Stories about Weblog from December, 2007
Korea: Three Singers and Military Service
How much can military service change your life? There were three singers in Korea. The first singer, Yoo Seung Joon, who grew up in the U.S., but still kept the Korean citizenship, debuted in Korea in 1997. With a sweet voice and fit body, he got attention instantly and has...
Francophone Morocco on Eid Mubarak Said
Last week, Morocco celebrated Aid el-Kebir (“Big Eid”), a festival commemorating Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac, and God's mercy in sparing him. Family members visit each other over the largest meals they can afford, exchange gifts (often clothing), give alms (zakat, one of the five Pillars of Islam)...
Morocco: Shock at Benazir Bhutto's Death
Following yesterday's news of Benazir Bhutto's assassination, Moroccan bloggers react to the tragedy. Jillian York and Lydia Beyoud sum up a spate of reactions from the Anglophone and Francophone blogoma.
Uganda: Is Uganda mentally, intellectually and creatively broke?
An interview with a Kampala City Council official has blogger Tumwijuke wondering if Uganda is “mentally, intellectually and creatively broke.”
Pakistan: Why Bhutto, and what now for Pakistan?
More reactions are pouring out in the Pakistani blogosphere and elsewhere as it settles in that a very strong and capable leader is no more. Some bloggers are concerned about the law and order situation, providing personal accounts of the violence on the streets. There is also a lot of...
Bolivia: Just Say Yes to the New Constitution
Like the political crisis in Bolivia, blogs have also taken a break for the Christmas and New Year holidays. After the new year has passed, debate regarding the new Constitution and regional autonomies may find itself on the new collective blog site called El Taparaku, which has pledged to support the new document and campaign for a Yes vote in the forthcoming referendum.
Nari Jibon: Women bloggers and the dowry problem in Bangladesh
This week we look at some brilliant articles from Nari Jibon’s women bloggers. They discuss the menace of wedding dowries, which make the lives of poor families difficult by forcing parents to consider female children as burdens. Also, one NJ participant dreams of becoming president and changing the present society to an enlightened, educated and dowry-free society.
Pakistan: Bhutto's Death and Impending Elections
Still reeling with the shock, The Emergency Times, which has kept a very close eye on the unfolding political situation in Pakistan, writes At this tragic moment in the history of Pakistan, we at the Emergency Times are shocked beyond words at this intolerable and brutal act of the murder,...
Guatemala: The Media's Shortcomings
Criticisms against the mainstream media in Guatemala has focused on its lack of coverage of rural areas, and its emphasis placed on countries like Venezuela. Bloggers have also noted double standards in its coverage of politicians. In addition, the use of new tools like blogs on the newspaper's site leaves a lot to be desired.
Special Coverage: The assassination of Benazir Bhutto
Given the volume of commentary from bloggers throughout the world about the assassination of ex-prime minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, earlier today in Rawalpindi, we have set up a Special Coverage page aggregating some of the reactions from Pakistan and other parts of south Asia, as well as our own coverage here on Global Voices. Visit the special coverage page for regular updates.
Pakistan: Reactions to Bhutto's death
Benazir Bhutto's death has come as a shock to many of the bloggers writing from and about Pakistan. While Bhutto's politics may be controversial, her assasinaton comes at a time when it was hoped that Pakistan could overcome the years of lapse of democracy. At Metroblogging Islamabad, the post provokes...
RIP: Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan
Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto (54) was assassinated in Rawalpindi earlier today at a political rally. Ironically according to media reports Rawalpindi is one of the most secure cities in Pakistan and teeming with security folks. In another irony according to a report on the BBC Benazir was assassinated in almost the...
China:Seething Eve on Nankai Campus
Though it is not the first time for a crash between pass-by vehicles and students riding bicycles, in the campus of Nankai University, such a significant accident is unprecedented. Hundreds of restless students, 20 police cars, and a broken, battered Buick sedan marked the seething Christmas Eve of this prominent school.
West Africa: The four Cameroonian historical myths
Today, we are taking a tour of the West African blogosphere. Bloggers from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Nigeria are discussing children's books, historical myths, the military and politics.
Arab Bloggers Alarmed by Al Farhan's Arrest
Reactions continue to reverberate across the Arab blogosphere following the arrest of Saudi blogger Fouad Al Farhan, whose charges still remain unknown. Following is what some of region's bloggers have to say about his detention.
Japan: Learning from the failure of Second Life
Second Life in Japan is virtually dead. While three-dimensional environments such as "meet me" and Hatena World have seen their popularity rise, the most famous virtual environment in the world has seen its virtual space depopulate in Japan. What lessons can be learned from the burst of the Second Life bubble? One blogger offers his thoughts.
The First Six Months of Rising Voices
As we all get ready to enter 2008, Rising Voices celebrates its first six months of existence. It is time to step back, reflect on where we've come and think about where we are going.
Saudi Arabia: Free Fouad Update
The leading Saudi blogger, Fouad Alfarhan, who has been arrested in Jeddah on December 10, 2007 for exercising his freedom of speech on his popular blog alfarhan.org has sent a letter few days before his arrest to his friends. According to his wife with whom we talked, Fouad's arrest was directly linked to his blogging activities. He may remain in custody for a one-month investigation period.
China: Scrap the death penalty?
Was it New Jersey's undoing of the 1976 reinstatement of capital punishment earlier this month, or the United Nations General Assembly's call for a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty a few days later that launched prominent Chinese bloggers into their own debate on the subject? NetEase has gotten nearly...
Kazakhstan: Debates over Latinization of Kazakh Language
Kazakhstan intends to switch the state language to the Latin script. It was announced that the transition will take 12-15 years. As adam_kesher writes, the plan stirred many disputes and arguments – in particular, Russia and a part of Kazakhstan’s Russian-speaking population considers switching to Latin is an adverse move...
Egypt: Rama Yade
Rama Yade, France's Secretary of State, has inspired Egyptian blogger Eastern Bird to write the following post, which Tarek Amr translates from Arabic.
