Stories about Development from July, 2011
El Salvador: Human Chain in San Salvador to Demand Dignified Housing
On Saturday, July 16, “a human chain stretched more than 2 kilometers through San Salvador to emphasize the type of human solidarity needed to resolve the tragedy of marginalized housing conditions. Residents of marginalized communities are locking hands with university students, middle class activists, youths and others in a chain...
Bolivia: New Road Threatens Indigenous Territory of Isiboro Sécure
Bolivian President Evo Morales is under heavy criticism for his insistence in building a road that would pass through the Indigenous Territory and National Park of Isiboro Sécure, contradicting his international reputation as a defender of indigenous autonomous rights and environmental protection.
East Timor's Strategic Development Plan
The East Timor government has drafted its Strategic Development Plan which envisions a double digit annual GDP growth in the next two decades. La'o Hamutuk gives an initial analysis and some suggestions to improve the plan.
Bangladesh: The Link Between Aid Work And Islamic Extremism
Shawn Ahmed at Uncultured.com writes about the link between aid work and Islamic extremism in developing countries providing examples from Bangladesh.
Guinea: Mass Slaughter of Cattles After Ethnic Clashes
According to guineelibre.com [fr] “Over 1,200 cattle were slaughtered after ethnic clashes between Fulani and Malinke – the minority groups of Guinea – reported residents of the village of Thiakoro, in south-eastern Guinea.”
Bermuda: Out of Sync Development
Of the controversial Bazarian development, Vexed Bermoothes says: “We have some screwy priorities in this country. We refused to plan for housing that our international executives could buy…and then we give concessions in order to develop the same thing under the guise of tourism.”
Bahamas: Road Works
Weblog Bahamas‘ Jerome Pinder wonders if the New Providence Road Improvement Project is a “road to nowhere…”
Russia: Illusory Economic Stagnation?
Anatoly Karlin of Sublime Oblivion argues that the view of Russian economic stagnation is illusory, if taking demography, development level, etc into account.
China: High-speed rail
Many Chinese raised serious questions about the safety, comfort and efficiency of the new high-speed rail line, in particular after the three malfunctions[zh] in the space of four days (Between July 10-14). (Details from China Media Project)
Venezuela: Caracas ‘At Its Best’ Thanks to Citizen Initiatives
Mirelis Morales Tovar in her blog Caracas Ciudad de la Furia [es] argues that Caracas is “at its best” thanks to citizen-led initiatives that aim to improve the city. She reviews three of these projects.
Bahamas: Land Use Planning
As the government considers using the Exumas island chain “as a model for land use planning throughout the country”, Bahama Pundit‘s Larry Smith says that “the $64,000 question is how to make all these good intentions real to the average Bahamian as well as to developers.”
China: Mining in Tibet
The Tibetan Plateau shares some data with its readers on mining activities in Tibet.
El Salvador: The Challenges of Urbanization
Voices from El Salvador says that urbanization is becoming “increasingly problematic, specifically in terms of poverty, violence and health. […] El Salvador does not have the necessary mechanisms in place to offer everyone in the cities the resources and services they need to pursue a better life.”
Bangladesh: A Conversation with Dr. Muhammad yunus
An Ordinary Citizen recently met Bangladeshi Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the Social Business Day event in Dhaka and shares a conversation with him.
Panama: What Does ‘Middle Class’ Mean?
In Contrapunto [es], Hannah asks what it means to be part of the ‘middle class’ in Panama. Sociologists and economists place the mark at a minimum monthly salary of $500 USD, she explains. But Hannah wonders if a ‘middle class’ family can really cover all its needs with $500 a...
China: The danger of a quick visit
C. Custer from China Geeks reminds foreign businessmen and media that the impression one can get in a quick visit in China is usually impartial and misleading.
China: High speed rail malfunction
David Bandurski from China Media Project on Chinese netizens’ responses to the malfunction of the brand-new Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway on July 10, 2011.
Lithuania: Emigration Problems
With a Grain of Druska writes about Lithuania's worsening demographic situation: “[…] Population has decreased about 19 per cent (the same as if 62.3 million US citizens left the U.S.A.). And best case scenario, another 16.7 per cent of the population will disappear. You would think that supporting families, creating...
Belarus: An Overview of Political Situation
At OpenDemocracy.net, an overview of the situation in Belarus, by Janek Lasocki.
Russia: Expert Goes Public to Prevent Passing New Law on Private Data
Yevgeni Tsarev, security and privacy expert and blogger, publishes an open address [ru] to president Medvedev. Following the meeting with the bloggers Medvedev promised to adjust the law on private data in order to make it closer to the European and international norms. The draft bill that was prepared after...
Bahamas: Saving the Forests
“Ever since the pine forests of the Bahamas were logged during the first 60 or so years of the last century, their ultimate survival has been in jeopardy due to conflicts with agricultural and commercial development”: Blogging at Bahama Pundit, Larry Smith says that “a new Forestry Act passed last...