Stories about Development from November, 2007
Pakistan: The biggest problem
The Pakistani Spectator on illiteracy in the country and why the government needs to take quick action.
Barbados, St. Vincent: Rhodes Scholar
Barbados Underground pays tribute to young Vincentian Robert Luke Browne, the 2008 Rhodes Scholar for the Eastern Caribbean.
D. R. of Congo: Interview with ‘Best Francophone Blogger’ Cédric Kalonji
It's always heartening to see a good blog make the leap from a niche audience to wider recognition. Global Voices interviews the Kinshasa-based author of this year's 'Best Blog in French' (as chosen by the Best of Blogs jury).
Armenia: World Bank Corruption Allegations
Oneworld Multimedia reports that although the mainstream media in Armenia are covering allegations of corruption in World Bank projects in the country, it was blogs that broke the news months before any newspaper or online publication.
Belize: Flight Ban
Back to Living in Paradise reports that a civil aviation ban barring two of Belize's airlines from flying into Guatemala has been having far-ranging effects: “While the airlines have been forced to refund fares…the biggest loser has been the tourist industry in Peten which has been deprived of around thirty...
Hong Kong: Street Market Festival
The last open space wet market in Central Hong Kong is about to vanish because of urban development. Citizen reporter gumpz reports on the recent street market festival for saving the space. He also pointed out that under the existing urban redevelopment plan, with the rise in office and commercial...
Caribbean: Blogalization
What does the term "blogalization" mean to the Caribbean? In this post, a few regional bloggers weigh in. Guyana-Gyal said: "I don't know who coined it…I first used it in June, then found others have been using it before. In some small way, can blogging for the Caribbean be like globalization?..."
Georgia: Development
Despite recent opposition protests and a state of emergency being declared, Social Science in the Caucasus reports that in general, “Georgia has been doing well” in terms of progress in many areas. Nevertheless, despite concluding that “Georgia is and remains a success story,” the blog says “the successes can be...
China: Social Stability via Negotiation
Sun Liping argues that it is rather unlikely for China to face major social turmoil nowadays (zh) because the market economy has divert social conflicts and there aren't any major ideological struggles. It is, therefore, necessary to set up mechanism for solving conflicts of interest among different social groups.
Ukraine: The Deadliest Coal Mine Accident
Ukrainiana reports on the deadly blast at the Zasyadka coal mine in Ukraine's Donetsk region (80 miners killed, 20 still missing) – and on Yukhym Zvyahylsky, the man who “controls” the mine.
Serbia, Macedonia: Travel Photos
Novala, Europa has a lot of new photos from Kosovo and Macedonia – here, here, here, and here.
Brazil: Extreme poverty is halved
Edson Lima [pt] comments on a good piece of news: “Brazil has accomplished, ten years before the deadline set by the UN, the target of halving the percentage of the population that live in extreme poverty”. According to a report by the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA), beteween 1990...
Zambia: Statistics, maize and poverty
New Zambia blog discusses the work of the Central Statistical Office in Zambia: “The Central Statistical Office have been doing some brilliant work to bring to life some of their data. There's still some distance to go to get underneath some numbers….”
Morocco: Trampling Marakkesh
Marakkesh is regaining its days of glory as the Mecca of tourists. With new mentions in international media, what do Moroccan bloggers have to say about the influx of tourists into their country? Here are the views from two of Morocco's louder bloggers.
Laos: Development in Pakse
Laovoices has images from fast developing river town Pakse in Laos.
Rising Voices in Sierra Leone and Bangladesh
This week we highlight developments of two of the Rising Voices grantees in Asia and Africa. Interns at the Think Build Change Salone in Sierra Leone are starting to document their experiences while Bangladeshi women at the Nari Jibon center add video and photography to their skill kit.
Barbados: Evolving Architecture
Cheese-on-bread follows the evolution of Barbadian architecture.
Dominica: CSME
“The deep complexes Caribbean people still have cannot be buried under Caribbean unity,” says Caribbean Man, as he encounters limitations with the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.
The other side of the coin: English blogs in Burkina Faso
As Burkinabé journalist Rasmata Some pointed out last month: “In Burkina Faso, blogging is more than a pastime. It is the eyes and ears of thousands of net users.” She was writing about French-language blogs of this former French colony. For Burkinabé journalists and citizens, she says, the blogsphere is a place to freely report and discuss topics the government would rather have left unsaid. For the growing list of English-language bloggers in Burkina Faso, blogging is also more than a pastime.
Jamaica: Ignorance or Bliss?
“It hurts me to say the truth — those of us in Jamaica who are educated and employed benefit from those who aren't,” writes Francis Wade, as he blogs about economic realities.
Malaysia: Book Banned
Malaysian opposition politician Lim Kit Siang regrets Malaysian government's decision to ban a book by a progressive religious scholar from Indonesia. One of the commentator feels the ban is a good thing as now more people would be interested in reading it.
