Stories about Development from June, 2008
Afghanistan: Securing Future in Paris
Afghan PenLog opines on the Paris Support Conference, saying that the international community re-engaged in the country with a very light footprint.
Afghanistan: Lack of drinking water in Balkh province
The Rumi says that thousands of families have been forced to leave their homes due to food and drinking water scarcity in Balkh, northern province of Afghanistan.
Kenya: Jobsearching using mobile phone
Ethan writes about Kazi560, a jobsearching service via mobile phone in Kenya: “Unemployment is a major problem in Kenya, especially in informal settlements. A creative solution, called Kazi560, is having great success matching blue-collar workers with jobs via SMS. If you’re a laborer, you can spend an amazing amount of...
Africa: Harubuntu 2008
Emeka writes about a competition for African creators of hope and wealth: “The tagline of the Harubuntu competition ‘there is value in this place’ signifies its intent to “publicise the ideas of dynamic Africans who are creating important projects which both foster hope and create wealth”
Ukraine: Rinat Akhmetov
Ukrainiana writes about Rinat Akhmetov, allegedly the richest man in Ukraine, the CIS and the EU.
Bahamas: At the Crossroads
Rick Lowe at Weblog Bahamas says that his country is at the crossroads.
Cuba: Paying for Performance
Uncommon Sense and Child of the Revolution report on “a new rule that will allow Cubans to earn according (to) their labor”.
China: Self-Victimization Ideology
The former Singapore president Lee Kuan Yew recently suggested that when China's middle class grows in size, the educated people would stop perceiving themselves as victims of the West. Xueyong pointed out that in the recent Olympic torch relay protest, the overseas Chinese students continued the East vs. West dichotomy...
China: Olympic outhouses catch on fire, explode
The 24 Hours Online blogger Laohu ‘Tiger Temple’ Miao, who spent months earlier this year blogging the stories of destitute Beijing residents whose makeshift homes were harmonized to make way for the Olympics brings us a post today about a fire yesterday not far from the Olympic Bird Nest which...
Mexico: Suburb Satellite City
Ciudad Satélite was “the first American-style planned suburb in Mexico” during the 1940s and 50s. Mario of Candyland posts a video of one of the first commercials promoting this new way of living.
Guatemala: 4 Balames Archaeological Park
A new archaeological park called “4 Balames” is set to open in the Petén Department in Guatmala. Claudia Navas of Ordinaria Locura [es] is looking forward to this new tourist attraction, which can help bring development and jobs to this much-needed part of the country
India: Children and Cameras
A not-for-profit organisation in India gets children to use digital cameras to empower them. More at Freedom of Expression.
Botswana: Nata Village gets an internet cafe
Nata village in Botswana gets an internet cafe: “Hallelujah!!! We are 120 miles from a bank and a grocery store but we're getting an internet cafe. Pictured above is the small addition to the Nata Post office. Thanks to Post Net, the government postal service in Botswana, we are getting...
Africa: 2009 AfricaBike
The start of 2009 AfricaBike: “Looking ahead to 2009, the AfricaBike has been given a few modifications. As always, it's still designed with the African terrain and people in mind, but the new overhaul is, well, a bit burlier.”
Trinidad & Tobago: How to Save the Planet
This Beach Called Life says that “Trinidad and Tobago is currently listed as the 5th largest emitter of carbon dioxide per capita in the world, a fact that has made our Prime Minister blush with pride and our trees to die without dignity.”
Kazakhstan: Astana Won’t be Renamed. So far
Adam tells about the initiative by the former Defense Minister and incumbent MP to rename Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, to Nursultan in honor of the president of Kazakhstan, and the president’s reaction to this idea.
Kuwait: Wrong Information on the Poor
Kuwaiti blogger Frankom [Ar] questions the source of information of an Arabic news site which reported that half of Kuwait's 1 million-strong population lives below the poverty line.
China: Why School Crumbled?
Hu Yong said that the Chinese government should answer to the question why schools were crumbled in the earthquake zone. The blogger insisted that if the truth was buried, China would have no future [zh].
Turkmenistan: Internet in Turkmenistan
Peter reports on the Turkmen government’s contradictory policies on Internet access.
Kazakhstan: New symbols of Astana
KZBlog reports that Astana, the Kazakhstan's young capital city, has got a new flag and seal, designed by the President to fit more for the fast-growing capital of “a modern nation”.
Russia: eXile on Nemtsov's Analysis
Sean Guillory of Sean's Russia Blog links to his piece in eXile – “Nemtsov’s White Paper: Bombshell or Dud?” In the comments, readers discuss, among other things, eXile and the problems the paper's facing now.
