Stories from Quick Reads from January, 2006
Mexico: Online Library of Chinese Piracy
Wave Making notes that the popular, controversial (and often offensive) blog, Pinches Chinos has celebrated its one year anniversary and takes the occasion to examine the complex feelings Mexicans have towards China. As always, the post is also available in Spanish.
Panama: Manuel Escala
Leon Kadoch sees a bright future for up-and-coming Panamanian musician, Manuel Escala.
Venezuela: Notes on WSF
Author and activist, Luis J. Rodriguez offers his experience at last week's World Social Forum in Caracas.
India: Dharamshala
India: Dharamshala
Caribbean: BlogHer's site launches
BlogHer's new “internationalized” site is now online, with Karen Walrond covering Latin America and the Caribbean.
Caribbean: The Taíno & Catholicism
Indigenous issues blog Voice of the Taino people links to an article entitled “Christianity, Capitalism, Corporations, and the Myth of Dominion”, noting that the “Roman” Catholic Church still has not properly addressed the call by the Taíno and other Indigenous Peoples world wide for the revocation of the 1493 Inter-Ceatera...
Grenada: Kick ‘em Jenny
Yamfoot posts two photos of Grand Anse beach, and wonders if the sea's unusual turbulence in the second could mean that submarine volcano “Kick ‘em Jenny” is acting up.
Guyana: Conversations & CCH Pounder
MediaCritic has begun posting a series of conversations with anonymous Guyanese figures. So far he's conversed with London-based Guyanese, Prodigal, a journalist who's moved to another island, and Young Bright Guyanese Female. And Guyana Diaspora profiles CCH Pounder, Guyana-born star of television series The Shield.
Belize: Flooding and highways
Caribbean Colors ventures out on to the highways and byways of Belize during the recent flooding, and takes some photos.
Belize: Friends and business
Simone posts Part 4 of her “Moving to Belize” guide, and solicits input from people who've “tried to set up a business abroad with friends”.
Barbados, Venezuela: Patilla amarillo
Caracas-resident Barbadian Campfyah discovers patilla amarillo.
Barbados: Music awards
Titilayo writes about the newly launched Barbados Music Awards, and thinks the event signifies good things for Barbados's music. But she also wonders whether they'll last.
South Africa: Condoms in the classroom
Mzansi Afrika comments on the debate taking place in South Africa over whether condoms should be available in classrooms …”The main argument, surprise, surprise, was from the whole moralistic religious viewpoint that condoms encourage sex, and sex before marriage, especially among teens is bad. The other concerns were around sex...
South Africa: Afrikaans usage
Moral Fibre from South Africa, reports on a row over the Afrikaans language between opposition parties and a military judge who complained about the use of the language in an official context… “”… I must say it on record that to me it is disgusting that at this time and...
Nigeria: hostages freed
Nigerian Times reports on the freeing of hostages in Nigeria's Niger Delta.
Nigeria: Ngugi wa Thiong'o
Molara Wood points to an interview with Kenyan writer, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, in Saturdays UK Guardian…..”I told them I wanted to be in touch with the everyday. But we returned to a nightmare”
Kenya: Myths
Diary of a mad Kenyan woman writes on the “myth of the strong black woman“
Aruba: Buying a house
At 25, ArubaGirl is wondering whether it would be wise for her to buy a house. “Am I being crazy to cling to the land?” she asks.
Zimbabwe: going hungry
This is Zimbabwe comments on the lack of compassion and failure to manage crisis by Zanu-PF….
China: More Crackdowns
Danwei summarizes the recent crackdowns on print publications in China that characterized the end of the Year of the Rooster. But there is a note of hope: “Yet as we enter the Year of the Dog, things are very different than they were even a year ago. The Internet has...
Indonesia: Deaf Driving
Indonesia Anonymous becomes curious about what effects the loud noise Indonesia's motorcycle rickshaws, a.k.a. “bajaj,” have on their drivers. It's called “noise-induced hearing loss.”
