Global Voices Digest

Moroccans for Obama?

“When the Americans are getting ready to elect a president, the whole world holds its breath,” writes Moroccon blogger, Robin des Blogs [Fr]. It’s a sentiment held by many around the world, but some Moroccon netizens aren’t sure which outcome–an Obama or a McCain presidency–would be best for Morocco.

Russia: A Ticketless Passenger

In Moscow, you can buy a bus/trolleybus/tram ticket from the driver and it’ll cost you 25 rubles, which is roughly $1. If you buy your tickets at special kiosks, you get a discount. But some people prefer to cheat and ride for free. A ticketless passenger is known as zayats in Russian: a hare. Moscow-based LJ user kozenko described a recent encounter with one representative of this species.

Armenia: Peace Corps Volunteer Blogs

While the number of blogs on or based in the South Caucasus is often put in the tens of thousands, the actual number of bloggers is significantly lower. Moreover, the vast majority based on the ground are usually situated in the capital cities of the three republics making up the region. Low Internet penetration standing at just 5.8 percent in Armenia, 12.7 percent in Azerbaijan, and 7.8 percent in Georgia as of 2007 makes the situation doubly worse.

Latin America: More lore, ghosts, demons and frights

On this second installment on the Myths, Lore and Legends of Latin America, we will get to know the Venezuelan Animas and their unfinished business, the Sayona and the Whistler, and Ecuadorian myths such as the foundation myth of Guayas and Kil, Father Almeida, the Headless Priest, the gagones (something similar to familiars) and the Cantuña Cathedral myth.

Bahrain: The pleasures and perils of studying abroad

Although Bahrain has a number of universities, both government and private, many Bahrainis have the opportunity to go abroad to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies, often by means of scholarships. One of the first problems they face is that few people know where Bahrain is. In this post we hear about the experiences of three bloggers who have just gone abroad for higher studies, to Japan, Britain and the United States, and a fourth blogger who has been studying in India for some time.

India: Community Journalism with Video Volunteers

Video Volunteers is an organization of media producers from the villages and slums in India, creating content that is relevant to themselves and screening it inside the communities, reaching thousands of people a month with news and events that affect them and call them into action. Channel 19 is the online video channel where this media, created by and for the communities is showcased for the rest of the population.

Egypt: We are All Laila

We are all Laila, echo Egyptian female bloggers in one voice. Who is Laila and why do Egyptian girls and women associate themselves with her? Read on to learn how Egyptian bloggers are working to break the gender barrier and make their voices heard.

Korea: The Death of an Actress and…

The death of Choi Jin Sil, who has been regarded as a ‘national actress,’ gave a big shock to Korean society. Her image has been like a self-righting toy, from her poverty in childhood to a renowned actress, and from the failure of marriage with a big scandal to the second heyday as a middle-aged actress in recent days. Her sudden suicide contradicted such a common image of hers and therefore her death was like a bolt out of the blue to the people. A series of copycat suicides after her death cover newspapers everyday.

Today on Global Voices Advocacy: Tunisia: National Day for Freedom of Blogging on November 4

Tunisian bloggers are rallying for a National Day for Freedom of Blogging on November 4. The day will coincide with a court hearing for a lawsuit filed by the journalist and blogger Zied El Heni against the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI).

Today on Voices Without Votes: Obama and McCain Through Jordanian Eyes

Writing for 7iber, Jordanian Rana Sweis goes to downtown Amman asking people their views about the Democratic candidate Barack Obama. Check out what Jordanians have to say about the US election, the presidential debate and the undecided voters in this article by Mohammad Azraq.

Roundups

Get the blog buzz from the world over in the Global Roundups, where today you can find a tweetup in the Dominican Republic, a bike trip in Laos, a cell-phone birthday cake, and much much more!