Global Voices Digest

The Balkans: Human Rights and LGBT

Sinisa Boljanovic reviews the situation with gay rights in the former Yugoslav republics.

Egypt: Call for Commemorating Saddam Hussein

On the second anniversary of the execution of ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, and in coordination with the Iraqi community in Cairo, five Egyptian political parties called for commemorating the late president. Here’s a snapshot of reactions from the Egyptian blogosphere

Morocco: Reflections of Eid

It’s been quite awhile since we last looked into the Moroccan blogosphere…so it’s about time! As the Eid al-Adha celebration has recently passed, bloggers are wishing each other well and sharing stories from the holiday.

Greece: Riots in Athens Continue

For the past three days, the capital of Greece, Athens, has been rocked by demonstrations and rioting as thousands have taken to the streets in protest at the fatal shooting by a police officer of 15-year old Alexandros Grigoropoulos in the Athens district of Exarchia on December 6, 2008.

China and France: Boycott of French Goods

On December 1, an article appeared in China.com urging a nationwide boycott against French product in order to protest against the meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Dalai Lama. The post advised consumers not to buy about 50 French brands, including cars, clothes, alcohol and skin-care products.

Thailand political crisis: Reactions from the region

Thailand’s airport takeover has affected hundreds of thousands of passengers from nearby countries. What are the reactions of bloggers in the region? What is the situation in Thailand today?

Thailand: Foreigner who stayed in the airport blockade

Majority of foreigners stayed away from Bangkok airports two weeks ago. But there was a foreigner who stayed inside the airport blockade. Janus Putkonen from Finland joined the protesters for five days and nights. Fortunately he had a video camera.

New Zealand: ‘Talkfest torpedoed’

A few right-of-center New Zealand bloggers have applauded the new Social Development Minister’s push to cancel a February summit planned by the Families Commission that would bring together 150 leaders and decision makers together at Auckland’s Waipuna Lodge.

Fact or Fiction: Egyptian President Pardons Sexual Harasser

Egyptian bloggers are divided on whether a sexual harasser sentenced to three years in prison recently has been pardoned. Marwa Rakha brings us the story.

DR Congo: Human Rights and Gender Violence Situation in North Kivu

Today is International Human Rights Day as well as the last day of the campaign “16 days of activism against gender violence” but in many parts of the world there’s not much to celebrate on those fronts, as shown by this roundup of blogs by aid workers in North Kivu.

South Asian Laborers Duped Again in Iraq

After 12 Nepalese laborers had been kidnapped and murdered by Iraqi terrorist group Ansar al-Sunna in 2004, there was hope that officials in Iraq, United States and in Nepal would take steps to ensure the safety and security of those traveling to Iraq in search of work.

Cuba: Human Rights Day

Today is International Human Rights Day – an annual reminder of the day on which the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights back in 1948. Sixty years later, Cuban bloggers (particularly from the diaspora) remain vocal about the many human rights abuses that plague the island of their birth.

Guadeloupe: Gas too expensive; the island is blocked!

After the general blackout in French Guiana, it’s now the turn of the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe to wake up all numbed. The butterfly shaped island linked by the bridges of “le Pont de la Gabarre” and “le Pont de l’Alliance” has been paralyzed on both sides: Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre.

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