· March, 2008

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...

30 March 2008

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.)

21 March 2008

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.

19 March 2008

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!

19 March 2008

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...

18 March 2008

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...

15 March 2008

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...

14 March 2008

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.

11 March 2008

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.”

11 March 2008

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.

7 March 2008

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.

2 March 2008