Stories from 23 November 2009
Macedonia: Singing Skopjans
An ad hoc choir "Singing Skopjans" performs civic activism through songs, using social media to spread their message.
Brazil: Capoeira on the big screen
“It was high time capoeira were represented in the big screen in all its glory”, says Regina Scharf. She talks about a just released movie about the Afro-Brazilian martial art/dance. Watch Besouro's trailler on the Deep Beazil blog.
Russia: Anti-fascists Mourn Murder of Activist Killed By Neo-Nazis
Hundreds of young anti-fascists gathered in the center of Moscow. They mourned the murder of Ivan Khutorskoy, an activist of “Antifa,” Russian anti-fascist movement. A blogger chtodelat claims [ENG] it's the sixth “Antifa” murder in Russia during the last few years. The photos of the gathering made by lj-user ottenki_serogo...
Sri Lanka: The ‘Dear 16 Year Old’ Meme
London, Lanka & Drums started a blog meme which went like this: “write a post, a letter to your sixteen year old self and tag two people”. The blog has done an audit trail to see how this meme has taken over the Sri Lankan blogopshere.
Pakistan: Join The Force
Pakistan is fighting a war against the Talibans and the security situation has deteriorated in the cities. Faisal Kapadia at Deadpan Thoughts comments on the role of the general citizens: “we are all part of this war now with our families whether we like it or not so the best...
India: Wither The Thoughts Of Mumbai Attack?
Indian author and veteran journalist M. J. Akbar thinks that India has lost the plot on taking action against the Mumbai terror attacks and warns that: “Amnesia is an invitation to the next terrorist assault.”
Kazkahstan: Astana Cycling Team Is Back to Life
KZBlog's post is about some good news about the cycling team Astana after losing two premier cyclists and a long period of doubt over funding.
Colombia: The Tradition of Arepas in the Afternoon
In Colombia, the time between 3 and 6 pm is usually reserved for coffee or hot chocolate along with the typical arepa or other baked goods. This has become a tradition passed on from generation to generation.
Kyrgyzstan: Prices for utilies are skyrocketing
Aravanski reports that the Kyrgyz government sharply increased the prices for electricity and heating, making those barely affordable by most citizens.
Turkmenistan: Influenzastan
Has Turkmenistan come down with a bad case of the swine flu? Annasoltan investigates that in a series of post on Turkmen healthcare.
Uzbekistan: Presidential daughter's self-promotion
Musafirbek writes about a charity gala-concert, held with the support of UNICEF, attended not only by singer Cesaria Evora and soccer player Samuel Eto’o, but also by some bloggers, who were hired by an American PR firm to cover the event.
Afghanistan: US opens new prison
Nick Fielding reports that the US military unveiled a new $60 million prison at Bagram airbase, north of the Afghanistan capital Kabul, saying it would provide detainees with better conditions and also promote transparency.
Afghanistan: Counting the cost of war
Nick Fielding reviews “The Cost of War: Afghan Experiences of Conflict 1978-2009″, a report by nine NGOs working in Afghanistan analyzing 30 years of war and a devastating impact they had.
Broadband In India: Ideas
Rajesh Jain at Emergic publishes a multi-part series on the state and potential of broadband in India – emphasizing on ideas and solutions regarding devices, pipes, services and Business models
Japanese concepts through images and videos
Lee at Tokyo Times defines the Japanese notions of wabi-sabi through photographs while the Through Eyes From Afar blog posts some videos to explain the concept of tsundere and yandere.
Mongolia: Edurelief project “Laptops for Teachers”
Radigan Neuhalfen writes about new program “Laptops for Teachers”, aimed at promotion of education in Mongolia.
Bangladesh: A Remarkable Export Performance
J. Rahman at Mukti narrates about a remarkable export performance of Bangladesh this year: “A year after Lehman, while most Asian exports were still 15-20% lower, our exports were 5% higher.”
Afghanistan: UK tends to quit
Dafydd talks about the slump of the Afghan campaign's popularity among the British public, media and officials – ahead of upcoming elections in the United Kingdom.
Uzbekistan: Authorities Free Sanjar Umarov
Noah Tucker reports that Sanjar Umarov, one of the most famous political prisoner in Uzbekistan, earlier charged with tax evasion and embezzlement after founding an opposition party in 2005, has been released from prison.
Kyrgyzstan: A power play beginning?
Steven_Schwerbel reviews the developments on the opposition side of the Kyrgyzstan's political field, where the major opposition party blamed the president for violation of constitution and unlawful seizure of power through the change of constitution.
Kazakhstan: A Beacon of Anticorruption Activity?
Alexander_Visotzky reflects on the recently released Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, in which Kazakhstan leaped 25 spots from 145th to 120th.
