Stories from Quick Reads from March, 2008
Slovakia: Newspapers Protest Imposition of Interactivity
Information Policy links to a story in the International Herald Tribune on the protest of Slovak newspapers against the new requirement “to print responses by people or institutions to any news article even if the published information were true.”
Czech Republic: Micro-Fee vs “Micro-Bribe”
The Economist‘s blog, Certain Ideas of Europe, reports from the Czech Republic on how “charging patients a small sum for visits to publicly funded doctors” has more or less eliminated “micro-bribing.”
Romania, Hungary, Austria: Marshal Antonescu; “Political Irrelevance”
At A Fistful of Euros, Douglas Muir writes about Marshal Antonescu of Romania, and Alex Harrowell writes about an “outbreak of arseholes in Central Europe.”
Morocco: Tourism Demands Pig Farms
“One of the last things you would expect to find in Morocco is a pig farm. Given that the consumption of pork is a religious taboo it may come as a surprise that this is a growth industry. And the reason? Tourism,” writes The View from Fez.
Syria: I Blog, Therefore I am
Syrian Abu Fares explains why he blogs in this post. “I blog therefore I am,” he concludes.
Iraq: Raed Jarrar's Interview with PBS
Iraqi blogger Raed Jarrar shares an interview conducted with him by PBS news hour.
Jordan: Delicious Pickings
Naseem Tarawnah, from Jordan, shares with us some of his “delicious pickings” in this post.
Angola: A new blog to debate a better country
Plataforma Angola Mais Solidária [pt] is a new blog intended to create a space for reflexion and debate of ideas. They welcome the readers: “If you arrived here it is because you care about our Land! If you arrived here it is because you believe we deserve a better Angola!...
Brazil: March for the end of the Gaza Strip
“It is said that each Palestinian expelled from their land – and not just since 1948, when it the state of Israel was created – keep a key which they always carry with them. This is not the key for their car, office or a shed lost somewhere between Jordan,...
Mozambique: Protests againt cost of living in Africa
Carlos Serra [pt] reports some more protests against the increase in the cost of living, this time in Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire, where food prices have gone up. The sociologist-blogger forecasts these may not be the last ones: “I remember similar manifestations taking place recently in Cameroon, Burkina Faso and...
Brazil: First blogger celebrates 10 years of Lusosphere
“Ten years ago, exactly on March 31, 1998, I was publishing my first blog, the modest Diário da Megalópole [Megalopolis Diary, pt], which was possibly the first blog ever in Portuguese”, remembers Nemo Nox, who still goes strong.
Bhutan: On Democracy
Freedom in Bhutan on the recently conducted elections in the country, and the idea of “openness” in democracy.
Pakistan: Women and Honour
Five Rupees on the case of a woman who is trying to escape being killed for her family's honour – bringing to light issues of women's status in a society and the idea of lost honour.
Nepal: Tibet and protests
United We Blog! on why the government in Nepal should allow peaceful protests for the cause of Tibet, even if their political stand on the issue is different.
Nepal: Law enforcement
Bahas explores the idea of a “culture of impunity” – the legacy of poor law-enforcement in Nepal.
Trinidad & Tobago: Fooling Ourselves
West Indies Cricket Blog quotes “Trinidad and Tobago cricket boss” Deryck Murray to underscore the point that “we are fooling ourselves”.
Trinidad & Tobago: A Woman Scorned
“WOMAN's son is murdered by her husband and the first thing that springs to the Trinbagonian mind is that she must have been horning him”: Trinidad and Tobago's latest murder/suicide spurs Andre Bagoo to write a thoughtful post on gender issues, double standards and sexual stereotypes.
Cuba: Can You Hear me Now?
News that Cubans will now be allowed to buy cell phones has been met with differing reactions by Cuban bloggers…El Cafe Cubano: “Cubans on average earn about $20 a month and cell phones in Cuba are selling for $260 and above. Do the math…”; Uncommon Sense: “I do not begrude...
Jamaica: Hope & HIV
“Behind the images of hedonism in Jamaica, the specter of AIDS has overshadowed the glitter and garish of the Tourist Board commercials,” writes Geoffrey Philp, as he blogs about Hope: Living and Loving with HIV – a multi-media reporting project which he says “is not just an extended essay with...
Guyana: Walking Trees?
Guyana-Gyal will believe anything…except that.
Zimbabwe: First 20 election results
This is Zimbabwe has the first 20 election results in Zimbabwe.