24 July 2009

Stories from 24 July 2009

Palestine: No Security

In the West Bank, activist Hannah Mermelstein writes: “A friend of mine here once told me that she never feels safe, so safety is not a consideration for her in making decisions. As much as I may try, I cannot truly imagine this lack of control.”

Egypt: “Fifty-seven years after the coup and we still are not able cope”

On the 57th anniversary of their revolution, Egyptians are still evaluating and debating how this historic event that started with the military coup d’etat has changed the their lives, and that of many future generations. Until today, bloggers continue to discuss and pinpoint the pros and the cons of the revolution, as well as the decisions of the Free Officers, who led the coup which turned Egypt from a constitutional monarchy to a republic.

Morocco: A Decade with Mohammed VI

When in July 1999, king Mohammed VI of Morocco ascended to the throne, the expectations for change and progress were such that many international observers foresaw an albeit difficult but inexorable march that would lead the country to a prosperous, liberal and democratic future. Ten years later, many bloggers and online news websites commemorate the first decade of the reign of Mohammed VI with hope for a better tomorrow.

Africa: The arrival of Seacom cable sparks debate

  24 July 2009

The arrival of an undersea cable that will increase bandwidth and lower Internet access costs throughout Africa has sparked debate and interest in the African blogoshere. Seacom, which links South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Mozambique to Europe and Asia, went live on Thursday, connecting eastern and southern Africa to the global broadband network.

Jamaica: Mento Master Missed

  24 July 2009

Repeating Islands remembers the life and career of Jamaica's Mento master, Theodore “T” Miller: “Mento is a style of Jamaican folk music that draws heavily on musical traditions brought to the island by African slaves…his loss, as the Gleaner recently reported, ‘represents a great loss to Jamaica’s cultural heritage’.”

Cuba: Political Arrests

  24 July 2009

Diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense links to a report that claims “there were 130 political arrests” in Cuba in the month of June.

Pakistan: Rain In Karachi

  24 July 2009

The recent record breaking rainfall in Karachi has made the lives of Karachites miserable and Kashif Aziz at Chowrangi questions “why Karachi suffers when it rains?”

Jamaica, U.S.A.: Fatherly Advice

  24 July 2009

Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp considers the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. from a father's perspective: “I want my son to be a man who has enough self confidence to think that he can overcome any obstacle and that he will not permit any kind...

Bermuda: The Race Card

  24 July 2009

Bermudian Catch a fire says that neither political party “has an exclusive monopoly on the race card”, claiming that both factions resort to using it.

India: The Chakmas Of Mizoram

  24 July 2009

Paritosh Chakma at Musings of a Chakma critically examines the position of the Chakmas in the Mizoram state of India – their social, economic conditions and political status and discusses about their struggles.

Azerbaijan: Fighting mirrors

Fighting windmills? Take a pill. recounts various events that have happened to Azerbaijan's youth movements in the past few months, including the detention of dozens of activists. The blog says that tomorrow a new initiative will be established to protect their rights.

Japan: Mizuhiki twine art

  24 July 2009

Adamu from Multantfrog introduces a Japanese craft, Mizuhiki, which uses twine made from Japanese-style paper to create fancy bows and other designs.