Blogs & Ecology

Saudi Arabia's King Abdulla sat in the same room with Israeli political leaders for the first time ever, during the UN Interfaith conference, held in New York, US.

Writing at Arabic Media Shack, Rob highlights reactions from a few Egyptian newspapers, on how this historic meeting would impact the Arab-Israeli peace process.

At the blog, which describes itself as a non-partisan site which analyzes political, strategic, and security issues of the Middle East, Rob states:

From Lebanese singer Haifaa Wahbi to Libyan president Moammar Qaddafi to Hizbulla commander Hasan Nasrallah to Egyptian leader Jamal Abdil Nasser, Jordanian Hareega shares his list of the 10 most controversial figures in the Arab world.

Anglo-Libyan, who lives in the UK, confesses that his children know more about the US than the UK and Libya.

With the holy month of Ramadan quickly wrapping up, bloggers from around the Arab world share their thoughts on the month, their activities, driving standards and their yearning for a holiday.

Iraqi Bookish complains:

It is very hard to fast because of the hot weather in the current Ramadan. I do not feel hungry but so thirsty……Well, the worst thing is that I am losing weight.

To illustrate this, the blogger posts her weight on the scales before and after breaking her fast - where the difference is a kilogram.

Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset during the month.

US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice arrived in Libya today, where she will be meeting with Libyan leader Muammar Al Gaddafi, who was once described by President Ronald Reagan as “the man dog in the Middle East.” The visit, the first by a US Secretary of State in more than 50 years, was welcomed by one blogger, but raised questions among others.

On the Edge runs the headline: Hell Has Finally Frozen Over.

“We had rain today. It rained for about five minutes. Just long enough to churn up the sewer system.
Now all of Tripoli smells like sewer gas,” writes Khadija Teri, from Libya.

Millions around the world were glued to their television screens watching their favourite athletes at this year's Beijing Olympics, which just closed. What did Arab bloggers have to say about the world's premier sporting event and their country teams? Following are a few reactions.

Bahrain:

After watching the opening ceremony, Bahraini Mahmood Al Yousif praises China for ‘outdoing' themselves.

There is no doubt in my mind at all that the Chinese have not only outdone themselves, but have successfully outdone every other country which so far hosted the Olympics. The opening ceremony was breathtaking.

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Source: Global Voices Online

In the run up to the 2008 Olympic Games, there was much speculation on how the Middle East and North Africa would fare. Although Turkey is the only Middle Eastern country to medal thus far (in athletics, weightlifting, and Greco-Roman wrestling), North Africa is enjoying great success. So far, Egypt's Hesham Mesbah and Algeria's Soraya Haddad and Amar Benikhlef have all medaled in Judo (bronze, bronze, and silver, respectively), Morocco's Hasna Benhassi took home a bronze in the women's 800m dash, and Tunisian swimmer Oussama Mellouli scored gold in the men's 1500m freestyle.

The International Criminal Court Prosecutor has requested an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir for his “criminal responsibility in relation to 10 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.” A Sudanese blogger writing in Arabic wonders who will be next on the United States' hit list which targets Arab leaders.

“I think fruit is the ONLY reason I tolerate summer at all here,” writes Khadija Teri, from Libya.

Anglo-Libyan, who lives in the UK, celebrated Father's Day today. “Today in Britain we celebrate Father's Day,while I think everyday should be fathers & mothers day but still it is nice to have a special day dedicated to all the dads out there who usually have to put up with being in the back ground,” he explains.

There obviously is a link between patriotism, nationalism and pride but where do the women figure in this equation? If you are curious, bear with me and let's dissect the situation that has brought all this out on the Libyan blogs.

Anglolibyan lamented that Libyans do not feel proud about their country. He complained especially that the Libyan flag as it stands has no rallying power.