Stories about Economics & Business from February, 2006
Albania: Cell Phone and Electronics Market in Tirana
Alwyn Thomson of Our Man In Tirana visits local markets selling mobile phones and electronics (many of which are either stolen or fake), doesn't buy anything, and is “thankful” for being “wealthy enough not to have to choose between going without or going illegal.”
Singapore: Leap Backward
Singaland senses in the latest government budget a step backward for Singapore: “The most telling sign is the decision to build 2-room flats for sale. The government had stopped building two- and three-room flats for sale in the 1980s as Singaporeans became well off and wanted to live in bigger...
Russia: “Salt Crisis”
Two-Zero writes about “salt crisis” in Russia – allegedly, a direct consequence of the “gas crisis” in Ukraine – and the difficult relationship between Russia and Ukraine.
Singapore, Thailand: Photoblogging Protests
Singapore-based themediaslut is photoblogging protests in Thailand against business mogul and PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who last week dissolved parliament and called snap elections as a response to the public outcry over the tax-free millions earned from the sale of a controlling stake in his Shin Corp. to Singapore's Temasek Holdings.
Kenya: Poverty eradication industry
ThinkersRoom comments on the growing poverty eradication industry…“Poverty is one of the biggest employers, and what’s more, has created some of the biggest gravy trains in history”
South Africa: Failed habitats
African HOUSEIT writes on “Failed Habitats” that is the thousands of homes that lack proper sewage systems and water supplies...”Thousands in the area have no private access to water, and hundreds of people are forced to share single taps. More than 15,000 use what is euphemistically called the “bucket system”...
From the Jordanian Blogosphere
The Jordanian bloggers are angry over the attack on Islamic, particularly Shi'aa, monument the Askariya Shrine, some of them are comparing the unneeded reactions from Muslims towards the Danish cartoon fiasco to the current apartheid at the ruination of a 1200 year old mosque. Mazen Arafat says, “Where is the...
Pulse of the Saudi Blogosphere
Many different and interesting topics were discussed in the Saudi blogosphere this week, so let's start our roundup right away. What is the difference between democracy and American democracy? Hassan thinks he has the answer (Arabic). “In democracy, those who gain more votes should win. In American democracy, those who...
Report on Contracts Signed during the D.R. of Congo's Civil War Released
Le Blog du Congolais reports (FR) that a long awaited report on mining contracts signed during the Congolese civil war which ended in June 2003 was finally made available to the country's deputies in the past week or so. The report recommends 1) that several contracts be revoked or renegotiated...
Indonesia: Mining Politics
Yosef Ardi reflects on the long involvement of U.S. mining company Freeport McMoran in Indonesian politics. Freeport, which operated a massive mine — the largest copper and gold mine in the world — in Irian Jaya (now West Papua) province, is shutting down its operations.
Africa: water & energy solutions
Timbuktu Chronicles reports on an amazing invention that may provide the water and power to may people in poor rural areas of the developing world. “To solve the problem, he’s invented two devices, each about the size of a washing machine that can provide much-needed power and clean water in...
Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand: Globalization Mini-Stories
Cafe Salemba has two mini-stories of globalization, both in-flight: one involving an encounter on an American on a plane who works for a Japanese company and another about Japan Airlines practice of hiring Thai stewardesses.
South Africa: squatters
Squatter City gives some facts on squatters in Cape Town and country wide South Africa.…260,000 on the waiting list for housing; 1.84 million people nation wide live in shacks – a 26% increase since 1994
Chad: Stealing the oil
Chad's public officials have joined other African leaders in the stealing of oil funds into offshore accounts – Yebo Gogo points to an article in the NY Times.
Philippines: Burger Brand
Howie Severino talks about Jollibee, a local fast-food chain in the Philippines that competes strongly with McDonalds. “Jollibee has since come a long way, and so has our globalized world. But now I'm wise enough to know that it might one day make Filipinos as obese as Americans. Jollibee is...
Cuba: Century's end
Que Bola? posts a photo of an abandoned department store in Trinidad, Cuba called “Fin de Siglo” (the end of the century) and notes: “The 1900s were in fact a final century for a way of life in Cuba. Things have changed for the better and the worse, but they...
Marxist Class Analysis in Hong Kong
Simon on Simon World considers that “Marxist class analysis pervades even the world's free-est economy, that darling of laissez-faire economics, Hong Kong”. He cites the latest budget discussion as evidence.
Indonesia: Electric Growth
Sarapan Ekonomi critiques John Perkins, author of Confessions of an Economic Hitman: “His self declared crime — inflating the forecast of electrical demand to force Indonesia into bankruptcy — has turned into an important engine of Indonesia’s economic growth since the early 1970s.”
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Cooking gas war
Abeni reports that a “gas war” is on the verge of breaking out in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as Texaco pushes to increase the price of a cylinder of cooking gas from EC$30 to EC$43. Abeni wonders “if the Petro Caribe gas that came in from Venezuela a few...
From the Jordanian Blogosphere
“No Comment” caricature by Wael Attili The Jordanian blogosphere is discussing more traditional aspects relating to our culture and language this week. Khalidah writes about Jordanian traditions when it comes to marriage, this time discussing why she doesn't think the traditional method of arranged marriage works, “heck the chat rooms...
Palestine: Parliament Convens
The Palestinian parliament convenced its first session today the 18th of February, 2006 despite of Israeli moves to bar Gaza workers, lawmakers, people and even goods from entering Israel. Laila el-Haddad wrote a comprehensive report about the event in addition to her photostory on the views of nine Palestinians and...
