17 December 2008

Stories from 17 December 2008

Costa Rica: Call for Collaborative Christmas Video

  17 December 2008

Costa Rican online humour collective nosedecirlaerre.com which translates into "I can´t pronounce the R" has set out a call for participation from Costa Ricans and those familiar with their culture to create a collaborative video for Christmas. The campaign is called Uniting Ticos for Christmas and the requirements are quite simple: dancing in the Costa Rican style of "swing criollo" the popular end of the year song Jugo de Piña and saying something in Costa Rican slang, on video.

Mexico: Anti-Kidnapping Expert is Kidnapped

  17 December 2008

Crime in Mexico is very worrisome concern for many. Kidnappings especially have been a common occurrence throughout the country, especially in the northern border states. The recent abduction of U.S. anti-kidnapping expert Félix Batista is an ironic twist in this ongoing fight against organized crime, leaving some to wonder if experts are not safe, then where does that leave ordinary Mexicans?

India, Pakistan: Asking for ‘proof’ only to deny them

  17 December 2008

Diganta at Horizon Speaks posts videos broadcast in a Pakistan News Channel which show that the captured Mumbai Terrorist Kasav is from Pakistan. He comments: “They are asking for ‘proof’ only to deny them. The purpose of getting the proofs from Pakistan was only to remove them quickly.”

Bangladesh, Pakistan: Keeping in the dark

  17 December 2008

On December 16, 1971 the Pakistan army in Bangladesh unconditionally surrendered to the joint Indian and Bangladeshi forces. Mash at Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying unravels the false reality created by the military regime using media in the last days of united Pakistan to keep general Pakistanis in...

Israel: Innovation in First Aid Technology

  17 December 2008

Dr. Eran Shenkar has developed a remote medical vehicle that can deliver first aid in place of human first responders. Israelity reports: “It’s smaller, cheaper, and more compact than a helicopter – meaning it can go places a helicopter can’t, and, in times of war, there’s nobody to shoot down…...

Israel: New Arrivals by Style and Mile

  17 December 2008

“And so the race is on. Which will arrive first – an H&M store or an express train from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv?” inquires Rebecca of Israeli blog The Big Felafel. “It’s a tough call, but I think we may be sporting some trendy yet affordable dresses before being able...

Israel: Giving Up the Golan?

  17 December 2008

“The idea that Israel should give up a large swath of land, which it won in a defensive war, which does not have demographic dilemmas, in return for an elusive peace, is utterly ridiculous,” writes Occidental Israeli in response to former American President Jimmy Carter's claim that there will be...

Western Sahara: Cubarawis

  17 December 2008

Many saharaui children, thanks to international cooperation with Cuba, travel each year to study until they graduate from university. Then, they return to work for their Western Sahara. The Caribbean is completely different from the desert, not only because of geography, but also because of the nature of the people themselves. Cubans have rhythm in their veins and are dancing all the time. Beduins are sober, quiet and reflective. However, in the end, the exchange is worthy in both ways, as Renata Avila explains.

Bahrain: Letter to a stalker

  17 December 2008

Bahraini blogger Hamad Balucci writes a letter to a ‘stalker’ who has accused him of writing purely for self-promotion: “I write this blog and my other writings as a self promotion. Yes, there is no lying here. … Do I care if I am hated by other people? No. Do...

China: Lugu Lake

  17 December 2008

Inside-Out China posts an article about the matriarchal tradition near the Lugu Lake.

Cuba: Oppressing the Press

  17 December 2008

Uncommon Sense refers to a survey by the Committee to Protect Journalists to make the point that “Cuba takes the gold medal as the world's worst oppressor of a free press.”