Stories from 12 September 2010
Iran:”Haystack not a useful software for us”
Amin Sabeti writes [fa] that Haystack has never been a useful software for Iranians and despite international media coverage it was never functional.
Armenia: Army Hazing
Unzipped comments on a video originally posted on YouTube showing what appears to be hazing in the Armenian military. Taken down after 246 Facebook shares and 669 comments, it has since appeared on Daily Motion. Given other cases of deaths and mistreatment in the army, the blog says that the...
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Social Networking and Conflict Resolution
Global Chaos details the hacking of the personal Facebook page of one young ethnic Armenian by someone presumably in Azerbaijan. Although new and social media tools are increasingly being used in peace-building initiatives to resolve the long-running conflict between the two countries over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh, the...
Japan: Drinkommunication, when drinking alcohol is a social obligation
Alcohol in Japan it is often used as a social lubricant in a society that still sees a gap between one's real feelings and intention and what one says on social occasions. And according to many, it is with a glass of beer or sake in hand that a new type of franker communication may occur, or a 'drinkommunication'.
Nigeria: Call for NGO Participation in Electoral Process
“Accident Prevention and Rescue Initiative (NGO) is calling on all Non-governmental Organizations, Civil Societies and faith based organizations in Nigeria to meet and take a position towards positive and active participation in the 2011 elections,” Prince Fidelis Nnadi reports.
Russia: Pluses and Minuses of Putin's Regime
Blogger rusanalit sums up [RUS] 10 years of Vladimir Putin's direct and indirect (after president Medvedev's election) reign. Pluses, among others, include: creation of the Stabilization Fund [EN], finishing Chechen war [EN], paying off $100 bln of state debt by raising the oil taxes. Minuses: making corruption a core principle of...
Sudan: Changing the voice of musicians in Southern Sudan
Learn about the Sudanese music group Coozos Clan: “Coozos Clan was first formed and born in the year 2002. It is a group made up of cousins hence the word (Cuzoos)in swahili representing Cousins.”
Ghana: Football and the white coach myth
Nana's analysis of white coach myth in Ghana's football: “Ghana's biggest achievements in football have come from local coaches ONLY. Unless we want to say that a quarter-final debut is bigger than the Nations Cup trophy, we must listen to the voice of Sankofa.”
Gambia: When a village becomes an art installation
Matt Smith discusses Wide Open Walls Gambia Project: “From 12th-26th October, 8 of the world’s leading street artists will be in residence within the Makasutu region turning a Gambian village into an art installation.”
Philippines: Sorcery and witchcraft
Bonvito blogs about sorcery and witchcraft in the Visayas region in the Philippines.
Vietnam: Living in a garbage dump
VietNamNet Bridge has a feature article about Ho Chi Minh City residents who are working and living in a garbage dump.
Laos: Butterflies stamp
Sao Darly uploads a set of butterflies stamp from Laos
East Timor: Managing oil resources
A facebook commenter reminds Australia to respect the right of East Timor to manage its oil resources. “It is the right of Timorese people to determine where their resources should be processed for the people's best interest…”
East Timor: History of Atáuro Island
Return to Rai Ketak refers to the proposal to house a detention center in Atáuro Island in East Timor for those seeking asylum in Australia as “insensitive” to the controversial colonial history of the place.
Africa: HIV Positive Women Sterilized, Discriminated Against and Stigmatized
Forced sterilization of HIV positive women is alas still a reality in many African countries. Recent testimonies were shared by many through personal experiences and a few African bloggers weighed in on the issue.