Stories about Development from June, 2009
Pakistan: The Real Problem
Talkhaba points to the water shortage problem in some provinces of Pakistan and criticizes the bickering between the political parties representing provinces, who blamed each other.
Trinidad & Tobago: Memory Lane
Diaspora blogger Jumbie's Watch remembers the simple pleasures of growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, saying: “Times have changed.”
Russia: Lingering high mortality rates
Streetwise Professor writes about the prevalent high mortality rates among the Russian population, based on figures from the Lancet published by Reuters, with interesting comments by Sublime Oblivion.
Russia: Paradoxes of population growth
LJ user about:blank comments on [RUS] recent research comparing Russian population growth with average income in various regions and cities 1990-2009, coming up with the interesting result that the country's second and third cities, St. Petersburg and Nizhny Novogorod, are making moderate progress in comparison to many other less developed...
Ghana: New Media in the Hands of Young Ghanaians
Operated by young people, for young people, YPWC exploits new media to create links with like-minded individuals and organisations around the world to enhance opportunities for young people here in Ghana.
Bangladesh: Grameen – Workable Idea Worldwide
Naveen Bachwani at Grey Matter is fascinated by the works of Grameen Bank and Dr. Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh. His idea of Microcredit and Social business has been replicated in many countries and can work in any country of the world.
Palestine: Support Requested For West Bank Villagers
The activists of The Villages Group are requesting support for the villagers of Susya in the southern Hebron Hills in the West Bank.
China: Building collapsed in Shanghai
At around 5:30am on June 27, an unoccupied building still under construction at Lianhuanan Road in the Minxing district of Shanghai city toppled over. Want to see the amazing scene? via ESWN.
Czech Republic: No Olympics in Prague
Due to the economic crisis, Prague has abandoned plans to host the 2016 Olympics, CzechFolks.com reports.
Dominican Republic: Against the Cement Factory in Los Haitises
Dominicans have been protesting against the proposed construction of a cement factory in the protected area of Los Haitises National Park. Citing the rich biodiversity in this ecosystem, many feel like the flora and fauna would be damaged and that there are other places where this development could take place. Those involved in the online campaigns have felt like celebrating when a judge ruled that the development should be suspended due to these concerns.
Israel: 7th Most Internet Connected Country in World
Israel is the world's 7th most internet connected society, reports Lirun of East Med Sea Peace. “It means many things,” he writes: “Freedom of information, freedom of expression, freedom of e-activism, freedom of e-entrepreneurship, freedom of media verification, freedom of online association and congregation. It's unlimited…”
Bahamas: Rally Call
Womanish Words says that “the city of Nassau…looks as bad as we feel”, adding: “We have to rally. We have to restore Nassau so that we can restore ourselves.”
Dominica, Venezuela: The Motherland?
Following Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's visit to the island, Dominica Weekly says: “Many Dominicans have focused narrowly on the lavish developmental aid of Chavez than focusing on the fundamental issue at hand: do we support Chavez’s ideology and his vision of the motherhood of Latin American and the Caribbean.”
Metropolis TV and Hivos: Independent People Videos
Metropolis TV is a Hivos and VPRO TV project based in the Netherlands, which brings together film-makers and civil video journalists from all over the world to record and transmit different aspects of life and culture in their homeland. Following, a few videos selected and played on the Netherlands TV station VPRO forWorld Humanist Day around a specific subject: to recognize individuals who live under the ideal of independence and being in control of their own lives.
South Korea: Old city is gone
Matt from Gust of popular feeling showed how a large part of the old Seoul city, Pimatgol/Cheongjin-dong area north of Jongno between Gwanghwamun and Jonggak Station, has been shrouded by steel and blanket fences in preparation for demolition.
Pakistan: Enriching Google Map Data
Pro Pakistani informs that “Pakistani netizens are posting more localized information and data to the Google’s ‘map maker’ than the web users of any of the 160 countries”.
Malawi: Malawians are not fools
Kondwani tells the British media that Malawians are not fools: “We are not a foolish people and niether do we spend time hero worship a human being. Malawi is a God fearinf[g] country, ranked number two in Africa as the most peaceful country and by the Economic Intelligence Unit as...
Azerbaijan: Alarming news for civil society
Thoughts on the Road comments on news that Azerbaijan's already underdeveloped civil society is facing a new threat in the form of legislation governing NGOs in the country to be discussed later this week.
Russia, U.S.: Reactions to WSJ Story on Web-Savvy Homeless
Earlier this month, Russian social networking portal Habrahabr.ru featured photos and some translated text from the May 30 Wall Street Journal piece on the online presence of the U.S. homeless - On the Street and On Facebook: The Homeless Stay Wired. The original English-language story has generated 93 comments. On Habrahabr.ru, there are currently 183 responses - and below are some of them.
South Africa: Amandla! News Diary to support community media
Brett writes about a new project to support community media in South Africa: “The Alternative Information Development Centre (AIDC) is working in partnership with the National Community Radio forum (NCRF) to produce a quarterly Amandla! News Diary. The Diary aims to support community media projects in South Africa…”
Bangladesh: Dharmarajika Monastery, Orphange and School in Dhaka
Uncultured.com helps the students of Dharmarajika Monastery, Orphange and School in Dhaka with geometry sets, school uniforms and course workbooks. Here is a photoblog describing the efforts.
