Global Voices Digest

Ukraine: Moscow Mayor’s Sevastopol Controversy

Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov got himself barred from Ukraine this week, after announcing during a trip to Sevastopol - “a Ukrainian naval base mutually used by the Ukrainian Navy and Russian Navy” - that the city did not belong to Ukraine. Below are a few opinions from the Russophone blogosphere.

Japan: Views on the Sichuan Earthquake

The earthquake in China’s Sichuan province, besides taking its toll on tens of thousands of Chinese citizens, has also had reverberations far away in the Japanese blogosphere, where the topic ranked top among blogging keyword lists and sparked conversations in forums over the past few days.

Kazakhstan: Monuments, Economics, Gender and Media

The blogosphere of Kazakhstan was not too keen to discuss perturbations in the official government. The traditional May holidays have become a naturally most popular theme, however many other issues were also traced by the bloggers as Adil Nurmakov explains.

Macedonia: Bloggers Emphasize Need for Open Communication with Greece

Amid the internal turmoil caused by Greek actions to block Macedonia’s accession to NATO and the EU, and due to an increasing number of reports of attacks over Macedonian truck drivers by nationalist mobs in Greece, many Macedonian bloggers are attempting to bridge the gap of ignorance existing between the two nations.

Lebanon: Back from the Abyss??

While the situation in Lebanon remains uncertain, Lebanese bloggers keep writing about their fears, pain and disappointment. Of course, there is new hope: a deal brokered by the Arab League to end the strikes which have brought Lebanon to the brink of second civil war is being finalized. But all signs point to a deal made on terms highly favorable to Hezbollah, which, according one blogger, means a return to peace is an “illusion.” Here is a small selection of what some of those who write in French have to say.

Palestine: Sixty Years of Al Nakba

Celebrations are under way to mark Israel’s 60th anniversary - but for millions of Palestinians whose grandparents and parents were made refugees in the process, today marks Al Nakba - a day they were forced to flee their lands or were forcefully expelled from their homes as the State of Israel was born. Following is a cross-section of reactions from Arab bloggers.

Notes From Berkman@10 Conference

At the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society, attendees and special guests discussed “The Future of the Internet,” and its political dimensions and its affect on the global community. In addition, during the opening remarks there was an announcement that the Berkman Center will become a university-wide research center. GV author Renata Avila is attending the celebration and provides these notes.

China: Seismologist Claimed Sichuan Earthquake Was Predicted

Li Shihui, a researcher of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, exposed in his blog that the Sichuan earthquake was predicted at an earlier time. In spite of the various rumors of earthquake omens, Li’s specialty and systematic statement have helped him gain many people’s confidence, even after his controversial articles are deleted by the network administrator.

Russia: Roses and Migrant Workers

Russian photographer Oleg Klimov visited a commercial greenhouse outside Moscow and posted his observations about a birthplace of the roses one buys in Russia’s capital.

Israel: Iranian Grad Missiles Hit Ashkelon Mall

Hours after President George W Bush arrived in Israel, Iranian Grad missiles penetrated the roof of an Ashkelon mall. Four people, including a mother and her toddler, were seriously wounded. In addition, 87 others were transferred to a hospital. Gilad Lotan brings us the reactions of the Hebrew blogosphere.

Today on Voices Without Votes: Global: Edwards Endorses Obama

In a move toward solidarity for the Democratic party, John Edwards endorsed Barack Obama on Wednesday. The endorsement came just a day after Hillary Clinton won 2-1 in the West Virginia primary. Jillian York brings reactions from India, Ireland and Puerto Rico.

Roundups

Get the blog buzz from the world over in the Global Roundups, where today you can find Siberian language, an open letter to the cricket purists, a prominent human rights worker who is still missing, and much much more!