Stories about English from March, 2012
China: A Titanic Nation
Chinese cartoonist Perverted Pepper posted a political cartoon in which a throng of ordinary Chinese waves goodbye to a large red ship called “Titanic” at Sina Weibo. The drawing was quickly deleted and China Media Project has saved a copy.
India: The Last Handwritten Newspaper in the World
The earliest forms of newspaper were handwritten and now 'The Musalman' probably is the last handwritten newspaper in the world. This Urdu language newspaper was established in 1927 and has been published daily in the Chennai city of India ever since.
Syria: A Year On, From Beirut With Love
On March15, the Syrian revolution completed its first year with the same level of determination that marked its beginning. Protests in different cities around the world expressed their support to the revolution while Beirut wanted to announce its support in its own way. This post explains how activists expressed their love to the Syrian revolution on Beirut walls.
El Salvador: Report of Government and Gang Negotiations Sparks Controversy
Bloggings by boz posts comments by Salvadorans he spoke to after online newspaper El Faro reported that the government had negotiated with gangs to decrease violence. Tim's El Salvador Blog explains and translates part of El Faro's article. Furthermore, Summer Harlow, in The Knight Center's Journalism in the Americas Blog,...
Ghana: #GhanaDecides Launched
Ghana Decides is a BloggingGhana initiative meant to introduce NGOs, Civil Society Organisations, students (especially first time voters), political groups and the general Ghanaian public to the importance and benefit of use of social media tools in elections in Ghana.
Cuba: Pope Arrives Today; What Will His Visit Bring?
Pope Benedict XVI is due to arrive today in Cuba, even as bloggers chronicle the “wave of arrests and threats” preceding the papal visit. But top of mind for most bloggers, particularly from the diaspora, is whether or not the pontiff will decide to meet with the Ladies in White and other members of the political opposition.
Nigeria: Okonjo-Iweala’s Bid for World Bank’s Top Job Creates Ripples
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria is the only woman on the race for the World Bank presidency. Need anyone be surprised that her ambition is raising ripples online? Ever since NOI made her intentions public, social media sites have known no peace with opinions and comments from African netizens.
Jamaica: Hoodie is No Excuse
“An excited man kills someone for the flimsiest of causes. And someone asks us to believe it’s due to clothing choices!”: Diaspora blogger Grasshopper Eyes The Potomac comments on the Trayvon Martin case.
Online Commentary on US President Obama's Visit to South Korea
The Monster Island blog wrote several posts on US President Obama's visit to South Korea. Read the blogger's commentary on Obama's side trip to the demilitarized zone which is a de facto border between the two Koreas and President Obama's new Korean name.
China, Taiwan and Hong Kong: What Story can the Number of Votes Tell?
Jimmy from Tea Leaf Nation translates the micro-blog conversation of Hong Kong Chief Executive Election. Netizens compared the number of votes needed for each region to get into leadership position – Taiwan: 6.89 Million Votes, Hong Kong: 689 Votes, Mainland: 9 Votes!
Tibetans, the police and China
Tom Lasseter blogs about what he saw in his travel to Tongren, an ethnic Tibetan town in Qinghai Province where two men set themselves on fire last week.
China: Sandstorms and Nuclear Tests
Henryk Szadziewski from Uyghurnomics blogs about the effect of 46 nuclear tests in East Turkestan, the homeland of millions of Uyghurs between 1964-1996 on people and environment.
Palestine: Gazans Suffer Due to Fuel and Electricity Shortage
Over the past decade, the words “Gaza” and “crisis” have become almost complementary. The crises have ranged from war and military raids and invasions, to military occupation, and in this case to an electricity and fuel outage.
Blogger Analysis on North Korea's Expected Rocket Trajectory
North Korea Tech blog wrote about North Korea's rocket launch which is scheduled for next month. The blogger, after analyzing the International Maritime Organization's documents, predicted that the rocket will drop to earth in two stages off the western coast of South Korea and to the east of Luzon Island in the Philippines.
Sri Lanka: Reactions to US Resolution at UNHRC
A US resolution was recently passed at a UN Human Rights Council meeting on Sri Lanka seeking to encourage the government to investigate allegations of human rights violations during the country's civil war against the LTTE and implement the recommendations made by a reconciliation commission. Netizens react.
Pakistan: Karachi launches campaign against TTP
Zia Ur Rehman reports that an awareness campaign against the horrible atrocities by the religious group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has begun in Karachi. An NGO named Anjuman-e-Muhibban Pakistan (Organisation of Lovers of Pakistan) launched the campaign.
Thailand: Unique Taxi Decorations in Bangkok
Created four years ago, the blog Still Life in Moving Vehicles has been featuring a variety of interesting photos of Bangkok taxi cab decorations. Dale Konstanz, who started compiling the photos more than five years ago, cites his inspiration for the online project. Here are some photos of taxi talismans, charms, religious icons, and political stickers
Cambodia: Bokator, Angkorian Martial Art
Bokator or Labokator (to fight like a lion) is a Cambodian martial art that is believed to be the predecessor of Southeast Asian kickboxing styles. Historians believe that it was the close quarter combat system used by the ancient armies of Angkor.
Southeast Asia Digital Library
The Southeast Asia Digital Library provides educators and students with materials published in Southeast Asia. The online library contains digital facsimiles of books and manuscripts, as well as multimedia materials and searchable indexes of additional Southeast Asian resources.
Cambodia’ Bamboo Trains
Edgar Alan Zeta-Yap writes about the bamboo trains or “norry” of Battambang in Cambodia.
Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle: From Opium to Casinos
Tan Kai Swee presents a video on EngageMedia about the opening of new casinos in Southeast Asia's infamous Golden Triangle in Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos which used to be the center of opium production in the region.
