Stories about Development from August, 2006
Russia: Real Estate and Oil
Yuri Mamchur of Russia Blog examines whether there is a connection between real estate prices in Russia and the oil prices; his conclusion: “Even if the oil prices miraculously collapsed to $15 a barrel tomorrow, real estate prices in Russia will only continue to go up.”
Poland, Russia: Mutual Blockades and Other Issues
Copydude writes about the blockade of the Polish Port of Elblag by Russia, the visa blockade of Kaliningrad Russians by Poland, and other aspects of Poland's complex relationship with Russia on one side and Germany on the other.
Trinidad & Tobago: CSME politics
Jamaican Francis Wade is disturbed at the Trinidad and Tobago opposition leader's efforts to politicise the Caricom Single Market and Economy and tries to discern the thinking behind it.
Brunei: History of Oil Exploration
The blogger at The Daily Brunei Resources discusses a book on oil exploration in Brunei. Oil and natural gas production contribute to almost half of Brunei's GDP.
Russia: Real Estate and Chinese Investors
Russia Blog writes about Moscow real estate and the Chinese investors’ plans for Moscow and St. Petersburg.
China: GDP calculation
Rosu in Bullog points out that the calculation of GDP by the National Statistic Bureau is very arbitrary. According to the reports from 31 provinces, the growth of GDP in the first half year should be 12%. However, the figure given out by the Bureau is 10.9%. The difference is...
China: my future is not a dream
The Asia Media Forum introduces a T.V soap drama, My future is not a dream, in China (Sichuan). It's tareget audience are rural migrant workers, whose dreams are starting small business. The drama is a collaboration between the TV network, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Start and Improve Your...
Panama: Donald Trump's Panama
The Panama Real Estate blog has an interesting article about how Donald Trump has fallen so much in love with Panama that he is building a $220 Million, 65 story (2.4 Million square foot) hotel/condo monoliths called the Trump Ocean Club International Hotel & Tower in a posh Panama City...
South Korea: politics of naming
Jamie from Two Koreas discusses about the politics of naming of apartment complexs: “What is so curious about it is that the names used are actually pretty crass and offensive.”
Belize: Hopkins Village
Lee considers the future of a Garifuna village in Belize, which “is disappearing little bit by little bit. Not to beach erosion but to an influx of million dollar concrete beachfront homes and resorts,” and links to an article with quotations from both residents of the area and visitors.
Estonia: Comparison With Finland
Bonjour l'Estonie compares Finland to Estonia: “Many Finns expected Estonia to build a Social-Democratic style welfare state, and were surprised and to some degree miffed that Estonia, which they wanted to regard as a little brother, chose to model itself after America rather than after Finland.”
Barbados: Ethanol skepticism
Barbardos Free Press is highly skeptical of the government's plans to “restructure the sugar industry with emphasis on the use of ethanol for fuel.”
Bangladesh: Movies and landscapes
Dhristipat Group Blog on the changing (or not) landscape of Bangladesh that appeared in a movie fifty years back – “Around the world in 80 days”.
Caribbean: Colonial artifacts
Jeremy Taylor ponders the appropriate uses of colonial forms and artifacts in the Caribbean context.
Cuba: Critiquing the right wing view
Zenia, writing from Pinar del Rio, Cuba, critiques (ES) the ways Cuba is viewed by the right-wing press: “‘In Cuba many people don't have MP3 players or cell phones.’ That's one of the criticisms circulating in cyberspace these days from the right. . . . “
Bermuda: Sustainable Develoopment Plan
Charlotte Andrews reports on a public meeting convened to dicuss the Bermuda Government's Draft Sustainable Development Strategy and Implementation Plan.
Bahamas: After Castro
Larry Smith writes about the potential long-term effects of Fidel Castro's exit on the Bahamas, notably in the area of tourism.
Albania: Letter to the Country
David Sheern writes a letter to Albania, advising it “on how to become a better nation.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Smelter activity continues
Rights Action T&T, a blog designed to support the protest against the establishment of an aluminium smelter in a community in southern Trinidad, issues a press release reporting that preparations for the establishment of boreholes have begun in the area, and deploring aluminium company Alcoa's “continued attempts to psychologically intimidate...
Brunei: Digital Divide
The blogger at Our Local Style looks at the digital divide in South East Asia.
Philippines: Visiting Basilan
Filipino travel and heritage blogger Ivan Henares is travelling again.Basilan. “Today, I visited Basilan. Just the mere mention of the name evokes fear among those unfamiliar with the place. Every time I told someone that I was on my way to Basilan, I received a shocked response. Who would want...
