Stories from 22 May 2009
Sri Lanka: On The End Of The Conflict
London Lanka and Drums highlights some Sri Lankan blogs and blog posts that have written about the end of the civil war and comments: “Whatever our views, whatever our race and for differing reasons most of us would agree that this is one of the biggest single events in our...
Bangladesh: Indian Elections 2009 In Bangladesh Perspective
Ambassador Serajul Islam's Political Blog posts an analysis of the Indian parliamentary elections 2009 in Bangladesh perspective.
Russia: Medvedev's Visit to Kirov
IZO links to LJ user rem-lj‘s photo report on the consequences of president Medvedev's visit to the town of Kirov: “His route crossed a railway track. So someone decided to cover the track with asphalt.”
Sri Lanka: Abuse, Disbelief And Bitterness Persist
The Sri Lankan government's civil war for over 25 years against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ended a few days ago when the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was killed. The question remains that "has the dream of many Tamils of having a separate state free from discrimination died with him?". The polarized Sri Lankan Blogosphere is buzzing with a lot of analysis and counter analysis on the stories of celebrating the end of war, human rights abuse, distrust and communal hatred.
India: Aid Collection For Sri Lankan IDPs
Madhat at Blogbharati informs about an effort by some Indians to collect aid from various Indian cities to help the IDPs (internally displaced people) in Sri Lanka.
Iran: Blogging against homophobia
A few Iranian bloggers wrote comments on ‘International day against homophobia' on May 17 and shared their concerns about existing discrimination against homosexuals in Iran.
Japan: John Roos to be U.S. Ambassador to Japan
Unexpected appointment of lawyer John Roos as the next U.S. ambassador to Japan: Blogger namekawa01 gives a high evaluation of Roos's close connections with President Obama and speculates that he must have forgone more visible positions in favor of this one, while Koichiro Mizuochi compares this appointment with that of...
Qatar: Abaya, Yes or No?
Qatari blogger Amal Almalki writes about the dilemma she faced when deciding whether to continue wearing the abaya: “I had to question and convince myself of what it means to me. Is it a religious or a cultural symbol? Is it used as a cover-up or a statement?”
Jamaica, Barbados: Calabash Kicks Off
Repeating Islands reports that leading off the readings at Jamaica's Calabash Literary Festival this year will be “Jamaican writers Velma Pollard and Esther Phillips, and Bajan poet Millicent Graham.”
Bahrain: No Longer Anonymous
Bahraini blogger Hala, who blogs at When it Beeps, has decided Bahrain is too small for a person to try to be anonymous – so she introduces herself to her readers.
Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago:
Barbados-based B.C. Pires publishes a column by the journalist who exposed alleged plagiarism by the former Chairperson of Trinidad and Tobago's now-defunct Integrity Commission.
Trinidad & Tobago: Sulphur Story
As news breaks about the presence of excessive sulfur in the aviation fuel being used to refuel aircrafts in Trinidad and Tobago, This Beach Called Life criticizes the government's downplaying of the situation, saying: “If a company is making something as important as aviation fuel and does not have a...
Jamaica: Look Behind
Jamaican diaspora blogger Labrish takes us to Cockpit Country, “The Land of Look Behind”.
Jamaica: By the Bye
Girl With a Purpose notes that Jamaica is in for another by-election, adding: “One unfortunate thing about this…is that Jamaicans will have to fork out another JMD $40 million, or more, for the Electoral Office of Jamaica to administer it.”
Palestine: Remembering Al Nakba
Arab-American joint blog KABOBfest marks the 61st anniversary of the creation of Israel, commonly referred to as Al Nakba (catastrophe), saying: “Israel's foundation meant the dispossession of hundreds of thousands of refugees. This created the largest, long-term refugee population in the world. But, they should not mourn Israel's creation. They...
Syria: How to make stuffed zucchini
Syrian blogger Abu Fares shares a recipe for stuffed zucchini in yogurt sauce in this post.
Saudi Arabia: Beheadings in the Kingdom
Stilettos in the Sand, from Saudi Arabia, discusses beheading in the kingdom and notes: “The crimes punishable by beheading, or execution, are: rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking.”
Armenia: Eurovision Bribes
Adding to the existing controversy surrounding this year's Eurovision international song contest, In Mutatione Fortitudo says that Russian bloggers have been receiving emails from an Armenian offering payment for publishing an article accusing Azerbaijan of bribing various competition juries.
Iran: Behrouz Javid Tehrani,prison and hunger strike
Several Iranian bloggers including Zarebin informed [fa] that Behrouz Javid Tehrani, a political prisoner and student activist, is in his 16th day of hunger strike and his life is in danger.
Iran: Fararu, a news site was filtered
Iran based Fararu news site announced [fa] today that Iranian authorities filtered the site. Fararu's managers got no information about the reason (s) of filtering. [update:Farau news has become accessible on 26th of May 2009]
Armenia: Jethro Tull in Yerevan
A day before their concert in Yerevan, Armenia, Global Voices Online's Caucasus editor interviews Ian Anderson from the legendary British folk-rock band, Jethro Tull.
