Monday, April 30th, 2007
Weekly Roundup of Myanmar Blogs
Bloggers frequently remark that some of the people they feel closest too they also know very little about. A series of questions, or a ‘meme’, circulating through Myanmar’s blogosphere is helping create a sense of unity and familiarity. Also, a new open source spreadsheet program that allows calculations using Myanmar numerical characters.
Iran: Crackdown on Women Again
Last week hundreds of Iranian women were arrested and thousands more warned for what government authorities judge as unsatisfactory observance of Islamic attire, or, ‘bad hijab’. Hamid Tehrani gathers reaction from bloggers across the political spectrum to the wardrobe crackdown.
Serbia: Blogosphere Reacts to Protect Press Freedom
“Two hand grenades were placed on a window sill of Serbian journalist Dejan Anastasijevic’s apartment on Saturday, April 15,” writes Ljubisa Bojic. While suspicion abounds over who was behind the attacks, some bloggers have started a petition requesting prompt and transparent investigation by the police.
Taiwan: Crazy for Matsu
The immensely popular Taiwanese deity, Matsu, is so highly regarded that many of her devotees walk 300 kilometers over eight days to celebrate her birthday. While some come for good fortune or protection, others find comfort by sharing their woes with Matsu who, according to some, “is better than psychiatrists.” I-fan Lin and fellow Taiwanese bloggers explain the history of Matsu’s popularity and how her importance differs in China and Taiwan.
Lebanon: Art, Water and Tensions
A blogger’s series of paintings addressing last year’s July war with Israel; a poem about love and money; analysis of the murders of 12-year-old Ziad Ghandour and 25-year-old Ziad Kabalan amid already high sectarian tension: all this and more in Moussa Bashir’s weekly recap of the Lebanese blogosphere.
Ropa Vieja and Malanga, Guarapo de Piña, and Colita de Cuadril from across Latin America
From so-called “dirty clothes” in Cuba to guarapo de piña in Venezuela; from organic produce in Uruguay to succulent Argentine tri-tip and fresh cheese in Panama: Chef Melissa de Leon takes us for a lip-smacking expedition through Latin America’s cocinasphere.
Sierra Leonean Blogosphere 101
“If you’ve searched for blogs from or on Sierra Leone,” explains Vickie Remoe-Doherty in her first contribution to Global Voices, “there are two things that should be obvious by now: (1) the Sierra Leonean blogosphere is very small (2) most people blogging from Sierra Leone are international expats or volunteers currently working in the country.” Here is an introduction to their blogs and what they have been discussing.
Trinidad & Tobago: Akon Controversy Continues
As one blogger opines, “not sure what’s more disturbing - the girl being flung and dragged around the stage, legs twisted into varying positions to facilitate his act until he abandons her crumpled on the floor? Or the cheering of the crowd, the roaring approval of the crowd, the screaming, clapping, appreciative crowd. The same crowd that now stands in judgement of what happened.” Find out what started the controversy in Karel McIntosh’s comprehensive coverage from Port of Spain.
Arabeyes: On Selling a Palestinian Kidney and Changing the Israeli Flag
“Do you want to know why a Palestinian wants to sell his kidney, or what had happened to the bicycle of a Lebanese blogger on September 10, 2001? What is more difficult: returning home after living abroad for five years or demanding that Israel changes its flag just as the Kurds want to change the Iraqi flag? And last but not least: why does Ala’a Abdulfattah - the Godfather of Egyptian bloggers - say he isn’t and was never a blogger?” The answers lie in Amira Al Hussaini’s translations and she guides us through the Arabic blogging community.
Roundups
A day without a car in Mongolia, the eighth annual Ghanian music awards, on the eve of elections in the Bahamas, and much more can be found in today’s Global Roundups.