Stories from 11 January 2008
Ukraine: Journalists Detained in Koncha Zaspa
Orange Ukraine reports on the detention of journalists who were doing a story in Koncha Zaspa, “an elite suburb of Kyiv” and the current home to president Yushchenko and other prominent politicians.
Russia: Publishing Stalin
Window on Eurasia reports on an article in a Russian online publication about the efforts of Stalin's “most devoted followers to revise, reprint and extend the Soviet dictator’s collected works.”
Russia: Migration and Racism
Moscow Through Brown Eyes writes about Russian racists and labor migration to Russia.
Russia: Yemelyan Pugachev
ExecutedToday.com writes about Cossack rebel Yemelyan Pugachev's execution in 1775.
Russia: Yakov Slashchov
De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis writes about the White Guard general Yakov Slashchov: “Many years later, he became the prototype of general Khludov in the novel Flight (Beg in Russian) by M.Bulgakov — the brave but demoralized general who knew only one tool to restore discipline, the death penalty. Slashchov's...
Hungary: Illegal Parking
The Budapest Association of Disabled People has started a campaign against illegal parking, Pestiside.hu reports.
The Balkans: Jokes
A few Balkan jokes, at Beyond Bosnia Blog.
Mozambique: Kenya's new cabinet
“When everything indicated that the crisis in Kenya was heading towards a peaceful solution, the ‘elected’ president Mwai Kibabi adds insult to injury appointing his closest allies for most of a new cabinet”, comments Mozambican blogger Manuel de Araujo [pt].
Portugal: Shut Guantanamo Bay down
Viriato Porto [pt] reminds us about the 6th anniversary of Guantanamo Bay and joins an Amnesty campaign calling for the camp to be shut. “A sad anniversary which is important to be recalled to denounce around the world hundreds of people's illegal arrests without charge, torture, ill-treatment and the humiliating...
Morocco: Use of Gestures
Evelyn in Morocco briefs us on the use of gestures in Morocco.
Morocco: Happy (Islamic) New Year!
After celebrating the advent of 2008, Moroccan bloggers now have something else to get excited about...the beginning of 1429 in the Hijra calendar.
India: On Conversion
Known Turf explores why people are afraid of the idea of “conversion” – moving from one faith to the other.
India: Sydney Test
Lightning Strikes Everyday sums up the controversy surrounding a recent cricket test match between Australia and India. “I think Indian media, bloggers and arbitrary people have gone about being stupid in the right order”.
India: Cricket, Aussies and Indians
The game of cricket continues to provide much fodder for controversy in India. More at Jairam's Jives.
Pakistan: Right to Food
All Things Pakistan on the alarming increase in the price of food.
Nepal: Hillary and the Everest
Blogdai on the death of Edmund Hillary, as climbing the Everest is no longer the adventurous mission it once was.
Voces Bolivianas: Leaping forward to the next round
The pilot program of the Voces Bolivianas project organized in El Alto city ended last November. It helped teach the use of citizen media tools to members of underrepresented groups in Bolivia who have already emerged as bloggers cum citizen journalists. The next round of citizen’s media workshops titled El Alto II will begin this Saturday, January 12th in the same city. In addition, the organization’s first expansion is scheduled for January 19th in the city of Santa Cruz.
Africa: Disney World for Slavery
No Longer at Ease discusses “Disney World for Slavery“: An early contender for the most bizarre news story of the year is that of American expats Ron and Carla Bluntschli who are, at this very moment, trying to raise enough money to create Memory Village – the first ever ‘Slavery...
South Africa: What the hell is going on?
Blog South Africa asks, what the hell is going on in South Africa?: “Nel gets arrested by the police, by all reports by actively going from prosecutor to prosecutor in order to get the warrant. Selebi asking the Pretoria high court for an interdict preventing the NPA from proceeding with...
Zimbabwe: Questionable decision
Bev Clark discusses the move to ban Zimbabwe cricket national team: “David Miliband, Britain’s Foreign Secretary has joined Flash Gordon in stating that Zimbabwe must not be allowed to tour England in the summer of 2009…Now what if we substituted Zimbabwe for Pakistan in this argument?”
China 2007: Part2
Here is a personal roundup of what marked mainland China's 2007, a year of controversies, changes, desperation but also hopes.
