Malaysian blogosphere discusses religious tension

RELIGIOUS TENSIONS IN MALAYSIA

Six churches set alight in three days. In Malaysia, where the main religion is Islam, religious tensions have risen since last week, when the justice system authorised a catholic newspaper to use Allah’s name to refer to the Christian God. A debate which has also split over onto the web.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrbTOtiFChk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl59jSfqA7A

The website of the newspaper in question, the Herald, as well the Ministry of Justice were briefly hijacked in recent days. Their home pages were replaced by messages of warning such as, ‘Allah is only for Muslims’.
http://www.heraldmalaysia.com/
http://www.kkboss.com/wp-content/uploads/Clipboard01.jpg
http://www.mahkamah.gov.my
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_C940XZk0Qc0/S0XjTZwcGLI/AAAAAAAAAHM/3_qUegJfbek/s1600-h/mahkamah+kena+hack.png

A revolt which is also being organised on Facebook, where over 180,000 net users have joined this group entitled, ‘against the use of Allah’s name by non-Muslims’. They feel that the use of the word by Catholics could sow seeds of confusion.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&ref=search&gid=227724322514

And while messages of hatred multiply on line, this Muslim net user is launching an appeal for calm by condemning the violence witnessed in recent days.
http://www.papagomo.com/2010/01/terkini-dsnajib-hadir-ke-lokasi-gereja.html

As shown by these street interviews, by citizen journalists, the debate is dividing Malaysia’s multicultural society, which includes large Indian and Chinese minorities.
http://www.malaysiakini.tv/video/18317/vox-pop-allah-issue.html
http://www.malaysiakini.tv/video/18333/kg-baru-voxpop-on-allah.html

In this context, the campaign launched by the Government and entitled, ‘One Malaysia’, is generating considerable reactions. With videos broadcast online such as this, the public authorities wished to recall that national unity is based on the country’s ethnic and religious diversity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwAOsnMqbcY
http://www.1malaysia.com.my/

NICOLAS SARKOZY CRITICIZED ONLINE

Following the partial failure of the Copenhagen Summit and the multiplication of criticism concerning the management by the Government of the influenza A pandemic, the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy is suffering considerable online criticism at the start of this new year.

As proof ,a group of French bloggers is urging fellow citizens to protest all over France on March twenty seven to denounce the President’s policy. The operation is entitled, ‘No Sarkozy Day’.
http://www.no-sarkozy-day.fr/

The movement drew inspiration from the Italian, ‘No Berlusconi Day’, which resulted in a large-scale protest in Rome on December six.
http://www.noberlusconiday.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR6OYGuQRBA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6qYa8_XcRM

‘No Sarkozy Day’ started out on Facebook, where more than 350,000 people have already joined the group. But this initiative is causing debate online. Many bloggers have rejected the movement, explaining they wish in no way to be part of it. They feel that Nicolas Sarkozy was elected and therefore benefits from legitimacy.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19735765963
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19735765963#/group.php?v=wall&gid=19735765963
http://www.le-pave.com/?p=1726

This net user denounces uncivilised antisarkozysm. He recalls that it is in 2012, at the next Presidential elections that citizens will be able to hold the President accountable and act by voting.
http://disparitus.blogspot.com/2010/01/le-no-sarkozy-day-eh-bien-oui-il-sera.html

Meanwhile the President’s supporters are counter attacking online. Almost 200,000 have offered their support on Facebook. And the last initiative to date to show the President listens to the French people is this participative site launched by the President’s UMP party to invite them to become actors in the political debate.
http://www.facebook.com/nicolassarkozy
http://www.lescreateursdepossibles.com/Content/Authentification/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fdefault.aspx

SAMPLING FOR BEGINNERS

In this video, Jim Pavloff, a Ukrainian DJ reproduced the samples necessary to create the famous hit, Smack My Bitch Up by UK band, The Prodigy. Apart from indicating which songs the samples are taken from, he reveals the effects applied to them with sound mixing software. A key in hand guide, sure to please fans.
http://www.myspace.com/jimpavloff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU5Dn-WaElI&feature=player_embedded

FACEBOOK AND DIVORCE

In the UK, Facebook is allegedly behind a growing number of divorces according to a study carried out by a UK law company. Emails attesting to flirting and messages found on Facebook are thought to be used as proof of civil wrong by a partner in 20 % of divorce requests.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/6857918/Facebook-fuelling-divorce-research-claims.html

VIDEO OF THE DAY

Here is a video which is sure to delight fans of sport and spectacular images. The members of the group, ‘Dunking Devils’ are specialised in acrobatic basket ball moves. With the help of a trampoline, they do hands-free somersaults, twists and impressive moves to score baskets, which are all more spectacular than each other. A video to make you feel giddy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uQJqoSTN6c