Como io processava le quatro textos de “Bonobos”

(Languages of this post: Interlingua, English)

In le articulo in Wikipedia sur bonobos io comenciava con un texto in catalan sur iste animal, le qual io trovava al extreme leve del schermo, ubi io trovava ligamines a altere articulos sur bonobos in forsan vinti altere linguas.

(Como io jam ha dicite in un altere articulo in “Interlingua multilingue” iste listas es un excellente ressource pro studentes interessate in un grande varietate de linguas. In le epocha pre-Internet, il haberea essite multo plus difficile trovar facilemente un simile selection de articulos!)

Io consultava le articulo in catalan proque io voleva augmentar mi cognscimentos de iste lingua. Iste articulo non esseva multo longe, e io decideva que illo poterea servir admirabilemente ben como le base de un articulo pro “Interlingua multilingue”.

Io comenciava le production de iste articulo primo per traducer lo al espaniol usante le traductor electronic de Google, que produce traductiones multo bon inter iste duo linguas. Io tunc comparava le traductiones, corrigeva le espaniol, e eliminava partes del texto in catalan pro producer un articulo plus breve.

Io tunc traduceva le version in espaniol al anglese, corrigente le traduction in anglese de Google e modificante le versiones in espaniol e catalan quando io trovava manieras plus simple de exprimer alicun partes de iste articulo durante que io travaliava.

(Le uso extensive del traductor electronic de Google me ha inseniate como producer textos que es simple e correcte que ha un alte probabilitate de producer traductiones assatis bon in altere linguas, ben que sovente io debe facer alicunes emendationes in le textos que Google me provide.)

Finalmente, io produceva le version in interlingua, consultante le tres altere versiones de iste articulo durante que io redigeva le version in interlingua, modificante a vices le versiones in le altere tres linguas pro augmentar le similaritates de expression de omne illos sin facer violentia al patronos de expression in ulles de illos.

Pro me, isto esseva un maniera excellente de studiar omne iste quatro linguas con le objectivo de trovar formas de expression clar e simple in omne illos.

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How I processed the four texts of “Bonobos”

In the article in Wikipedia on bonobos I started with a text in Catalan about this animal, which I found at the extreme left of the screen, where I found links to other articles on bonobos in perhaps twenty other languages.

(As I have already said in another article in “Interlingua multilingue,” these lists are an excellent resource for students interested in a great variety of languages. In the pre-Internet era, it would have been much more difficult to easily find a similar selection of articles!)

I took a look at the article in Catalan because I wanted to increase my knowledge of this language. This article wasn’t very long, and I decided that it could serve quite admirably as the basis of an article for “Interlingua multilingue.”

I started the production of this article first by translating it into Spanish using Google’s electronic translator, which produces very good translations between these two languages. I then compared the translations, corrected the Spanish, and eliminated parts of the Catalan text to produce a shorter article.

I then translated the Spanish version into English, correcting Google’s English translation and modifying the versions in Spanish and Catalan when I found simpler ways of expressing some parts of this article.

(Extensive use of Google’s electronic translator has taught me how to produce texts that are simple and correct that have a high probability of producing rather good translations into other languages, though I often have to make some corrections in the texts that Google gives me.)

Finally, I produced the version in Interlingua, consulting the three other versions of this article while I edited the version in Interlingua, modifying at times the versions in the other three languages to increase the similarities of expression in all of them without doing violence to the patterns of expression in any of them.

For me this was an excellent way of studying all these four languages with the goal of finding clear and simple ways of expression in all of them.

Bonobos

(Languages of this post: Interlingua, Spanish, Catalan, English)

Le bonobo (Pan paniscus) es un chimpanze cognoscite anque como “chimpanzee pygmeo”. Le bonobos se vide rarmente foras de lor habitat normal e non es tan cognoscite como le chimpanzes. Le duo animales ha un apparentia multo simile, ma le bonobos generalmente ha un facie nigre, aures plus parve, e gambas plus longe.

Illos vive in le densas pluvisilvas de Africa central e mangia principalmente fructos e folios que illos collige in le arbores. Lor altor adulte pote arrivar a un metro.

Le studios de paleoanthropologia e paleozoologia demonstra que le bonobos descende del chimpanzes, habente se separate de iste specie ante unes 2 milliones de annos.

Un mutation genetic, le qual dava origine al bonobos, esseva particularmente favorabile pro le prosperitate de iste specie: Se reduceva le grandor de iste animales--lo que generalmente, ben que non sempre, implica minus necessitates nutritional. Iste mutation anque cambiava lor comportamento, e le feminas, in loco del masculos, comenciava a organisar e diriger gruppos de bonobos.

On ha parlate de un “matriarchato” inter le bonobos desde que lor organisation social face que le violentia inter bonobos individual sia assatis basse, essente le feminas le mediators del relationes inter iste animales.

Como le feminas es dominante in le societate bonobo, quando un episodio de violentia se produce inter le masculos, sovente le feminas les pacifica con le contacto sexual.

Le relationes sexual joca un rolo central in le societate del bonobos e es utilisate pro resolver conflictos e anque como salute, moneta de cambio pro adquirer nutrimentos o favores, o como simple diversion.

Le bonobos es le sol primates non-human que ha essite observate a practicar omne tipo de activitates sexual: basios con lingua, relationes vaginal facie a facie, sexo oral, frication de genitales inter feminas e inter masculos, masturbation, e tocamentos erotic.

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Bonobos

El bonobo (Pan paniscus) es un chimpancé conocido también como “chimpacé pigmeo”. Los bonobos se ven raramente fuera de su hábitat natural y no son tan conocidos como los chimpancés. Los dos animales tienen un aspecto muy semejante, pero los bonobos suelen tener un rostro negro, las orejas más pequeñas y las piernas más largas.

Ellos viven en las densas pluviselvas de África central y comen principalmente frutos y hojas que recogen en los árboles. Su talla adulta puede alcanzar un metro.

Los estudios de paleontología y paleozoologia evidencian que los bonobos descienden de los chimpancés, habiéndose separado de esta especie hace unos 2 millones de años.

Una mutación genética, la que diera origen a los bonobos, fue particularmente favorable para que esta nueva especie prosperara: Se redujo el tamaño de estos animales--lo que suele implicar, aunque no siempre, menos requisitos nutricionales. Esta mutación también cambió su comportamiento, y las hembras, en lugar de los machos, empezaron a organizar y dirigir grupos de bonobos.

Se ha hablado de un “matriarcado” entre los bonobos, ya que su organización social hace que la violencia entre bonobos individuales sea bastante baja, siendo las hembras las mediadoras de las relaciones entre estos animales.

Debido a que las hembras son dominantes en la sociedad bonobo, cuando un brote de violencia se produce entre los machos, las hembras a menudo los pacifican con el contacto sexual.

Las relaciones sexuales juegan un papel central en la sociedad de los bonobos y son utilizadas para resolver conflictos y también como saludo, moneda de cambio para conseguir comida o favores o como simple entretenimiento.

Los bonobos son los únicos primates no humanos que han sido observados practicando todo tipo de actividades sexuales: besos con lengua, relaciones vaginales cara a cara, sexo oral, roces de genitales entre hembras y entre machos, masturbación y tocamientos eróticos.

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Bonobos

El bonobo (Pan paniscus) és un ximpanzé conegut també com “ximpazé pigmeu”. Els bonobos es veuen rarament fora del seu hàbitat natural i no són tan coneguts com els ximpanzés. Els dos animals tenen un aspecte molt similar, però els bonobos solen tenir la cara negra, orelles més petites i les cames més llargues.

Ells viuen a les denses pluviselvas de l’Àfrica central i mengen principalment de fruits i fulles que cullen en els arbres. La seva talla adulta pot arribar a un metre.

Els estudis de paleontologia i paleozoologia evidencien que els bonobos descendeixen dels ximpanzés, havent-se separat d’aquesta espècie fa uns 2 milions d’anys.

Una mutació genètica, la qual donés origen als bonobos, va ser particularment favorable perquè aquesta nova espècie prosperés: Es va reduir la grandària d’aquests animals--el que sol, encara que no sempre, implica menys requisits nutricionals. Aquesta mutació també va canviar el seu comportament, i les femelles, en lloc dels mascles, van començar a organitzar i dirigir grups de bonobos.

S’ha parlat d’un “matriarcat” entre els bonobos, ja que la seva organizació social fa que la violència entre bonobos individuals sigui bastant baixa, essent les femelles les mediadores de les relacions entre aquests animals.

Com que les femelles són dominants en la societat bonobo, quan un brot de violència es produeix entre els mascles, les femelles sovint els pacifiquen amb el contacte sexual.

Les relacions sexuals juguen un paper central en la societat dels bonobos i són utilitzades per a resoldre conflictes i també com salutació, moneda de canvi per aconseguir menjar o favors o com simple entreteniment.

Els bonobos són els únics primats no humans que han estat observats practicant tot tipus d’activitats sexuals: petons amb llengua, relacions vaginals cara a cara, sexe oral, frecs de genitals entre femelles i entre mascles, masturbació I tocaments eròtics.

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Bonobos

The bonobo (Pan paniscus) is a chimpanzee also known as the “pygmy chimpanzee.” Bonobos are rarely seen outside their natural habitat, so they are not as well known as chimpanzees. The two animals have a very similar appearance, but bonobos often have a black face, smaller ears and longer legs.

They live in the dense rainforests of central Africa and eat mostly fruits and leaves collected on trees. Their adult height can reach one meter.

Studies of paleontology and Palaeozoology show that bonobos descended from chimpanzees, having been separated from this species for about 2 million years.

A genetic mutation that gave rise to the bonobos was particularly favorable for this new species to flourish: The size of these animals was reduced--which generally, though not always, implies reduced nutritional needs. This mutation also changed their behavior, and females rather than males, began to organize and lead groups of bonobos.

There has been talk of a “matriarchy” among the bonobos, since their social organization reduces violence among them considerably, with females mediating relationships among these animals.

Because the females are dominant in bonobo society, when an outbreak of violence occurs among males, females often pacify them with sexual contact.

Sexual relations play a central role in bonobo society and are used to resolve conflicts and also as a way of greeting, a currency in exchange for food or favors, or as simple entertainment.

Bonobos are the only non-human primates that have been observed to practice all kinds of sex: tongue kissing, face to face vaginal intercourse, oral sex, genital rubbing between females and males, masturbation, and erotic touching.

Un manual clarmente scribite sur le revolution non-violente usate per le egyptianos es disponibile in diverse linguas.

(Languages of this post: Interlingua, Portuguese, English)

Quando on parla del non-violentia, le prime nomine que veni al mente es Mahatma Gandhi, le heroe del independentia de India.

Ma le manifestantes qui superava le dictaturas de Zine Ben Ali e Hosni Mubarak sequeva le inseniamentos de un altere homine, le politologo american Gene Sharp.

Sharp es le autor de “Del Dictatura al Democratia--un guida conceptual al liberation”. Le libro de solmente 93 paginas, disponibile pro download in 24 linguas (il ha versiones in anglese e espaniol, ma non in portugese), ha inspirate dissidentes in paises como Mianmar, Bosnia, Estonia, e Zimbabwe--e nunc Tunisia e Egypto.

Secundo Ahmed Maher, un del leaders del Movimento 6 de April, qui organisava le protestos contra Mubarak, le dissidentes cognosceva le textos de Sharp.

Le obra de Sharp parla de disobedencia civil, boycotts economic e lucta pro derectos civil. Secundo ille, le non-violentia es le melior arma contra un dictatura. “Si vos lucta con le violentia, vos sta a luctar con le melior arma de vostre inimico”, ille dice. “Vos essera un heroe coragiose, ma morte”.

Con un oculo in le eventos del Medie Oriente, Sharp dice que ille es emotionate per le attitude del manifestantes Egyptian, specialmente le corage de illes ante le dictatura. “Illo es un inseniamento de Gandhi. Si on non time le dictatores, le dictatores ha un grandissime problema ante illes.”

Vos pote discoperir informationes ulterior sur le travalio de Gene Sharp si vos va a iste sito:

http://www.aeinstein.org/organizations98ce.html

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Um manual claramente escrito sobre a revolução não-violenta usado pelos egípcios está disponível em diversos idiomas.

Quando se fala em não-violência o primeiro nome que se vem à cabeça é o Mahatma Gandhi, herói da independência da Índia.

Mas manifestantes que derrubaram as ditaduras de Zine Ben Ali e Hosni Mubarak seguiram os ensinamentos de outro homem: o cientista político americano Gene Sharp.

Sharp é o autor de “Da Ditadura à Democracia--um guia conceitual para a libertação”. O livro de apenas 93 páginas, disponível para download em 24 línguas (há versões em inglês e espanhol, mas não em português), tem inspirado dissidentes em países como Mianmar, Bósnia, Estônia e Zimbábue--e agora, na Tunísia e no Egito.

De acordo com Ahmed Maher, um dos líderes do Movimento 6 de Abril, que organizou os protestos contra Mubarak, os dissidentes conheceram os textos de Sharp.

A obra de Sharp fala de desobediência civil, boicotes econômicos e luta por direitos civis. De acordo com ele, a não-violência é a melhor arma contra uma ditadura. “Se você luta com violência, está lutando com a melhor arma do seu inimigo”, diz. “Será um herói corajoso, mas morto”.

De olho nos acontecimentos no Oriente Médio, Sharp se diz emocionado pela atitude dos manifestantes egípcios, especialmente a coragem deles diante da ditadura. “Esse é um ensinamento de Gandhi. Se as pessoas não temerem os ditadores, os ditatores têm um problemão pela frente”.

Você pode descobrir mais informações sobre o trabalho de Gene Sharp, se você vai a este site:

http://www.aeinstein.org/organizations98ce.html

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A clearly written manual on nonviolent revolution used by the Egyptians is available in various languages.

When it comes to non-violence the first name that comes to mind is Mahatma Gandhi, India’s independence hero.

But the protesters who overthrew the dictatorship of Zine Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak followed the teachings of another man: the American political scientist Gene Sharp.

Sharp is the author of “From Dictatorship to Democracy--a Conceptual Guide for Liberation.” The ninety-three-page book, available for download in twenty-four languages (there are versions in English and Spanish but not Portuguese), has inspired dissidents in countries like Myanmar, Bosnia, Estonia, and Zimbabwe--and now in Tunisia and Egypt.

According to Ahmed Maher, a leader of the April 6th Movement, which organized the protests against Mubarak, dissidents knew about Sharp’s texts.

Sharp’s work discusses civil disobedience, boycotts and economic struggle for civil rights. According to him, non-violence is the best weapon against a dictatorship. “If you struggle with violence, you are struggling with your enemy’s best weapon,” he says. “You will be a courageous, but dead, hero.”

With an eye on events in the Middle East, Sharp says he is touched by the attitude of Egyptian protesters, especially their courage in the face of dictatorship. “This is a teaching of Gandhi. If people do not fear the dictators, the dictators then have big trouble ahead of them.”

You can find more information about the work of Gene Sharp if you go to this site:

http://www.aeinstein.org/organizations98ce.html

Protestos in le Oriente Medie, pais per pais

(Languages of this post: Interlingua, Portuguese, English)

Lybia:

Protestos contra le regime de Muammar Gadhafi lassava un numero non confirmate de mortos e feritos desde le die 16 de februario. Le gruppo de defensa de derectos human Human Rights Watch affirmava que 233 personas moriva in le pais desde le initio del protestos, ma le governamento affirma que le reportos es “exaggerate”.

Benghazi, le secunde citate le plus grande del pais, esseva le principal foco de revoltas violente. Testes affirmava que fortias de securitate usava mitraliatrices e artilleria pesante contra le turbas.

Le protestos se expandeva al capital, Tripoli, le die 20 de februario. Le filio de Gaddafi, Saif al Islam, preveniva in un discurso de television del risco de un guerra civil in le pais.

Le governamento bloccava le internet e prohibeva le presentia del media estranie, lo que face difficile arrivar a un idea exacte del extension de disturbios in le pais.

Protestos es prohibite in Libya, ma le revolta esseva detonate per le detention de un advocato cognoscite pro esser un critico aperte del governamento.

Le regime de Gaddafi es le dictatura le plus vetule e le plus autocratic in le Oriente Medie.


Bahrain:

Le monarchia sunnite que governa le pais faceva un offerta de comenciar dialogos con representantes del majoritate shiite de Bahrein post dies de protesto in le principal placia del capital, Manama.

Post usar truppas pro disperger manifestantes del Placia Perola le die 17 de februariio--in un operation que lassava quatro mortos al minus--le governamento pare haber se retirate, permittente que le manifestantes reoccupa le placia.

Barack Obama urgeva calma in Bahrein, que es un pais strategicamente importante pro le Statos Unite.

Le rege Hamad urgeva su filio le plus vetule, le prince regente Salman, a comenciar un “dialogo national” pro poner un fin al revolta.

Representantes senior del principal gruppo shiite del pais, Wefaq, exigeva le demission del governamento. Inter altere demandas se trova le liberation del prisioneros politic e conversationes sur un nove constitution. Manifestantes shiite se plange de problemas economic, le manco de libertate politic, e discrimination in le mercato de travalio in favor del sunnites.


Morocco:

Le principal gruppo de opposition de Morocco sta a exiger un fin al autocratia e le inauguration de reformas economic in le pais.

Le pais confronta diverse problemas economic. Le governamento annunciava un augmento in le subsidios del stato pro essayar a reducer le augmento in le precio del commoditates.

Al comenciamento del anno, le reputation de Morocco esseva damnificate quando le sito Wikileaks revelava documentos con accusationes de corruption in le familia regal e inter personas proxime al rege Mohammed VI.

Le rege dice que le lucta contra le povressa in le pais es un prioritate, lo que ganiava pro ille le epithet de “guardian del povres”. Le liberalisation del economia attraheva investimentos estranie, e le autoritates affirma que illes sta a realisar meliorationes in le conditiones de vita in bidonvilles e areas rural del pais.

Ma organisationes non-governamental dice que pauco ha cambiate, que le povressa e le disoccupation toteva es grande problemas in le pais, que ha essite colpate per exoperos in le sectores public e private.

Morocco, como Egypto e Algeria, da pauc spatio pro le libertate de expression e usque nunc ha essite capace de contener protestos plus grande. E como Jordania, le pais es un monarchia que ha le appoio de grande sectores del population.


Algeria:

Protestos sporadic ha stato a occurrer in le pais desde le comenciamento de januario, con manifestantes exigente le demission del presidente Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Gruppos de manifestantes esseva unite in lor movimento contra le governamento, includente syndicatos e partitos politic minor.

Le causa immediate del protestos pare haber essite principalmente economic--in particular le augmento accentuate in le precio del nutrimentos.

Al comenciamento de februario, le presidente Bouteflika promitteva suspender le stato de emergentia--in vigor in le pais desde 1992--in un “futuro proxime”, ma totevia ille non lo ha facite.

Algeria es un pais assatis ric a causa de su exportationes de petroleo e gas, e su governamento essaya a responder a problemas economic e social con un grande programma de dispensas public.


Tunisia:

Protestos continua in Tunisia in despecto del decision del presidente Zine al Abidine Ben Ali de dimitter se in januario.

Ille fugiva ex le pais post septimanas de manifestationes e luctas inter le manifestantes e le policia.

Le causa immediate esseva le acto desperate de un juvene disempleate, le die 17 de decembre. Mohammed Bouazizi se immolava quando autoritates de su citate le impediva de vender vegetales in le stratas de Sidi Bouzid sin permission.

Iste acto detonava protestos in omne le partes del pais. Le responsa violente del autoritates--con le policia aperiente foco contra le manifestantes--pare haber exacerbate le ira del population e fomentate nove protestos, que eventualmente fortiava le presidente a dimitter se.

Le presidente del Parlamento, Foued Mebazaa, deveniva le presidente interim, e exigeva al prime ministro Mohammed Ghannouchi, chef del governamento de 1999, que ille formava un nove coalition national. Le prime ministro anque promitteva abandonar le poter post electiones, que debera esser realisate intra sex menses.


Jordania:

Milles de jordanianos vadeva al stratas durante le ultime cinque septimanas, exigente melior opportunitates de empleo e reductiones in le precios de nutrimentos e combustibiles.

In responsa, le rege Abdullah II demitteva le prime ministro, Samir Rifal, accusante le de promover reformas multo lentemente. Marouf al Bakhit, le ex-general del armea e le ambassator del pais in Israel, esseva appunctate in su loco.

Un nove consilio de ministros con 26 integrantes esseva organisate le die 10 de februario.

Le regno hashemite de Jordania es un pais parve, con pauc ressources natural, ma illo joca un rolo crucial in le lucta pro poter in le Oriente Medie.

Le morte del rege Hussein, qui governava Durante 46 annos, lassava Jordania in conditiones de battalia pro le superviventia economic e social, assi como pro le pace regional.

Su filio, Abdullah, qui le succedeva in le throno, confronta le problema de mantener le stabilitate e de satisfacer le exigentias pro reforma.

Un plano pro cambios politic, economic, e social a longe termino--cognoscite como le Agenda National--totevia non esseva implementate.


Egypto:

Centenas de milles de personas se reuniva in Cairo le die 18 de februario pro observar un septima del cadita del presidente Hosni Mubarak.

Le leader de 82 annos se dimitteva le 11 de februario post 18 dies de protestos. Ille habeva essite in le poter desde 1981.

Pro multe tempore, Egypto ha essite un centro de stabilitate in un region volatile, ma illo mascava problemas que se revelava in le demandas de manifestationes popular contra le governamento de 30 annos de Mubarak, que comenciava le die 25 de januario.

Le causas immediate esseva le provressa, le inflation, le exclusion social, le ira contra le corruption, e le inricchimento del elite politic del pais.

Nunc, sin Mubarak in le joco, le fortias armate del pais assumeva le poter trans un consilio militar que governara pro le proxime sex menses usque electiones es realisate.

Le gruppo islamiste conservative Fraternitate Musulman ha le possibilitate de reciper un numero considerabile de votos in ulle election libere e juste, ma timores que le conservativos islamic finalmente ganiara le controlo del governamento egyptian es le principal fonte de preoccupation del Occidente e de Israel.


Syria:

Le presidente Bashar al-Assad promitteva promover reformas politic post hereditar le poter de su patre, Hafez, in 2000, post tres decadas de un regime autoritari.

Leges de emergentia esseva in vigor in le pais desde 1963. Post le morte de Hafez al-Assad, Syria suffreva un certe grado de liberalisation. Centenares de prisioneros politic esseva liberate. Non occurreva, nonobstante, cambios como le augmento de libertates politic o reformas in le economia, que es fortemente dominate per le stato.


Iran:

Le governamento iranian convocava un manifestation pro venerdi, le 18 de februario, pro manifestar le repudiation general del opposition del pais. Ma iste protesto official rapidemente se transformava in un manifestation contra le governamento que lassava duo mortos e diverse feritos.

Le systema politic complexe e incommun de Iran combina elementos de un theocratia Islamic con le democratia. Un rete de institutiones non subjecte a voto popular e controlate per le altemente poterose Leader Supreme del pais ha como contraparte un presidente e un parlamento elegite per le populo.

Le presidente Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, elegite in 2005, es un defensor del conservativos extremiste religiose, qui promitteva reprimer ulle protesto contra le regime.

Ille accusava le manifestantes de voler “macular le brilliantessa national iranian”.


Arabia Saudite:

Un del paises le plus insular e religiose del Oriente Medie, le Arabia Saudite esseva un regno povre in le deserto ante le discoperimento de petroleo in su territorio. Un pauco postea, nonobstante, illo deveniva un del nationes le plus ric del region.

Ma su governantes sta a confrontar le problema delicate de responder al presiones pro reforma e, al mesme tempore, combatter le problema crescente del violentia extremiste islamic. Le familia regal saudi sempre ha essayate a preservar le stabilitate in le region e reprimer extremistas islamic. Movimentos de opposition es prohibite in le pais.

Regionalmente, le pais es importante, con le rege Abullah Bin-Abd-al-Aziz Ali Saud vidite in le mundo arabe como un defensor general del interesses arabe in le region.

Il esseva a Arabia Saudite que le leader deponite de Tunisia, Zin al Abidine Ben Ali, fugiva in januario.


Yemen:

Post dies de protestos, le presidente de Yemen, Alil Abdullah Saleh, annunciava le die 2 de februario, que ille non cercarea un altere mandato, post tres decadas in le poter. Ille anque diceva al Parlamento que ille non passarea le poter a su filio.

Ma le protestos continua, con personas vadente al stratas in le citates de Sanaa, Aden, e Taiz.

Manifestantes contra le governamento qui exige reformas politic luctava con gruppos loyal al governamento, e le policia esseva inviate a reprimer manifestationes.

Yemen es le pais le plus povre del mundo arabe, ubi quasi le medietate del population vive con minus que US$2 per die.

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Protestos no Oriente Médio: país por país

Líbia:

Protestos contra o regime de Muamar Khadafi deixaram um número não confirmado de mortos e feridos desde o dia 16 de fevereiro. O grupo de defesa de direitos humanos Human Rights Watch afirmou que 233 pessoas morreram no país desde o início dos protestos, mas o governo afirma que os relatos são “exagerados”.

Benghazi, segunda maior cidade do país, foi o principal foco de revoltas violentas. Testemunhas afirmaram que forças de segurança usaram metralhadoras e artilharia pesada contra multidões.

Os protestos se espalharam para a capital, Trípoli, no dia 20 de fevereiro. O filho de Khadafi, Saif al-Islam, advertiu em pronunciamento pela televisão para o risco de uma guerra civil no país.

O governo bloqueou a internet e proibiu a presença da mídia estrangeira, o que torna difícil chegar a uma idéia exata da extensão de distúrbios no país.

Protestos são proibidos na Líbia, mas a revolta foi detonada pela prisão de um advogado conhecido por ser um crítico aberto do governo.

O regime de Kadafi é a ditadura mais antiga e mais autocrática no Oriente Médio.


Bahrein:

A monarquia sunita que governa o país fez uma oferta para iniciar o diálogo com representantes da maioria xiita do Bahrein, após dias de protestos na principal praça da capital, Manama.

Após usar tropas para dispersar manifestantes da Praça Pérola no dia 17 de fevereiro--em uma operação que deixou quatro mortos ao menos--o governo parece ter recuado, permitindo que os manifestantes reocupassem a praça.

Barack Obama pediu calma ao Bahrein, que é um país estrategicamente importante para os Estados Unidos.

O rei Hamad pediu a seu filho mais velho, o príncipe regente Salman, que dê início a um “diálogo nacional” para pôr fim à revolta.

Representantes de alto escalão do principal grupo político xiita do país, Wefaq, pediram a renúncia do governo. Entre outras demandas está a libertação dos presos políticos e conversas sobre uma nova constituição. Manifestantes xiitas reclamam de problemas econômicos, falta de liberdade política e discriminação no mercado de trabalho a favor de sunitas.


Marrocos:

O principal grupo de oposição do Marrocos está exigindo um fim à autocracia e à inauguração de reformas económicas no país.

O país enfrenta vários problemas econômicos. O governo anunciou um aumento nos subsídios do estado para tentar conter o aumento no preço das commodities.

No começo do ano, a reputação do Marrocos foi danificada quando o site Wikileaks revelou documentos com acusações de corrupção na família real e entre pessoas próximas ao rei Mohammed 6º.

O rei diz que a luta contra a pobreza no país é uma prioridade, o que lhe valeu o epíteto de “guardião dos pobres”. A liberalização da economia atraiu investimentos estrangeiros, e as autoridades afirmam que estão realizando melhorias nas condições de vida em favelas e áreas rurais do país.

Mas organizações não-governamentais dizem que pouco mudou, que a pobreza e o desemprego ainda são grandes problemas no país, que vem sendo atingido por greves nos setores público e privado.

O Marrocos, como Egito e Argélia, dá pouco espaço para a liberdade de expressão e até agora tem sido capaz de conter protestos maiores. Assim como a Jordânia, o país é uma monarquia que tem apoio de grandes setores da população.


Argélia:

Protestos esporádicos vêm acontecendo no país desde o começo de janeiro, com manifestantes pedindo a renúncia do presidente Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Grupos de manifestantes se uniram em seu movimento contra o governo, incluindo pequenos sindicatos e partidos políticos menores.

A causa imediata dos protestos parece ter sido principalmente economic--em particular o aumento acentuado no preço dos alimentos.

No começo de fevereiro o presidente Bouteflika prometeu suspender o estado de emergência--em vigor no país desde 1992--em um “futuro próximo”, mas ainda não o fez.

A Argélia é um país bastante rico por causa de suas exportações de petróleo e gás, e seu governo tenta responder a problemas econômicos e sociais com um grande programa de gastos públicos.


Tunísia:

Protestos continuam na Tunísia apesar da decisão do presidente Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali de renunciar em janeiro.

Ele deixou o país após semanas de manifestações e choques entre manifestantes e a polícia.

A causa imediata foi o ato desesperado de um jovem desempregado, no dia 17 de dezembro. Mohamed Bouazizi ateou fogo ao próprio corpo, quando autoridades de sua cidade impediram-no de vender legumes nas ruas de Sidi Bouzid sem permissão.

Este ato detonou protestos em todas partes do país. A resposta violenta das autoridades--com a polícia abrindo fogo contra manifestantes--parece ter exacerbado a ira da população e fomentado novos protestos, que eventualmente forçaram o presidente a demitir-se

O presidente do Parlamento, Foued Mebazaa, se tornou o presidente interino, e pediu ao premiê Mohammed Ghannouchi, chefe do governo desde 1999, para formar uma nova coalizão nacional. O premiê também prometeu abandonar o poder após eleições, que deverão ser realizadas dentro de seis meses.


Jordânia:

Milhares de jorndanianos saíram às ruas ao longo das últimas cinco semanas, pedindo melhores oportunidades de emprego e a redução nos preços de alimentos e combustível.

Em resposta, o rei Abdullah 2º demitiu o primeiro-ministro Samir Rifai, acusando-o de promover reformas muito lentamente. Marouf al-Bakhit, ex-general do exército e embaixador do país em Israel, foi nomeado em seu lugar.

Um novo gabinete com 26 integrantes foi organizado no dia 10 de fevereiro.

O Reino Hachemita da Jordânia é um país pequeno, com poucos recursos naturais, mas desempenha um papel crucial na luta por poder no Oriente Médio.

A morte do rei Hussein, que governou por 46 anos, deixou a Jordânia na briga pela sobreviência econômica e social, assim como pela paz regional.

Seu filho, Abdullah, que o sucedeu no trono, enfrenta o desafio de manter a estabilidade e satisfazer as exigencias por reforma.

Um plano para mudanças políticas, econômicas e sociais de longo prazo--conhecido como Agenda Nacional--ainda não foi implementado.


Egito:

Centenas de milhares de pessoas se reuniram no Cairo no dia 18 de fevereiro para marcar uma semana da queda do presidente Hosni Mubarak.

O líder de 82 anos renunciou no dia 11 de fevereiro, após 18 dias de protestos. Ele estava no poder desde 1981.

O Egito há muito vinha sendo um centro de estabilidade em uma região volátil, mas isso mascarava problemas, que vieram à tona nas demandas de manifestações populares contra o governo de 30 anos de Mubarak, que começaram no dia 25 de janeiro.

As causas imediatas foram pobreza, inflação, exclusão social, raiva contra a corrupção e o enriquecimento da elite política do país.

Agora, sem Mubarak no jogo, as forças armadas do país assumiram o poder através de um conselho militar, que governará pelos próximos seis meses, até que eleições sejam realizadas.

O grupo islamista conservador Irmandade Muçulmana tem a chance de conseguir um número considerável de votos em quaisquer eleições livres e justas, mas temores de que os conservadores islâmicos acabarão por ganhar o controle do governo egípcio são a principal fonte de preocupação do Ocidente e de Israel.


Síria:

O presidente Bashar al-Assad prometeu promover reformas políticas após herdar o poder de seu pai, Hafez, em 2000, após três décadas de um regime autoritário.

Leis de emergência vigoram no país desde 1963. Após a morte de Hafez al-Assad, a Síria sofreu um certo grau de liberalização. Centenas de presos políticos foram libertados. Não ocorreram, entretanto, mudanças como o aumento das liberdades políticas ou reformas na economia, que é fortemente dominada pelo estado.


Irã:

O governo iraniano convocou uma manifestação para a sexta-feira 18 de fevereiro para manifestar o repúdio geral à oposição do país. Mas este protesto oficial rapidamente se transformou em uma manifestação antigoverno, que deixou dois mortos e vários feridos.

O sistema político complexo e incomum do Irã combina elementos de uma teocracia islâmica com democracia. Uma rede de instituições não sujeitas a voto popular e controladas pelo altamente poderoso Líder Supremo do país tem como contrapartida um presidente e um parlamento eleitos pelo povo.

O presidente Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, eleito em 2005, é um defensor dos conservadores extremistas religiosos, que prometeram reprimir qualquer protesto contra o regime.

Ele acusou os manifestantes de querer “manchar o brilhantismo nacional iraniano”.


Arábia Saudita:

Um dos países mais isolados e religiosos do Oriente Médio, a Arábia Saudita era um reino pobre no deserto antes da descoberta de petróleo no seu território. Pouco tempo depois, no entanto, tornou-se uma das nações mais ricas da região.

Mas seus governantes enfrentam o problema delicado de responder a pressões por reforma e, ao mesmo tempo, combater o problema crescente da violência extremista islâmica. A família real saudita sempre tentou preservar a estabilidade na região e reprimir extremistas islâmicos. Movimentos de oposição são proibidos no país.

Regionalmente, o país é importante, com o rei Abullah Bin-Abd-al-Aziz Al Saud visto no mundo árabe como um defensor geral dos interesses árabes na região.

Foi para a Arábia Saudita que o líder deposto da Tunísia, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, fugiu em janeiro.


Iêmen:

Após dias de protestos, o presidente do Iêmen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, anunciou, no dia 2 de fevereiro, que não concorreria a outro mandato, após três décadas no poder. Ele também disse ao Parlamento que não passaria o poder a seu filho.

Mas os protestos continuam, com pessoas saindo às ruas nas cidades de Sanaa, Aden e Taiz.

Manifestantes antigoverno pedindo reformas políticas entraram em choque com grupos leais ao governo, e a polícia foi enviada para reprimir manifestações.

O Iêmen é o país mais pobre do mundo árabe, onde quase a metade da população vive com menos de US$2 por dia.

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Protests in the Middle East: country by country

Libya:

Protests against the regime of Moammar Gadhafi left an unconfirmed number of dead and injured since Feb. 16. The human-rights advocacy group Human Rights Watch said 233 people have died in the country since the protests began, but the government says that reports are “exaggerated.”

Benghazi, the second largest city, was the main focus of violent revolts. Witnesses said security forces used machine guns and heavy artillery on the crowds.

The protests spread to the capital, Tripoli, on February 20. Gaddafi’s son, Saif al-Islam, warned in a televised speech about the risk of a civil war in the country.

The government blocked the internet and prohibited the presence of foreign media, making it difficult to arrive at an exact idea of the extent of the revolts in the country.

Protests are banned in Libya, but the uprising was sparked by the arrest of a lawyer known for being an outspoken critic of government.

Gaddafi’s regime is the oldest and most autocratic dictatorship in the Middle East.


Bahrain:

The Sunni monarchy that rules the country made an offer to start dialogues with representatives of the Shiite majority in Bahrain after days of protests in the main square of the capital, Manama.

After using troops to disperse protesters in the Pearl Plaza on February 17--in an operation that left at least four dead--the government seems to have retreated, allowing the protesters to reoccupy the plaza.

Barack Obama urged calm in Bahrain, which is a strategically important country for the United States.

King Hamad urged his oldest son, the crown prince Salman, to begin a “national dialogue” to end the revolt.

Senior representatives of the main Shiite political group in the country, Wefaq, asked for the government’s resignation. Among other demands is the release of political prisoners and talks on a new constitution. Shiite demonstrators complain of economic problems, the lack of political freedom, and discrimination in the labor market in favor of Sunnis.


Morocco:

The main opposition group in Morocco is demanding an end to autocracy and the inauguration of economic reforms in the country.

The country is facing several economic problems. The government has announced an increase in state subsidies to try to stem the rise in commodity prices.

Earlier this year, the reputation of Morocco was damaged when Wikileaks published documents with accusations of corruption within the royal family and among people close to King Mohammed VI.

The king says the fight against poverty in the country is a priority, which earned him the epithet of “guardian of the poor.” The liberalization of the economy has attracted foreign investment, and authorities say they are making improvements in living conditions in slums and rural areas of the country.

But non-government organizations say little has changed, that poverty and unemployment are still big problems in the country, which has been hit by strikes in the public and private sectors.

Morocco, like Egypt and Algeria, has little room for freedom of expression and so far has been able to contain large protests. Like Jordan, the country is a monarchy that has the support of large sectors of the population.


Algeria:

Sporadic protests have been taking place in the country since early January, with protesters demanding the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Groups of protesters were united in their movement against the government, including small labor unions, and minor political parties.

The immediate cause of the protests appears to have been economic for the most part--in particular the sharp rise in food prices.

In early February President Bouteflika promised to suspend the state of emergency--in force since 1992--in the “near future” but he did not do so.

Algeria is a rather wealthy country because of its exports of oil and gas, and its government is trying to respond to economic and social problems with a large public-expenditure program.


Tunisia:

Protests continue in Tunisia despite the decision of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali to resign in January.

He fled the country after weeks of demonstrations and clashes between protesters and police.

The immediate cause was the desperate act of a young unemployed man on December 17. Bouazizi Muhammad set fire to his own body, when city authorities kept him from selling vegetables on the streets of Sidi Bouzid without permission.

This act sparked protests everywhere in the country. The violent response by the authorities--with the police opening fire on protesters--seems to have exacerbated public anger and encouraged further protests, which eventually forced the president to resign.

The speaker of Parliament, Foued Mebazaa, became the interim president and asked prime minister Mohamed Ghannouchi, the head of government since 1999, to form a new national coalition. The premier also promised to relinquish power after elections, which must be held within six months.


Jordan:

Thousands of Jordanians took to the streets over the past five weeks, seeking better job opportunities and a reduction in food and fuel prices.

In response, King Abdullah the 2nd fired Prime Minister Samir Rifai, accusing him of promoting reforms too slowly. Marouf al-Bakhit, a former army general and the country’s ambassador to Israel, was appointed in his place.

A new cabinet with 26 members was organized on February 10.

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a small country with few natural resources, but it also plays a crucial role in the struggle for power in the Middle East.

The death of King Hussein, who ruled for forty-six years, left Jordan in the battle for economic and social survival, as well as for regional peace.

His son, Abdullah, who succeeded him to the throne, faces the challenge of maintaining stability and satisfying the demands for reform.

A plan for long-term political, economic, and social changes--known as the National Agenda--has still not been implemented.


Egypt:

Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Cairo on February 18 to observe the first week of the fall of President Hosni Mubarak.

The eighty-two-year-old leader resigned on February 11 after 18 days of protests. He had been in power since 1981.

Egypt has long been a center of stability in a volatile region, but this apparent social peace masked problems that surfaced in the demands of popular demonstrations against Mubarak’s thirty-year-old government, which began on January 25.

The immediate causes were poverty, inflation, social discrimination, anger against corruption, and the enrichment of the country’s political elite.

Now, without Mubarak in the game, the country’s armed forces took power through a military council, which will rule for the next six months until elections are held.

The conservative Islamist group the Muslim Brotherhood has a chance of getting a considerable number of votes in any free and fair election, but fears that that Islamic conservatives will eventually win control of the Egyptian government are the main source of concern in the West and Israel.


Syria:

President Bashar al-Assad promised political reforms after inheriting power from his father, Hafez, in 2000 after three decades of authoritarian rule.

Emergency laws have been in force in the country since 1963. After the death of Hafez al-Assad, Syria underwent a degree of liberalization. Hundreds of political prisoners were freed. There were, however, no further changes, such as increased political freedoms or reforms in the economy, which is heavily dominated by the state.


Iran:

The Iranian government has called a rally for Friday, February 18, as an expression of general rejection of opposition to the country’s government. But this official protest quickly turned into an antigovernment rally that left two dead and several injured.

Iran’s complex and unusual political system combines elements of an Islamic theocracy with democracy. A network of institutions not subject to popular vote and controlled by the highly powerful Supreme Leader of the country has its counterpart in a president and a parliament elected by the people.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, elected in 2005, is a supporter of the extreme religious conservatives, who promised to suppress any protest against the regime.

He accused protesters of trying to “tarnish national Iranian brilliance.”


Saudi Arabia:

One of the most insular and religious countries of the Middle East, Saudi Arabia was a poor desert kingdom before the discovery of oil on its territory. Not long afterward, however, it became one of the richest nations in the region.

But its rulers face the delicate problem of responding to pressures for reform and, at the same time, of combatting the growing problem of extremist Islamic violence. The Saudi royal family has always tried to preserve stability in the region and repress Islamic extremists. Opposition movements are prohibited in the country.

Regionally, the country is important, with King Abullah Bin-Abd-al-Aziz Al Saud seen in the Arab world as a defender of general Arab interests in the region.

It was to Saudi Arabia that the deposed leader of Tunisia, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, fled in January.


Yemen:

After days of protests, the Yemeni President, Ali Abdullah Saleh, announced on February 2, that he would not run for another term in the presidency, after three decades in power. He also told Parliament that he would not pass power on to his son.

But the protests are continuing, with people taking to the streets in the cities of Sana’a, Aden and Taiz.

Antigovernment protesters calling for political reforms clashed with groups loyal to the government, and police were sent to quell demonstrations.

Yemen is the poorest country in the Arab world, where almost half the population lives on less than two dollars a day.

Libya: opposition a Qadhafi repulsa attacco.

(Languages of this post: Interlingua, Spanish, English)

Reportos de Lybia dice que le oppositores de Muammar Qadhafi repulsava un contra-attacco del fortias governamental presso le citate litoral de Misrata, a 200 kilometros al este de Tripoli.

Testes diceva que le combattos se ha disveloppate circum le citate e in su aeroporto.

Secundo le reportos, Misrata totevia se trova sub le controlo del fortias opponite al governamento de Qadhafi.

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Libia: oposición a Gadafi repele ataque.

Informes provenientes de Libia dicen que los opositores a Muamar Gadafi rechazaron un contraataque de las fuerzas gubernamentales cerca de la ciudad costera de Misrata, a 200 kilómetros al este de Trípoli.

Testigos dijeron que los combates se han desarrollado en los alrededores de la ciudad y en su aeropuerto.

Según los informes, Misrata todavía está bajo el control de la fuerzas opuestas al gobierno de Gadafi.

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Libya: Qadhafi opposition repels attack.

Reports from Libya say that the Muammar Qadhafi’s opponents repelled a counterattack by government forces near the coastal town of Misrata, 200 kilometers east of Tripoli.

Witnesses said that fighting has developed around the city and in its airport.

According to reports, Misrata is still under the control of forces opposed to the Qadhafi government.

Can we talk about Muslim homophobia now?

Last autumn, mysterious posters began to appear all over the East End of London announcing it is now a “Gay-Free Zone.” They warned: “And Fear Allah: Verily Allah is Severe in Punishment.” One of them was plastered outside the apartment block I lived in for nearly ten years, next to adverts for club nights and classes at the local library, as if it was natural and normal. I’d like to say I’m shocked – but anybody who lives in Tower Hamlets knows this has been a long time coming.

Here’s a few portents from the East End that we have chosen to ignore. In May 2008, a 15 year old Muslim girl tells her teacher she thinks she might be gay, and the Muslim teacher in a state-funded comprehensive tells her “there are no gays round here” and she will “burn in hell” if she ever acts on it. (I know because she emailed me, suicidal and begging for help).

In September 2008, a young gay man called Oliver Hemsley, is walking home from the gay pub the George and Dragon when a gang of young Muslims stabs him eight times, in the back, in the lungs, and in his spinal column. In January 2010, when the thug who did it is convicted, a gang of thirty Muslims storms the George and Dragon in revenge and violently attacks everybody there. All through, it was normal to see young men handing out leaflets outside the Whitechapel Ideas Store saying gays are “evil.” Most people accept them politely.

These are not isolated incidents. East London has seen the highest increase in homophobic attacks anywhere in Britain. Everybody knows why, and nobody wants to say it. It is because East London has the highest Muslim population in Britain, and we have allowed a fanatically intolerant attitude towards gay people to incubate there, in the name of “tolerance”.

The most detailed opinion survey of British Muslims was carried out by Gallup, who correctly predicted the result of the last general election. In their extensive polling, they found literally no British Muslims who would say homosexuality is “morally acceptable.” Every one of the Muslims they polled objected to it. Even more worryingly, younger Muslims had more stridently anti-gay views than older Muslims. These attitudes have consequences--and they are worst of all for gay Muslims, who have to live a sham half-life of lies, or be shunned by their families.

No, Muslims are not the only homophobes among us. But the gap between them and the rest is startling. It’s zero percent of British Muslims vs. 58 percent of other Brits who say we are “acceptable.”

Why does nobody want to talk about this? No, it's not because Muslims have "taken over" Europe, as ludicrous hysterics like Mark Steyn claim. I debunk that nonsense here: Muslims are 3 percent of the population of Europe.

So why the silence? It is true that British Muslims are themselves frequently the victims of bigotry. They are often harassed by the police, denied jobs, and abused in the street, and they are forced to watch as our government senselessly incinerates many Muslims abroad. (I have written many articles detailing and deploring these ugly facts.) So gay people are naturally reluctant to pile in onto minorities who are being oppressed. We are rightly sympathetic. We know what it is like to be treated like this. We instinctively respond with solidarity, not suspicion.

But this can easily morph into excuse-making. When there was a wave of vicious gay-bashings in Amsterdam by Morroccan immigrants--ending the city’s easy, hand-holding culture--the gay spokesman for Human Rights Watch, Scott Long, said: “There’s still an extraordinary degree of racism in Dutch society. Gays often becomes victims of this when immigrants retaliate for the inequities they have had to suffer.”

What? How is it a “retaliation” to beat up a gay couple? What have they done to Muslims? What other human rights abuse would Human Rights Watch make excuses for? Would they say the Burmese junta beats dissidents in order to “retaliate for the inequities they have had to suffer”?

When gay people were cruelly oppressed in Britain, we didn’t form gangs to beat up other minorities. We organized democratically and appealed to our fellow citizens’ sense of decency. It’s patronizing--and authentically racist--to treat Muslims as if they are children, or animals, who can only react to their oppression by jeering at or attacking people who have done them no harm, and who they object to because of a book written in the sixth century.

Muslims are human beings who can choose not to do this. The vast majority, of course, do not attack anyone. But they should go further. They should choose instead to see us as equal human beings, who live and love just like them, and do not deserve scorn and prejudice.

Yes, it is “Muslim culture” today to be bigoted against gay people. It was British culture to be anti-gay thirty years ago. Cultures change. They change all the time. They are not sacred and fixed. They are constantly in motion. But they only change if we admit there is a problem publicly and openly and search for solutions.

We should not “respect” the bigotry of Muslims, any more than we would respect the bigotry of Christians or Jews or the Ku Klux Klan. The only consistent and reasonable position is to oppose bigotry against Muslims, and oppose bigotry by Muslims.

So how do we do it? There are plenty of practical steps. The most crucial is in the school system. Today, schools in Muslim areas like Tower Hamlets are deeply reluctant to explain that homosexuality is a natural and harmless phenomenon that occurs in every human society: they know that many parents will go crazy. Tough. It should be a legal requirement, tightly policed by Ofsted, and any school that refuses should be shut down.

Every one of those schools has gay kids who are terrified and isolated and are at a high risk of self-harm or suicide. We need to get simple facts and practical help to them, over the heads of religiously-inspired bigots. No school should be a “faith school”, inspired by medieval holy books that demand death for gay people. Every school should be a safe school for gay children, and every school should educate straight children to live alongside them.

There are other crucial changes. We should be lauding--and funding--the few Muslim groups that are brave and humane enough to take a stand and defend the equality of gay people. They do exist: British Muslims for Secular Democracy is a heroic example. The same goes, even more crucially, for the gay Muslims who have come out and formed groups like Imaan. Only they can show their fellow Muslims that when they advocate discrimination against gay people, they are advocating discrimination against their own sisters and sons, brothers and daughters.

And we need to make it plain that accepting the existence of gay people--and our right to live peacefully and openly--is a non-negotiable British value. In the Netherlands, they now show all new immigrants images of men kissing, and if they object, they tell them they should go and live somewhere else. We should be doing the same, starting with imams, who are almost entirely imported into British mosques at the moment from countries where homosexuality is a crime punished with death.

I believe British Muslims can change. I believe they can accept and love their gay children, just as surely as my parents, who also grew up in horribly homophobic places. accepted and loved me. I think of all the good kind Muslims I met in my years living in Tower Hamlets, and I believe that over time they were capable of understanding that my sexuality is natural and innate and hurts nobody.

But it won’t happen if we pretend we “respect” their bigotry, and that it is a legitimate expression of difference. It is not, any more than hating black people was the “legitimate” culture of the Deep South, or Apartheid South Africa.

No, we will not tolerate the idea that we are “immoral” for loving each other. No, we will not tolerate posters declaring East London a “gay free zone.” We will see them as a reason, at last and at least, to end this taboo--and demand much better of our fellow citizens.

This article appeared in “Attitude”, Europe's best-selling gay magazine.

Wikipedia, un excellente fonte de textos pro studentes de linguas

(Languages of this post: Interlingua, English)

Wikipedia es un fonte excellente de textos in un grande varietate de linguas que studentes de linguas pote facilemente trovar pro adjuvar les in lor studios. Io discoperiva isto recentemente quando io voleva cercar alicun informationes sur le compositor Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Post intrar +Mozart +Wikipedia in le motor de cercas de Google, io immediatemente trovava un breve biographia de Mozart. Al leve del articulo, io anque trovava un lista de altere articulos sur Mozart in un grande varietate de linguas, multes de illos linguas minoritari de Europa.

Io tunc trovava simile articulos intrante, pro exemplo +Beethoven +Wikipedia e +Newton +Wikipedia.

Le articulos que vos pote trovar de iste maniera pote esser un excellente introduction a iste linguas minor proque illos es sur themas ben cognoscite a personas instruite--que facilita grandemente lor lectura.

Non omne iste articulos es identic in lor contento. Alicunes de illes es plus elaborate que alteres. Ma si vos vole comenciar le studio de, que nos dice, le catalan o le asturiano, vos potera facilemente trovar breve textos biographic pro practicar le lectura de iste linguas e probabilemente anque textos sur un varietate de altere themas de un interesse commun.

Explorante un varietate de themas de interesse general de iste maniera, vos probabilemente poterea colliger un anthologia de textos assatis grande pro vostre studios in multo pauc tempore.

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Wikipedia, An Excellent Source of Texts for Language Students

Wikipedia is an excellent source ot texts in a great variety of languages that language students can easily find to help them in their studies. I discovered this recently when I wanted to find some information about the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

After entering +Mozart +Wikipedia in Google’s search engine, I immediately found a brief biography of Mozart. To the left of the article I also found a list of other articles on Mozart in a great variety of languages, many of them minority languages of Europe.

I then found similar articles entering, for example, +Beethoven +Wikipedia and +Newton +Wikipedia.

The articles that you can find this way can be an excellent introduction to these minor languages because they are about subjects that are well known to educated people--which makes it very easy to read them.

Not all of these articles are identical in their content. Some of them are more elaborate than others. But if you want to start studying, let’s say, Catalan or Asturian, you can easily find brief biographical texts for practicing reading in these languages and probably also texts on a variety of other subjects of common interest.

By exploring a variety of subjects of general interest in this way, you probably could collect a rather large anthology of practice texts for your studies in very little time.

Oman: Confrontationes inter manifestantes e le policia

(Languages of this post: Interlingua, Spanish, English)

Le fortias de securitate de Oman confrontava gruppos de manifestantes in le citate de Sohar, a unes 200 kilometros al nord del capital, Mascat.

Usque nunc, Oman, ubicate al sudest del Arabia Saudite, se ha mantenite al margine del unda de revoltas que se ha extendite trans le mundo arabe.

Secundo le agentia de novas Reuters, le policia tirava bollettas de cauchu e gases lacrimogene contra presso 200 manifestantes qui protestava contra le situation economic e exigeva reformas politic.

Le sabato, le sultan de Oman, Qabus Bin Said, decideva augmentar le bursas pro studentes e anunciava mensuras economic pro essayar a reducer le precios de nutrimentos.

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Omán: Enfrentamientos entre manifestantes y la policía

Las fuerzas de seguridad de Omán se enfrentaron a grupos de manifestantes en la ciudad de Sohar, a unos 200 kilómetros al norte de la capital, Mascate.

Hasta la fecha, Omán, ubicado al sureste de Arabia Saudita, se ha mantenido al margen de la ola de revueltas que se ha extendido por el mundo árabe.

De acuerdo con la agencia de noticias Reuters, la policía disparó bolas de goma y gases lacrimógenos contra cerca de 200 manifestantes que protestaban contra la situación económica y pedían reformas políticas.

El sábado, el sultán de Omán Qabus Bin Said, decició aumentar las becas para los estudiantes y anunció medidas económicas para intentar bajar los precios de los alimentos.

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Oman: Clashes between protesters and police

The Omani security forces clashed with groups of demonstrators in the city of Sohar, 200 kilometers north of the capital, Muscat.

Up to now, Oman, located southeast of Saudi Arabia, has kept itself at the margins of the wave of rioting that has spread throughout the Arab world.

According to Reuters, police fired rubber bullets and tear gas against some 200 demonstrators protesting the economic situation and calling for political reform.

On Saturday, the Sultan of Oman Qaboos Bin Said, decided to increase scholarships for students and announced economic measures to try to lower food prices.

Italia dice que es inevitabile que Qaddafi essera vincite.

(Languages of this post: Interlingua, Spanish, English)

Le ministro de affaires exterior italian, Franco Frattini, dice que ille es convencite que Qaddafi essera vincite. Secundo ille, “nos nos trova in un puncto de non retorno”.

Frattini anque assecurava que le tractato de amicitate signate in 2008 inter Roma e su ex-colonia African “se trova suspendite de facto”.

“Nos nunquam ha vidite un situation in le qual le chef de un regime da le ordine de occider su proprie fratres e sorores”, diceva Frattini, “arrivante mesmo al puncto de pagar mercenarios”.

Con iste parolas, le governamento roman, le associato commercial de Libya le plus grande, mitte distantia inter se e le politicas del governamento de Libya.

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Italia dice que es inevitable que Gadafi será vencido.

El ministro de exteriores italiano, Franco Frattini, dice que está convencido que Gadafi sera vencido. Según él, “estamos en un punto de no retorno”.

Frattini también aseguró que el tratado de amistad firmado en 2008 entre Roma y su ex colonia africana “está suspendido de facto”.

“Nunca habíamos visto una situación en la que el jefe de un régimen dé la orden de matar a sus propios hermanos y hermanas”, dijo Frattini, “llegando incluso al punto de pagar a mercenarios”.

Con estas palabras, el gobierno romano, el mayor socio comercial de Libia, se desmarca de las políticas del gobierno de Libia.

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Italy says it is inevitable that Qaddafi will be defeated.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said he was convinced that Qaddafi will be defeated. According to him, “We are at a point of no return.”

Frattini also gave assurances that the friendship treaty signed in 2008 between Rome and its former African colony “is suspended de facto, as a practical matter.”

“We’ve never seen a situation with the head of a regime giving the order to kill his own brothers and sisters,” said Frattini, “even to the point of paying mercenaries.”

With these words, the Rome government, Libya’s largest trading partner, is distancing itself from the policies of Libya’s government.

On ha discoperite tablettas medicinal usate per le grecos ante 2.000 annos.

(Languages of this post: Interlingua, Spanish, English)

Alicun tablettas medicinal trovate in un barco naufragate ante 2.000 annos ha devenite le prime prova material que le antic grecos jam utilisava certe plantas como medicamentos.

Pro un periodo de annos, investigatores cercava evidentia que demonstra que le grecos e le romanos realmente poneva in practica le medicina que illes describeva in lor obras academic.

Nunc, le analyses de ADN ha establite ligamines inter monstras de cibollas, alfalfa, seleri, e altere herbas trovate in un nave naufragate con le textos classic de Diocorides, qui scribeva le Encyclopedia de Substantias Natural in le seculo I.

Alain Toumaide, un historico al Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, dice que le tablettas que on ha discoperite poterea haber essite usate pro tractar maladias gastric que habeva affligite gente in le nave.

Iste is le prime vice que on ha analysate un composto medicinal de ille epocha. Anteriormente, on habeva trovate plantas in alicun sitos archeologic, ma nunquam tablettas. Isto es alique nove.

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Se han descubierto tabletas medicinales usadas por los griegos hace 2.000 años.

Unas tabletas medicinales halladas en un barco naufragado hace 2.000 años se convierten en la primera prueba material de que los antiguos griegos ya utilizaban ciertas plantas como medicamentos.

Durante años, los investigadores buscaron evidencias que demostraran que los griegos y los romanos realmente ponían en práctica la medicina que describían en sus obras académicas.

Ahora, los análisis de ADN relacionaron muestras de cebolla, alfalfa, apio y otras hierbas encontradas en un naufragio con los textos clásicos de Diocorides, quien escribió la Enciclopedia de Sustancias Naturales en el siglo I.

Alain Toumaide, historiador del Museo Smithsoniano de Historia Natural de Washington, dice que las tabletas que se han descobierto podrían haber sido usadas para tratar enfermedades gástricas que habían afectado a la gente en el barco.

Esta es la primera vez que se analizó un compuesto medicinal de esa época. Anteriormente se habían encontrado plantas en algunos yacimientos arqueológicos, pero nunca tabletas. Esto es algo Nuevo.

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Medical tablets used by the Greeks over 2,000 years ago have been discovered.

Some medicinal tablets found in a 2,000-year-old shipwreck are the first material evidence that the ancient Greeks used certain plants as medicines.

For years, researchers looked for evidence to prove that the Greeks and Romans really put into practice the medicine they describe in their academic works.

Now, DNA tests linked samples of onions, alfalfa, celery and other herbs found in a shipwreck with the classic texts of Diocorides, who wrote the Encyclopedia of Natural Substances in the first century

Alain Tourmaide, a historian at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, says that the tablets that have been discovered could have been used to treat gastric diseases that had afflicted people on the boat.

This is the first time that a medicinal compound from that time has been analyzed. Previously plants were found in archeological sites, but never tablets. This is something new.

Le paganos del Regno Unite vole recognocimento official como religion.

(Languages of this post: Interlingua, Spanish, English)

Le Federation Pagan del Regno Unite ha incoragiate magas, druidas, e altere membros del organisation a definir se como paganos in le proxime censo pro ganiar recognoscimento official como religion.

Le censo in le Regno Unite habera loco le proxime mense. In le anterior, realisate in 2001, circa 42.000 personas se definiva como pagan, e illes nunc vole recognoscimento official como religion.

Secundo alicun expertos, in 2001 il habeva circa 250.000 paganos--un numero, illes dice, que essera plus alte hodie.

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Los paganos del Reino Unido quieren el reconocimiento oficial como religión.

La Federación Pagana del Reino Unido ha animado a las brujas, druidas y otros miembros de la organización a definirse como paganos en el próximo censo para ganar reconocimiento official como religión.

El censo en el Reino Unido tendrá lugar el próximo mes. En el anterior, realizado en 2001, alrededor de 42.000 personas se definieron como paganas, y ahora quieren reconocimiento oficial como religion.

Según algunos expertos, en 2001 había cerca de 250.000 paganos--una cifra que, aseguran, sería mayor en la actualidad.

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The pagans of the United Kingdom want official recognition as a religion.

The Pagan Federation of the United Kingdom has encouraged witches, druids, and other members of the organization to define themselves as pagans in the next census to gain official recognition as a religion.

The census in the UK will take place next month. In the last one, which took place in 2001, about 42,000 people defined themselves as pagan, and they now want official recognition as a religion.

According to some experts, in 2001 there were about 250,000 pagans--a number they say will be higher today.

Libya: Un governamento de transition se ha formate in Benghazi.

(Languages of this post: Interlingua, Spanish, English)

On ha formate un governamento de transition in Benghazi, le secunde citate plus importante de Libya, secundo le ex-ministro de justicia, Mustafa Abdel Jalil.

Le consilio de ministros del nove governamento preparara electiones intra tres menses e includera functionarios militar e civil.

Abdel Jalil abandonava le governamento de Muammar Gaddafi a causa de su disaccordo con le uso excessive del violentia contra le manifestantes.

Le ambassator de Libya in le Statos Unite, Ali Aujali, exprimeva su appoio al nove governamento provisori.

Le capital de Libya, Tripoli, controlate per fortias loyal a Qadhafi, remaneva assatis calmate iste sabato, ma le chaos continuava in le areoporto, ubi milles de personas essaya a quitar le pais.

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Libia: Un gobierno de transición se ha formado en Bengasi.

Se ha formado un gobierno de transición en Bengasi, la secunda ciudad más importante de Libya, según el ex ministro de Justicia, Mustafa Abdel-Jalil.

El gabinete del nuevo gobierno preparará elecciones para dentro de tres meses y incluirá funcionarios militares y civiles.

Abdel-Jalil abanonó el gobierno de Muamar Gadafi por su desacuerdo con el excesivo uso de la violencia contra los manifestantes.

El embajador de Libia en los Estados Unidos, Ali Aujali, expresó su apoyo al nuevo gobierno temporal.

La capital de Libya, Trípoli, controlada por fuerzas leales a Gadafi, permaneció bastante calmada durante este sábado, pero el caos continuó en el aeropuerto, donde miles de personas están tratando de salir del país.

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Libya: A transitional government has been formed in Benghazi.

A transitional government has been formed in Benghazi, the second largest city of Libya, according to the former justice minister, Mustafa Abdel-Jalil.

The cabinet of the new government is preparing to hold elections within the next three months and will include both military and civilian officials.

Abdel-Jalil abandoned Muammar Gaddafi’s government because he disagreed with the excessive use of violence against demonstrators.

Libya’s ambassador to the United States, Ali Aujali, expressed his support for the new temporary government.

The capital of Libya, Tripoli, controlled by forces loyal to Qadhafi, remained quite calm during this Saturday, but a state of chaos has prevailed at the airport, where thousands of people are trying to leave the country.

Basios gay e orationes ante le cathedral de Lima

(Languages of this post: Interlingua, Spanish, English)

In un manifestation in Lima, le capital de Peru, con le nomine “Basios contra le homophobia”), gruppos de gays e catholicos conservative exprimeva lor differentias sin violentia.

“Lo que nos ha facite hodie habera un echo in le eternitate”, diceva un parve gruppo de catholicos peruvian post terminar lor orationes in le Placia Major de Lima, Peru, ubi il habeva gruppos de homosexuales qui stava a basiar se e exigir le derecto de exprimer lor affecto in publico. Illes recipeva le appoio de altere activistas qui les accompaniava e voleva exprimer lor solidaritate con lor causa.

Le manifestation esseva organisate per le Movimento Homosexual de Lima (MHOL) in responsa a colpos recipite a manos del policia per un gruppo de homosexuales in un protesta simile ante un septimana presso le Cathedral de Lima.

In le Placia Major--flancate per le palatio de governamento e le cathedral--il habeva diverse copulas gay imbraciante e basiante se, durante que in le atrio del cathedral presso cento parochianos de differente etates orava pro plus que tres horas, lor dorsos tornate verso illes. E anque il habeva un grande numero de policias, le manifestation continuava pacificamente, e il habeva un alte grado de tolerantia.

Le acto de defiantia gay occurre in momentos in le quales, de un maniera sin precedentes, le uniones inter personas del mesme sexo, le decriminalisation del aborto, e le accesso universal a technicas contraceptive ha devenite alicunes ex le themas debattite inter candidatos presidential in le electiones que habera loco le 10 de april in Peru.

Nonobstante, le autoritates religiose videva iste manifestation gay como un provocation. Le archiepiscopo de Lima, Juan Luis Cipriani, un membro del gruppo catholic Opus Dei, diceva in su programma de television que “le aborto non es acceptabile, e le homosexuales non debe esser tractate con violentia, ma illes non debe ager de un maniera provocative ante un ecclesia o un cathedral”.

Nancy Freundt, un del personas qui orava in le atrio del cathedral, diceva que “nos nos trova ci participante in un acto de expiaction pro le Ecclesia, que ha essite defiate per MHOL, al annunciar que illes iva a repeter lor actos homosexual, offendente assi Deo e le doctrina natural del Ecclesia. Illes solmente vole esser un fonte de provocation al societate e apparer como victimas”.

Pro su parte, le sociologo e activista de MHOL Tito Bracamonte diceva que “es historic le manifestation de iste die proque, a nivello symbolic, nos ha demonstrate nostre derecto a monstrar affecto, e nos nos trova a diologar con le stato, le municipalitate, e le Ecclesia desde un postura de dignitate e respecto pro nostre derectos human”.

Al acto anque assisteva personas qui sympathisa con le exigentias del homosexuales.

Baracamonte anque diceva que “iste es le loco ubi le septamana passate illes nos assaltava pro exprimer nostre affecto in publico, e octo personas esseva ferite durante nostre manifestation. E nos es multo grate pro le appoio compatiente de omnes qui recognosce que nos solmente sta a luctar pro nostre derectos human.”

Al acto gay assisteva activistas de organisationes pro mulieres como Virginia Vargas, juvenes de distincte professiones, como le autor Carla García, filia major del presidente de Perú, investigatores de scientias social como Ponciano del Pino, Roberto Bustamante, e Ricardo Caro, tanto como politicas del leve como Javier Diez Canseco e Susel Paredes.

“Io vole un pais ubi on non me assalta pro exprimer mi affecto verso mi partenario, ubi il non ha manuales catholic in le scholas que dice que io es un monstro e que io non ha derecto a mi partenario e que nos non pote hereditar nostre benes o posseder in commun nostre assecurantia social”, diceva Susel Paredes, qui es un activista gay e candidato al Congresso pro le partito Fortia Social.

Post iste manifestation, le Placia de Armas deveniva novemente un spatio pro le populo de Lima e su familias, assi como pro le touristas qui cerca fruer de su historia e beltate.

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Besos gay y oraciones frente a la catedral de Lima

En una manifestación en Lima, la capital del Perú, llamada “Besos contra la homophobia”, grupos de gays y católicos conservadores expresaron sus diferencias sin violencia.

“Lo que hemos hecho hoy tendrá eco en la eternidad”, dijo un pequeño grupo de católicos peruanos después de terminar sus oraciones en la Plaza Mayor de Lima, Perú, donde había grupos de homosexuales que estaban besándose y exigiendo el derecho a expresar su afecto en público . Ellos recibieron el apoyo de otros activistas que los acompañaban y querían expresar su solidaridad con su causa.

La manifestación fue organizada por el Movimiento Homosexual de Lima (MHOL) en respuesta a golpes recibidos a manos de la policía por un grupo de homosexuales en una protesta semejante hacía una semana frente a la Catedral de Lima.

En la Plaza Mayor--flanqueadas por el palacio de gobierno y la cathedral--había varias parejas gay abrazando y besándose, al tiempo que en el atrio de la catedral cerca de cien feligreses de diferentes edades rezaban, durante más de tres horas, de espaldas a ellos. Y si bien hubo un gran número de policías, la manifestación continuó pacíficamente, y hubo un alto grado de tolerancia.

El acto de desafío gay tiene lugar en momentos en que, de manera inédita, las uniones entre personas del mismo sexo, la despenalización del aborto y el acceso universal a los métodos anticonceptivos se han convertido en algunos de los temas debatidos entre candidatos presidenciales en las elecciones que tendrán lugar el 10 de abril en el Perú.

Sin embargo, las autoridades religiosas vieron a esta manifestación gay como una provocación. El arzobispo de Lima, Juan Luis Cipriani, miembro del grupo católico Opus Dei, dijo en su programa de televisión que “el aborto no es aceptable, y los homosexuales no deben ser tratados con violencia, pero no deben actuar de manera provocadora frente a una iglesia o catedral”.

Nancy Freundt, una de las personas que rezó en el atrio de la catedral, dijo que “estamos aquí participando en un acto de desagravio a la Iglesia, que ha sido desafiada por el MHOL al anunciar que iban a repetir sus actos homosexuales, ofendiendo así a Dios y a la doctrina natural de la Iglesia. Ellos sólo quieren ser una fuente de provocación a la sociedad y aparecer como víctimas”.

Por su parte, el sociólogo y activista del MHOL Tito Bracamonte dijo que “es histórica la manifestación de este día porque, a nivel simbólico, hemos demostrado nuestro derecho a mostrar afecto, y estamos dialogando con el estado, la municipalidad y la Iglesia desde una postura de dignidad y el respeto de nuestros derechos humanos”.

Al acto también asistieron personas que se solidarizan con las demandas de los homosexuales.

Bracamonte también dijo que “este es el lugar donde la semana pasada nos asaltaron por expresar nuestro afecto en público, y ocho personas resultaron heridas durante nuestra manifestación. Y estamos muy agradecidos por el apoyo comprensivo de todos los que reconocen que solamente estamos luchando por nuestros derechos humanos”.

Al acto gay asistieron activistas de colectivos de mujeres, como Virginia Vargas, jóvenes de distintas profesiones, como la escritora Carla García, hija mayor del presidente de Perú, investigadores de ciencias sociales como Ponciano del Pino, Roberto Bustamante y Ricardo Caro, tanto como políticos de izquierda como Javier Diez Canseco y Susel Paredes.

“Quiero un país donde no me agredan por expresar mis afectos hacia mi pareja, donde no haya manuales católicos en las escuelas que digan que soy un monstruo y que no tengo derecho a que mi pareja y que no podemos heredar nuestros bienes o compartir el seguro social”, dijo Susel Paredes, quien es activista gay y candidata al Congreso por el partido Fuerza Social.

Tras esta manifestación, la Plaza de Armas volvió a ser un espacio para el pueblo de Lima y sus familias, así como para los turistas que buscan disfrutar de su historia y belleza.

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Gay kisses and prayers in front of the Cathedral of Lima

In a demonstration in Lima, the capital of Peru, called “Kisses against homophobia,” groups of gays and conservative Catholics expressed their differences without violence.

“What we have done today will echo in eternity,” said a small group of Peruvian Catholics after finishing their prayers in the Plaza Mayor of Lima, Peru, where there were groups of homosexuals kissing and demanding the right to express their affection in public. They were supported by other activists who accompanied them and wanted to express their solidarity with their cause.

The demonstration was organized by the Homosexual Movement of Lima (MHOL in its Spanish acronym) in response to beatings administered by the police to a group of homosexuals in a similar protest a week previously in front of the Cathedral of Lima.

In the Plaza Mayor--flanked by the government building and the cathedral--there several gay couples hugging and kissing, while in the atrium of the cathedral around a hundred parishioners of different ages prayed for more than three hours with their backs turned toward them. And while there were a large number of policemen, the demonstration continued peacefully, and there was a high degree of tolerance.

The gay act of defiance comes at a time when, in an unprecedented way, unions between people of the same sex, the decriminalization of abortion, and universal access to birth-control techniques have become some of the issues debated among the presidential candidates in elections to be held on April 10 in Peru.

Nevertheless, religious authorities saw this gay demonstration as a provocation. The Archbishop of Lima, Juan Luis Cipriani, a member of the Catholic group Opus Dei, said in his television program, that “abortion is not acceptable, and homosexuals should not be treated with violence, but they should not act provocatively in front of a church or cathedral.”

Nancy Freund, one of the people who prayed in the vestibule of the cathedral, said that “we are here participating in an act of atonement for the Church, which has been challenged by MHOL by announcing that they would repeat their homosexual acts, thereby offending God and the natural doctrine of the Church. They just want to be a source of provocation to society and appear to be victims.”

For his part, sociologist and MHOL activist Tito Bracamonte said that “today’s protest is historic because, on a symbolic level, we have demonstrated our right to display affection, and we are having talks with the state, the municipality, and the Church from a position of dignity and respect for our human rights.”

The ceremony was also attended by people who sympathize with the demands of homosexuals.

Bracamonte also said that “this is the place where last week they assaulted us for expressing affection in public, and eight people were injured during our protest. And we are grateful for the sympathetic support of everyone who recognizes that we are only fighting for our human rights.”

The gay event was attended by activists from women’s groups, such as Virginia Vargas, young people from different occupations, such as the writer Carla Garcia, the oldest daughter of the President of Peru, social scientists such as Ponciano del Pino, Roberto Bustamanate, and Ricardo Caro, as well as leftist politicians such as Javier Diez Canseco and Susel Paredes.

“I want a country where they won’t attack me for expressing my feelings toward my partner, where there are no manuals in Catholic schools saying that I am a monster and have no right to my partner and that we cannot inherit property or share our social insurance.” said Susel Paredes, who is a gay activist and candidate for Congress from the Social Force party.

After this demonstration, the Plaza de Armas once again became a space for the people of Lima and their families, as well as for tourists wanting to enjoy its history and beauty.