Stories about Disaster from May, 2009
China: Earthquake, one year later
Michele Scrimenti from Chinageek translate Chang Ping's article on the 1st anniversary of Sichuan earthquake: Earthquake, One Year Later: Today Should Not Be a Celebration.
Sri Lanka: Satellite Image Proves Shelling Of Civilians
ICT For Peacebuilding (ICT4PEACE) posts an image from a commercial satellite and quotes a Human Rights Watch report, which claims that indiscriminate shelling of civilians is going on in the North of Sri Lanka. The blog comments: “Unless the argument is made that commercial satellite imagery is also pro-LTTE, this...
Pakistan: Information About IDPs
A new website has been launched documenting reliable information, including pictures and videos about the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) from FATA, Swat, Dir and Buner in Pakistan.
China: 1st Anniversary Of The 5.12 Sichuan Earthquake
Today is the 1st anniversary of the May 12 Sichuan earthquake. Kai Pan from CN review has selected 6 popular online videos for commemoration of the disaster.
Brazil: When climate change meets cyber-activism
In another display of global climate change, Brazil has suffered an inversion of its usual weather for this time of the year. The traditionally dry North and Northeast regions of Brazil have been devastated by floods, whilst the usually wet south of the country is suffering a severe drought. People have gathered together in online social networks to cover the news and create an alliance to aid the populations hit by yet another natural disaster. It is cyber-activism at full speed.
Sri Lanka: Helping The IDPs
Sarvodaya, the largest and most established NGO in Sri Lanka, has been at the forefront of helping the IDPs in the Sri Lanka's war ravaged north. Learn more about their efforts from their blog.
Afghanistan: Civilian Casualties Problem
Joshua Foust reports that the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan has ordered an investigation into a reported massive civilian casualty strike and adds that some commentators unacceptably blame the civilians themselves for being caught in the middle.
Ecuador: Lawsuit Against Oil Company for Environmental Damage
Communities in the Ecuadorian Orient are suing the multinational company Texaco, and its parent company Chevron for environmental damages and resulting health problems in their residents. However, the company claims that it has already paid for the pollution, and that the government is trying to dip its hands into their "deep pockets." It is also accused of applying pressure to the judge for a favorable decision. As a result, it has started a public relations campaign to show its side to the story.
Pakistan: Help The IDPs
Chowrangi blog appeals to the world community to help the 500,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in Pakistan and posts ways to help them.
Peru: Flooding in Iquitos
Floods continue to be a major problem in the city of Iquitos, Peru with the rise of the Amazon River and its tributaries. Juan Arellano of Globalizado [es] has photos of how the water is affecting houses built in flood-vulnerable areas in the Punchana district.
China: Car racing incident
On 7 of May, around 20:05, a 25 year-old young man Tan Zhuo (譚卓 see thumb nail photo) was hit and killed by a racing car when he was walking in a zebra crossing at Wen E Si road in Han Zhou. According to witnesses, the car was racing with...
Russia: More Coverage of Moscow Fire
Some more blog coverage of the fire in Moscow: A YouTube video by Andrei Kharlanov, who is also posting updates (RUS) and photos on Twitter – @andreikharlanov; LJ user q-u-a-t-t-r-o (lives 1.5 km away from the fire, reports from as close as 600 meters), LJ user eparhial, LJ user unter_dem_meer,...
Russia: Gas Pipeline Blast in Moscow
Russian bloggers are posting photos of the fire caused by a gas pipeline blast in Moscow a few hours ago: LJ user buchwurm, LJ user goodwine, LJ user principiale, LJ user maroot, LJ user volland. A YouTube video by HorseWhispererRF is here.
Central & Eastern Europe: Swine Flu (aka “California 0409”)
Below are some of the Central and Eastern Europe bloggers' reactions to news reports on swine flu and measures taken by some of the governments to keep the disease from spreading to their countries.
Philippines: City Hall on fire
A city councilor in the Philippines blogs about the fire accident which damaged her office and several parts of the city hall complex.
Pakistan: Internally Displaced Persons
CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan updates the latest state of the Pakistan’s Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who are fleeing the fighting escalated by the military’s recent operations against the Taliban.
Southeast Asia: Twitter reactions on H1N1 virus
In the previous post, I featured the reactions of Southeast Asian bloggers on the H1N1 virus. This time, I will highlight the twitter reactions from twitterers in the region. Twitter posts are alternative sources of information and news updates about the virus scare. They also help us figure out the sentiments and knowledge of ordinary citizens about the H1N1.
Vietnam: Masks against pollution
In Vietnam many people wear masks not as a precautionary measure against contracting the H1N1 virus. Masks are used because of the dust in the city.
Tanzania: Dar es Salaam Armoury Explosion Death Toll Rises
The death toll from the military depot blast in Dar es Salaam has gone up to 22. Six service personnel and 16 civilians have been confirmed as killed by the military depot blast on Wednesday April 29, 2009, at the Mbagala Armoury, 15 kilometres outside the city centre of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city with a population of about 3.5 million. J. Nambiza Tungaraza visits Tanzanian Swahili blogs discussing the tragic accident.
Martinique: Flooding Deaths
Repeating Islands reports that four people have died as a result of torrential rains and flooding in Martinique.
Ukraine: Interview With Michael Forster Rothbart
Natalia Antonova of GlobalComment interviews photographer Michael Forster Rothbart about his “Inside Chernobyl: Life Goes On” exhibition that opened in Kyiv in April.
