Stories about Disaster from December, 2007
Arabeyes: Sad for Bhutto
News of the murder of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was received with shock across the Middle East. Bloggers reacted in awe, shock, anger and submission to the hopelessness of the human race.
Russia: Holiday Charity (via Egoism)
Russia is embarking on a 10-day national vacation: from Dec. 30 to Jan. 8, the country will be celebrating the New Year's and Orthodox Christmas - and should also have enough time to rest, relax and sober up in between. Charity isn't among the most popular subjects in the Russian blogosphere during the festive season, although some bloggers do discuss ways of helping the poor and needy this year. Below is one blogger's musings on charity and selfishness, as well as a perfectly explicit call to action.
Russia: Messina Earthquake and Russian Sailors
De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis writes about Russian sailors’ participation in the rescue operations following the 1908 earthquake in Messina, Sicily.
Tajikistan: Fire at the Medical University
Vadim reports that — due a metal fence — firefighters could not put out the fire that has ruined the major medical university in Tajikistan.
Poland: Ecology, Coal Mines, Iraq
Our Man in Gdansk comments on the coverage of Poland's ecology, coal mines and involvement in Iraq.
Ukraine: Yulia Tymoshenko and Coal Miners
Yulia Tymoshenko returned as Ukraine's prime minister on Dec. 18. Five days later, she was in Donetsk region, visiting the site of Ukraine's worst coal mining accident, the troubled Zasyadko mine. While there, she declared: "We'll be working on it and will make it so that in our country both young people and children would want to become coal miners." Below is a discussion of Tymoshenko's promise that took place at Korrespondent.net, a Ukrainian news site.
Sri Lanka: Tsunami and Verse
Moving Images, Moving People! writes a moving post on the anguish the Tsunami caused.
Tajikistan: Avalanche kills people
Vadim reports that an avalanche killed sixteen people on the road connecting Khujand and Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan.
China: Sobbing without tears
A land thirsty for water is calling for help. How many more villages would die out due to the drought? How much more land would be eroded, even buried by sand?
Syria: Friend Kidnapped in Saudi Arabia
Syrian Kinan Jarjous, who lives in Dubai, narrates to us hos his friend was kidnapped and robbed in Saudi Arabia.
Malaysia: Flood Images
Kickedefella has some images of the flooding in Kampung Gelang Mas- Eastern peninsular Malaysia.
Bangladesh: Miracle Boy
Voice Of South on a “miracle-boy” – a seven year old child saved from the cyclone.
Mexico: Open Architecture and Low Cost Housing for Tabasco
HJ Barranza of Neverwonderland looks at the possibility of using open architecture and low cost housing and how it can help rebuild flood-ravaged Tabasco, Mexico.
South Korea and Hong Kong: Worst Oil Spill
mins0306 from the Marmot's Hole blogs about the worst oil spill happened in South Korea last weekend.
Armenia: More Earthquake Recollections
Unzipped also remembers the day of the Armenian Earthquake which happened 19 years ago on 7 December 1988.
Armenia: Quake Anniversary
On the 19th Anniversary of the 1988 Armenian Earthquake, The Armenian Observer recalls the day of the quake when he was at school in his native Gyumri.
Ukraine: Coal Miners’ Video
Ukrainiana posts and translates “a video of real people who tell us how the smell of profits sucks the safety out of the Ukrainian mining industry.”
Bangladesh: A cyclone and its aftermath
Shawn, a Canadian in Bangladesh has accounts of the devastation caused by Cyclone Sidr.
Israel: Hanukkah, festival of light and cultural wars
Hanukkah an all-time favorite Jewish holiday, has interesting historical value dealing with issues relevant to Israeli culture and sense of identity. Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the ancient Israelites over the Greeks in a series of battles taking place around the year 165 BC. The battles were not about territory nor resources, but dealt with freedom; the right to practice religion and follow the Jewish faith. Gilad Lotan shows us how the struggle continues today.
Ukraine: “Unsung Heroes”
Orange Ukraine writes on various sources of aid to Ukraine, individual and institutional.
