Filed under: Digests
Global Voices Online – Feb. 26, 2006
Welcome to a special weekend edition of the Global Voices digest. You worked hard last week, probably a little too hard, and you deserve a vacation. Why not let our contributors take you for a tour of the world? I’ve included hyperlinks to the Google Maps satellite view of each region being discussed. Let’s start with Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago.
The web make to blog on Carnival day…
Trinidadian contributor, Nicholas Laughlin doesn’t have to try hard to prove he’s having more fun than we are this weekend. After months of preparation, the country is completely consumed by Carnival. Those of you who follow the Caribbean blogosphere on Global Voices know that the region’s bloggers have been disillusioned by the growing consumerism of the festival, but this week social commentary yields to celebration and merrymaking. See Laughlin’s extraordinarily worthwhile post to learn more about J’Oouvert, “Monday Mas”, and why one reckless man cut hundreds of zinc rectangles in the name of art. You are sure to be telling yourself you’ll be in Trinidad and Tobago next February so don’t miss Attillah Springer’s Carnival survival guide which includes a small vial of snake oil and a soca CD.
The Week in Saudi Arabia
Ahmed takes his weekly “Pulse of the Saudi Blogosphere” and finds the usual persistence of palpitating assessment. Just how contentious is the debate over whether women should be allowed to drive or not? How do Saudis behave in Bahrain? What did the Jeddah Economic Forum accomplish, if anything at all? Should one region’s folk dance be taught across the entire country? Ahmed offers insight to these questions and more in his lucid compilation of the Saudi blogosphere.
Update: Samarra Catastrophe
If you remember Salam Adil’s first rundown of what Iraqi bloggers were saying about the bombing of Al Askari Mosque on Wednesday, you know the country was on edge and fearful of civil war breaking out. This weekend Adil is back with an eye-opening update. To quote just one blogger: “Fierce streetfighting at my doorstep for the last 3 hours. Rumor in the neighbourhood is that men in black are trying to enter the area. Some armed kids defending the local mosque three blocks away are splattering bullets at everything that moves, and someone in the street was shouting for people to prepare for defending themselves. … The news from other areas in Baghdad are horrible. I don’t think it’s being reported anywhere.”
Update: Samarra Catastrophe
If you remember Salam Adil’s first rundown of what Iraqi bloggers were saying about the bombing of the Al Askari mosque on Wednesday, you know the country was on edge and fearful of civil war breaking out. This weekend Adil is back with an eye-opening update. To quote just one blogger: “Fierce streetfighting at my doorstep for the last 3 hours. Rumor in the neighbourhood is that men in black are trying to enter the area. Some armed kids defending the local mosque three blocks away are splattering bullets at everything that moves, and someone in the street was shouting for people to prepare for defending themselves. … The news from other areas in Baghdad are horrible. I don’t think it’s being reported anywhere.”
Weekend World Food Works
After your trip around the world with Global Voices’ contributors, it’ll be time for some food. Our in-house Panamanian chef extraordinaire is back from Ecuador to share some special treats including fortuitous sushi balls, alfajores from Argentina, and how to eat for free while in Rome.
From the Jordanian Blogosphere
More than just Iraqis are outraged by the bombing of Al Askari. Roba Al Assi reports from Jordan on what her country’s bloggers have to say regarding the attack. A few are stupefied that Danish cartoons evoked so much ire among Arab bloggers while many keep silent when it comes to Muslim on Muslim violence. Al Assi’s recap also covers bloggers’ feelings over the national budget and an analysis of media coverage by Middle Eastern news outlets.
From the Jordanian Blogosphere
We end this weekend’s journey in Turkey where Deborah Ann Dilley adds a new twist to her weekly update by noting the number of times each Turkish blogger has posted in the past three weeks. On this last leg, don’t miss the tragic assassination of a Catholic priest, a visit to the courthouse where several Turkish journalists are being held, and Turkey’s first Olympic figure skater, Tugba Karademir who began practicing on Ankara’s sole ice rink until her family sacrificed their comfortable life there and moved to Ontario, Canada to realize her potential.
Train connectivity in India, Turkmenistan’s spending priorities, a Peruvian presidential candidate’s thoughts on gay marriage, and much more can be found in today’s Global Roundups.
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Global Voices Digest 