For their creators, blogs are a form of expression; a way of showing their identity and interests and even for promoting themselves. Recently, blogs turned to be a weapon in the hands of everyone who have the desire to exercise their freedom of speech. Millions of personal pages exist in the online community.

They can be almost anything their writers want: information sites, journals, discussion pages and many more. Additionally, the topics vary from general to specific.

However, who stands behind these personal webpages and what incites them to become part of the enormous bloggers family? Nowadays, everyone can initiate their own blogs, so it is not a surprise that these various online pages are continuously called a big part of “the Internet craze.” Bored housewives who share their secrets in the kitchen, enamored young girls expressing their disillusionment with their “kindred souls,” men obsessed by the ideals of masculinity — these are only a minute part of the blog authors in the Internet space. What reduces these enthusiasts to a common denominator is their desire to express themselves and to be noticed by others.

Blogs become virtual friends to people, because many of them choose to write up their personal stories and to publish them as a way of taking the burden off their shoulders. Instead of taking the trip to the psychiatrist, perhaps, many have found a cheaper method of solving their inner problems. Blogs have turned out to be the perfect alternative for those who feel they were always misunderstood by the physical world around them.

Moreover, as a society bathed in technology, our connection with the virtual space is much stronger than our relationship with the people surrounding us. That is why it is sometimes easier for us to confide our secrets to cyberspace and millions of unknown readers than to our relatives and friends.

Depending on their main goals, bloggers can be divided into three groups: first – those who want to share their experiences (such as For the Love of Cooking), second – those who want to find understanding  (e.g A Mom, a Blog, and the Life In Between), and third – those who are looking for a place to express themselves and to exercise their rights (like ……shot by both sides).

In the past years, the idea of blogs as business cards and even as curricula vitae (CVs) has attained popularity. Many job seekers use their personal pages as a source of useful information for their prospective employers. On the other hand, managers consider blogs as a way to learn more about the personality of their future workers because it is believed that people unveil their inner world on their own homepages. But no one can be sure that blogs are not just masks behind which men and women hide the things they don’t want to show.

Definitely, blogs have become an integral part of our lives and culture. The first blog ever created was Justin Hall’s personal homepage links.net in the not so distant year of 1994 while he was a student at Swarthmore College. However, it was not until 1999 when the term “blog’’ was used for the first time. Nowadays, there are 70 million Worldpress blogs and 39 million Tumblr blogs worldwide, which are only a small part of the vast sea of online personal pages through other networks.

Blogs serve society. They benefit their authors as well as the readers who visit them. For some people they will always be the confidant they never managed to find in real life.

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Shane Levene is a writer, artist, musician, poet. He is, some might argue, a better poet than a musician, a better artist than a poet and a better writer than an artist. However, the role that Shane Levene inhabits most fully is, undoubtedly, that of a semi-functional heroin addict.

The entries in Levene’s blog, “Memoires of a Heroinhead,” are not all about the drug. To be sure, the author often evokes a typical, if uncompromisingly realistic “Trainspotting”-esque literary snapshot– a low-rent French apartment, whitewashed walls decorated with grotesque patterns of dried blood, a man-sized receptacle for used syringes and burnt papers– but he writes about other things too: a future and a past without heroin.

The loosely organized memories, such as they may be, brings forth the most haunting pictures of the author’s life as it is, as it was and, occasionally, as it might be. The son of working class, northern English addicts– one of whom was butchered by notorious serial killer Dennis Nilsen– Levene’s childhood appears to have been almost entirely misspent. Stories of teenage youths dressing up in drag to visit Glam clubs in Soho pepper the blog’s homepage, living side by side with recounted memories of domestic abuse, murder and soul-crushing poverty.

A consummate story teller, Levene is at times brutal and jarring, at others wistful and romantic. The kind of autobiographical self-reflection, typical to the memoir genre, that usually adulterates the graphic immediacy of the narrator’s experiences, is noticeably lacking in these vignettes. Granted, some posts are significantly better than others; Levene’s writing is inconsistent and occasionally contrived. But, particularly in the case of Levene’s most recent offerings, oftentimes they are vividly beautiful and utterly beguiling. Not to mention very, very sad.

In one particularly upsetting post, the raconteur relates how some of his closest friends deliberately attempted to infect him with HIV through shared needles. In another account, Levene poignantly describes an incident in which he overhears a young girl being beaten to death in the apartment above his, but is unable to call the police for fear of them discovering his drug paraphernalia.

The rest of the blog, the parts that aren’t directly about the drugs, is filtered through the creative lens of someone who, honestly and truly, has come to terms with the fact that they are going to die– not in 30 years, but maybe next year, next month, next week, today.

Levene’s portrait of his life as an addict is bleak, his experiences routinely horrific and far removed from the world of the non-junky. Just like Christiane F. before him, Levene faithfully chronicles some of the most harrowing physical and mental consequences of his addiction.

Levene writes, “I choose the needle. We must live and die by our swords. We cannot blame our enemy for us taking up arms. That is a bitter and all consuming road to take.”

It is this stark perspective that defines Levene’s literary persona in his memoirs. Essentially, on the page, a heroin addict is who Levene is, and, as things stand, it appears that Levene’s addiction is also inherent to all he can be. Indeed, as another literary heroinhead, William S. Burroughs once wrote: “Junk is not a kick. It is a way of life.”

Image Courtesy of  Stuart Monk / Shutterstock.com

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Over the course of the years since its independence from the British empire in 1947, Pakistan has tried to establish itself as a Muslim state that borders in between a liberal one and a more conservative Islamic country. The attempt at trying to find the right balance to accommodate the opposing viewpoints have led to some clashes, including the buzz of Maya Khan, a Pakistani morning talk show host who has taken it upon herself to chase down unmarried couples in local parks and publicizing their actions on a local TV channel. A relationship before marriage is largely frowned upon and is deemed immoral in the Islamic point of view.

Mehreen Kasana, an American/Pakistani student and a TEDxKinnaird speaker based in Lahore was outraged by Maya Khan’s action. Even though this incident happened a few months ago, Mehreen Kasana, a member of the younger generation of Pakistan has spoken out and stood up as part of the more liberal side of Pakistan by writing an open letter to Maya Khan.

Toonari Post (TP): What was your main reason behind writing the letter? Why did you feel compelled to even write one?

Mehreen Kasana (MK): I’ll put it bluntly: I had seen way too much of intrusion by media into personal lives on TV, newspapers and social media outlets, and I thought it’s about time I did my part even if it meant like jotting down a simple, open letter to one of these people who should display regard for ethics and privacy.

TP: Did you expect the the letter to go viral?

MK: No. I never knew a serious, slightly angry letter would garner so much attention. I guess I hit a nerve somewhere. I’m glad it did.

TP: Do you feel that your views might be influenced by the fact that you were born and raised in the USA?

MK: Yes and no. While there is considerable respect for personal space and privacy in the US where I was raised, there are ample instances of the same in Pakistan and other places in the subcontinent but, like I’ve said before, that regard is unfortunately rejected by a certain type of self-righteous moral police that believe that the sole purpose of their existence is to dictate what is perfect conduct according to them.

In this dictation they completely forget that the religion (Islam in this case) they’re using as an excuse to carry out this invasion of privacy, is the same religion that places emphasis on hiding the flaws of others, leaving private affairs between said person and Allah only. I think this problem is one of the consequences of conflating culture with religion. In the cultures of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran, there are some men and women who believe that the ‘goodness’ of their character is determined by their ability to cleanse society of its ‘evil.’  Imagine if such a figure is given a microphone, camera and their very own morning talk show. Things can get messy.

TP: What is your personal view on unmarried couples hanging out in such public places?

MK: If you want my take on simple, unmarried couples taking walks in public parks or eating vanilla ice cream, it’s simple: Please let them be. One of the driving concerns of Maya Khan’s interrogation of the couple was that, according to her, perhaps they were indulging in sex trafficking. I understand that because it has happened in family parks and, yes, this is detrimental to the safety of the people (including children) in those parks but you can seek the help of law for that. Public vigilantism is not the way to go about it.

TP: Do you think that Pakistan is ready for more strictly imposed Islamic laws as they have in Saudi Arabia, whereby unmarried couples can be caught and fined?

MK: That’s enforcing Islamic law on everyone – including minorities that don’t follow these restrictions basically because they’re not Muslims to begin with. That’s wrong. In my opinion, no one should be penalized merely due to a theocratic state’s set of laws. It’s an infringement on their autonomy – something that is un-Islamic. While there are people in Pakistan who would happily endorse such a punishment, there are also a considerable number of people – including Muslims like yours truly – who oppose it.

TP: What do your friends and family think of the open letter? How has the public response been?

MK: I’ve received immense support and positive criticism after I wrote the letter along with some angry trolling too. It opened ways for dialogue concerning Islam, societal ethics, the obvious deteriorating state of professional journalism in Pakistan and a lot more. My mother laughed while reading the letter because she knew it took a lot for me to contain my disdain for invasive media.  My father has been my pillar despite our difference of opinion on religion, culture, politics, etc. He also supported the letter.

Unlike many Pakistani fathers, he refuses to give in to the public outcry that is, “Your daughter has brought shame to your family by having a male friend!” We’re from a very traditional family of landlords. The idea of a liberated, outspoken daughter is dangerous because the orthodox concept of ‘honor’ clashes with progressive, moderate followers of Islam – what we happen to be. There were some threats from the fans of Maya Khan. Someone said they’ll “show up at my college” and “teach me a lesson.” I waited for the lesson. It never came.

TP: If there is one thing you could say to Maya Khan, what would it be?

MK: Bearing no grudges against you, I am certain that you’ve realized you made a mistake by chasing those couples but I hope that, now that you’ve started another show, you’ll rise above your error and become someone worth admiring in terms of media ethics. Channel that energy for a good, legitimate cause.

For more of Mehreen Kasana, visit her personal blog.

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With micro-blogging becoming more popular than ever, people are going above and beyond simply reading about non-profit organizations on the internet and how they can get more involved in life-changing programs. Instead, people all over the world are taking matters into their own hands and creating websites themselves and blogging about a wide array of world affairs in order to reach readers on an international level. People are becoming more engaged in these types of blogs and as blog sites continue to reproduce and evolve, perhaps those in need will see change for the better themselves.

According to BestUniversities.com, the more we educate the youth of society, the more we can make a difference in this world. The site states, “you may have heard of the theory that education can change the world. This is undoubtedly true. Whether you are a high school graduate or a student pursuing a degree from traditional or online colleges, you are more likely to make a difference when you are an educated individual. In fact, the world is full of students and visionaries and people who want to make a difference in the world, and many of those people share their knowledge online through their blogs. Whether you want to change the world through environment, humanitarianism, business, or any other way, there’s a blog out there that can offer you guidance and inspiration.”

BestUniversities.com has compiled a list of some of the greatest blogs out there to help individuals become better educated and to inform others on the differences we can be making in this world right now.

Read on to learn more about the top three blogs that will change the world and how you too can get involved.

3. The Blog: What do you Stand for?

This blog is about recycling, pollution control and conserving the environment. The purpose of this blog is to raise awareness about the importance of ‘going green,’ while giving tips and advice of how the little things we do on a daily basis, if changed just a bit, will make a huge impact all over the world. According to the 2012 Green Gap Trend Tracker, “42 percent of consumers say they are most influenced by messaging related to the environmental impact of disposing of a product. Easy-to-read, on-pack symbols take the guesswork out of recycling at home, which should in turn bolster recycling rates, increase material recovery, reduce waste and perhaps even create a new industry standard.”

2. The Blog: A Volunteer’s Guide for Changing the World.

This blog comes in at number two because it not only informs readers about making a difference, but also allows them to volunteer for the site and programs to help others in their area.  The sites slogan is “empowering you to help others, one post at a time.” Mark Horoszowski , founder of the site and co-founder of MovingWorlds, also volunteers his time to the American Cancer Society’s National Relay Advisory Team. He blogs about everything, but specializes writing about communities coming together, collaboration, communication and leadership, in an effort for each organization to succeed to it’s utmost potential. To check out his blog, go to http://www.helpinghelp.org/

Coming in at the number one spot on our list is:

1.The Blog: United Nations Good Works

Yes, even the United Nations has created a blog site. This blog features inspirational true stories about life-changing experiences, miracles, saving lives and all around just greatly impacting the world. The site has up-to-date blogs around the clock from all over the world. Some of the topics, to name just a few, include blogs about poverty, women’s rights, third world country affairs, war, famine, HIV, world tragedies, among dozens of others. Each blog discusses how anyone that is interested in a particular topic can get more involved. From the blog, you can also access various associations, foundations, programs, funds and organizations related to the United Nations. The site’s slogan is, “Every day across the globe the United Nations is empowering millions of people to build a better life for themselves, their family, their community, and our world.” If you would like to become more hands on with this blog, please go to http://unworks.blogspot.com/.

““No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. And if everyone does something, then together we can change the world.” (Author unknown)

Image Courtsey of  Marisa Vasquez  &  Tolly Moseley

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A voice rises from the web to tell what is going on in Syria, a country where it has been two months since the uprising started.

Amina Abdullah is the 34 years old blogger who became the symbol of Syrian revolution. She is half American, on her mother’s side, and half Syrian, on her father’s side, and she spent her life between US and Syria, where she currently lives. But above all she is lesbian and dissident.

Her blog, A Gay Girl in Damascus, seems to be very successful thanks to her accounts on protests and regime’s repression and heavy crack-down against civilians protesters. Her posts, written in English, tell her life experiences about homosexuality, politics and the current situation in Syria.

“An out Syrian lesbian’s thoughts on life, the universe and so on…” is the way Amina describes her blog. In a interview to Katherine Marsh, a correspondent of Guardian in Damascus, she said: “Blogging is, for me, a way of being fearless,” and she added “I believe that if I can be ‘out’ in so many ways, others can take my example and join the movement.”

When she started blogging she did not assume her blog could have become so popular. “My own day dream has been to encourage other women in Syria to be more upfront. I didn’t realistically expect much!” she said. But some weeks ago her post My Father, the hero, where she tells the episode when her father faced down two agents who came to arrest her on the charge of being a Salafist – an Islamic extremist – and a foreign agent, called the attention of many people, making it become very popular. “MY DAD had just defeated them! Not with weapons but with words … and they had left … I hugged him and kissed him; I literally owe him my life now.” This post describes a new of the regime’s repression, the dissidents’ mass arrests.

Currently she is hiding to escape from arrest, while the security services are keeping on searching for her, and she blogs whenever she can. “I don’t want to go to prison, though I am not scared of it. I believe I can do more for Syria free inside Syria than as a martyr” she said.

However in Syria homosexuality is illegal Amina decided to come out of the closet. Amina’s coming out is both sexual and political. “It’s tough being a lesbian in Syria, but it’s certainly easier to be a sexual than a political dissident.”

Her blog represents a freedom act, she could release herself through the web overcoming her fears and disclosing her ideas and her strength as a lesbian and as a political opponent. She is fighting a double war as she wrote “there’s a cyber-war on as well as one on the streets. They have hackers working busily to bring down hostile websites (I know of at least one friendly newssite where I might have drawn their attention; oddly, it’s now blocked in this country). They are hacking facebook and other social media. And they are all over every site spewing forth regime propaganda.”

Amina’s voice is one of the voices from Syria and it brings with it hopes and desires of all Syrians who want to be free and are struggling for it.

Hoping all the voices from Syria will be free soon I’d like to share this abstract from the post We are all Syria:“We need to free ourselves. If we want to protect our city or our sect or our clan, sometimes we must go forward on trust. And who better to defend those things than the collectivity of all of us? We love Syria; you love Syria. Let us come together and make this the greatest country in the greatest nation once again!”

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