Lebanon - the begining of a civil war?

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hizbollah, described the government's decision to dismantle Hizbollah wired communication network as a 'declaration of war' and he promised to 'cut off' any hand that reaches out to Hizbollah's defense systems or harms any of those working on it. His speech was a response to the government's decision to dismantle Hizbollah's telcom network and to replace the head of the the airport security, who's a Shia. There has been fighting in the streets of Beirut prior Nasrallah's speech between Shia and Sunni gunmen. The fighting continued overnight but on early Friday Hizbollah took over Western Beirut, which all the Muslim areas in Beirut (Sunna and Shia). It seems that the pro-government faction, supported by US and pro-US Arab governments, has badly miscalculated with the decision to dismantle Hizbollah's telcom network. Following Nasrallah's speech Sa'd Al-Hariri, the leader of the Sunni block, suggested the decision to dismantle Hizbollah's network to be left for the Lebanese army as a way to defuse the tensions but that was too little too late. The speaker of the parliament Nabih Birri, who heads Amal party, demanded that the government revoke it's decision. The situation in Lebanon has been deteriorating in the past two years. Lebanon's political stability is based on a fine balance between the different sects and religious groups. But the current government only includes some of the sects (excluding Shia and some Christian maronites). The country's political leaders, from all factions, also failed to agree on a president, a post reserved for Christian Maronites who're divided between the pro-government and the opposition. The opposition wants the government to be changed or made inclusive for a new president to be chosen but the pro-government grou are against it. The fear is that Lebanon will slide back into civil war specially if the Lebanese army, which is the only remaining neutral institution in the government, is pulled into the fighting. It seems the only way to stop the fighting immediately is for the government to revoke its earlier decisions. The minister of Youth had suggested for the government to resign as a way out. The Arab League failed in mediation efforts in Lebanon, it was also seen as favoring the pro-government group. Egypt, Saudi Arabia and US accused Hizbollah of starting a civil war, while Qatar and Syria agreed that the fighting in Lebanon is an internal matter. Yemeni president suggested that the head of Lebanese military, Michelle Suleiman, whom both the opposition and pro-government agree on as a president candidate, to be mediate between the two groups. The situation remains volatile but it seems Hizbollah will continue to control West Beirut while the army controls the pro-government areas. There's no fighting until in the Christian-dominated East Beirut.

Amnesty International highlights Ethiopian atrocities in Somalia

Amnesty International's report released few days ago described the atrocities committed against Somali civilians by Ethiopian troops and TFG soldiers. The report included horrifying details related by the victims and witness: rape was used as a weapon, men were slaughtered 'like goats and the bodies of the dead were left to rot in the streets. But this is nothing new, similar reports from journalists, witnesses and previous human rights reports detailed them, too. There are plenty of examples, some of which were reported in the international media. For example, Ethiopian troops shelled Bakara market - many times - and killed over 30 people in the most recent of those attacks, as a retaliation for an attack that didn't come from the market. Another more Ethiopian attack killed more than a hundred civilians, ten of which were Muslim clerics in mosque who slaughtered. Ethiopian troops have been using the same tactics in Ogaden, and rape in particular. Recent reports from Aljazeera showed the harsh conditions in Ogaden, how families - who've nothing to do with the conflict - have to move frequently to avoid the Ethiopian army, otherwise the women will be raped and men hanged. But It's not the Ethiopian troops that are committing these atrocities. Three former warlords - Abdi Qaybdid, Mohamed Dheere and Bashir Rage - who are supposedly in charge of Mogadishu's security have been kidnapping businessmen, journalists and people they suspect of having money. The kidnapped are threatened to be handed over to the Ethiopians or the CIA as terrorists, or to pay up. The forces of these three warlords have also looted Bakara market repeatedly and killed civilians, no one can question them. US army has been also carrying air strikes in Somalia since 2007, many of which have killed innocent civilians. The TFG usually finds out from the media about these air strikes. Through intimidation, imprisonment and killing, the local media has been effectively silenced. Somalia is the second country after Iraq in the number of journalists killed. Government soldiers at once even opened fire at a local radio station while the journalists were inside. Aljazeera's bureau as well as a number of independent radio stations have been closed. So far more than a million people have fled Mogadishu and the brutality of the Ethiopian troops, thousands more have been killed. The UN has labeled the humanitarian situation in southern Somalia 'worse than Darfur'. But still Somalia is receiving less attention because the US is part of the conflict, it funds and supports the Ethiopian troops - and has not condemned, not even once the conduct of the Ethiopian troops - and CIA is operating in Somalia.

How to tell a 'moderate Muslim'?

Whenever Western politicians and journalists talk about 'moderate Muslims', one wonders: who do they mean? Thankfully a recent BBC article came to the rescue clarifying who 'moderate Muslims' are, or more precisely what moderate Muslims do. The article is about Al-Shabab, a group fighting Ethiopian troops in Somalia, and the article explains Al-Shabab's 'militant' form of Islam and then contrasts it with the Somalis 'moderate version' The Islam practiced in Somalia has traditionally been moderate and tolerant. Local cinemas, for example, thrive, showing Bollywood films featuring scantily-clad women. As far as the BBC is concerned, if you're watching 'scantily-clad women' and you're a Muslim, then you must be a 'moderate Muslim'. The journalist who wrote the article brags about his "10 years of visiting Somalia", otherwise known as 'Parachute Journalism'. Good on ya mate!

No Iranians for Yahoo! and Microsoft

I've never this day would come, that I would seriously consider life without Flickr, and to move somewhere else like Google's Picasa. I consider Flickr one of the best social websites out there, it combines good tools and great community better than any other website. But my problem now is with Yahoo! itself. I found out, unfortunately little too late, that Yahoo! which owns Flickr doesn't include Iran in its country list. That means that if I was an Iranian registering with Yahoo! for any email account (which is a must to get a Flickr account) I won't be able to specify Iran as my country. For Yahoo! Iran as a country doesn't exist. And It isn't only Yahoo!, Microsoft is doing the same for its Hotmail email registration. The two companies are saying that they're complying with US administration's restrictions on doing business in Iran. But does that include free email, I don't think so. And does anyone have a right to deny the existence of an entire country. The US State department doesn't deny the existence of Iran, in fact it has a whole page(s) on it. And Google doesn't think so either, anyone can register with a Gmail account and be from Iran. Bloggers and online activist (specially from US), who're usually noisy when companies like Google works with government like China have conspicuously been silent on this. Though these companies are disarming millions of Iranians from their nationality - you can be an Iranian or a Yahoo! user but not both. The internet is suppose to be a free space for all, but some don't think about it that way. Many Iranian's and non-Iranians have started boycotting Yahoo!, Microsoft and other companies that deny Iran's existence as a country. Germán Vogel, who's from Chili, is one of the people switching from Yahoo's Flickr to Google's Picasa, a difficult move but one that he felt strongly about. I hope those who feels strongly about big cooperations abusing people's rights in having free access to the internet will make their disagreement heard: Iranian people shouldn't be discriminated against on the web simply because the US government is in conflict with the Iranian government.

Sami Al Hajj speaks about his ordeal in Guantanamo

When Sami Al Hajj landed in Sudan he was on stretcher, too weak to stand. Few hours later he spoke to Aljazeera about his ordeal. He talked most about those who were left behind and how they were tortured. He urged their governments to work hard for their release. See the interview below:

Prisoner345 (Sami Al Hajj) is free at least

Our colleague Sami Al Hajj, who was detained in Guantanamo for more than six years has been released. His plane has just landed in Khartoum airport. Like many others, Sami Al Hajj was never charged. His only crime was practicing journalism and telling the stories of the voiceless in Afghanistan and elsewhere that his captors - the US government - didn't want to be told. Besides the torture and harsh conditions, the US officials tempted Sami Al Hajj to work for them as a spy in Aljazeera in exchange for his freedom, he was again later offered a release with the condition not to go back to Aljazeera: Sami rejected both offers. The years that Sami and others like him lost in captivity, the torture and humiliation they faced and the loss of their families will not be paid for, and no one from the perpetrators - US government officials - will be questioned. The law of the jungle: the strong does as he pleases. But Sami Al Hajj never broke, he stood by his believes and innocence, and was on a hunger strike for more than a year. His release is a triumph for Sami and for all of those journalists, human rights activists and believers in freedom, who throughout these years have rallied for his cause. Three were three other detainees who were on the plane with Sami: a Moroccan and two Sudanese. Congratulations to Sami's family, to all his colleagues in Aljazeera and for all of those who care for the freedom of the media. For more: http://www.prisoner345.com/

Sshh, minister tells muezzins, you’ll wake the tourists

According to reports, "a Morrocan minister has provoked uproar by suggesting that, to avoid waking tourists, muezzins should make less noise when calling the faithful to prayer at dawn." Isn't the whole point of tourism to experience a culture different from the one you are from?

Let's Get Loud - Egyptian Style

I came across this interesting article about the level of noise in Egypt that's both poignant and humorous. It's interesting how quickly I got used to the general sensory overload when I briefly lived in Cairo and it honestly didn't feel as loud as the article states but then again it's easy to become oblivious to noise when you find yourself being louder as well!  "This is not like London or New York, or even Tehran, another car-clogged Middle Eastern capital. It is like living day in and day out with a lawn mower running next to your head, according to scientists with Egypt's National Research Center. They spent five years studying noise levels across the city and concluded in a report issued earlier this year that the average noise from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. is 85 decibels, a bit louder than a freight train at a distance of 15 feet, or 4.6 meters, said Mustafa el Sayyid, an engineer who helped conduct the study. At other locations, it is far worse, he said. In Tahrir Square, or Ramsis Square, or the road leading to the pyramids, the noise often reaches 95 decibels, he said, which is only slightly quieter than standing next to a jackhammer. Noise at the levels commonly found in Cairo physically affects the body. It can cause elevated blood pressure and other stress-related diseases."

A Twitter account + followers for sale

Did you ever think this was possible? Someone is selling Twitter account + followers on eBay. He explains his decision saying: I really love my Twitter account but I feel like I haven’t been using it the way I want to. Quite honestly, I feel sorry for all of my followers because they wind up with my tweets in their timelines and I haven’t been able to utilize the medium the way I want to. I also participate in another Twitter account over on Rocketboom so I’m thinking I’ll post more over there and start up a new account to do what I want to do next. It would be silly to just delete this account I have here, especially if there is someone out there that had like interests and had something to say or wanted to get involved in some relevant conversations. In terms of monetary value, I have no expectations or needs at all so I decided not to put a minimum bid on this. Whatever will be, will be. His twitter account has 1400 followers, the bid so far is at $455. I wonder if this trend might be passed on to Facebook or even Flickr.

Video killed Flickr?

Being a Flickr addict, I must admit I loved Flickr without the video. It isn't only me though, it turns out that there's a backlash within the Flickr community against the introduction of video. Hardcore photographers and lovers of photography are extremely upset about the move. Several groups were created to say "No to Video", one of those groups has upward of 26,000 members. Some people in the Flickr community are calling for drastic action, to quite Flickr altoghether. Whether people in Flickr (Yahoo!) are taking notice is another matter. More photos and groups Group: We Say No to videos on Flickr Photo: Flickr video smells

Links for 02-04-2008

Comment is free: Chorusing disapproval "It's become quite fashionable for journalists to report on the diminishing popularity of the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (for example in the Independent, the Herald Tribune and the New York Times), especially focusing on the consequences of his economic policies, which were seen as one of the main reasons he was elected." interesting article from Hossein Derakhshan.

Links for 30-03-2008

Fatal shelling at Somali market Again, Ethiopian troops shell Bakara market indiscriminately killing dozens.

A new global language will replace English

According to researchers, English as it is spoken today will have disappeared in 100 years and could be replaced by a global language called 'Panglish' (the article doesn't explain the name further).  "New words will form and meanings will change with the most dramatic changes being made by people learning English as a second language. The global form of English is already becoming a loose grouping of local dialects and English-based common languages used by non-native speakers to communicate. By 2020 there may be two billion people speaking English, of whom only 300 million will be native speakers. At that point English, Spanish, Hindi, Urdu and Arabic will have an equal number of native speakers."

Who's rallying for Somalia?

All the attention going to Darfur, such as the Global day for Darfur protests that have been planned to take place all over the world next month is a great way to highlight the devastation taking place there. However, my frustration comes from the lack of international attention on Somalia. It's no news that a lot of celebrities and otherwise 'important' people have been standing up for the genocide in Darfur for a while now whilst the on-going devastation in Somalia rarely makes headlines, despite the fact that the situation in Somalia is far worse than Darfur: "Many of these kids are going to die," said Eric Laroche, the head of UN humanitarian operations in Somalia. "We don't have the capacity to reach them. If this were happening in Darfur, there would be a big fuss. But Somalia has been a forgotten emergency for years. The officials working on Somalia are trying to draw more attention to the country's plight, which they feel has fallen into Darfur's shadow." There's no doubt that there are a lot of African countries in a state of emergency right now but there seems to be a growing sensationalism around Darfur that unfortunately does not spill over to the other countries also in need.

75 Somali Refugees drown off the coast of Yemen

Whilst trying to cross from Somalia, according to reports. Approximately 180 people have been reported to have survived.  This comes right after the evaluation of Aid groups warning that Somalia is 'too dangerous' to work in. Seems like a never ending cycle where the innocent constantly pay the price, when will this end?