Stories about Disaster from March, 2008
Angola: Rescuing videos on the YouTube
YouTube users Wylalas, benguibros and tucab74 have posted videos showing the aftermath of the collapse of the National Criminal Investigation Department (DNIC) building this weekend and the rescuing efforts in the Angolan capital Luanda. It is believed that at least 30 detainees, among them 10 women, remained trapped in the...
Guyana: Commonweath Writers’ Prize
Signifyin’ Guyana notes that among the regional winners of the 2008 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize “was Guyanese-born, Nigerian-based Karen King-Aribisala for Best Book.”
China: Civilians in violence and conflict
Thugs vs. Peacekeepers or Fighters vs. oppressors; Mob vs. Protectors or Martyrs vs. killers? Before I could judge, please allow me to present some recounts of the Tibet unrest from the commons there. (As most western media had sided with Tibetans, I basically pick quotes from common Hans for balance.)
Saudi Arabia: Two Killed in Religious Police Chase
“A boy and a girl have died in a horrific car accident after being chased by a patrol that belongs to the Commission for Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in the northern city of Tabuk,” reports Saudi Jeans.
UAE: Death and Destruction in 200-Car Crash
Driving standards in the Middle East have come under the scrutiny of bloggers after several people were killed and 350 injured in a 200-car pile up in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. While one blogger compared the carnage to what we see in the news about Iraq, others said that it was inevitable.
China: Patriotism triggered, though under censorship
A brief record of the Chinese public opinion on Tibet unrest. Attention: they are all found inside the Great Firewall. But I believe they stand for a considerable part of us Chinese. Their information sources on which they judge and think might be filtered, but don’t laugh at that---- before the time tells what’s true, you might also be manipulated!
Albania: Post-Explosion Protests
Albanian Blogger writes about the protests taking place in Tirana following the explosion.
Mexico: State of Emergency in Monterrey
The metropolitan area of Monterrey, Mexico is suffering damage from heavy winds and caused two deaths to date. Most of the city is without electricity. HJ Barraza is providing updates on his twitter account.
Albania: Explosion Aftermath
Living in Shkoder posts an update on the explosion's aftermath.
Albania: Explosion
Belatedly, a link to the coverage of a series of explosions at a weapons depot in Albania by Living in Shkoder.
Geospatial Technology and Human Rights
Varena at PingMag interviews Lars Bromley, director of the Geospatial Technologies and Human Rights Project of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), who talks about how his group uses geospatial technology to digitally capture atrocities against civilians in Darfur, Zimbabwe, North Korea, the Gaza Strip and Burma.
Ecuador: Google Maps and Flood Zones
Christian Espinosa of Cobertura Digital [es] provides an update on the project of using Google Maps to show and provide more information of the areas affected by the heavy flooding in Ecuador.
Ecuador: Natural Forces Threatening the Country
The recent diplomatic crisis in Ecuador did not stop other natural forces from producing a crisis of their own in the country. Heavy rainfalls and a threatening volcano have continued to be a focus of local bloggers, who hope that the government and media can be better equipped to handle these ongoing issues. One even poked fun at a governmental campaign that asks Ecuadorans to stay positive in spite of these hardships.
Guyana: On the Alert
As the sister of the man suspected in the two Guyana massacres is murdered, Living Guyana says: “This spells some serious trouble for the ordinary citizens of the nation.”
Madagascar: Lessons learned after 3rd severe tropical cyclone in a month
Since late January, 3 severe tropical cyclones have affected Madagascar tremendously, the latest being cyclone Jokwe who made landfall in the northern region of Madagascar, destroying 40 homes and leaving 400 people stranded in Nosy-be. The city of Antsiranana was also affected but not as extensively and Jokwe is now...
Trinidad & Tobago: Week in Review
Trinidadian blogger Jeremy Taylor gives us the week in review.
Environment: Elephant Culling and Crisis in The Mara
In this issue of Global Voices environment, we check in with various blogs around the world. The themes are varied, and some are of global concern with commentary from Kenya about elephant culling in South Africa, commentary from Europe on “Eco-colonialism” in Botswana, Brazil, DRC, Patagonia and other countries. Image...
FOKO: Bloggers put Madagascar in the spotlight
While the devastations of Hurricane Ivan were under reported in the international media, Malagasy bloggers from the Foko Blog Club filled the void using photos, videos and a map mashup.
Kazakhstan: Helicopter Crash, Governor Aboard
KZBlog reports that on February 28th, a Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations helicopter crashed in Kyzylorda oblast. Five passengers were killed and thirteen others, including the regional governor were injured.
