Stories from 21 February 2009
“Clinton should visit Brunei”
Peacelovekindness enumerates the reasons why United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton should visit Brunei.
Iran: Disaster in Parishan wetland
Mojgan Jamshidi,an Iran based blogger and journalist informs us that thousands of turtles and birds were burned and killed after fire destroyed an important part of Parishan wetland. You can watch the photos here.
Iran: Pro Khatami web sites were filtered
According to news sites and blogs, Iranian authorities have filtered two web sites, Yaari News and Yaari, promoting the presidential bid of Mohammed Khatami, former reformist president.
Sri Lanka: Air Raid In Colombo By LTTE
Sanjana at GroundViews reports on an LTTE air raid in Colombo yesterday night with updates.
Bangladesh: Accessorizing Patriotism
Bangladesh Corporate Blog thinks that “a time has come when we need to ‘accessorize patriotism’ somehow”. The blog suggests that Bangladeshis should brand something as small as a Gamcha (traditional cotton towel) to start with.
DRC: When it rains in Kinshasa
Cedric Kalonji describes Kinshasa after a heavy rain [FR]. The roads turn into lakes, but “high up in their 4x4s, the authorities are untouched by the problem, the result being that there is almost no support for making storm sewers or gutters.”
Martinique: On independence and French “paternalism”
As the workers' movement in Martinique and Guadeloupe continues, bloggers in Martinique consider what it might mean for the overseas departments to become independent. le blog de [moi] finds the idea Martinique couldn't make it on its own offensive and paternalistic. Her readers think that one reality of being a small island country is that you are always under someone else's shadow.
Libya: Movie Reviews
Libyan Highlander reviews some of the movies she has recently watched in this post.
Iraq: Rumours and Conspiracy Theories
Iraqi Pundit discusses the impact of rumours and conspiracy theories on his country, and the Middle East at large. “Rumours have traditionally done a great deal of damage in the Middle East, and Iraq was never spared from this exercise,” he notes.
Libya: At the in-laws
From Libya, American Khadija Teri attends a family gathering with her Libyan in-laws, and spills the beans in this post.
Jordan: Questions to God
Jordanian blogger Hareega asks: “Why did God create earth, humans and the whole world? Did he have to? Did he want to? Can God regret something he's done a very long time ago?”
Iraq: YouTube removes video
Iraqi blogger Imad Khadduri complains that YouTube has removed a video he posted, citing a violation of its community guidelines.
Iraq: The Walk to Karbala
Laith walks for 67 miles from Baghdad to Karbala to mark the 40th day anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, grandson of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), who was killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680. “The journey of Karbala approved that Iraqis can be only one nation although some...
Iraq: At the Zoo
Iraqi Dentist shares his experiences in Baghdad – including a visit to the zoo, along with photographs – in this post.
Iraq: Light at the end of the tunnel
Iraqi Women praises a blogger friend, who helped her see light at the end of “the long tunnel of darkness.”
Iraq: The Irony in Al Zaidi's Shoe Throwing
Iraqi Pundit discusses the case of Muntadhar Al Zaidi, the journalist who threw a shoe at President George W Bush, during his visit to Iraq late last year. “I have said before that I understand that he released the frustration of countless Iraqis, and I get why Iraqis and non-Iraqis...
Iran:”Religious blogs can be dangerous”
Manbarnet, an Iranian cleric and blogger, is surprised to read [fa] in semi official Mehr news site that “Iranian religious blogs that are not under control of official organizations can be considered dangerous and are able to hurt society”.
Angola: Presidential elections postponed?
As of the end of February 2009, there is still no schedule for the presidential elections in Angola, which were due this year. The main priority for the MPLA, the party in power, is to approve a new constitution for the country. Bloggers speculate whether this means that the much awaited elections for a new president, the first since 1992, will be postponed.
China: Eluding the Cat Investigation, Netizen's Power or Government PR?
In response to the netizens’ talks and comments about the “eluding cat” incident, the Yunnan provincial Publicity Department's Press and Publication Administration decided to form an investigative committee on Feb 20. Moreover, the department had invited netizens to form a investigative committee. In a few hours, 510 netizens registered to...
Azerbaijan: News site closed down?
Following a recent ban on foreign broadcasts in the country, the content of a leading news site considered more independent than most in Azerbaijan was replaced on Thursday with a message informing readers that the “project is closed.” Although the authorities denied any involvement with the site's disappearance, bloggers were not convinced.
New Tunisian podcast, in English
Tunisian blogger zizou from Djerba announces plans for a new podcast [FR] about Tunisia, in English, meant primarily for a foreign audience.
