Stories from 18 August 2008
The Balkans: Judge Alphonse Orie
East Ethnia explains why, according to “several lawyers,” “ICTY judge Alphonse Orie should not preside over the trial of Radovan Karadžić.”
Russia, Georgia: Coverage of the Conflict
Lyndon of Scraps of Moscow reviews coverage of the Russian-Georgian conflict and lists some online resources.
Russia: Dmitry Solovyov's Case
Oleg Kozlovsky writes about the case of Dmitry Soloviev, an opposition activist from Kemerovo region, “accused of ‘inciting hatred, hostility and degrading’ the police and FSB by posting several entries in his LiveJournal blog.”
Slovakia: Measuring Olympic Medals
Margarete of The foreigner's guide to living in Slovakia calculates Slovakia's number of Olympic medals per capita that Slovakia, ranking 10th in a list headed by Slovenia.
Poland: Weightlifter Makes Tibet Protest
Tybet Watch in Poland reports that Polish weightlifter Szymon Kołecki, who won a silver medal in yesterday's competition at the Beijing Olympics, shaved his head in a gesture of solidarity with the Tibetan monks.
Brazil: The bronze is ours
Making fun of the Brazilian athletes’ accomplishment in the Beijing Olympic Games, a new blog was created: Bronze Brasil 2008. “With the achievement of our fifth bronze medal, our dream of beating the Olympic record seems to be drawing close. There are only 5 medals. There are 6 days of...
Angola: Endangered species caught and sold
MESUMAJIKUKA [pt] publishes a picture of someone caught red handed by the camera with a young sea turtle, caught on the coast Angola, in a car which was seen at Deolinda Rodrigues Road last August 14, 2008. According to the post, the Angolan guy also said that this was the...
Russia, Georgia: Gia Jandieri's Notes at Andrei Illarionov's Blog
LJ user aillarionov – Andrei Illarionov, former economic policy adviser to Vladimir Putin – has posted a detailed “Timeline of Events in the Russians Invasion & Occupation of Georgia” (Aug. 1 – 16, 2008), sent to him by Gia Jandieri, vice president of the New Economic School – Georgia. Illarionov...
Japan: To Japanese women, WaiWai was sexual harassment
Since it exploded on the Japanese Internet less than two months ago, the scandal at Mainichi surrounding the newspaper's former English-language column “WaiWai” has taken on epic proportions. While much has been written about the scandal and its deeper implications, the duration and intensity of attacks on one of Japan's largest national newspapers has surprised almost everybody.
Turkey: Bloggers Banning Themselves?
If you are a long-time follower of the Turkish blogosphere you will have undoubtedly heard about the Turkish ban on Wordpress....and the periodic bans on YouTube, and on the social-networking widget site Slide, oh..and now on Dailymotion as well. I think that is all? Isn't it? It is hard to keep track now-a-days and frustrating. Turkish bloggers feel the same way too, and are protesting the constant banning of sites by voluntarily banning their own.
Arabeyes: Third World War in the Making?
Bloggers in the Middle East are closely following the developments in Georgia, with some saying it could usher in World War Three. Here's a quick review of what bloggers in Yemen and Jordan are writing.
Jamaica: Woman Power!
Jamaica has done it again! If there was any doubt after Usain Bolt's 100m Gold Medal that this Caribbean nation is a powerhouse of Track and Field, the female Jamaican sprinters made sure to underscore the point by placing first (Shelly-Ann Fraser) second (Kerron Stewart) and...second (Sherone Simpson) in the final of the Women's 100m in Beijing.
Trinidad & Tobago: Regional Integration?
“Trinidad and Tobago would seek economic integration by 2011, and political integration by 2013, with any or all of the nine members of the Organisation of East Caribbean States”: Notes from Port of Spain is astounded by the news, saying: “Nobody even knew this was under discussion. It's exactly the...
Trinidad & Tobago: Dengue Meggie?
Attillah Springer refers to a photo of the Minister of Health “looking for all intents and purposes like he’s giving the people of Trinidad and Tobago a great big meggie”, and wonders “if the meg means that he was only kicksing about there not being a dengue outbreak or that...
Cuba: Domestic Tourism
“In the absence of tourist offices where a Cuban citizen can arrange – in Cuban pesos – an excursion in his own country, private resourcefulness has addressed this ‘market niche'”: Yoani Sanchez visits Soroa “on a trip coordinated by one of these emerging ‘tour operators'”.
Bermuda: Peace Rally
FreshieBlog thinks that Bermuda's upcoming peace rally “will be a positive event”, but warns “that peace rallies won't be sufficient too stop the violence. Criminals need to know that they will be caught and prosecuted, and that requires police & prosecutors.”
Pakistan: Safe exit for Musharraf?
Chowrangi blog questions: “why Mr. Pervez Musharraf is being provided with the opportunity of safe exit?” Following the resignation of Pakistan's president Gen. Pervez Musharraf The Teaath Mastro warns that “if its a safe exit for Musharraf today there will be a safe entry for another dictator tomorrow.”
Cuba, U.S.A.: Fay Warning
“Kerosene lamps? Check. Gallons of water? Check. Transistor radio? Batteries? Check. Candles? Check. I'm not gonna kid you, folks, it's still scary”: Cuban diaspora blogger Ninety miles away…in another country readies himself for the possible impact of Tropical Storm Fay.
Grenada: Carnival is Over
Blah Bloh Blog‘s wide range of photos and video offers a comprehensive overview of Grenada's recently-concluded Carnival celebrations.
Bangladesh: Political slaves
ABM Ashrafuzzaman writes in Ashraf's column that Bangladeshi political leaders need supporters or followers, but not slaves. ”These slaves blindly support their respective leaders, even if such leaders are grossly wrong, corrupt and unpatriotic. These slaves are mostly created by sycophants, and dalals (paid agents) employed by a leader in...
Guyana: Poems of a Fat Black Woman
Signifyin’ Guyana posts excerpts from Guyanese poet Grace Nichols’ “sexy little collection”, which “tell of a fat black woman's trials and tribulations, as well as her moments of triumph in a foreign land.”
