Stories from 21 January 2011
Video: Shoemakers of the World
Today's videos focus on the artisans around the world still making shoes by hand. From Mexico to Japan: we'll take a look at how different shoes, slippers and sandals are made.
Maldives: No Plan To Combat Terrorism
Hassan Ziyau complains that a full proof plan to combat religious terrorism has been absent during the tenure of successive governments in Maldives.
India: A Public Park In Chennai
Vivek at Sepia Mutiny writes about Semmozhi Poonga, a newly opened public park in Chennai, India fulfilling demand of its citizens.
El Salvador: Court System Employees on Strike Demand Higher Salaries
Court system employees have been on strike demanding raises for five days. Tim explains that, “As a consequence, more than a thousand court hearings have been cancelled, bodies have gone unidentified in the forensic medicine office, and more than 87 prisoners have been released for failure to have an initial...
India: Protecting Apatani Language
Dr. Hano Hailang at Arunachal Diary informs that Apatani language of Arunachal Pradesh in India has become endangered and a linguist named Nending Ommo is publishing a book on the sound systems of Apatani language to protect it.
Taiwan: Product placement and the petrochemical industry
If a petrochemical company treats bloggers to a cushy on-site tour, do posts that follow count as corporate astroturfing? What, as some have alleged, if the excursion was funded by the government? And, what if the bloggers weren't shown the whole story?
Malawi: Our Malawi News
Our Malawi News is Ushahidi based platform for stories & events around Malawi where & when they happen.
Haiti: Aid From Slovakia Blocked by Customs for Ten Months
A container with the second shipment of humanitarian aid from Slovakia has been blocked by the customs in Haiti for nearly ten months. Tibor Blazko translates some of the Slovak netizens' views on the problem.
Arab World: Racism and the Slave's Head Candy Controversy
Are we - Arabs - racist? It's really hard to tell. Some might argue that racism is against our religion, and that people are never discriminated against because of their skin colour. On the other hand, other tiny aspects of our lives might prove that we are. It seems to be normal, for instance, to make fun of black people [Ar] in the cinema, and even call a candy “The Slave's Head” because of its colour.
Nigeria: Opposition party gets ready for 2011 presidential election
Chidi Opara reports that the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Nigeria Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) has appointed Mr. Yinka Odumakin as his spokesman as he gets set for his campaign for the 2011 presidential election.
Zambia: Zambia is rich but poor
Potpher Mbulo argues that Zambia is rich but poor: “mean, Zambia is greatly endowed with minerals, fertile land and fresh water yet it is gifted with bad culture.The reality on the ground is that more than 80% of Zambians live below the poverty datum line.”
Uganda: Local web cache lessons
Erik discusses local web cache lessons from Uganda: “Orange Uganda has seen local traffic jump from 3Mbs to over 30Mbs in just two weeks due to partnering and implementing Google’s Global Cache. One wonders how much business they’re starting to chip away at from their competition.”
D.R. of Congo: UK listed companies want to drill oil in Virunga!
Conservation blogger Samuel Maina is shocked to learn that two companies listed in the London Stock Exchange, SOCO and Dominion, plan to drill for oil in Africa’s oldest park, the Virunga National Park.
Jamaica: “Dudus” Enquiry Starts
Caribbean Camera reports on the opening of the Commission of Enquiry into events surrounding the Christopher “Dudus” Coke extradition.
China: Falun Gong Tiananmen immolation incident ten years on
Following up discussions over why China sees so many acts of self-immolation but none of the response seen in Tunisia, Stainless Steel Mouse notes [zh] that ten years have passed since five Falun Gong protesters led a deadly protest in Tiananmen Square: ‘it didn't lead to a Falun Gong uprising,...
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: New Art Mag
Antilles and Repeating Islands blog about the launch of a new magazine “focusing on works by contemporary artists practicing in the Caribbean and its diaspora.”
Barbados: Thompson Wins Late Husband's Seat
Barbadian bloggers report that David Thompson's widow has won the parliamentary seat left vacant by his death.
DR of Congo : Discreet Commemorations of the 50th Anniversary of Patrice Lumumba's Assassination
January 17, 2011 marked the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of the DR of Congo, formerly known as Zaïre. The Congolese people and its diaspora organised a few events but many thought that the celebrations were not up to par with the historical aura of one of the true hero of the independence of the DR of Congo.
Algeria: Algerians salute the courage of the Tunisian people
All Algerians saluted the resistance movement of the Tunisian people people who brought down the despot Zine El Abidine Ben Ali [EN] after 23 years of unchallenged rule. In every discussion forum, blogs and Facebook, Algerians can no longer find the words to salute the courage of Tunisians and they ask: "Who's next?"
Kenya: Don't ask a prostitute where she sees herself in five years
Don't ask a prostitute, “Where do you see yourself in five years?”: “In our trade on the streets; the opposite happens; Your value decreases as your experience increases.Quoting five years experience is a turn off. Many a girl gets to prostitution telling themselves they wont do it for more than...
Ghana: Ghana Library website offers over 500,000 books
Ghana Library website offers students over 500,000 academic textbooks and literature spread across all subject disciplines.
