Global Voices · Citizen media stories from 2009 September 15

15 September 2009

Daily archive · 4 posts

Stories from 15 September 2009

Pakistan: Back Home And Starting A New Life

After nearly two months of living in squalor in temporary camps the displaced people of the Swat region of Pakistan were allowed to go back home from July 13th. Although they still face uncertainties and challenges, there are signs of normalcy as many of the displaced families are now starting a new life.

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Peru: Looming Problem of the Inambari Hydroelectric Power Station

Written by Juan Arellano · Latin America

A 4-billion dollar hydroelectric power station is planned for the Peruvian Amazon, which will provide energy to neighboring Brazil. However, there is concern how the construction will affect the Amazon and other parts of the country.

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Egypt: A Coptic Presidential Candidate?

Written by Marwa Rakha · Middle East & North Africa

A Copt has stated his intent to run for elections for Egypt's top post in the 2011 presidential race. Lawyer Mamdouh Ramzy, a member of the Constitutional Party, is venturing where many have failed.

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China and Hong Kong: Ex-president's life sentence, a farce or a victory?

Written by Winglok Hung · East Asia

Former Taiwanese leader Chen Shui bian was sentenced to life imprisonment on 11 September and Portnoy has made an excellent summary of Twitterers' responses from Taiwan. Here I would like to add to the discussion by collecting more opinions and discussions from mainland China and Hong Kong.

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Updates from 15 September 2009

Trinidad & Tobago

Writer Attillah Springer blogs her most recent newspaper column, comparing the Trinidad and Tobago government's annual budget presentation with the violent “daggering” trend in dancehall music.

• Nicholas Laughlin

Jamaica

Snailwriter reports on the illegal bulldozing of an area of forest near Jamaica's sensitive Martha Brae River. “The situation … well illustrates why the destruction of Jamaica's natural resources continues unabated.”

• Nicholas Laughlin

Barbados

My Rustic Bajan Garden does a photographic survey of lizards in her garden and reminds readers why these creatures are useful to humans.

• Nicholas Laughlin

Barbados

“They don’t come more honest than your average Bajan.” Notes from a Small Rock reflects on Barbadians' habits of plain speaking.

• Nicholas Laughlin

Anguilla

A newspaper advertisement for “excellent massage” prompts some tongue-in-cheek commentary from Corruption-free Anguilla.

• Nicholas Laughlin

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Watchdog publishes an interview with Professor Anu Muhammad, member secretary of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports on their recent protests against the lease of three offshore gas fields of Bangladesh to foreign companies.

• Rezwan

Bhutan

Dipika wonders why there is a boom in newspaper reports about drugs in Bhutan. “A change in attitude, perhaps, on how we look at drug abuse, or rather, how the young generation looks at drug abuse,” comments the blogger.

• Rezwan

Pakistan

Kalsoom at CHUP: Changing Up Pakistan informs that yesterday at least 19 women were killed in a stampede while collecting food in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Karachi. “In the wake of this heart-breaking incident, it seems we are all trying to find a scapegoat,” comments the blogger as an eyewitness even blamed the crowd of women gathered for food for being impatient.

• Rezwan

China

Uln from Chinayouren blogs about an experimental performance for testing people's reaction towards foreigners (Laowei) who wrote a T-shirt with big Chinese characters “laowai has come!” and “laowai has left!”

• Oiwan Lam

Egypt

Mohamed, from Traveller Within, analyzes the Egyptian Middle class, and acknowledges
the presence of a parallel middle class that is being deliberately marginalized. In his post he stressed the importance of inter-class reconciliation in order not to lose such an influential societal category.

• Nermeen Edrees