Stories about Development from May, 2006
Bahamas: Development proposal
Residents of a small community in the Bahamas vote against a proposal which would have helped “preserve the character of local communities”. Larry Smith says the proposal's “scope, bureaucratic complexity and level of detail” may be to blame, “and, of course, we should not overlook the ever-present influence of party...
Hong Kong: Central harbourfront developmental plan
The Hong Kong government announced the developmental plan in the Central harbourfront early this week. Miss Lee in Summer wondered whether the plan is for the interest of developer or Hong Kong people (zh).
Macau: Economy booming
A post from Simon at Simon World looks at recent speculation that the fastest growing economy in the world is not to be found in Shanghai, Chongqing, the Pearl River Delta or anywhere in China proper for that matter, but the former Portugese colony of Macau, off China's southern coast....
Singapore: Kampong Life
Blogger Lam Chun See visits a heritage museum and remembers his childhood days in the Kampong (village).
St. Lucia: privatisation of utilities
Should the St. Lucian water company be privatised? Should the mass transit system remain in private hands? Matthew Hunte weighs in. “We end up in a funny situation where (quite a few of) the same people who oppose private water are quite content to leave our transport system in the...
Caribbean: What blogging is for
“Blogging … challenges the elitism that pervades the Caribbean and is a great experiment in the democratization of data,” says Geoffrey Philp in a thoughtful essay on the potential role of blogging in the region. “Blogging provides the kind of freedom that is anathema to many gatekeepers who want to...
Indonesia: Seismographs and Scholarships
Amidst the flow of corporate donations in Indonesia after the quake, Yosef is looking for a donation of a different kind “Company A to rebuild the school, company B to rehabilitate the mosques and hospitals…donates tents or boxes of instant noodles, tea, mineral water…etc…But I'm awating texts like…smart guy donates...
Be irrepressible! a campaign for global internet freedom
As more and more nations carve up the so-called global, borderless internet into separate spheres of control through filtering and censorship, often using technology supplied by large IT companies, Amnesty International has launched a new campaign – irrepressible.info to raise awareness of and protest against the infringements on the basic...
Vietnam: Learning from Bangkok
The blogger at Antidote to Burnout looks at Bangkok as a model for urban development for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
China: Destitution inspires art
Guangzhou-based Supernaut artist-blogger Frances D'Ath finds inspiration for her death-themed works in the killings and violence which have taken place over the past year in clashes between villagers and Communist authorities in several small villages around southern China's Guangdong province in her post ‘云浮, 汕尾, 太石 and other holiday places.’...
South Korea: Chinese labor unattractive
A post by James J. Na on The Korea Liberator blog looks at a decrease in Korean manufacturers doing business in China as labor conditions in the Communist state continue to improve, and costs rise. “They should do what the Chinese do already,” says Na: “go to Vietnam instead. And,...
Dominica: The Nature of tourism
Both Titlayo and Francomenz write about their recent vacations in Dominica. Titlayo posts a beautiful photo of Trafalgar Falls, noting that they are “one of Dominica's main tourist attractions, especially for cruise ship visitors, who were there in abundance the day we went.” Francomenz cautions that “Dominicans have an awesome...
Bahamas: Ignoring the revolution
“These days, it is possible to link to other human beings anywhere in the world by using satellites, cell phones, and the internet. The world has changed, and – without realizing – we have changed with it,” marvels Nicolette Bethel, “But it appears we haven’t noticed this change. That this...
Trinidad & Tobago: More smelter woes
Attending a five-hour public consultation where Trinidad & Tobago's Environmental Management Authority tries to convince the audience that the aluminium smelter to be constructed in southern Trinidad is no threat to the environment, only serves to fuel Attillah Springer's anger and skepticism about the project: “We'd be seriously fooling ourselves...
Vietnam: Visiting Saigon
The blogger at Vietnamese God visits Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and compares it to Hanoi – the city where he lives. “Each time I come here it brings me a different feeling. It seems always new and things are changing very quickly which is good. I love wandering around...
Trinidad and Tobago: Government not promoting local technology
“The one thing that is being wasted in this country more than money is the minds of our young people,” argues aka_lol of Trinidad and Tobago's Initiative Against Crime. “There has never been a government in our history who promoted local technology beyond their lips…. This country will continue to...
Taiwan: Ten years of democracy
A post earlier this week commemorates what Politics from Taiwan blogger David sees as ten years of democracy on the island off China's eastern coast: “By my reckoning, today marks the 10th anniversary of Taiwan's democracy. On 20th May 1996 Lee Teng-hui gave this speech at his inauguration. The election...
Mongolia: Windfall Profits Tax
Luke Distelhorst reports that Mongolia's controversial windfall profits tax on mining is now law and he carries the reaction from Ivanhoe Mines, a major investor in the country's mining sector.
Kyrgyzstan: HIPC
Kyrgyz students call for their country not to join the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.
Trinidad & Tobago: Environmental conference
Taran Rampersad reports on a visit to an environmental conference in Trinidad, where he hears some disturbing rumours, and asks a few pointed questions.