Stories from 25 April 2008
Lusosphera: Remembering the Carnation Revolution
On April 25 1974, 34 years today, Portugal's 40-year fascist dictatorship, the longest in the history of Western Europe, came to an end with the Carnation Revolution, which also brought independence for the remaining colonies in Africa and Asia. Today Portuguese speaking bloggers from all over the world comment and celebrate.
Lost Brazilian ballooning priest carried into the blogosphere
This time the story is rather sad, but the blogosphere is exploding with humorous takes on the tragedy of a Brazilian Roman Catholic priest who is missing after drifting out to sea while trying to set a record for a flight using helium-filled party balloons.
Russia: Computerization of the Russian North
Window on Eurasia reports: “Scholars in the Sakha Republic have developed computer scripts for the Linux operating system […], a breakthrough that […] promises to open the way for computerization across the Russian north.”
Russia: “Chernobyl's Other Victims”
Window on Eurasia writes about “Chernobyl's other victims” – “the thousands of people who exposed themselves to extraordinarily high levels of radiation while taking part in the clean up” and who now “find themselves not only sick as a result but largely forgotten by the successor governments to the regime...
Lithuania: Stance on EU-Russia Partnership
Lituanica reports that Lithuania “is not interested in vetoing or blocking Brussels-Moscow talks over commencement of strategic EU-Russia partnership treaty.”
Hungary: Watch Repairer's House
A photo of a watch repairer's house – at Little Town in Hungary.
Lebanon: “Embarrassed Arabic Language”
“Arabic is an embarrassed language. Not embarrassing, but embarrassed,” comments Tantalus about how cryptic some Arabic writers become in order to avoid taboo words.
Russia: Anti-NATO
Streetwise Professor writes about Russia's anti-NATO stance: “Fighting the last war is dangerous if you really have one. Preparing to fight the last war is not so deadly if no conflict is in prospect. The Russian leadership acts as if that is the case, and feels just fine about living...
Lebanon: Roumieh Prison Mutiny II
“The prisoners handed over the seven warders they were holding hostage and returned to their cells after having negotiated and handed over demands to the chief of internal security,” reports Lebanon News Network on the peaceful ending of the prison mutiny.
Lebanon: Cultural Renaissance
“There's a sort of Renaissance taking place in Lebanon – attributed partially to an massive influx of European tourists (and a marked absence of Gulfies) – art, culture, and creativity are becoming more the norm than the exception in public & semi-public spaces,” notes Finkployd with photos and video on...
Lebanon: Roumieh Prison Mutiny
“….of interest to the laymen, Roumieh prison is where the 4 Generals, Assayed, Azar, Hamdan; Hajj are kept … and where many of the Fath El Islam elements are imprisoned … I remain suspicious,” noted GPC on the mutiny taking place at the Roumieh prison in Lebanon.
Slovakia, Romania: Media Freedom
Edward Lucas of the Economist re-posts his piece on the “shrinking” of “media freedom” in Slovakia and Romania.
Estonia: “The Rubik's Cube of the Soviet Legacy”
Itching for Eestimaa writes about Estonia: “This country is complicated, but attempts to explain it to the outside world often fail. […] Estonia is closer than you think to solving the Rubik's Cube of the Soviet legacy. Let them work it out by themselves.”
Lebanon: CLuster Bombs
M Bashir from Lebanon draws our attention to the dangers of cluster bombs in his country – which are still claiming lives today.
Jamaica: Been a Long Time Since I Rock n’ Rolled
Too old to rock n’ roll? Jamaican Marlon James can identify.
Barbados: Economic Storm?
“The issue of the rising cost of living will no doubt remain firmly at the top of the national agenda in the coming weeks and months ahead,” writes Barbados Underground, as he blogs about the island's economic challenges.
Jamaica: Contemporary Poetry
“Anthony McNeill was without doubt amongst the finest contemporary Caribbean poets, whose previous collections…were hailed as works of immense originality”: Geoffrey Philp features an excerpt from the late Jamaican poet's Chinese Lanterns from the Blue Child.
St. Lucia: Bring on the Budget
Although she is “yet to get a copy of the estimates of expenditure for the 2008/2009 budget”, Looshan Ramblings has a few things to say: “The present administration has no idea…they are acting as if Saint Lucia is on planet Venus and the rest of the world is on earth....
Angola: Remember April 25
Many Angolan blogs, such as Kitanda [pt], bring today videos, articles and posts about the anniversary of the 1974 Carnation Revolution, the military-led coup d'état that changed the Portuguese regime from an authoritarian dictatorship to a democracy and brought independence to overseas territories.
Myanmar Embassy in Australia makes voting difficult
Paraussies mentions that Burmese from Australia are facing difficulties casting their votes.
India: Education and Schooling
Sudipta's Life takes a closer look at one's schooling experience, to explore what is wrong with the education system.
