Global Voices · Citizen media stories from 2009 November 04

4 November 2009

Daily archive · 6 posts

Stories from 4 November 2009

Latin America: The Rapid Spread of Desertification

Desertification is silently but rapidly spreading around the world and Latin America is not escaping its devastating effects. While deserts are natural formations, desertification is a process of degradation of lands affected by climate change and human destruction.

· 2

· read »

Morocco: Touring the Moroccan Foodscape

Written by Jillian C. York · Middle East & North Africa

Ask anyone who's never been what they know about Morocco, and it's likely that one of the first words out of their mouth will be "couscous." The seminal Moroccan dish is famous the world over, and to many, is synonymous with the country itself. But Moroccan cuisine goes far beyond couscous, offering delectables both sweet and savory, meaty and vegetarian. And this week, bloggers are tempting us with all of it!

· 4

· read »

Pakistan: South Waziristan- A Different Exodus

Written by Sana Saleem · South Asia

The operation against the Taliban in South Waziristan has triggered a wave of retaliations by the Taliban and has forced over 120,000 locals to flee from their houses. Bloggers discuss the plights of these internally displaced people.

· 5

· read »

Thailand: Inside a Bangkok prison

Written by Mong Palatino · East Asia

Gary Graeme Jones is a prisoner in Bang Kwang Prison, Thailand’s high security prison for men. Gary’s letters and reports are published on a blog by his supporters. This blog informs the public about the conditions of inmates in this famous prison complex.

· 3

· read »

Japan: Debating the fate of Shimokitazawa

Written by Chris Salzberg · East Asia

Tokyo's neighborhood of Shimokitazawa is well-known for its complicated spaghetti-like web of shop-lined streets, train tracks and back alleyways, but that web may be in for a big change. Plans to redevelop the area to make way for a 26-meter wide thoroughfare had already aroused opposition among some of the area's fans, but a proposed new design scheme for the local train station has added fuel to the flames. Blogger Hideaki Matsunaga explains why.

· 13

· read »

China: Made-in-China Snow

Written by Michael Kan · East Asia

This past Sunday on Nov. 1, Beijing saw its earliest snowfall in 22 years. The sudden change in weather, which blanketed the entire city in snow, surprised many residents. But...

· 1

· read »

Updates from 4 November 2009

Bhutan

“Exam is an irrational torture: I hate it!” screams Passu. “How do you suppose a three-hour test could justify a year long learning?” with these words the blogger questions the education system of Bhutan and the justification of taking exams in extreme cold.

• Rezwan

Nepal

United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal posts reactions of Nepali netizens after it was announced that the country is planning to hold a cabinet meeting on the base camp of the Mount Everest to highlight the impact of global warming on the Himalayas.

• Rezwan

Sri Lanka

Indi.ca wonders about the authenticity of a news report that a netizen named Gayan Rajapakse was arrested in Sri Lanka for ‘web comments’.

• Rezwan

Bhutan

A group of seven journalists, including the editor of Bhutan Times, the first privately owned newspaper of Bhutan, resigned on October 22, 2009 claiming that management had undue interference on editorial issues. Freedom In Bhutan analyzes the myths and realities behind the situation.

• Rezwan

Trinidad & Tobago

ttgapers.com reports that “Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday have agreed in principle that Trinidad and Tobago needs a new constitution”, but B.C. Pires is not convinced that was the only item on their agenda: “What you think they will discuss at the ‘Diplomatic Centre'? Matters of national importance? Or matters of narrow self-interest?”

• Janine Mendes-Franco