Stories about Humanitarian Response from March, 2009
Liberia: Unfair Labor Practices at Guthrie Rubber Plantations
Nat blogs about unfair labor practices at the Guthrie Rubber Plantations in Liberia.
Indonesia: “Mini-Tsunami” hits village as dam collapses
Last Friday the Situ Gintung dike collapsed in Indonesia which killed almost a hundred people and injured 190 others. At least 300 houses were destroyed and 1,600 residents were displaced. The extent of the tragedy reminded many Indonesians about the deadly tsunami which hit the region five years ago.
Venezuela: Blog for the Release of Germán
Libreren a Germán [es] is a blog dedicated to the release of kidnapping victim Germán Antonio García Velutini, who was abducted on February 25 in Caracas, Venezuela.
Iraq: Six Years On
It's the sixth anniversary of the Iraq war and while bloggers remember the past, few seem to look to the future anymore. Salam Adil reviews the Iraqi blogosphere for reactions.
China: Names to be remembered
The death toll and identity details of school children victims in the May 12 Wenchuan earthquake last year has been sealed in a black box by Chinese government officials, like a state secret. Last December, Ai Wei-wei, a most respectable intellectual and blogger, decided to compile the names of school...
Iran: Dr. Hesam Firouzi, Another Jailed Blogger
It was jailed physician and blogger, Dr. Hesam Firouzi, who recently got the word out through his lawyer about the death of blogger Omid Reza Mir Sayafi in Tehran's Evin Prison. He said he urged prison authorities to send the dying prisoner to a hospital, but they refused.
Hong Kong: Vindication of June 4 in Question
2009 is the 20th anniversary of June 4 Tiananmen Massacre. If there were reincarnation, people who had been killed then would be twenty years old this year. Some of them would probably become university students, who are usually regarded as conscience of the society. Sadly this year, at least two...
Bangladesh: Non-profit Wonder
“Have you ever heard of an international organization that self finances 80% of its work? Want to know how they do it?” Read BRAC Blog for details. Based in Bangladesh, BRAC is one of the world's largest non-governmental development organizations.
China: A Visit to Chen Guangcheng's Family
ESWN translated Wang Keqin's report on his attempt to visit human rights activist Chen Guangcheng's family, and how Wang had been chased out of the village.
Palestine: Author Alice Walker Visits Gaza
Author Alice Walker visited Gaza with a delegation of activists last week to witness the devastation caused by the recent war with Israel. Walker says she hopes to speak with President Barack Obama upon her return to the United States.
Sri Lanka: Form Of Charity
The End blog recommends person to person charity because: “What happens in state run forced charity, is that when I get one Rupee as a grant or a subsidy, much more is spent on the processes that bring me that money.”
Ukraine, U.S.: Aid to Chernobyl-Affected Area Hospital
MoldovAnn writes about ongoing attempts to help a Ukrainian hospital in the Chernobyl-affected area to receive a humanitarian aid donation from a U.S. NGO.
Sri Lanka: Donating for the IDP
There are approximately 500,000 internally displaced people (IDP) in Sri Lanka who are effected by the civil war. Indi.ca posts some links with which people can donate online for the IDPs .
Palestine: Question for Galloway
Gull from the Gaza Beach has a question about British MP George Galloway, who was part of a recent convoy to Gaza: “Galloway said we are giving to the Hamas 100 vehicles and all of their contents, I ASK WHY? Are all residents of the Gaza Strip Hamas?”
Brazil: On the Vatican's condemnation of raped-child's abortion
A 9-year-old girl several times raped and made pregnant by her stepfather was guaranteed the right to have an abortion legally in Brazil. After the operation, the Roman Catholic Church excommunicated the mother, the doctor and the whole medical team responsible for the operation. This has sparkled a great debate in Brazil: What is the Church's role in society?
Haiti: Responding with Love
“Who is to blame? To me that is an irrelevant question. The question should be, how can I respond with love?”: The Livesay [Haiti] Weblog is shocked by “how ignorant many people in the developed world still are about AIDS.”
Egypt: Disaster Ferry Owner Finally Guilty!
The life of each one of the 1,000 plus Egyptians killed when the Salam 89 ferry sank in 2006 is worth about 11 hours in prison for ferry owner, former lawmaker and business tycoon Mamdouh Ismail, who has been sentenced in absentia to seven years in jail for “involuntary slaughter,” say Egyptian bloggers.
Egypt: Mostafa Hussein shreds the Honor Legacy
Honor, honor crimes, female genital mutilation (FGM), and virginity are deeply rooted concepts in the Egyptian culture. Call them heritage, legacy, or traditions, Mostafa Hussein brilliantly feeds them into the shredder.
Palestine: Giving Direct Help to Gaza
Canadian activist Eva Bartlett, who is in Gaza, has posted a list of people who need help to whom she will pass on donations.
Jordan's “shameful reaction”
Jordanian Naseem Tarawnah is incensed with his countries “shameful reaction” towards Israel's plans to demolish 180 homes in East Jerusalem and evict 1,500 Palestinians. “[T]he reaction from the Jordanian state has been, as usual, quite horrendous, offering no more than a “denunciation” of Israel’s actions. Even the masses aren’t allowed...
Sudanese Bloggers React to ICC Arrest Warrant for President
It's been more than two days since The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir making him the first sitting head of state to be charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. In this post, we delve into the reactions of the Sudanese blogosphere to this historic event.