Global Voices Digest

Iran: Two Leading HIV/Aids physicians remain in prison

Global Voices reported in August that Drs. Arash and Kamyar Alaei, two internationally renowned Iranian HIV/Aids specialists have been jailed in Tehran since June. Unfortunately, they are still in prison and have had no legal representation. The Alaei brothers stand accused of planning to overthrow the Iranian government.

Environment: South African Bloggers herald SA’s First Electric Car

South African bloggers were among the first to report on South Africa’s first electric car. On the blog Urbasprout, Glen was among the first people to post pictures of the car and detail on the company that made the car, the designer, design specifications and expected availability dates.

The Blogging Revolution: from Iran to Cuba

Antony Loewenstein, a Sydney-based freelance journalist and blogger, has recently published his new book: The Blogging Revolution. This book talks about the impact of blogging on six countries: Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, China and Cuba.

Ecuador: Facing the Global Economic Crisis

Ecuadorean bloggers reflect and write about Ecuador’s economy and the possible effect the US financial crisis will have on it.

Tajikistan: Dissident Flees Russia

In 2003, Georgia had its Rose Revolution. In 2004, Ukraine had its Orange Revolution. And in 2005 Kyrgyzstan had its Tulip Revolution.

Afghanistan: Peace, and Trash

Joshua Foust notes the goings on in the Afghanistan blogosphere: ruminations on trash, reconciliation, and, of course, the messy problems posed by the Taliban. That is, if you can define “Taliban.”

Korea: How the President can have communications with the people

On the first of October, former President Roh Moo Hyun, who settled down in the countryside after his term and who has been more popular and received more attention from people than during the time of his governance, came to Seoul. In order to mark the first anniversary of the Oct.4, 2007 Inter-Korean Summit Declaration, he had a lecture and commented on the current politics and criticized stiff policies toward North Korea of the current government in public for the first time. Many netizens are still focusing on the former President’s activities.

India: Attacks on Christians a challenge to the secular state

In the last two months, radical Hindu nationalist mobs have rioted and attacked Christians in a number of Indian states, claiming that lower-caste Hindus and tribal peoples are being forcibly converted to Christianity. More than 30 people have been killed, and thousands have taken shelter in government camps or in forests. Churches, prayer halls and Christian institutions have been vandalised, and nuns and priests have been attacked and beaten; one nun was stripped naked and gang-raped. It has been described as the most serious violence against the Christian community in India in the last 50 years.

Arabeyes: Here Comes the One-Eye Veil

From a veil which covers the face but allows women to show their two eyes, an Islamic scholar from Saudi Arabia is now calling for a veil which shows one eye only. Bloggers from the Arab world react.

Japan: Street View and Public Space

The debate about Google’s new Street View service in Japan, which sparked criticisms following its launch over a perceived lack of cultural sensitivity, has come back into the spotlight with the recent visit to Tokyo by Google vice president Kent Walker, and with reports emerging that the service does not appear to properly distinguish between public and private spaces.

Russia: Remembering Anna Politkovskaya

Oct. 7 marks two years since the assassination of journalist Anna Politkovskaya. No one has been jailed so far, but three men are expected to go to trial soon for their suspected involvement in the crime. Below is a selection of today’s commemorative posts from the Russophone blogosphere.

Today on Voices Without Votes: Global: Do negative campaigns help?

With less than a month to go before the U.S. presidential election, it looks as if the gloves are beginning to come off and both campaigns are trying to get low-down and personal. With accusations flying about the pasts of Democratic contender Barack Obama and Republican candidate John McCain, sparks could fly at Tuesday night’s debate — the second of three times the presidential candidates will meet face-to-face.

Also Today on Voices Without Votes: Caribbean: From the Debate to a Circus?

There’s a popular saying that when America sneezes, the Caribbean catches the cold. Regional bloggers, like bloggers the world over, understand that the outcome of the upcoming US Presidential election will have an impact on their future – so a few of them have been carefully monitoring developments and voicing their opinions – and no event has elicited as much outcry as the Vice Presidential Debate.

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