Stories about Azerbaijan from December, 2010
Azerbaijan: Emin Milli's Reading list
In a note posted on Facebook, imprisoned and recently freed video blogging youth activist Emin Milli lists the books he read while in jail in Azerbaijan. Not surprisingly, the books mostly deal with a common theme — freedom and democracy.
Caucasus: Online tools in Peace Building
Writing on his Peace and Collaborative Development Network Blog, Global Voices’ Caucasus Editor recounts his experience of using online social networks in cross-border communication and peace building initiatives between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Locked into a still unresolved conflict over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh, another post, however, looks at...
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Social Media in peace building
Based on experience to date, my Caucasian Knot blog features a post on the use of online social networks to bring Armenians and Azerbaijanis together online as part of regional peace building and cross-border cooperation projects.
Azerbaijan: Let them eat even more cake…
After the account of one Azerbaijani blogger on how the country's second largest city marked the birthday of its president last year, another looks at how is was marked this week. Not surprisingly, if last year's 48th birthday saw a cake baked 48 meters long, this year saw it go...
Poland: Blog Forum Gdansk
Arzu Geybullayeva writes about this year's Blog Forum Gdańsk, highlighting Polish bloggers' views on some of the issues discussed at the event.
Christmas Recipes in Global Food Blogs
Christmas means ‘coming home’ to many people - but if this isn’t possible, preparing a magic meal can be a consolation. Bloggers of many continents have shared their favorite holiday recipes. With these you can dream yourself back home or even visit a place, you’ve never been to before. Where are you celebrating Christmas this year and what are you serving?
Caucasus: The Year in Review
With 2011 nearly upon us, the year in new and social media in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia during 2010 was surprisingly positive. So, what did the past year hold in store for the South Caucasus? Read on.
Azerbaijan: Let them eat cake…
As the birthday of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, approaches, the Önər Blog [AZ] reminds readers of how residents in the country's second largest city of Ganja marked it last year. The blog sarcastically says that while the city is indeed famous for its giant pastries, baking a 48-metre...
Azerbaijan: Children and Peace
Sheki, Azerbaijan looks forward to 2011 and says that it hopes the New Year will bring peace. Every child has a right to such an environment, the blog notes, while also reminding readers that lives were lost despite a ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan in their conflict over the...
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Culture that unites rather than divides
Ararat Magazine features a post by Global Voices’ Caucasus editor, co-penned with a Global Voices author and Lingua translator, on ethnic Armenian and Azeri coexistence in Georgia. The post is made up of other guest entries originally written as part of a new media project to amplify alternative voices on...
Azerbaijan: Hijab ban
Aaron in Azerbaijan [Eng] also comments on the recent law introduced in Azerbaijan prohibiting hijabs in schools. The blog wonders if the move is an attempt by the government to stop the further spread of radical Islam in the secular country.
Azerbaijan: Hospitality vs. privacy
Aaron in Azerbaijan [Eng] shares his thoughts on the local practices and traditions relating to hospitality in Azerbaijan, comparing them to those found in the West. The blog notes how perceptions of hospitality differ from culture to culture.
Azerbaijan: Hijab ban introduced in schools
Last week hundreds of protesters staged a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Education in Baku, Azerbaijan, expressing their outrage against new regulations banning the wearing of hijabs in schools. Bloggers react.
Caucasus: Corruption
Social Science in the Caucasus comments on Transparency International's latest Global Corruption Barometer. While noting that corruption has increased in the world, it nonetheless notes that levels in Georgia are significantly lower than in neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Caucasus: Average Internet speeds and prices
The Yerevan-based Civilitas Foundation compares the average speed and cost of Internet connections in the South Caucasus. According to that data, Armenia is well behind its two neighbors in the region with by far the slowest and most expensive connections available. Meanwhile, Georgia has by far the cheapest and fastest.
Azerbaijan: Looking in from the outside
For those living in a particular country, many things can sometimes be taken for granted. But when others from outside discover it for the first time, often experiencing new colors and traditions, a fresh insight is often the result.
Azerbaijan: Adnan and Emin are back… and say thank you
In Mutatione Fortitudo posts the first YouTube video by Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli since their release. In the video, the two video blogging youth activists in Azerbaijan say thank you to all those who followed their case and contributed to international pressure calling for their release. From world leaders...
Azerbaijan: Stepanakert
Marut's Blog posts photographs taken during the Soviet era of Stepanakert, capital of the breakaway territory of Nagorno Karabakh. An autonomous oblast situated within Azerbaijan before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the region declared itself independent in 1991, but remains internationally unrecognized. Negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan to determine...
Azerbaijan: Armenia's Wikileaks?
The Önər Blog [AZ] comments on claims in Azerbaijan that Wikileaks cables painting the country in a bad light are the work of Armenians. In fact, the blog notes, at the same time as the media in Azerbaijan highlights the poverty, corruption and human rights abuses in its neighbor, how...
Ukraine: WikiLeaks on Russian Officials and Holodomor
Steve Bandera of Kyiv Scoop writes about the WikiLeaks’ cables that mention high-ranking Russian officials discuss the 1932-33 famine in Ukraine (Holodomor).
Azerbaijan: First Lady responds to Cablegate criticism?
As Azerbaijan braces itself for yet more revelations from classified U.S. Embassy cables released this week by Wikileaks, some interesting developments are occurring on Twitter. In particular, an account presenting itself as that of the country's First Lady appeared less than a day later.
