Global Voices · Citizen media stories from 2009 October 07

7 October 2009

Daily archive · 12 posts

Stories from 7 October 2009

Israel: Ahmadinejad A Jew?

Written by Maya Norton · Middle East & North Africa, North America

Britain's Telegraph published a story claiming that Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's family may have Jewish roots. Israeli bloggers react to the news in this post.

· 2

· read »

Armenia-Turkey: Protests against rapprochement

Written by Onnik Krikorian · Middle East & North Africa, Central Asia & Caucasus

Days before the foreign ministers of Armenia and Turkey are due to sign two historic protocols likely to establish diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries, protests against the deal have materialized in the Diaspora. Bloggers comment on the possible rapprochement.

· 7

· read »

Georgia: The Blogosphere emerges

Written by Giga Paitchadze · Central Asia & Caucasus

In the first of a regular series of postings, veteran Georgian blogger Dv0rsky introduces Global Voices Online readers to the local blogosphere and, with many workshops and forums planned or already held, prospects for its future development.

· 4

· read »

Japan: The Buddha girls

Written by Scilla Alecci · East Asia

They call them 'Buddha girls' (仏女 butsujo), Japanese ladies in their 30s or 40s passionate about visiting temples and admiring statues of Buddha and Bodhisattva.

· 5

· read »

Iran: Interview with Khyaboon, an underground Internet journal

Written by Fred Petrossian · Middle East & North Africa

Khyaboon, (meaning 'street') is one of underground internet journals that emerged in Iran after the June presidential election and subsequent systematic repression of protesters.

· 4

· read »

Philippines: Supporting Women through Pregnancy and Motherhood

Written by Juliana Rincón Parra · East Asia

If it goes against the religious mandates of a Catholic organization, can unwed pregnant females be fired from work or expelled from school? Bloggers discuss this situation currently faced in Philippines.

· read »

China: Plenty of trash to burn

Written by John Kennedy · East Asia

As landfills run out of space and NIMBY protests occur across China, the number of trash incineration plants has increased in step. With one such plant planned for a densely-populated residential area in Guangzhou, locals have plenty of heated words for authorities.

· 2

· read »

Argentina: Mourning the Death of Folk Singer Mercedes Sosa

Written by Jorge Gobbi · Latin America

Argentines are mourning the death of folk singer Mercedes Sosa, who passed away on October 4th. Many came out to pay their final respects to the singer affectionately known as "La Negra."

· read »

China: Stopping people's grievances from visiting Beijing

Written by Andy Yee · East Asia

The letter and visit petition system (xinfang) is an administrative system for hearing complaints and grievances from individuals in China. The state and local bureaus of letters and visits are...

· 2

· read »

Indonesia, East Timor: Border Dispute Heats Up

Written by Keta Haluha · East Asia

On 4 October 2009 the Timorese online media TimorOhin [Tet.] [TimorToday], reported that an old border dispute between Indonesia and East Timor has flared up once again in the Oecusse Enclave.

· 2

· read »

Updates from 7 October 2009

Russia

In the live_report LJ community (RUS), photo reports from the memorial rally that took place in Moscow on Oct. 7, the third anniversary of Anna Politkovskaya's murder: LJ user zyalt, LJ user pafnootty, and LJ user antonb_ru.

• Veronica Khokhlova

Israel

Israeli youth who conscientiously object to army service are on an international tour to raise awareness. Ibn Ezra reports: “They did not dwell on their personal stories. They are using their visit to educate people about the conflict, and the dispossession of the Palestinians. On this score they were eloquent and ferocious.”

• Maya Norton

Israel

Envision this: a woman prays at the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site in Jerusalem, while holding a cell phone that relays the prayers to a friend. Leiv Esther reflects on the old and the new uniting to enhance our religious practice.

• Maya Norton

Israel

Jews are currently celebrating the holiday of Sukkot (Feast of the Tabernacles). Israelity features photos of sukkah booths and festivities around Jerusalem.

• Maya Norton

Israel

Blogger and social innovator Daniel Lubetzky of Peaceworks, an organization promoting business relationships among Arabs and Jews, has been named by Times Magazine as one of 25 “Pioneers in Social Responsibility.”

• Maya Norton

Israel

The Anne Frank House has released the only known film footage of Anne Frank, taken on June 22nd, 1941. This 20 second video, sourced from Israellycool, features Frank at 12 years old leaning out of a window at a neighbor's wedding.

• Maya Norton

Israel

Ahmed Amrani, municipal leader and eco-activist, speaks about his role in increasing environmental awareness among the Bedouin of southern Israel.

• Maya Norton

Romania

Gabriela Ionita of Power&Politics World links a general strike planned for Monday with the start of the country's presidential election campaign.

• Vilhelm Konnander

Czech Republic

Eric Grover of Blogactiv.eu discusses US president Obama's decision to scrap the anti-missile defence system planned for deployment to Poland and the Czech Republic on the very day of the 70th anniversary of the 1939 Soviet attack of Poland at the outset of World War II.

• Vilhelm Konnander

Belarus

Amanda Lahan of Crisis Crunch accounts for Russia resuming negotiations on membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which may still be hampered by plans for a customs' union with Kazakhstan and Belarus, set to coincide with WTO-accession also of these countries.

• Vilhelm Konnander