A Crystal Globe

Iraqi Youth and the Future

By Paige Gray

Ausama Idres can faintly recall the sirens and bombing from the Gulf War.  He remembers leaving his home in Baghdad as a child with his parents, gas masks in tow, worried the city might get nuked.

He thinks about his experience growing up during that war--which unofficially lasted less than a year--as compared to

Iraq

what Iraq's youth today must be enduring through the current extensive battle, which began in 2003.

"For those young teens, they're growing up in a very hostile environment and they haven't experienced peace before; most of their terms are growing violent," says Idres, now a medical student in Northern Iraq, in an e-mail interview.

While the war continues in Iraq and uncertainty remains as to what direction a new administration will take, many believe the key in rebuilding the Middle Eastern nation begins with its youth and education. 
Controversy may always surround the United States' decision to invade, but experts, Iraqis and Arab-Americans hope children, teenagers and young adults can overcome the effects of living amongst destruction, death and anxiety for more than five years.

"Iraqi youth need education, need to learn that it is okay to think, and that they must think outside the box--the box that was build by the religious leaders and radical ideologies," says Dr. Wamith Alkssab, youth projects director of Baghdad's Iraqi Al-Amal Association.

Some believe a new administration may positively influence the mindset of Iraqis, particularly the youth, but only to a certain degree after continuous exposure to violence during their formative years--violence which will presumably carry on even after a new U.S. president.

"It's important that Iraqi children see that the administration responsible for their suffering in the war leave office," says Khalil M. Marrar, a visiting political science professor at DePaul University. "However, I am not sure the message of ‘regime change' in the U.S. will reach young minds of Iraq, or anyone in the country."

Marrar says, unfortunately, there may not be a bright spot in the immediate future.

Wg-iraq-1832-400x300

"I think what they are more likely to see is a continuation of their suffering in a protracted war if John McCain takes office, or the same result--but without the U.S.--under an Obama or Clinton presidency."

Mark Goldstein, who works directly with the country's youth through the London-based Children of Iraq Association, says the Unites States must also work with Israeli-Iraqi relations to secure a better future.

"[Iraqi youth] hope a new American administration will break the connection with Israel that is feeding the war in Iraq. Many young Iraqi fighters have told me they have encountered foreign forces from Israel causing havoc," Goldstein says.  "The Iraqi youth yearn for their own destiny and the ability to defend themselves. They hope a new U.S. president will end the occupation and U.S. forces will leave Iraq."

Similarly, Michael Kelly, a law professor at Creighton University, says good could come from conversations about
other Middle East situations, catalyzed by the Iraq War.

"One very slight silver lining might be that it has forced us into a dialogue with Iran that never would have happened otherwise," Kelly explains. "If a suitable rapprochement can be developed that would tamp down on Iran's support of Hammas, then perhaps a more positive peace effort for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could begin."

Goldstein notes that young adults in Iraq acknowledge the positive outcome of Saddam Hussein's downfall.  And though Idres thinks the war has brought new opportunities and freedom for some people "to do many things," he says the prolonged fighting since the fall of the Iraqi dictatorship has ruined possibilities for much of the next generation.

"This war, I believe has changed so much of the Iraqi youths' futures. It changed it dramatically if I may say so.  I don't know how to put that in words...It abolished so many opportunities to many young people."

Iraq_flag

Contempt and confusion still stirs inside Idres regarding President Bush's choice to attack.

"Even though we were living under a dictatorship regime, it was somehow a peaceful environment and under a peaceful environment sometimes you can plan ahead," he says. "But after the war we never had a peaceful environment and that disrupted everything, every plan that someone can make."

The war's costly impact on Iraqi life has ruined Idres' opinion of and faith in the American government.  The decision to interfere in a conflict the U.S government knows nothing about has devastated the country and its next generation, he says.

"I'm well-educated and I understand that the soldiers on the ground are doing what they're told to do, and I understand that the American people don't want this war from the beginning so I know for sure that the U.S. Administration is behind everything," he says.  "I hate them for that and I don't appreciate anything they've done so far, because they clearly stick their noses in something they don't understand a thing about."

That suffering can be witnessed not only through newscast images and front-page photos, but through the blogs of Iraqi teenagers. Days of My Life is a blog written by a 16-year-old girl who calls herself "Sunshine." 

Describing herself, she writes, "I grow up among well educated family. My school is far away from my home and the way to it is dangerous, so every day considered as a challenge. I have many dreams and ambitions, I wish that one day they become true. I want to be an engineer or a pharmacist in the future, my mom always support me to accomplish my ambitions ... optimism is my strategy always."

Sunshine uses that optimism to deal with her daily struggles and heartaches, such as the threat on her father's life in March.  Letting the blog serve as her personal diary, Sunshine wrote about her pain and anguish for all to read, letting an international community experience a small part of the situation some Iraqi youth and families face.

"It has been the hardest two week in my life. First we were threatened by terrorists who wanted to kill my dad, I spent the whole nights thinking, and crying, I was in shock, and terrified.  I couldn't study anything, I couldn't concentrate and I did horrible in all of my exams, I am expecting low marks, during the classed I kept wondering with tears in my eyes, what will happen next?" Sunshine writes, trying to balance school responsibilities with the fear of losing her father.

"Will they kill my dad? Kidnap one of my family members? Why ?  We're not rich, don't belong to any political party, very simple family, and never harmed anyone, what do those terrorists want? Money? Or they just want to terrify us?"

iraq freedom

Marrar says the next president must take the constant state of terror distressing Iraqi children and teenagers into consideration if the United States wants a stable nation to emerge.

"It's in the long term interests of the United States to help provide a secure Iraq for all of its people, particularly its youngest members, who are the future of the country," he says.  

Marrar says a "three-pronged policy" should be implemented that would work to "reduce the negative impacts of the American occupation, whether if it's by relaxing it or fully withdrawing," and "pump as much resources into the Iraq education system as possible."  But Marrar believes before these can be accomplished, the United Stated must "provide for a peaceful political resolution between the various parties in Iraq."

To best instill stability in Iraq's young adult population, Kelly thinks a new administration should undertake specific "building efforts for civil society--civic and community centers with a youth orientation along the lines of American YMCAs-- in tandem with more educational efforts with a democracy-based human rights focus that empowers the sense of the individual in young Iraqis."

For a hopeful future, Idres says a new administration may help by "opening their eyes "and "considering all the facts." Then, he says, the current, pessimistic outlook of the next generation may change.

"I don't think there's any young guy or girl in Iraq who don't think of leaving the country at the moment."

Baha'i Faith's Struggle in Egypt

By Paige Gray

The Baha'i Faith, a religion characterized by unity and spiritual oneness of holy beliefs, has felt the divisive effects of discrimination throughout history. However, its continuing persecution in Egypt has rallied groups across actual and virtual maps, by way of Web sites and blogs, protests and lawsuits. The crisis has also served to bring together local Baha'is.

In the Chicago area, Baha'is keep the situation of families and individuals facing ill-treatment in the forefront of their thoughts. However, their beliefs prohibit them from taking part in demonstrations or disregarding government laws, explained Barbara McCord, who serves on the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Chicago.

 

Bahai' Faith Symbol

 "Whether it is the concern for Baha'is being persecuted in Iran, experiencing human rights deprivation in Egypt or being caught in war-torn areas around the world...we pray for the day when these sufferings will have passed, keep the souls in our hearts and minds who are experiencing such pain and simply remain aloof, in heart and in mind, in words and in deeds, from the political affairs and disputes of the nations and of governments," McCord said.

A Jan. 29 decision by Egyptian officials allowing Baha'i followers to better classify themselves in national identification procedures marks a needed victory for the faith, in addition to bringing it more global attention, said Nabi Ali, an anesthesiologist and professor at the University of Alabama School of Medicine who was born in Egypt but left in 1970.  Yet despite the court's decision, religious discrimination for Baha'is remains eminent, Ali said.

 

Baha'i Temple in Wilmette, Illinois

"The ruling is very interesting...but the verdict does not solve the problem," Ali said.

In response to the government's treatment of his religion, he started the blog Baha'i Faith in Egyptin 2006, posting articles and opinions about issues Baha'is face, such as the recent identification card problem.  The incident has brought notice from media and human rights activists; Ali has recorded over 100,000 Web site hits for his blog from around the world.

"The numbers are impressive for a blog of this subject," Ali said, also noting the impact that organizations such as the Muslim Network for Baha'i Rights and Mideast Youthhave made.  "Now many people in Egypt know what Baha'is stand for; the media and the Internet are a great asset.  This crisis has really helped in a way."

The issue for Baha'is in Egypt magnified when the government switched over to a computerized database in 2004. It forced citizens to choose Christianity, Islam or Judaism as their religion.  Baha'is were forced to either lie-something not only against their spiritual practices, but also punishable by federal law if discovered-or be denied a card, which without, makes it near impossible to function in the country.

"A driver's license [in the United States] does not have near the power of the ID card in Egypt," Ali said.  "You need it to go to school, to go to the hospital, to get a bus pass, to buy a cell phone...you can only go to the grocery story without it.  It affects everything."

Baha'is inability to obtain cards brought forth several lawsuits, which came to a close last month.

Yara Sallam, a researcher for Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights explained the court decision as a positive step forward.

"The ruling of the Cairo Court of Administrative Justice on was welcomed from [Initiative for Personal Rights] and

Egypt

 Human Rights Watch's side. It granted the request of Baha'i Egyptians to obtain birth certificates and identity cards without indicating any religious affiliation," Sallam said.
The court stated if an identification card from the old paper system had "Baha'i" written in, the religion question can now be left blank in the computerized system. But, the completion of the paper card system was something left to the discretion of the government clerk, according to Ali.  He said some clerks wrote in one of the three major religions based upon appearance of the individual. Thus, a moderate proportion of the nearly 500 Egyptian Baha'is are still left in a difficult situation, particularly young adults.

"Essentially, they are trying to eliminate Baha'i and deny the existence of this religion when you look at the spirit of the ruling," Ali said.  "The problem in Egypt is that religion is on official documents."  This includes marriage, and Baha'i couples remain unrecognized by the government.

Marie Tomarelli Petkus, a University of Chicago doctoral student and one of approximately 450 local Baha'is, said the key in Egypt in constant action.

"The next step is continual advocacy from groups like the United Nations to make sure this ruling won't be overturned," she said.

For Ali, that continual advocacy takes place through outlets like his blog.

"People see injustice" and look for new modes of communication to reveal and overcome it, he said.

"It really is a whole new phenomenon."

Biba's Story

By Paige Gray

It took her years to recover from the nightmares.

When she would try to find sleep, she was instead haunted by visions of Serbian soldiers pounding at her door, ransacking her small apartment in Vogosca, a municipality of Sarajevo.

Nearly 14 years after leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina, Habiba Aksamima can sleep through the night in her Chicago home, but the memories remain a powerful, frightening reminder of the war and the atrocities Muslims in the country endured.

More than 30,000 Bosnians died during the war from 1992 to 1995, while countless others were relegated to the abuse of the Serbian militia.  As part of a bill that President Bill Clinton signed at that time, Bosnian and Herzegovinians were allowed to move to the United States as refugees.

Today, Biba, with a smiling face that belies her past, now approaches 70.   The intense, confusing time before she left Bosnia drifts hazily through her mind, with no clear beginning, middle or end, but evokes a definite, paralyzing fear.

 "Everyday [Serbian soldiers] they come and take something," Biba says in a voice reflecting both her anger and bewilderment.  "Take, take, take and go.  Anything they want, they take. 'Do you have money?  Do you have gold?'"

During this time, Biba and her husband lived in one unit of a six apartment complex.  The rest of the residences were

VOGOSCA

 occupied by Serbs. Often in their home, they were forced to go without water and electricity, sometimes for spans as long as eight months.  Biba says most days were spent inside.

"We don't go out because it wasn't safe."

Then, at night, the soldiers-different, menacing faces each time-would come knocking.

"He is so mean that I am so scared," Biba says, describing a typical raid. "He never open door, but like this with shoe," she explains, motioning a kick with her foot.

"He would take gold, gifts from husband, TV, beautiful things," she says, recalling a necklace that was taken from her.

While residents of Sarajevo and others parts of the country experienced similar accounts of terror throughout the war, there were times of eerie stillness adding even more to the tension and anxiety, says Thom Shanker, a foreign correspondent for The New York Times who covered the Bosnian War for the Chicago Tribune.

Some parts of the country were quiet and calm, he says, making the situation "nerve-wrecking" since you could never predict what the next day would bring.  But despite some moments of peace, "life was pretty awful for most civilians," Shanker says.

This awfulness nearly consumed Biba and her husband; he was facing death if he did not undergo a medical procedure for his prostate while she was overcome with worry for his life.

"I cry and I cry and I cry.  He is so sick, so sick," she says.  When the soldiers would come to plunder what they could, Biba would show the soldiers her ill husband, and disgusted by his bloodied, grave condition, they would leave.

Eventually, Biba and her husband were able to travel to Croatia in order for her husband to receive surgery; she insists they were not able to get any medical attention in Sarajevo hospitals.   

"The Serbian doctors all say no to him," she says.

Her husband had been hesitant to leave Vogosca because that was where their home was; he feared they wouldn't be able to find a house in another place.  But, finally it became clear that they must leave.  After a short time in Croatia following the surgery, Biba and her husband journeyed across miles and miles of land and ocean to a completely foreign community-Chicago-where a nephew lived and helped arrange the move.

So Biba and her husband, who passed away four years ago, started their lives over at the very time most people their age start to relax and retire.  Needless to say, the transition wore on Biba; she missed her homeland-the people, sights, smells and sounds she grew up with before the bad times.

"I was so sad.  I sit home and cry and cry and cry every day."

Bosnian War

After a few weeks of adjusting to the move, Biba began attending classes at Truman College, located in the city's Uptown neighborhood, and eventually learned English.  Today, she lives in a senior citizen housing complex where she passes the time drinking coffee with friends. She discovered the thriving Bosnian community within the city, a population of approximately 50,000, according to Almijana Rudic of the Consulate General of Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Along with the official embassy in Washington, the Consulate works to represent and protect citizens living in the United States.

Bosnian and Herzegovinians have continually traveled to Chicago and other U.S. metropolitan areas since the turn of the last century for economic reasons and to try and "find a better future," Rudic says.

Muslims from Bosnia-Herzegovina like Biba have also found their religious freedom.  She regularly attends mosque at the Islamic Cultural Center in Northbrook, where she can practice the liberties that were for so long denied to her.  She no longer must hide or feel ashamed.

"I pray every day.  I can go to mosque every Sunday."

Beside her devoted religious participation, Biba engages in civic activities.  She is a member of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian American Community Center, a nonprofit located in Uptown, near Biba's apartment.

"She always has something to say," says Fadila Campara, the group's director.  A few years ago, Biba went with the agency to Springfield, where they met with Attorney General Lisa Madigan in hopes of more state funding for refugees.

For Biba, the nightmares and sleepless nights have ceased.  While the memories of her war-torn homeland will always define part of her being, she chooses to fill her American life with positive images and people.

"I love Oprah," Biba exclaims with a wide grin.  "She is so human, she helps many people and is so cute.  I think about her many times.  I want to hug her."

In My Mind I'm Goin' to Barcelona

Northern Spain

So, given the assignment of picking any European country to blog about, my default choices will always be Spain.  I hold this idealized, romanticized notion of the country from my 10-day visit their in high school and studies throughout college.  I've said it so many times before, but I learned more in that short trip so many years ago than I have from a lot of pointless lectures and homework from other classes.  (Side note, one of my big regrets in life may always be turning down the opportunity to study abroad in Madrid for logistically college course requirements. D'oh!  I though-- Spain isn't going anywhere, right?  True, it hasn't moved, but I have yet to return. But, my time will come!)

Kosovo's independence became a hot topic in the  Spanish Global Voices community because of it's resemblance to the situation with the Spanish region of Catalonia. It is an autonomous community within the country; while part of Spain it is a very distinct area with its own culture and dialect, with Barcelona (pronounced bar-SAY-lona, per Catalan) as its hub.  As a high schooler visiting beautiful Barcelona, I know from experience that Catalonians do not like Americans trying to speak broken elementary

Freedom for Catalonia!

Spanish to them in attempts to find the nearest restaurante or Goudi display. There is a large united effort to make the region the next European country/state, with a rallying cry of "Today Kosovo, Tomorrow Catalonia." 

Though some Catalan Bloggers had ambivalent feelings about their connection to Kosovo and the region's future independent status.  From Diari del votant anònim:
"It is not comparable with Catalonia or the Basque Country. However, I think that any process towards sovereignty in Europe should take it into consideration. That's the reason why we are so repeatedly told that the two cases are different.[…] Kosovo might not be our mirror, but every time that a new state says freely what and how it wants to be, the world becomes freer."

El bloc d'en Narcis Satre provides a nice insider's look to Catalonia, if you find the translation button...I had previously

Barcelona City

figured it out, but it is escaping me now.  But, he posts excellent articles and commentary. For a more American look at Catalonia, check out Life in Catalonia, which serves as great user-friendly Cliff Notes or basic guide. Watch the video to the right for a nice little intro to Barcelona, as well as video above about those pushing for independence.

                                                                                                                           

AIDS: Can the Internet Help Combat the Global Epidemic?

Stop-AIDS-Hand

AIDS…with its prominence in American media and culture—from Tom Hank’s Oscar-winning performance in Philadelphia to Bono’s advocacy efforts, from the Broadway smash Rent to Angels in America—I was astounded at the lack of personal and institutional/organizational blogs dedicated to the disease on the global scale.  Finding a post here or there on a newspaper or publication’s blog doesn’t prove that difficult a task, but finding sites that look at AIDS’ ripple effect…its devastation—medically, emotionally, financially—is no cakewalk.   

 

There are a couple of ways to think about this.  I guess originally I thought that because AIDS reaches epidemic numbers in South Africa and India, the Internet and blog coverage would be much more than you find here.  But, then I have to put this in perspective.  The United States remains a wealthy, privileged country.  Many of the people dedicated to the cause here have the resources to write blog about their experiences.  In Africa and Asia, from what I can tell reading The After-Death Room, the circumstances are completely different, with much less access to education and medical care…needless to say, blogging doesn’t factor in as a priority for many.

Themi's AIDS Diary profiles the life and activism of a young South African woman living with the disease. Her story has been on aired on NPR, CNN, and MTV, but her straight forwardness and earnesty resonate and leave an definite impact. She now travels around the world learning and teaching, hearing others' stories and telling hers. She wrote last October:

India, is a very complicated country. They have the highest rate of HIV in Asia, a lot of kids are living in the street, there is lack of employment and it has been hit hard by gender problems. So, I didn't think that women would be active in the way they are--especially because of the gender problems.

But when I got there, there were girls that had run away from their homes--their villages-to come to town to work on HIV/AIDS. They are HIV/AIDS activists. Some of them are positive and are teaching people to speak out about AIDS. The part that amazed me the most was that I have never heard of a project that is teaching people to speak out about AIDS.

I have never heard of it!

And it was a wonderful thing to see that these women go door to door and encourage people to speak out. Those young women really inspired me. Their passion for life, even if they are infected with HIV.

The most important thing that I learned is that I pitied myself that I lived in a poor community, but I see that even if I lived inaa shack, I still had a bed to sleep on and food to eat. In India, life for infected people is much harder. You will see an entire family--mother, father children, living on the street. When a person is down like that, it is very difficult to bring them up.

When I think that my story was acknowledged and helped people in those situations...Well, it is something that  I can't even explain. Some people even made different choices after hearing my story. Some of the women have had abortions more than two times because of their status, but once I went there they actually gave it a chance to have a baby that would be negative.

Another important thing I learned from the people in these communities, especially the women, is to never let a situation put you down. It made me realize that you don't need money to do certain things. If you have your hands, you have your mouth, you have your brain, then you can just speak.

Writers of a variety of backgrounds contribute to the Black Looks blog, a site that addresses problems affecting African women.  Creator Sokari Ekine wanted to write about "a range of issues that I have experienced directly or indirectly in my offline life such as gender violence, racism, sexuality, HIV/AIDS and cancer."  

Ekine views "the world as moving further and further to the right with American hegemony contaminating the global space" and she wanted "to write from a radical and progressive standpoint challenging not only the right but also the liberal community, the so capitalism with a friendly face which is an oxymoron to say the least."

Aids on work floor in Kenya

The posts articulately comment on the AIDS crisis from different viewpoints, illuminating discrepancies in media coverage, misinformation and cultural barriers.  Ekine blogs:

I was attracted enough by the title of an AllAfrica.com article to resolve to read it. The title read: “Uganda: Africans Can Overcome HIV/Aids.” I wanted to know how we could do so. If Uganda can do it, then Lesotho can, also, I reasoned. Lesotho has one of the highest rates in the world. I went home this year after 7 years away, and found many of my friends gone, compromised to AIDS and the folly surrounding it.

But I was quickly disappointed by the article, even if it spoke some truths that I would agree with. Shunning promiscuity is one of those. But the author also says things like, “since the condom is about safe sex and safe sinning,” it cannot be Jesus’ approach. Now, I don’t know if it would be Jesus’ approach — my worry lies in the fact that the author thinks condoms are for sinning.

Condoms are for safe sex that should be had by any couple if one of the partners is infected. We must remember that infection does not equal sinning, and that infected people should not be stigmatised like it has been done before. There are many ways to catch a virus. And even if someone catches the HIV virus by fornicating, sinning, cheating their spouse, our job is to help them, not to hurl Biblical verses at them, not to cast the first stone. That’s what Jesus said to the mob that wanted to stone that woman accused of whoring, right? Who are we to pass judgement?

This is just a more gerneral AIDS blog, mainted by an American ( I think) but he/she inlcudes a lot of interesting news, thoughts and stories.

 

I found this post on the Warshooter blog about AIDS in Asia....the post's powerful images speak for themselves and will haunt you, so make sure you're emotionally ready (if anyone ever can be) before you look at this.

Past the Parition: Voices from India & Pakistan

While I profess to love/be fascinated by Indian culture, I will not pretend that I know very much about its current political conflicts, nor its historical turmoil with Pakistan.  A dear old friend with Indian roots first introduced me to some aspects/perspectives of Indian life, and the lecture a few weeks ago from the Columbia anthropology professor provided an informative lesson.  So, surfing and skimming the waves of personal blogs from the countries further peaked my curiosity and interest while revealing completely new angles on living in that part of the world.

India-map

In Hypocrisy of the India's Left Parties, the blogger "Panchajanya" examines and criticizes the Community party of India (CPM) through his own analysis and attacks as well as references to other media outlets and article.  Panchajanya, apparently a business management professional in Keralam, India reminds readers that "Information is Key to Victory. Be Aware and Beware." 

Panchajanya most recently wrote about how the government quelled anti-China protests, but allowed rallies supported by CPM members to continue:

"Olympic torch relay may be happening in New Delhi but CPM led West Bengal Government has banned all Anti China Protests in West Bengal!

Two weeks after it allowed Tibetan activists to hold a candlelight vigil, the CPM-led West Bengal Government has denied them permission to hold a three-day anti-China public rally scheduled to begin today forcing them to go indoors.

Ironically, there were as many as 11 rallies in the city during the day. These included a rally by the Trinamool in Park Circus to protest against the state government’s failure to check prices and a similar one by CPM supporters in Tollygunge to protest against inflation.

Chinese Consul General in Kolkata Mao Siwei was quick to give much deserved praise to CPM

“This is a correct decision because the Government of India made a commitment to the Government of China that no anti-China rallies will be allowed to take place anywhere in the country,”

Remember this is the same CPM which had said

right to strike is a fundamental rights of not only government employees but of the entire working class

I guess the for CPM Loyalty towards their masters in China is more important that "some fundamental Right" of people."

Pakistan_map

"MK," a medical doctor in Jhang, Pakistan maintains Crow's Nest, where he deconstructs all forms of Pakistani life, from politics to technology (for example, he just complained about wireless plan rip-offs). Some days he rants about  cricket, other days about hospital residencies/business and sometimes he waxes philosophic.

"Today is yet another March 23, 2008 in the history of our nation. The ordinary man is busy in making his ends meet while the rest are busy either making or analyzing the future of our country. Like always before the future of our nation is uncertain and there is a lot of debate on what is to come for us. But in the real deal of the things does this matter at all? I don't think so. All that matters is the continuity of the food chain for the common man. If it stays steady then the common man will never come on streets for any elitist ideologies."

This just goes to show that though our countries may have different rituals, political circumstances, religions--people still express themselves and question life and realities in much the same manner; our humanity connects us all. 

Now, a blog that mixes amusement,education and enlightenment, over at Pakistan--The Land of Pure.  M. Junaid Khan,  "proud Pakistani" presents funny and compelling news and views from hi country, as well as some gripping images.  In a post from last month, Khan looks at the Kashmir situation, revealing his/her feelings on India:

Kashmir

A Human Rights NGO working in Kashmir for the past year has finally presented its report claiming to have found at least thousand graves containing unnamed people. These graves are mostly scattered around the town of Uri, which is a border town on Line of Control. The human rights group strongly suspect them to be the graves of the thousands of people who went missing and are later on killed in stages gun battles or through torture by Indian security agencies. They also contain graves of the girls who are raped by the Indian Border Security Force and later killed and dumped in these graves to hide the proof.

Indian Occupied Kashmir is one such place left in the world where gross violations of Human Rights are taking place and the world is silently watching it. A friend of mine from Srinagar asked me not to message her on her cell phone when she is back home in Kashmir because she fear that Indian Intelligence people might pick her up and label her as Pakistani agent. According to her, cases are like these are normal where a slight mention of Pakistan will be enough for a life time of suffering. In case of girls, the rape is the common weapon which the Indian army uses. It is time that we all come together and remind our government that we will no more remain silent on these acts and bring this issue to the lime light. Indian government should be made liable to face the international court of justice for its acts.

Below are pictures from the violence hit region of the world. Indians have turned this "Heaven on Earth" into "Hell on Earth"

Kashmir

Chinese Takeout

Great Wall of China

Man…where to start on the coverage of China recently.  Between the Tibetan uprisings and controversy surrounding

the upcoming Beijing Olympics, the Asian juggernaut continually dominates world headlines.  Claims have been made from various camps regarding the Western media’s unfair portrait of China and its government, so what better place to research reactions than blogs—where citizens can put their (hopefully unfiltered) opinions out there for anyone, like graduate students sitting in coffeehouses on their laptops on the other side of the world.  And from what I found in just some of the blogs written in English, the feelings span the spectrum of complete nationalism to unhinged outrage and anger.

In China, Eat My Lamb Kebab!,  the anonymous blogger expresses his total disgust with his country.   His latest entry, “China’s Rape of Tibet and What It Means to the World,” was written after he received multiple requests to say more on the topic.

Whoever this guy is, he writes with a frank, enviable passion, though at times rather crude. He clearly understands the situation and wants world leaders to look responsibly at the situation (AH hem, United States…) and not be blinded by financial, corporate interests regarding a Beijing boycott. 

“And it all comes to a head in Tibet. The bitches that run the IOC won't even mention boycotting the Olympics, though boycotting the USSR in 1980 was perfectly OK after Afganistan (only Coke and McDs were in the USSR at the time). The USOC is advising/threatening US athletes not to do anything that might "upset" their gracious Chinese hosts, not even if US athletes get sudden intestinal problems right before their competition against Chinese opponents. …So when we look at China, we see a big, evil, ugly, smelly disgusting mess, mostly of its own creation. But we also see the worst in our own failed human rights institutions, our gutless, shit eating political leaders and our corporate traitors.”

He also has some choice words for his country’s defenders:

“But what is saddest is that the population of Chinese, especially those living overseas, are so blindly proud of their polluted, social junkyard of a country that they venomously defend anything and everything that China does. Those living outside of China get to enjoy the fruits of the West's continual evolution and do everything they can to avoid going back to their so-called "motherland" and yet brazenly tout filthy China as "just as good" as the West and the "future leader" of the world.

If this is how China plans to lead the world, the human race is headed for extinction.”

China-map

Wow.

On a different realm of the blogosphere, we have a somewhat unbiased blog dedicated to news about the Beijing Olympics (with the bland title “Beijing Olympics Blog”) created to “act as a resource for anyone looking for information and discussion on the Beijing Olympics” and to “promote understanding and discussion between East and West, Zhongguo ren and Laowai.”  One interesting fact to keep in mind, however, is that the blog runs from the UK; it would be interesting to know if the posters are British or Chinese.  I am leaning towards Chinese since they don’t reveal their identities (just a non-descript “Bob”); it seems most Chinese bloggers work in anonymity if what they publish might irk the government.   But this is just completely a guess…I don’t know.  This “Bob” fellow comes off as a guy just really excited about the Olympics being held in Beijing and peeved that Human Rights protestors might interfere with its success.

The latest entry revolves around the who, what and when of the London Torch Relay, including details about all the torchbearers.  He adds this about the protesters:

“As mentioned above protesters are planning to use this event to continue the raise publicity for their causes. Reporters Without Borders have said that they may try and repeat their stunt in Athens last month. However the Free Tibet Campaign insists that they do not wish to disrupt the relay, and will only stage fittingly peaceful protests.  They are holding the Tibetan Freedom Torch Rally between 14.30 - 15.30 in Argyle Square which is an alternative event for those who do not wish to attend the Olympic torch relay.”

Beijing Games Logo

So, while not necessarily a thrilling, provocative blog, it does give you a good idea of how the Olympics are unrolling as summer approaches.  Plus, I find it interesting to read between the lines of some of these blogs that try to put up a seemingly objective front.

 
Now over to the Peking Duck and his “peculiar hybrid of personal journal, dilettantish punditry, pseudo-philosophy and much more, from an Accidental Expat who has made his way from Hong Kong to Beijing to Taipei and finally back to Beijing for reasons that are still not entirely clear to him…”

I like this guy (“Richard”) due to his blend of national and world news, in additional to personal asides or interests. For example, his last post talks about a fantastic tourist’s guidebook someone gave him.  That may or may not be of importance to any natives, but the Duck mixes it up; the other posts primarily touch on with the latest news involving Tibet and activist Hu Jia’s prison sentencing.  This blog serves as an intriguing perspective because you have an American (well, this is an assumption, but an obvious one, he has a “Don’t Blame Me I Voted for Kerry” tag at the bottom of the page) who has been immersed in Chinese culture for some time commenting on the events around him.  He does not have the ideologies or assumptions or whatever ties to the country that come off as liabilities to those making comments about the current situation.  For example, people who side with the government are blind loyalists and those who criticize the government, insisting in a free Tibet, are traitors. But the, again, people can say this guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about because he is not a native.  In these sad, confusing circumstances, no one comes out a winner.

He provides engaging commentary, forcing viable questions, particularly of the media.  For instance, he challenges the article titled "Happy life of a Tibetan."

“That is the actual title of this Xinhua article, which borders on parody. I can just see some party hack with a checklist of key messages ticking them off one by one. Only one item is missing from his checklist, however, and that is newsworthiness. Since when does someone being happy qualify as news? Then again, the article's subject probably exists only in the imagination of a low-payed copywriter. “

He explains himself a little on a separate page:

“I went to China with stars in my eyes, dazzled by the positive coverage China was receiving in 2001 for its economic miracle, its selection for the Olympics, its apparent trend to greater openness and a host of other factors that convinced me "China is the place to be." In some ways, I still believe it's the place to be - but my belief that it was becoming freer and its government reforming was quickly shattered. None of my disdain for the CCP is a product of Cold War mentality, only of recent personal experience. That BCPC has the nerve to make such blanket assumptions and generalizations is galling, but not at all surprising.”

So, China sits in a complex conundrum.   While it attempts to pull off the celebration of world unity, its internal conflicts and questionable human rights actions threaten to irrevocably wreck its image. 

Bloggin' through the Middle East

 

Middle East

Exploring Middle Eastern blogs proves to be a fascinating crash course in the area's cultural, history as well as current events.  With so many people, or Americans I guess I should say, are confused by nature of the conflicts, the actual geographic make-up and basic traditions/customs, diving head into the community through personal blogs serves as an invaluable tool; you can get the information not always discernable between the lines of news articles.

Given the rampant misconceptions of how Mid-Easterners live, it's amazing that there is so much on the Internet that reveals a much more diverse population.

I stumbled across Chan’ad Bahraini, which opened up a number of questions and ideas.  First, I admit, I know nothing about the country Bahrain; I think I had forgotten it was part of the Middle East (I quickly discovered that Bahrain has approx. 650,000 residents, about 35 percent of which are foreign-born.)  But, the site is a journal of sorts for a man who was born in Asia, but has lived in Bahrain most of his life, except for college in the Unites States. (Chad’ad refers to a fish found in the Arabian Gulf; the blogger had decided on anonymity and refers to himself as this fish.) 

He writes about the injustice he sees in the Bahrainian government; most recently, activists have been targeted and jailed for speaking out (perhaps some of the reasons behind the blogger’s anonymity).  He says:

 
I should have done this a long time ago. As Nido points out, Abdullah Mohsin, an activist and a blogger, is one of several people who have been locked up by the government since December on charges of “stealing weapons”. There have been serious allegations of torture of the detainees. Abdullah has been suffering from kidney problems, having to be admitted to hospital briefly.

As Nido points out, Abdullah would not hurt a fly, and the charges against him are clearly cooked up. I got to know him at the countless protests and demonstrations he attended, always in his dark suit and white shirt (no tie), quiet, very polite, and an extremely nice guy.

In Kuwait, a self-proclaimed Internet junkie (they aren’t just American creatures!) maintains the blog Forza Kuwait.   He keeps up on all aspects of Kuwaiti life, from pop-culture to technological gadgets to national (“Kuwait,” he writes, “my great country [at least in my eye] has its ups and downs, but it is still my country.”) and international news.

 
Showing a little of the competition between the Middle Eastern countries, he most recently asked in a post if the United Arab Emirates are jealous of Kuwait because luxury car negotiations/sales.

 

Reg_6

His observations, while vague and somewhat unshaped, do offer a citizen’s perspective into daily, political life:

 

The government raise the white flag !

March 17, 2008

if the news that are flying by are right , that the government have resign then the government have raised the white flag

It has thrown the Towel

We can declare the clinical death of ” respect to the law ” which was in a coma for the past years

They may dissolve the parliament which would suck , because that mean voting will be on June ( when the parliament is dissolved , the election is set up to be 2 month after day of dissolving ) and June is hot as hell and I’m planning to travel in June

 

One of the most compelling sites I found was Days of My Life, an Iraqi teenage girl’s online diary.  Calling herself Sunshine, she exposes the very harsh, frightening realities of Iraq.  Reading her words, I can’t imagine waking up everyday with safety not guaranteed; it make you realize how much you take for granted.  The latest entry is a letter a friend of hers wrote remembering a brother who was recently killed by a car bomb. 

 

Sunshine, only in high school, wrote just this just a few weeks ago:

 

It has been the hardest two week in my life.
First we were threatened by terrorists who wanted to kill my dad, I spent the whole nights thinking, and crying, I was in shock, and terrified.
I couldn’t study anything, I couldn’t concentrate and I did horrible in all of my exams, I am expecting low marks, during the classed I kept wondering with tears in my eyes, what will happen next? Will they Kill my dad? Kidnap one of my family members? Why ? we’re not rich, don’t belong to any political party, very simple family, and never harmed anyone, what do those terrorists want? Money? Or they just want to terrify us?..
On Friday morning, my mom told me that dad was asking her to take care of the kids, and his parents, I went to my room, opened my book to study but I burst into tears, and cried for long time until I was unable to open my eyes, and my book page was completely wet. I throw the book away, and kept blaming myself and cry for not doing my best to fix my relationship with dad, I was telling myself, what have I done? If something bad happens to dad, I won’t forgive myself ever, part of me was ordering me to go to my dad, apologize and make sure he forgives me for every time I was adversarial to him, for every word I said and made him upset, for every night I slept without wishing him a good night, but I couldn’t, I was tight, I don’t know why..
I suffered from horrible headache and insomnia, I want my dad to see me publishing my first book, graduating from the best collage, being successful person in my life, and more important I want to be so nice to him and make him forget everything, every disparity we had, & every time we argued, I hope he’ll forget those memories.. and be proud of the girl he raised, although he tells me he’s proud but I want to make him even more prouder..
Dad wasn’t prefect with me, he’s out of temper and not optimistic, we have very different personalities that’s why we argue a lot.. but I know he loves me more than anyone else, and want the best for me, he’d do anything to make sure I have the best life ever, it is just that we look at the same thing and see it in different way, we have different perspectives . we love each other , but for some reasons, our relationship became bad
I want my dad to remain safe, and I’ll accept him in the way he’s.. and I wouldn’t replace him with any father in the whole planet ..
My dad doesn’t know how did I feel in the last 2 weeks, how did I spend my time, or how sorry I was, he doesn’t know how terrified I felt from the idea or losing him, I was really worried, and I realized how much I love him, but I don’t have the courage to tell him..
I’ll give 200% of my energy to fix our relationship, I know my friend R would do anything to bring her father back to life, or even spend one more day with her daddy, remember the good days together, and apologies for every time she acted selfishly or bothered her father, she was devastated when she lost him , she wore black clothes for a whole year, locked herself in her room, and I was really worried that she may loose her mind or become more depressed . until now her eyes fill with tears each time she remember him, I feel her pain, and know how much does she miss her dad.

 
 After reading that, how do you get back into your day?  Your troubles, worries seem petty and trite.

 But Sunshine’s blog serves as an example of the power of this medium.  How else could journalism students in Chicago instantly feel the pain that so many experience on the other side of the world, and with such vividness?  News article about the Iraq situation give you the nuts and bolts…and while the images and tales sadden or frighten us, we become immune.  Here, we feel her pain; she is not some stranger’s story in a strange land, but a girl who loves her father and worries for his life—most of us can put ourselves in her situation and become overcome with her same emotions. 

Referendum in Burma, from CSMonitor.com

This article from the Christian Science Monitor is back from February, but I love the writing so much I wanted to post it here.

Burma's junta promises democracy, but most are wary

The government's surprise announcement to hold a constitutional referendum is being met with deep skepticism.

By Danna Harman

Pakokku, Burma - The elderly monk is nervous. He paces the room, leans over an old TV set and slips in a "Tom and Jerry" DVD, raising the volume to an uncomfortable pitch. He peers out one window and then the next, fidgeting. He sits down, gets up again. Finally, he talks. But after all that, there is not much to say.

The Burmese military junta's surprise announcement last week that it would hold a referendum on the still secret Constitution this May, setting the stage for elections in 2010, is being greeted – in a country long used to broken promises and tricky maneuvers – mainly with suspicion.

Many say they are not holding out hope for a government-led transition to democracy. But nor do they believe a new outpouring into the streets is imminent. "Change," says the elderly monk, speaking anonymously for security reasons, "will take a long time in coming."

Map-burma

Dozens of interviews with monks and opposition members – both inside and outside Burma (Myanmar) – paint a picture of a nation suffering from a dire economic situation and at the tail end of its characteristic patience with the military government. But it's also a nation that feels it lacks both the means to rise up or a leader to guide a revolution.

The announcement marks the first time the government has set dates to carry out stages of its so-called road map to democracy. And the elections, if held, would be the first since 1990, when Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) won in a landslide. But the results of that vote were ignored by the junta, and the occasion was used to scrap the old Constitution and place Ms. Suu Kyi under house arrest, where she remains today – not a confidence inspiring precedent.

Meanwhile, the peaceful antigovernment marches in September, which began here, in Pakokku, a dusty town on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, and spread across the country, were effectively and brutally crushed by the military regime. At least 30 people were killed in those protests, according to United Nations estimates, and thousands were detained, including monks. Other monks were "de-robed" or chased away from monasteries back to their villages. In Pakokku, about a quarter of the monks have yet to return.

Since September, according to Amnesty International, arrests have continued, and the country's almost 2,000 political prisoners remain unreachable – even by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Its activities in Burma were curtailed after the organization complained last year of the practice of using detainees as forced labor for the military.

A government ruse?

"We were so excited in September. We thought we were winning. People were clapping on the sides of the road and giving us water. We felt we would be free," says Zaw Maung Oo, a young activist who marched in Rangoon. "But we failed."

The new government announcement, he says, is a ruse. "We all think this is just a fake-out, to reduce international pressure and try and reduce our anger," he says. He worries the military will use the time to see who comes out to object to their new Constitution – and crack down on them. The elections, he says, will either never take place or will be a sham. A draft of the Constitution guidelines, released last year, shows it will codify the military's role as the preeminent power in the country.

Mr. Maung Oo is not alone in his skepticism. While Singapore, which holds the chairmanship of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), welcomed the junta's announcement, saying it hoped it would result in "peaceful national reconciliation," others were less sanguine.

The 88 Generation Students, a coalition of leading Burmese democracy activists, branded the referendum a "declaration of war" against the people and warned the ruling junta could unleash a new wave of violence to ensure victory in a constitutional referendum. While the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, an exile group, called the regime "a mad man surrounded by fire" that is "plagued by economic woes, increasing international pressure, and widening public discontent at home," and so simply decided to convene a national referendum to divert attention.

Suu Kyi, who lives locked in her Rangoon home almost incommunicado with the outside world, was not able to make any comment herself. But her NLD party was not enthused, charging the announcement with being "vague, incomplete and strange."

September's dissent

While no one interviewed expects the regime to voluntarily change itself, there's also little faith in a repetition of the September events anytime soon. "Frankly speaking, the September uprisings happened with no real plan, thanks to a blunder of the junta," says U Han Than, an NLD spokesman, referring to the huge price hike in fuel prices that precipitated the street protests.

"But the generals proved again that they are very brutal and suppressive and that we are not strong enough to fight them. The people now know better than ever how determined the generals are to squash any expression of dissent," he says. "So they will not explode without real incitement."

"We are ready for compromise," insists Mr. Han Than. "We are not at war with the government. All we want is to express our opinion – but even that we are not allowed." Under international pressure, the junta recently agreed to send an envoy to hold talks with Suu Kyi, but these have been going nowhere. Last month she sent word to her party that no progress has been made.

And so, reluctantly, most Burmese are left with faith in the long term. "We have no faith in these passing pronouncements," says the head of a monastery in the ancient town of Sagaing, who spoke anonymously for security reasons. "In any case, if we got democracy today we would lose it the next day because we would not know what to do with it.... We have been 'de-educated.' "

Although Burma used to be famous in Southeast Asia for its quality education, today the situation is abysmal as half of its budget goes to the 400,000-strong military and less than 1 percent to education. According to the UN, 50 percent of children here do not finish primary school.

"We need to educate our next leaders and we need to educate the people to become critical thinkers so we can define what we want here," says the Sagaing monk. "Our strength will come from the confidence of being educated. That is when we will manage to turn to democracy. And for that we have years, maybe 10 to 20 to go."

Back in Pakokku, on the banks of the river, near the hawkers selling bags made out of watermelon seeds, an old lady sits beside a cage of sparrows. For 400 kyat, (about 30 cents) you can set a sparrow free, which, according to Buddhism, will bring you merit. She has an owl in a cage, too – freeing it will be an honor costing 1,000 kyat. But she has had no customers lately. "No freedom today," she says, but smiling, as is the Burmese way.

Voulez vous lire mon blog, ce soir?

Eric Tenin

This is Eric Tenin.  As the creative mind behind Paris Daily Photo this blogger presents small pieces of his beloved city to natives, past nostalgic vacationers as well as those who’ve always dreamed of traveling to the city of lights. 

In his professional life, Eric himself is a journalist.  Where he must be meticulous in his writing and fact-checking for his magazine, blogging serves as a release of sorts for him. 

CafeTerrace

Through the photographs he posts daily, he can visually express a random happening or capture a beautiful moment.  The pictures transcend political and economical issues; instead of waxing philosophic or going into a tirade against the government, Tenin simply reveals glimpses into a world capital.  From those images, one may segue into debate; what does this or that say about the state of France, etc., but Tenin leaves those conclusions to other bloggers and site visitors.

France was one of the first countries to ride the blog wave, and people are now beginning to calm down after the initial fervor, Tenin says.  I wanted to interview a French blogger for this reason; French bloggers particularly drew attention after the success of Loic Le Meur, a business entrepreneur and supporter of the somewhat unpopular President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Tenin started the blog after receiving a digital camera for a birthday present a few years ago.  Now, with all the fans and regular site visitors, he feels a responsibility to continue the blog, however he does not feel a social responsibility for the information he presents. 

While the photos can be taken a mere face value, they really represent a means of communicating a place in a certain time in history; in the future years, we can look back through the photos and see not only the image, but what Tenin and other posters thought- what emotions were stirred, whether it be political, personal, social, racial, whatever.

Metro

This photo of the Metro, for example, reminds me of the anger and frustrations surround the Chicago Transit Authority.  Through an image of a crowded car, city dwellers from all over can relate to the same metropolitan woes, which can foster further international conversation; in this case, how public transportation operates in different large cities- what works? what doesn't?

I see Tenin's blog as more than just pretty Parisian pictures, but much more as photojournalism-conveying the news of a vital community through powerful photos.

Interestingly, Tenin comments on the ways of daily French life inadvertently.  In a photo from a few days ago of the voting booth, the caption went into explaining part of the voting process and election race:

"The quality of this photo is not very good nor does it show much of Paris, but I found it funny to take a photo inside the voting booth! I took it today (today was the first round of the elections for the mayor of Paris) just before I slipped my ballot paper into the envelope. In order to vote, in France, you must be registered on a voting list (generally the one where you live) and have your ID ready; that's all. Who won the election? Well, we have to wait for the second round to be over (next Sunday) to know for sure sure, but there is no suspense: like I already told you, it'll be this man!"

The comments from visitors show, obviously, a love for Paris, but also give tidbits of information from other corners of the globe.  For example, someone from German wrote about the Metro picture:

"Veinard ! At least you got the metro running in Paris. We here in Berlin have an ever lasting strike of public transportation, so no bus, no metro and no streetcar.

1 kilometre on foot is wearing, is wearing,
1 kilometre on foot, wears out your shoes for good.
2 kilometres on foot is wearing, is wearing,
2 kilometres on foot, wears out your shoes for good.
3 kilometres on foot is wearing, …"

While Paris Daily Photo does not comment aggressively on public life, it does subtlety tell you the current conditions of French/Parisian life.  What is going on in social/political/economic sphere surrounds the images without blatant dialogue; it is a relaxed form of communicating  "news" and daily life.

Some Eric Tenin Q & A:

Eric Tenin Interview

When did you decide to start a blog?  What motivated you to do so?

I was offered a digital camera for my birthday (January 21!) and did not know what to do with it. I started taking pictures of just about everything, including my daily life in paris. That's how it all started, in March 2005.
 

How do you decide what to post about?  Do you try to incorporate a
news/public affairs element or keep it more personal?

I have a time constraint, because I have a daytime job too! So I try to take as many photos as I can on the route between my work and my home. But I also take photos during weekends when I can. And you're right, very often, I spot an interesting event in the newspaper and I take a photo of it (fortunately I have a scooter so it's easier for me to go to places).
 

How widely read is your site?  What type of people regularly visit?

I just had a look at my latest stats: 55 000 visitors per month on average. A lot of Americans, but not only.

Where do you see blogs' role in today's media as compared to traditional news gathering methods?  How does this play out in France? Are more people looking to blogs?  If so, do you feel any responsibility with this role?

Blogs rarely make the news, they often follow them and comment them. Blogs are extremely popular in France, I think because we like to debate and express ourselves and also because we've had Loic Le Meur, a famous French entrepreneur who is now in the States but who played a large role in the development of blogs in France in 2004/2005.
 
I think the craze has now slowed down. People realized that blogging take a lot of time and that they have other things to do!

I don't feel any responsibility!

Do you find yourself more connected to the rest of the world with a global audience?  Do you think blogs, in a manner of speaking, have the capacity to better unite different nationalities and backgrounds?

No, I don't think so. If tomorrow there is a war between the US and France - God forbids! - people on both sides would stand behind their country no matter what particular connections they may have  made through a blog. In my case, I certainly have had the possibility to make new "friends" from all over the world, through this experience. I can practically go everywhere in the world and meet someone from the City daily Photo community! It's great...

Paris population: 2,167,994
French Population: 64,473,14