reports of marked absence of the aforementioned armed forces that allowed for further looting to occur on March 9th (fr).
- Reports of hijacking of radio air waves frequency (mg).
- Reports of foreign mercenaries directing Malagasy soldiers (fr) that allegedly turned out to be mere instructors of newly acquired weaponry (mg)
In summary, the situation is a much tangled web that requires further digging into the Malagasy collective psyche.
Patrols in the streets (http://ariniaina.wordpress.com)
The psyche of a nation challenged
Enter Ndimby A.'s editorial in the Madagascar Tribune daily newspaper entitled: “Auto-derision” (fr) or “Self-depreciation”:
In his piece, Ndimby strives to expose the very nature of the Malagasy collective culture that allows for repeated cycle of political instability throughout Malagasy history and chronic bouts with extreme poverty. He lists several reasons, some are highlighted below (fr):
Le complexe de l’insulaire:
Nous nous sentons intelligents. Nous nous sentons doués. Et la pauvreté ou les crises politiques ne peuvent donc qu’être des accidents de parcours. De la faute des bailleurs de fonds, de la faute des politiciens, de la faute des réseaux mafieux, de la faute à pas de chance, de la faute au voisin, de la faute aux grandes puissances, de la faute aux cyclones, de la faute au karma, de la faute des autres. Mais, ne faisons-nous pas partie des autres ?
We think we are smart. We think were skilled. That poverty and political crises could only be caused by misfortune. That they are due to faults by aid funds, politicians, the mob networks, bad luck, the neighbor, powerful countries, cyclones, karma, i.e others' faults. But aren't we also part of those others?
Le malgache et le développement:
Le malgache est-il fait pour le développement? Le malgache est-il fait pour la démocratie? A priori ces deux questions peuvent sembler être provocatrices, voire choquantes. En fait, elles le sont. Mais au-delà de la provocation, le contexte de cette crise politique et la situation de notre pays après 50 ans d’Indépendance invitent à une véritable réflexion sur la mentalité malgache, sur nos valeurs et sur nos défauts.
Dictons, proverbes et autres expressions usuelles sont une bonne illustration de la mentalité populaire. Or que dit-on à Madagascar? Ny hazo avo halan-drivotra (le vent a horreur des arbres trop hauts), véritable hymne à la médiocrité pour appeler chacun à ne pas se faire remarquer et à ne surtout pas faire de zèle.
Are Malagasy people built for development? Are they built for democracy? At first glance, the two questions may seem controversial, even shocking. In fact, they are. But beyond the controversial aspect, the current context begs us to reconsider our mentality, our values and our shortcomings.
Proverbs and common sayings usually illustrate well the common state of mind. What do we say in Madagascar? Ny hazo avo halan-drivotra: “The Wind Detests the Trees that Stand Out” An authentic ode to mediocrity that call everyone to blend in and by any means, not be too zealous.
… la culture Malgache est une culture de marimaritra iraisana, qui ne signifie pas toujours consensus (ce qui aurait été une bonne chose), mais plutôt compromis. Dans le pire des cas, le marimaritra iraisana est le mauvais arrangement. C’est la compromission qui a fait tout le monde courber l’échine devant les abus de Marc Ravalomanana depuis 2002, pour éviter les « problèmes ». [..] C’est la compromission qui a fait que tout le monde, au début, a trouvé son compte dans les agissements de Andry Rajoelina, avant de s’effarer de ce train à grande vitesse sans frein ni marche arrière.
Bloggers take stock
Ndimby's tirade is echoed by a few bloggers on both sides of the conflicts, who are weary of the lack of leadership and the confusion.
Jentilisa writes (in absentia) about the latest events leading up to a pro-governmental rally attended by about 1,000 people in Mahamasina today (mg):
Koa satria tsy handray andraikitra ny mpitandro ny filaminana amin'izao fandrobana mahatsiravina, 26 janoary 2009-bis notontosaina androany 9 martsa 2009 izao, dia niantso ny mpanohana ny ara-dalàna sy tsy manaiky ny hisian'ny barazy arahina fandrobana ny tao amin'ny radio mada
At the other hand of the spectrum, Avylavitra calls out the government for stealing the air waves frequency of Viva Radio (mg):
Tsy nampoizina anefa ny zava-misy fa hay ny RADIO MADA no io henion’ny rehetra amin’ny onjam-peon’ny Viva io… Filana ady ve sa fihantsiana no anton’izany?
Others, like Tahina, are wondering whether talks of the conflict escalating to civil war are now justified:
It’s no longer safe to talk politics in public areas (buses included) because you don’t know who’s listening to you and on which side they are. A simple rumour about you can harm you or your relatives.
Blogger Pakysse has one simple request for the two rivals (mg): that they should talk to each other.
Middle East: Women Looking for a Cause to Celebrate
Female bloggers from across the Middle East joined hands in marking the International Women's Day with posts reflecting on the occasion and celebrating the lives and achievements of women who have touched them.
In Saudi Arabia, American Bedu admits that while many women in the kingdom may not even be aware of the significance of the day, they are “likely women who are happy and content with their lives and know who they are.”
She continues:
for those who take relish in reading of the lack of women’s rights in Saudi Arabia and viewing the Saudi woman as among the most oppressed in the world, I’d like to point out that Saudi women are consistently receiving more opportunities. These are opportunities in education, employment, legal rights, etc. I know there will be so many naysayers saying these are minimal and only because a “man” approved but guess what…that is a fact of life in Saudi Arabia. And this fact will not change until Saudi women (and not expat women or other groups) choose to take initiatives for changes – if they want them in the first place.
The blogger, who is married to a Saudi, also pays tribute to a special woman in her life:
I wish to recognize my dear Saudi mother-in-law, Mama Moudy. She may never drive, she may never be seen uncovered, she may not be educated but she is among one of the wisest, compassionate, supportive (she accepted her son marrying an American!), kind and beautiful (inside and out) women I have met.
Israelity Bites, from Israel, comments on an initiative by American author Alice Walker's to enter Gaza to mark the day with 60 other activists.
She notes:
The Code Pink intends to stay three days in the enclave and they have brought along some goodie baskets of hygiene care items for families affected by the 20 month trade blockade, the bombing of smugglers' tunnels, and the “wanton” destruction during Operation Cast Lead.
Militant rocket fire continues, still provoking airstrikes by the IAF, but these women are calm and determined to get inside to witness their US tax dollars at work.
She ends her post asking:
How will Hamas celebrate Women's Day, I wonder..
From Palestine, American activist Marcy Newman laments the fact that the day is no longer a holiday. She writes:
today is international women’s day. this used to be a day off in palestine. a day that people did not work. apparently, this is no longer the case. […] if this were still a holiday that the palestinian authority honored we might be able to do things like honor palestinian women political prisoners
In Kuwait, American blogger Desert Girl on Kuwait marks the day by criticising the tone of a warden notice issued by the American Embassy, which she describes as “alarmist.”
The circular was issued after an American woman complained about being harassed at a shopping centre and warns women saying:
Western women in Kuwait should be particularly vigilant because their dress and freedom of movement can attract attention, in part because many local women are dressed much differently.
Desert Girl remarks:
How do you feel about that statement? I don't think that non-hejab-wearing women dress much differently than Western women (and for many women who wear hejab, the only difference is often the scarf). I think for the most part that most Western women try to dress appropriately for Kuwait - and again for the most part - conservatively by Western standards. I dress like my Kuwaiti girlfriends (who don't wear hejab) and vice versa. I have Moslem American friends who wear hejab and some who wear abaya and niqab. And “freedom of movement”? Yeh! Where in Kuwait and at what time don't Kuwaiti women go? They're free to move. I don't get it. This just pissed me off.
Happy International Women's Day.
Still in Kuwait, Teach the Masses celebrates the day by paying tribute to women who have made a difference. Her short post says:
Happy March 8th everyone!
Rosa Louise Parks- for sitting tight.
Mother Teresa- for not sitting down at all.
Diana Princess of Wales- for doing it all and sitting pretty.
Marie Curie- for sitting in a lab and saving the world.
Just a few.
Palestinian Al Falasteeniya also pays tribute to women, whom she describes as “beyond awesome.” She notes:
ok, ok, enough with the intl women's day posts. really, everyday should be intl women's day, right? nonetheless, i want to take this opportunity to share with you some way too cool women who i think are beyond awesome. at the same time, i want to honor those who are no longer with us.
For her list, click here.
Meanwhile, Ansam, at Gather te rosebuds while ye may writes about an art exhibition, featuring the works of five Arab artists, being held in Kuwait to mark the International Day of Women.
And finally Swedish Sniff, who lives in the UAE, notes her surprise that she didn't find many campaigns focusing on women. She explains:
Today on International women's day, I scanned the media for highlights and campaigns focussing on this - and found very little! Perhaps more will see it as the day goes on?
Stay tuned for more reactions from the day.
Links for Tue, 2009-03
Wide Angle, the Emmy-award winning international current affairs documentary series from PBS published two documentary shorts “Vote for Benazir's Blood” and “You Cannot Hide from Allah” as a part of their Pakistan at polls series. Click on the titles to watch.
Living in Barbados discusses the issue of race.
“Countless visitors profess a desire to improve life for Haitians and to promote democracy but they seldom deliver. That does not excuse the Haitian authorities and Haiti's bourgeoisie class who have kept Haitians living in extreme poverty”: Still, Wadner Pierre wonders “what visitors to Haiti really want for Haitians.”
Cuban diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense says that “the Castro dictatorship's strong-arm treatment of the Damas De Blanco (”Ladies In White”) continued over the weekend with the arrest of the three of the group's members.”
“To be part of a group of voluble Indians in the diaspora watching the Oscars while contributing to a live, running commentary the year Slumdog Millionaire won 8 Oscars was quite an experience”: From Jamaica, Annie Paul shares her thoughts on the movie, while Jumbie's Watch posts a perspective on Trinidad and Tobago's “own Slumdogs“.
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp pays tribute to one of his mentors, writer Kamau Brathwaite.
BRAC Blog informs that BRAC, the largest non-profit (NGO) development organization in Bangladesh, has set up an office in Liberia and deployed its trained and experienced staffs to carry out development activities which includes helping rural farmers grow better crops to feed their families and sustain their livelihoods. It will also offer micro-finance program and health program, which will provide life-saving health information and basic health care services.
Pravit Rojanaphruk writes about the lack of knowledge of Southeast Asians about their neighbors in the region.
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