David Sasaki

China: Independent directors funded

News that China’s federal broadcasting regulatory body will heavily invest in the future films of young indie directors should come as good news to the young, hip digerati tired of the established big names right? John Kennedy’s translations point out why it’s not so simple.

Martinique: Homophobia and Segolene Royal’s Socialist Party

Though Segolene Royal’s political honeymoon has hit a rocky road, she could still become France’s first female president by appealing to several sectors of the diverse electorate which includes “overseas departments” like Martinique. However, when the presidential candidate arrives to the Caribbean island later this month, one local blogger argues that she should clarify her party’s position on same-sex civil unions.

Terrorism in Assam and Illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, a take in Hindi!

Amit Gupta takes us for another dip into India’s Hindi-speaking blogosphere where we read of nativism and calls for autonomy in Assam, the dynamics of class and language in Delhi’s Connaught Place, and the web2.0 version of the world’s longest epic poem, the Mahabharata.

Uganda: Bloggers Gathering, Best of Blogs, Ugandan Mercenaries in Iraq And Recolonization of Africa

“As manic as a beat poetry gathering in New York or a circumcision ceremony in eastern Uganda, last Thursday’s Ugandan Blogger Happy Hour was a mirthful gathering of creativity and wit,” begins Joshua Goldstein in gleeful introduction to the first monthly blogger’s meetup in Kampala. Meanwhile, the bloggers themselves have been setting their sights on Uganda’s role abroad including peace talks in Sudan, peace keeping in Somalia, and the reputation of Ugandan mercenary soldiers in Iraq.

Bolivia: A Conflict Online

Compared with “Black February” and “Black October” of 2003, the already-dubbed “Black January” of 2007 is distinguished by a flood of citizen media - including Flickr photos, YouTube videos, and blog postings galore - that covered the clash in Cochabamba between rural coca farmers and urban opposition protesters. The revolution might not be televised, but controversy cannot seem to evade the net.

Roundups

Telephone wire theft in Tajikstan, bridging the family divide across Romania and Kazakhstan, Iran’s own YouTube, and much more can be found in today’s Global Roundups.

Africa: Dancing to soccer moves, Maasai Hip Hop and laughing at wealthy Americans

In night clubs across Ivory Coast’s capital city Abidjan, dancers are following the on-field moves of football star Didier Drogba with a new dance and accompanying genre of music called drogbacité. Also, tributes to the Godfather of Soul, a Nigerian musician ridicules Westerners scammed on the net, and end of the year reviews of 2006 African music. All summed up eloquently by GV rookie Steve Ntwiga.

Russia, Estonia: The Monument

Fifteen years after gaining independence from the Soviet Union, Estonia is still trying to cultivate its own nationalist symbology. Parliament’s decision last week to remove a Soviet-era monument to the Red Army soldiers who died in World War II, however, has enflamed ethnic Russians within Estonia and abroad who believe the bronze statue was symbolic not of Soviet occupation, but rather liberation from the Nazis.

Brazilian Blogs on Chávez, Lula and the Mercosur Summit

Brazil has long considered itself the regional leader - both politically and economically - of Latin America. But at last week’s summit of the Mercosur trade bloc in Rio de Janeiro it was neighboring president, Hugo Chavez who basked in the limelight of controversy following his recent nationalization of key energy and telecom companies and revocation of a TV station’s broadcasting license. Jose Murilo Junior, with the help of fellow Brazilian bloggers, draws a fascinating comparison between Lula’s present-day Brazil and Chavez’s neighboring Venezuela as both men begin new terms.

MySpace.com Headquarters in Mexico

“MySpace.com, a place for friends.” Those few words might send you rushing to your computer to check for new comments on your profile or they may fill you with disgust. Either way, you’re sure to get a laugh out of what one blogger from Veracruz calls “the offices of MySpace.com in Mexico”.

Turkey is Typing…the Death of Hrant Dink

Anyone familiar with Turkish history knows that “we are all Armenians” is not the catch-phrase one should expect to be chanted by thousands of Turks marching the streets of Istanbul. Yet that is precisely what happened on Friday following the murder of Turkish-Armenian editor, Hrant Dink. Has Turkey finally found the sacrificial lamb to deal openly with its greatest taboo?

Zimbabwe: Questioning the judiciary and the abortive opposition

Observing the complete loss of momentum by opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, Zim Pundit writes, “Tsvangirai emerged as the most potent threat to Mugabe’s tyranny at the turn of the century. Just like the country, once known as ‘Africa’s breadbasket’ has become Africa’s basket case, Tsvangirai has turned into a tragic case of a could’ve been, should’ve been.”

Roundups

The Dalai Lama denied entry into Kenya, blogging bolstered by mainstream media clampdown in Nepal, the World Social Forum in Nairobi, and much more can be found in today’s Global Roundups.

“Fewer than a third of all Americans believe the state has a responsibility to reduce income disparities, compared with 82% of Italians.”

- David Brooks, NYT

Frequently enough I see coffeehouse American philosophers scratching their chins and wondering to one another, “how is it that we were the first ones to embrace modern day democracy and yet we have the least progressive government of developed Western nations?”

The now-near-bleeding-heart columnist David Brooks tips his hat to sociologist Seymour Martin Lipset and argues that, perhaps, it is precisely because our country was founded on the notion of equality that it’s never made the social reforms to make it happen.

Lipset … continued to wonder, with some regret, why America never had a serious socialist movement, why America never adopted a European-style welfare state. Lipset was aware of the structural and demographic answers to such questions. For example, racially diverse nations tend to have lower levels of social support than homogeneous ones. People don’t feel as bound together when they are divided on ethnic lines and are less likely to embrace mutual support programs. You can have diversity or a big welfare state. It’s hard to have both.

But then, according to Brooks, Lipset moved away from demographics and ethnicity and focused on history to explain the difference between the political evolution of Europe and the U.S.

America never had a feudal past so nobody has a sense of social place of class-consciousness, Lipset observed. Meanwhile, Americans have inherited from their Puritan forebears a sense that they have a spiritual obligation to rise and succeed.

Let’s start with the racially diverse society argument: I don’t think you can discount it. I was recently talking to someone about an argument made by her co-worker that immigrants (specifically Mexican) undercut market salaries and take the jobs of poor blacks. Said friend made the obvious point: “do you think that blacks are going to pick strawberries in fields?”

True. But it’s also true that few Mexican immigrants pick fruit for longer than five years. Then most learn the language, move to a city, and work blue collar jobs - jobs that a decade ago were mostly occupied by urban blacks. Ethnic distrust leads to government distrust. If blacks are worried about illegal immigrants taking advantage of universal healthcare or latinos are worried about blacks taking a disproportionate slice of welfare payments or whites are worried about minorities demanding chicano studies departmentis in universities, then no one is willing to put their money in the pot and trust that we’ll all be better off for it.

Similarly, as European nations like France, Holland, and Germany become more racially diverse, you see conservative movements on the rise. Rather than “let’s make a great country” we start to hear, “let’s empower individuals to start great companies.”

But I think that Lipset’s second argument is even more significant. America never had a hierarchical, feudal society in the sense that Europe did. Our definition of class has always been much more dynamic, bolstered by the national illusion that everyone’s great-grandfather came to this country with ten cents in his pocket. Europe went from feudal society to communal nation state. America was founded on a distrust of government and a fetishization with individual accomplishment.

That truism of America’s character holds meaning for the 2008 elections: America is fed up with Bush & Co., but - like Brooks concludes - Democrats won’t be able to get away with anything left of moderation.

The Blogospheres on Big Brother, Shilpa Shetty, Bullying and Racism

What happens when has-been celebrity scandal holds up a mirror to 21st century Anglo positions on race, class, and nationality? Predictably: feverish cyber-commentary and high ratings. From Brighton to Bombay, Neha Viswanathan takes the pulse of South Asian bloggers reacting to the bullying of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty by two other Anglo contestants on the popular British reality show Big Brother.

Malaysia: Bloggers Sued

We recently read of Filipino journalists who were charged with libel by the country’s first gentleman, Mike Arroyo. In Malaysia, journalists are now the plaintiffs and their charges of libel are directed against two popular bloggers: Jeff Ooi of Screenshots and Ahirudin Atan who writes at Rocky’s Bru. But are the solo citizen journalists able to compete in court against big media’s deep pockets?

Lebanon: A Bouquet of Topics

Moussa Bashir treats us to a potpourri of posts from Lebanon this week including analysis of the country’s suffering ski resorts, one blogger’s division of Lebanese society into nine distinct groups, and some creative coffee grind art.

Ahmadinejad Goes to Latin America

Depending on your point of view, he’s either a populist opponent to U.S. hegemony or a dangerous international pariah. Whatever you may think of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the controversial leader is looking toward leftist leaders in Latin America for like-minded support. Hamid Tehrani summarizes and translates the reactions of Iranian bloggers.

Image from French Guiana: Mind Your Kids

If child playgrounds fill you with more fear than felicity, then book a flight to French Guiana where parks are adorned with signs offering the practical advice of keeping kids on a short leash … literally.

Chilean Bloggers on Bolivia’s Chaos

For months now Bolivia has been on the edge of social eruption. Last week’s violent clashes in Cochabamba afforded the first glimpse of lava, but the smoke has since evaporated. Neighboring Chileans were inspired to pen their own analysis of Bolivia’s political turmoil, translated here by Rosario Lizana.

Roundups

Shutting down Internet Telephony in Armenia, reporting on Little Africa in Downtown Guangzhou, attacking Starbucks in China’s Forbidden City, and much more can be found in today’s Global Roundups.

West Africa: What is NOSPETCO?, Aid Does Not Work, Dogon Architecture and Tourism As A Therapy

Nigerians debate a type of investment for devout Muslims who don’t believe in collecting interest; Cameroonian bloggers meanwhile lend their financial skepticism to foreign aid - is it helping?; in Mali we learn of the nexus of architecture and sociology among the Dogon people; and lastly in Cape Verde we are introduced to São Nicolau Island.

Gandhi and YouTube has India talking

If you’re in the market for either attention or controversy, try making fun of a national hero or religious prophet. Of course, such indelicate mockery has been a part of humanity for eons, but in the age of viral video a single pole dance can earn you an entire nation’s contempt. Just ask Gautam Prashad, a New York-based comedian who unwisely chose Mahatma Gandhi as his source of comic fodder.

Afghan Whispers: Cock Fighting, Winter, and Insecure Borders

The portrayal sounds like a Las Vegas prizefight; but no, we’re talking about rooster combat in Kabul, where groups of men will bet more than $5,000 on a single piece of poultry. Also, surviving the winter cold and smuggling along the Afghan-Pakistani border.

Ukraine: Hunters Discuss Yevhen Kushnaryov’s Death

Former Ukrainian Governor Evhen Kushnaryov was returning home after a day of illegal boar hunting with ten other men when they spotted a wolf and jumped out of their cars to shoot it. Instead, it was Kushnaryov - whose controversial political career began in 1981 in the Communist Party - that was shot and killed. Where else for a better gauge of online reaction than the forum of the Ukrainian Hunters’ Server? Veronica Khokhlova translates.

Roundups

An activism lifehack remixed for Jamaica, fighting Philippine prostitution on Wikipedia, Kyrgyzstan’s “Big Pocket Library”, and much more can be found in today’s Global Roundups.

Ethiopian bloggers fear for future in Somalia

Dubbed “the thorn in the Horn” by one blogger, Somalia’s transitional government and Ethiopia’s role in bringing it to power continue to fill the Ethiopian blogosphere, writes Andrew Heavens from Addis Ababa.

Caught On Camera: Human Rights Videos on GV

My fellow media consumers, you are forgiven for assuming that nothing has occurred over the past two weeks save the execution of Saddam Hussein and the preview of a new cell phone by an old computer company. Alas, we are wrong and Sameer Padania is kind enough to highlight some of the citizen-filmed stories we missed including: forced evictions in Cambodia, questionable elections in Fiji, police ethnic violence in Nepal; and social activism in India.

Guatemala: Apocalypto in Context

We end the day with the inaugural post of Renata Avila who takes a look at reactions by her fellow Guatemalan bloggers to Mel Gibson’s Hollywood production Apocalypto and how it portrayed Mayan civilization.

Roundups

Fidel’s medical prospects, text message culture in China, Nigeria’s Calabar Carnival and Parade, and much more can be found in today’s Global Roundups.

Global Voices is hiring an advocacy director

Global Voices is more than just finding those unheard voices and amplifying them. Our founding manifesto, in fact, emphasizes the need to develop new tools and awareness to fight online censorship and filtering. In an exciting step towards realizing that objective, Ethan Zuckerman announces that Global Voices is now seeking a part-time Advocacy Director. It could be you.

French Speaking Blogs of the Caribbean, Africa and Oceania in 2006

Newcomers and longtime readers alike will appreciate Alice Backer’s straightforward review of the French-speaking blogosphere in 2006. From elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo to constant insecurity in Haiti, national identity in Guadeloupe, and a mushrooming Malagasy blogosphere, this look back also gives us a lot to look forward to in 2007.

Bangladesh: State of emergency, bloggers as information source

A recipe for chaos or the restoration of democracy? Last Thursday, Bangladeshi President Iajuddin Ahmed declared a state of emergency, resigned, and postponed the January 22 elections. While soldiers took to the streets and the press was censored, bloggers-turned-citizen journalists filled the information blackout.

Kazakhstan: Discussing the New Government

Leila Tanayeva adds to Ben Paarman’s prior collection of reaction to Kazakhstan’s governmental reshuffle with translated excerpts from local Russian-speaking bloggers. According to Tanayeva, “the news was an opportunity to bet on possible changes in the government, gossip about personalities and connections between them, and talk about the new Prime-Minister Karim Massimov, the first ethnic Uighur PM, born in China.”

Blogs and Mafalda: The Story of a Commemorative Plaque

Mafalda is more than a comic strip, more than a soup-hating, peace-seeking, and Beatles-adoring little girl. Mafalda is a legend throughout Latin America and Europe, where the comic phenomenon by Argentine cartoonist Quino enjoyed immense popularity throughout the sixties and seventies. Mafalda is now also a symbol of weblogs’ legislative potential, writes Jorge Gobbi from Buenos Aires, as a blog post by Dario Gallo eventually inspired a legal homage to the cartoon heroine.

Roundups

Cross-cultural marriages in Bangladesh, an election forecast from Serbia, China’s Curse of the Golden Flower, and much more can be found in today’s Global Roundups.

Bangla blogs debate: Saddam or Bush - who is more guilty?

The answer by some Bangla bloggers might surprise you. As Aparna Ray observes, “in a way, the video and the inopportune date worked in tandem to create the image of Saddam as being more sinned against than sinner.”

Kazakhstan: Reshuffling the Government

A complete government reshuffle in Kazakhstan this past week revealed a balance of powers between competing interest groups. Also revealed: how Timur Kulibayev, the president’s son-in-law, stands to benefit from the incoming prime minister.

Cicarelli Case: Censorship and Boycott Dialectics in the Brazilian Blogosphere

The steamy sex video itself is just about four minutes long and more than four months old. But last week, when federal judges ordered YouTube blocked to prevent Brazilians from seeing what everyone already had, a series of predictable events were put into motion: the video turned up elsewhere on the net attracting more viewers, letters of protest poured into the judge’s office, and bloggers were instantly enraged. Less obvious was the hilarious satire video produced by Rio Grande do Sul’s Secretary of Health.

Russia: Indigenous Peoples of the North

Moscow is atypically without snow while St. Petersburg is about to drown in flood. But in Russia’s isolated and indigenous north, according to LiveJournal user ‘Kuntskamera’, “there is the feeling of life: half-nomadic, not making any sense, without the past and without the future, but life nevertheless.” Veronica Khokhlova translates her dispatch from the village of Nes’. Make sure not to miss the photos.

Cochabamba in Mourning - Bolivian Bloggers React

The Andean city of Cochabamba is in mourning this weekend following a violent confrontation seemingly sparked by calls for the resignation of Governor Manfred Reyes Villa. Some local bloggers, however, insist the real hostility was rooted in class conflict between coca-growing campesinos and the urban middle class. Eduardo Avila has put together an incredible collection of reactions to the violent friction including a mea culpa from former governor Carlos Hugo Molina.

Malaysia: Second wave hit Southern Malaysia

Just a few days ago it was St. Petersburg; now the Southern Malaysian state of Johor is dealing with a second wave of intense flooding which has led to the evacuation of 20,000 in the state capital Johor Baru. Local bloggers are both lending a helping hand and pleading for able internet donors to do the same.

China: Return of the Wang

Described as “the eighties and nineties badboy of Chinese literature” (not to mention “spiritual polutant”), Wang Shuo is a writer who can stir up plenty of buzz. But can he circumvent the entire print publishing industry by releasing his novels on a “pay-per-read” weblog? Chinese bloggers are doubtful.

Global Food Blog Report #36

Let’s end the beginning of Monday with a tasty tour of the globe from Panamanian chef Melissa de Leon. This week she takes us to a market in Ecuador; an East African restaurant in Sydney; to Turkey for Buthanese Red Rice and many other scrumptious destinations.

Roundups

Documenting disappearing recipes while feeding hungry children, campaign slogan translations from Nigeria, post-New Year’s survival in Armenia, and much more can be found in today’s Global Roundups.