Stories about Development from December, 2007
China: Guangxi Nailhouse
Zhaumu blogged photos of a most spectacular nail house in Guangxi.
Bahrain: Reactions after the riots and arrests
In another special roundup, we have the reactions of Bahrain's bloggers to the events of the last few weeks, when rioting took place after the death of a demonstrator during a commemoration of 'Martyrs' Day', and many were subsequently arrested.
Jordan: Film Festivals, Citizenship Law and More
From a film festival in Dubai, a Jordanian film maker is making his debut at Sundance. Mohammad Al Azraq reports on that as well as the citizenship law in Jordan, babies born out of wedlock and a book feast in the Netherlands.
Burkina Faso Soon a Biofuel Producer
Last month, Burkina Faso and the French company AgroEd signed a framework agreement for developing a biofuels industry. Netizens express their skepticism about whether Burkina can become a competitive producer of biofuels, and whether ordinary people, in particular the farmers, will benefit.
Uganda: Is Uganda mentally, intellectually and creatively broke?
An interview with a Kampala City Council official has blogger Tumwijuke wondering if Uganda is “mentally, intellectually and creatively broke.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Stop the Traffic
“How can an island of 2 million people with an area the size of London have major traffic problems?”: Seldo.com blogs about the gridlock in Trinidad's capital city.
Hong Kong: Wedding Card Street
Lee Tung Street, more known as the wedding card street, located at Wanchai downtown is demolishing under the urban renewal project. A local resident May, age 59, had hunger strike...
Nari Jibon: Women bloggers and the dowry problem in Bangladesh
This week we look at some brilliant articles from Nari Jibon’s women bloggers. They discuss the menace of wedding dowries, which make the lives of poor families difficult by forcing parents to consider female children as burdens. Also, one NJ participant dreams of becoming president and changing the present society to an enlightened, educated and dowry-free society.
Ukraine: House on Anthrax
Ukrainiana writes about a house being built on the mass burial site for victims of a 19th-century anthrax epidemics in Kyiv.
West Africa: The four Cameroonian historical myths
Today, we are taking a tour of the West African blogosphere. Bloggers from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Nigeria are discussing children's books, historical myths, the military and politics.
Cuba: Freedom and Environment
Babalu Blog disagrees with a New York Times article that suggests the ending of the US embargo could mean the end of environmental preservation in Cuba.
The First Six Months of Rising Voices
As we all get ready to enter 2008, Rising Voices celebrates its first six months of existence. It is time to step back, reflect on where we've come and think about where we are going.
Slovenia: Janez Drnovšek's Legacy
Sleeping With Pengovsky writes about the political legacy of Slovenia's ex-president Janez Drnovšek.
Ukraine: Hotels
Our Man in Gdansk suspects there's a difference between Kyiv hotels and those outside Ukraine's capital.
Europe: Good-Bye to More Borders
Novala, Europa says good-bye to border-crossings as more countries join the Schengen zone.
Afghanistan: Reconstruction Under Way
Peter Marton tells about the developments in the Afghanistan's province of Uruzgan, and covers a Netherlands-funded project for the infrastructural project there.
Ukraine: Yulia Tymoshenko and Coal Miners
Yulia Tymoshenko returned as Ukraine's prime minister on Dec. 18. Five days later, she was in Donetsk region, visiting the site of Ukraine's worst coal mining accident, the troubled Zasyadko mine. While there, she declared: "We'll be working on it and will make it so that in our country both young people and children would want to become coal miners." Below is a discussion of Tymoshenko's promise that took place at Korrespondent.net, a Ukrainian news site.
Russia: Putinism; Putin's Fortune
Sean's Russia Blog writes about “Putinism” and Putin's alleged personal wealth.
Russia: Christmas Tree Decorations
Here is a holiday season story that's got very little of the traditional holiday spirit in it. Posted by LJ user souffrante and accompanied by Valeriy Leushev's photos, it's as much about Russian bloggers' childhood memories as it is about globalization, consumer nationalism, bad management, labor rights and the power of blogging.
TBCS interns talk about the development of Sierra Leone
This week we have updates from the Sierra Leone-based Rising Voices outreach grant winner, Think Build Change Salone (TBCS). Participants of the TBCS project post more of their experiences as interns in local non-profit organizations in Sierra Leone.
Tajiksitan: Parliament against witches
Tajikistan is trying to put a spell on witchcraft and fortune-telling. Actually, this comes as a no-surprise to many Tajiks after all those strange laws that have been passed one...
