Global Voices

English

The world is talking, are you listening?

JC reports that he received two emails telling about three main opposing websites being blocked by the government. Users of the main ISPs in Egypt cannot have any access to these sites anymore.

Amr writes about the decommissioned french aircraft carrier waiting to pass through the Suez canal. In its way to be taken apart in Indian scrap yards. Egyptian Environmental affairs Agency listened to activists and now considers the ship hazardous waste and illegal.

Egyptology News, is reporting that “the Ministry of Culture has placed Egypt’s museums at the top of its priorities. This year will witness the inauguration of up to five new regional and national museums and the re- opening of three others after restoration.” The building of the new Grand Museum of Egypt is expected to start this year. The Grand Museum of Egypt is going to be the largest museum in the world.

TenTwenty were killed and more injured including a four years old girl after thousands of Egyptian riot police used force to end a three month old protest in front of the UNHCR office. A protest will be organised tomorrow noon against the killings and the use of violence. Nora posts photos of the aftermath.

Nora visits the newly reopened border crossing between Rafah and Gaza strip. She takes several photos and writes in Arabic about her experience. She documents the frustrations of people trying to get into Gaza. Notices the excessive video surveillance by Israel. She then explains who can cross the border; Palestinians with a passport who live in the Palestinian territories. In addition to that only people above 40, female, registered as a student in a university across the border or has a document that proves s/he is seeking medical treatment. Egyptians may not cross.

Abdelrahman was drafted in October. He will be spending one year in the military. He is the first Egyptian soldier with a blog. He is writing about his life in the boot camp.

Maryanne blogs about a horse show she attended few weeks ago. With pictures of beautiful mares and fillies. She also summarizes the history of the Arabian horse in Egypt and the business of breeding.

Alaa reports that armed state security forces detained the Egyptian journalist Ahmad Abdollah “Abo Islam”. They broke in to his house on Monday. Five bloggers visited him and knew from his son that state security forces threatened his family at gun point and confiscated computer hard drives, CDs and books. He was a member of the Labour “El A'aml” party, former editor in ASha'ab newspaper and published two other newspapers. Currently he writes on a website called Balady Net. Abo Islam runs the Center for Islamic Enlightenment, which aims at bringing different religions closer together.