Stories about Development from April, 2009
India: TEDIndia Fellows program
The TED Conference is now accepting applications for 100 TEDIndia Fellows to participate in the TEDIndia Conference in Mysore, India. Approximately 75% of the Fellows will represent the South Asian region, and 25% will represent other regions of the world. For information about how to apply please visit this and...
Kazakhstan: Expansion of the Uranium Industry
Joshua Foust reports that Kazakhstan is aggressively internationalizing its uranium industry by opening new mines, establishing high-profile international partnerships and lobbying for the global uranium fuel bank.
China: Ongoing urbanization
With the Olympics long gone, the gentrification of Beijing neighborhoods continues. “Still, the signs go up, the schools and shops close down, and jobs, education and the prospect of permanent residence are suspended,” writes changing china blogger Ray Deng in his two-part photo essay.
China: Growing climigration
At Absurdity, Allegory and China, Jim Gourley discusses the extent and severity of China's climigration problem, and the reasons there's yet to be seen meaningful change.
China: Year of the solar
Julian Wong at The Green Leap Forward scans the plans the “California of China” has to boost solar power projects this year and for the coming few.
Cuba: Path to the Future
“This little accessory hanging from the hip could well come to be all the newspapers we lack at the kiosks”: Cuba's Generation Y has faith in the potential of SMS to be a reliable source of information.
Cambodia: Road accidents
Road and traffic accidents have been increasing in Cambodia, especially in the capital city of Phnom Penh.
China: Why people don't use voicemail
Instant talking, with interruption, anytime, anywhere. Jian Shuo Wang looks back at why voicemail failed to take off in China and remains unpopular today.
Trinidad & Tobago: Re-engineering
“In Trinidad and Tobago engineers and scientist are not encouraged to build and innovate”: This Beach Called Life explains.
South Africa: UnFreedom Day in South Africa
Sokari writes about Fredom Day in South Africa: Today is Freedom Day in South Africa. However for many in SA the notion of freedom is as illusive as ever as under the new apartheid where the poor are disenfranchised and excluded through the Kwa Zula-Natal Slums Act.
Ukraine: The Ruins and the Greed
LJ user sabeloff posts pictures of the ruined remains of a seaside young pioneer camp in Odesa and shares the recent history of the place - which, unfortunately, is a rather common sight in today's Ukraine.
Kazakhstan: Uneven Development
Thousand-Pa reflects on the patterns of socio-economic development in Kazakhstan and suggests that the main reason for little progress is uneven distribution of efforts and funds.
Azerbaijan: Back in Baku
Scary Azeri in Suburbs returns to her native Baku. Posting photographs of the Azerbaijani capital, the blogger, now resident in the U.K., says that the city is full of contrasts and changes.
Saudi Arabia: First Women-only Fashion Show Held
Writing at Mideast Youth, Ahmad Ghashmary reports on Saudi Arabia's first fashion show, which was held for women only – and where cameras were not allowed.
Bahamas: The Economics of Culture
“It is not foreign investment that economists and development agencies are suggesting is the engine of economic development in the 21st century; it’s culture”: Nicolette Bethel thinks that the Bahamian government's apparent postponement of the Caribbean Festival of Arts is “a terrible idea”.
Global Recession: The world is talking. Are we listening?
There is no lack of online articles about the various aspects of the global economic crisis. Many of them are written by economic experts and policymakers. What about the perspectives of ordinary bloggers? This global roundup of blogs gathers stories of people around the world who are struggling to survive the economic downturn.
Global Recession: “Underdevelopment is a mixed blessing”
There are governments which insist that their countries are not affected by the global economic crisis. Most of the time they are not convincing; and their constituents do not believe in the supposed improvement of the economy. Countries with very small economies and countries which are not globally-integrated are usually the same countries which claim that the financial crisis has not affected them so far.
Taiwan: Integration with South China
Michael Turton from the View from Taiwan comments on the SCMP's report on Taichung Mayor Jason Hu's proposal calling for a further integration with South China, including Hong Kong with Taiwan to form a mega-region.
Haiti: Donor's Conference
“When it comes to development, it is not a one day conference that matters most but long-term engagement”: Haiti Innovation reviews the recently concluded Haiti Donors Conference, while Haiti, Land of Freedom notes that “the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) plans to go forward with partial Senate elections this weekend.”
Mali: Model village show power of investing in people
Le Pangolin writes about Teriya Bugu, a model village on the Niger river, in Mali, “proof that Africa has every opportunity to advance so long as it invests in people, especially farmers. Hope is a value Africa should invest in” [Fr]
Qatar, Dubai: Responding To British Media “Bashing”
In recent weeks reports in the British media about the Gulf states of Qatar, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, have provoked debate amongst bloggers in both places.
