Stories from 29 November 2006
Pacific Islands: Increasing Chinese Influence
Alext at Golublog:An Anthropology blog points to an article that talks about growing involvement of China and Chinese businesses in Pacific Islands.
Kazakhstan: Interview with Merkhat Sharipzhan
neweurasia interviews Merkhat Sharipzhan, the director of RFE/RL's Kazakh service about his work and media in Kazakhstan.
Azerbaijan: Buying Condoms in Baku
The Budget Files reports on the joys of buying condoms in Baku.
Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek Against Capital Punishment
Tolkun Umaraliev reports that there will be a rally against the death penalty tomorrow in Bishkek.
Kyrgyzstan: Tear Gas Footage
Beau Gordinier posts video of police shooting tear gas at protesters during this month's protests in Bishkek against the Kyrgyz government.
Armenia, Azerbaijan: Karabakh Deal Close
Onnik Krikorian discusses the latest news that a deal on a peace deal over Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan is close, commenting that he does not expect such a deal to come before parliamentary elections next year in Armenia or presidential elections in both countries the following year.
On Blogging Conflict Regions
Ethan Zuckerman, one of the founders of Global Voices, once said in an interview that to care about a far away place that gets little media attention requires empathy. Empathy for a place can come through from having close friends who grew there, or by traveling there yourself. Sometimes, it...
Ukraine: Famine Recognized As Genocide
Kyiv, Nov. 25: Remembering Holodomor (Famine) Victims – by Veronica Khokhlova At the Holodomor Remembrance ceremony held in Kyiv on Saturday, Nov. 25, a big board listed the countries that have recognized the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-33 as genocide: Australia, Argentina, Georgia, Estonia, Italy, Canada, Lithuania, Poland, USA, Hungary. Next...
Senegal: To Run or Not to Run
Robert Sagna, a former minister in the Senegalese government and Mayor of Zinguinchor, Senegal reflects (Fr) on the upcoming presidential elections: “The whole electoral process is corrupt and managed according to the interests of the Senegalese Democtaric Party (PDS) in power.” He then explains that he is still pondering whether...
Pana-Blogs Report
#1: From Chiriqui Chatter: El Desfile de los Bomberos en David , a very colorful report on a traditional firemen parade that takes place in most large cities in Panama to commemorate the independence festivities of the country. In this case Don shares a collection of photos and even a...
India: Cornershops in the era of big retail stores
Wal-mart's entry in India along with other big retail plans elicits quite a few reactions from those who feel it might threaten the traditional kirana stores (cornershops). The Indian Economy Blog on why that's not likely. “A vast majority of middle class India still shops from one of the millions...
United Arab Emirates: British Trash
What would the reaction be if British-owned newspaper reviewed an Arabic restaurant, and used the term “Arab trash” to describe local diners? Find out from Secret Dubai.
Egypt: The Right to Love
“What causes sons to hate their mothers, fathers to target their daughters and husbands to persecute their wives? Have Adam and Eve not co-existed long enough for love and mutual respect to take hold? In this respect, we cannot say that such an attitude is particular to the Middle East,...
Israel: Municipal employees strike
A strike is in place in many Israeli municipalities by municipal employees who did not receive their salaries for many months now. Yudit says: “Perhaps join us in the demonstration this coming Saturday, of the “Veidat Ha'Ashukim” (the Council of the Robbed), at 19.00 o'clock, opposite the David Intercontinental Hotel...
Oman: Freedom of press in Oman
“You can't stop people from writing online. It's easy to regulate the press because 1) the press needs big expensive machines to print newspapers. 2) they need trucks to distribute. 3) they need shops to sell their papers. 4) they need advertisers to pay for all the above. 5) they...
Palestine: Humanity lost
Waiting, as ever, for the border to open, Laila says: “One hour turned into two, then three, then five, as we stood shielding our eyes from the piercing midday sun on Wednesday, when we were told the Crossing would be opening for a few hours. We stood and we waited...
India: A city named Madras (or Chennai)
DesiGirl at My Word! muses on Madras (now Chennai), on how the city has room for the new and the old with its own unique charm. “The old and the new have meshed together so well that one barely leaves a dent on another. The Geetha cafes and Saravana Bhavan...
India: Gandhigiri, Hinduism and the Media
Ambimama reflects on reactions to a popular actor being tried in the court of law under charges of terrorism and a religious leader being tried for murder, drawing links political will, the underworld and the silence of the media. “In North only film industry is controlled by the underworld. But...
Pakistan, India: Governance in Azad Kashmir
The Glasshouse comments on the state of governance and lack of telecommunications in Azad (Free) Kashmir. “It was shortly after the earthquake that I learnt that the so-called president, prime minister and cabinet ministers of that benighted place were more or less permanently ensconced in Rawalpindi, only making infrequent trips...
Nepal: Democratic Parties
United We Blog! on why it is essential that parties in a democratic system function within the purview of the same. “It is absolutely necessary for eight political parties to democratize their party organizations if they see the urgency to change with the changing time.”
Bangladesh: Names, caste and family
What's in a name? At the Bangladeshi LJ community, a member writes about experiences with caste, name and marriage. “The question here is, how do the majority of this generation feel about blood lines, family names, ect. Do we have a deeply embedded caste system and what can we do...
