· April, 2007

Stories about Politics from April, 2007

Mali: politics is a youth movement

  30 April 2007

Sociolingo's comments about Mali's election photos from BBC: “Politics in Mali is a youth movement, and there are many young Malians who take a keen interest in the political parties. In schools we have mock parliaments and elections. It is a BIG thing and each class has to choose their...

Egypt: Blogger's Wedding Planned

“Egyptian bloggers will hold a “wedding party” in Talaat Harb Sq., Friday 4 May, 6pm, to celebrate the marriage of our future president Gamal Mubarak to the lovely Khadiga, which will be held simultaneously in Sharm el-Sheikh. The bloggers’ protest party will be held under the slogan: “Heyya ah! Baladna...

Ukraine: Opposition Rally

  30 April 2007

Ukrainiana posts pictures from a recent opposition rally in Kyiv and writes: “As the rally drew to a close, it started raining lightly. A group of opposition supporters headed for the Counter-Maidan and streamed past it unobstructed, with 0.0 casualties. Sorry, Mr. Yanukovych, no civil war. Just a civil walk.”

Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood MPs Arrested

“Two members of parliament from the Muslim Brotherhood were arrested yesterday, an escalation in the ongoing campaign against the group. There is a feeling in the air of a looming storm with this crackdown…” writes Egyptian blogger Issandr El Amrani.

Bahamas: Elections Thoughts

  30 April 2007

On the virtual eve of the Bahamian elections, Nicolette Bethel shares her thoughts about politics and governance: “No matter who we think we support, or what party we will elect on May 2, we should be ashamed for allowing our so-called leaders to engage in such a widespread denigration of...

Japan: Media has its eyes wide shut

  30 April 2007

Ampontan posted a detailed and scathing attack on American media (notably CNN and AP) for their failure to catch the “story staring them in the face”: “In the past two days, Prime Minister Abe and the government of Japan just issued its Declaration of Independence from the legacy of World...

Sierra Leonean Blogosphere 101

  30 April 2007

My name is Vickie Remoe-Doherty. This is my first post as Global Voices author for Sierra Leone. I thought that my first post should introduce you to some notable blogs on Sierra Leonean blogosphere. I hope that my work with Global Voices Online will inspire Sierra Leoneans in Sierra Leone...

Japan: What will happen after Golden Week?

  30 April 2007

Social Democratic Party MP Hosaka Nobuto and former diplomat Amaki Naoto say things will start moving in the Diet after Golden Week (one week period with several national holidays). Hosaka expresses his concern[Ja] about a recent trend in which the ruling coalition has forced through several bills and also points...

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? To know more, read on.

Why is adultery illegal in Senegal?

  30 April 2007

Why is adultery illegal in Senegal? (Fr) Women are still considered the property of men and religion a justification for law, whether or not you are a believer, the Blog politique du Senegal writes.

Lebanon: Art, Water and Tensions

This week was marred by the kidnapping and killing of two Lebanese youth, bringing back memories from the dark years of the Lebanese civil war. This was the topic updated and analysed by most Lebanese bloggers. In addition to this sad event, there are blog posts featuring paintings, poetry and political analysis about the expected water crisis in the Middle East as well as the huge billboard with photos of the captured Israeli soldiers that was place on the southern Lebanese borders.

Serbia: Blogosphere Reacts to Protect Press Freedom

  30 April 2007

Two hand grenades were placed on a window sill of Serbian journalist Dejan Anastasijevic's apartment on Saturday, April 15. The explosions caused material damage but no injuries. There were numerous comments about who might have stood behind the attack. Bloggers started a petition requesting prompt reaction of the police for the sake of press freedom.

Iran: Crackdown on Women Again

Iranian police have begun to crackdown on women’s dress. After the Islamic revolution of 1979, women have been obliged to cover their hair and wear long, loose-fitting clothes to disguise their figures and protect their modesty. Thousands of Iranian women were warned about their poor Islamic dress this week and several hundred were arrested in the capital Tehran in the fiercest crackdown in more than a decade for what’s known as “bad hijab”.

Mali: presidential elections in Mali

  29 April 2007

Sociolingo's Mali blogs about today's presidential elections in Mali: “So far all is quiet here in Bamako on polling day. There seems to be a little apathy in the city – only 31% have been reported as picking up their voting cards despite being given the day off on the...

Fiji: May Day 2007

  29 April 2007

The intelligentsiya blog has a post on the significance of the month of May in Fijian political history. The blog urges the readers to “to use May Day 2007 as an instrument of passive protest against Fiji's ruling illegal junta has put paid to such misgiving, or, more candidly, such...

Religion and Philippine elections

  29 April 2007

Majority of Philippine politicians tolerate the political activities of some Church leaders, especially during election season. This is understandable since many Filipinos remain obedient to the teachings and instructions of religious leaders.

Kenya: Kenya Investment Forum in Toronto

  28 April 2007

Recently, Kenyan blogger and Global Voices author, Steve Ntwiga, attended the Kenya Investment Forum in Toronto, Canada: “I found it very telling that the Kenyan Government choose to present Vision 2030 to Kenyans in the diaspora at exactly the same time that the plan was being revealed to Kenyan back...