Stories about Economics & Business from August, 2008
Georgia: Ukrainian Bloggers Action
Peace in Georgia points its readers to an action staged by Ukrainian bloggers. Following reports that Russian troops and South Ossetian irregulars engaged in looting, the bloggers have set up an online shop for looted Georgian goods.
Georgia: Economic Fallout
Regional Reporters [RU] reports on the economic consequences of the war between Georgia and Russia over South Ossetia. The blog says that with the damage to civilian infrastructure in Georgia estimated at $1 billion, experts from the World Bank will visit the country to assess what needs to be done...
Morocco: Rural Life
Près du puits, in a post entitled “Two Kids, Twelve Cows, and a Swing,” shares the trials, tribulations – and entertainment – of Morocco's rural poor.
Bahamas, Cuba: Inconvenient Truths?
“The Bahamas standard of living reflects the effect of free trade and a relatively limited government. Citizens here are still far better off than in many countries in the region and the world. However, every now and then The Bahama Journal editorialises about the virtues of Cuba. And frankly this...
Grenada: Thinking About Poverty
Letters from Grenada blogs about everything from education to land use as part of Blog Action Day 2008.
Tajikistan: Food crisis
Shannon reports about the striking facts of the aggravating food crisis in Tajikistan.
Kazakhstan: Re housing construction under Soviet Union
Marat posts some statistics about housing construction and the affordability of housing in Kazakhstan in Soviet times.
China: iTunes is blocked and it's Apple's fault
Silicon Hutong blogger David Wolf notes that the iTunes Music Store is now blocked in China, assumes this was due to the release on iTunes of a Tibetan music album, assumes Apple chose to release it during the Olympics as an act of “passive-aggressive panda-punching,” and then advises Apple choose...
Thai King is world's richest royal
Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the world's richest royal. Thailand Jumped the Shark asks if it is a source of pride or national embarrassment. Bangkok Pundit comments too.
Russia, Georgia: Oil and War
Window on Eurasia writes about the oil factor in the Russian-Georgian conflict.
Russia: Three Anniversaries
Window on Eurasia writes about “the lessons of three anniversaries”: “Today is the 10th anniversary of Russia’s default on its international financial obligations and the 17th anniversary of the launch of the failed coup against Mikhail Gorbachev that precipitated the end of the Soviet Union, and tomorrow is the 40th...
Environmental concerns a priority for Pacific Island bloggers
Outside of denouncing military rule in Fiji, environmental concerns top the agenda as South Pacific leaders gather this week in Alofi, the capital of Nieu.
Cuba: Corrupt Survival
“At his young age, he already understands that it doesn’t matter how many times you cross the line of illegality as long as you keep applauding. For him, if they let him continue to line his pockets, socialism could well be eternal”: Yoani Sanchez blogs about corruption and its strong...
Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica: Olympic Inspiration
The Caribbean Librarian is inspired by the Olympic performances of the Jamaican sprinters: “What have we learnt? When faced with innumerable problems (our economies, lack of infrastructure, lack of resources etc.), we CAN ACHIEVE!!”
Cuba, U.S.A.: Watching the Games
“Cuba is a sports-loving country, and interest extends beyond the island’s participation, to that of athletes from other latitudes”: Circles Robinson writes about the experience of watching the Olympics from Havana, adding that “there could be nothing more diametrically opposed than Olympics sports coverage in Cuba and the United States.”
China: Sportswear Sponsor
Xueyong noticed that Liu Xiang's withdrawal from Olympics has resulted in the loss of 3 billion yuan for his sportswear sponsors. The blogger pointed out that the focus on one or two sport stars reflected that the development of sport in China is driven from the top, not from public...
Pakistan: Fighting economic downfall
The Fiscal year 2007-08 saw a economic downfall in Pakistan including a double figure inflation rate. In Chowrangi blog Ambreen Kazmi has some suggestions for the government showing how to counter all these challenges.
Grenada: Blog Action Day
The theme of this year's Blog Action Day is poverty and Grenadian Blah Bloh Blog is getting involved: “I hope some of my fellow Caribbean bloggers will sign up as well. Poverty, poverty relief and poverty elimination is especially significant for us here in the third world.”
Barbados, Antigua: Peter Pays for Paul?
Barbados Free Press is not convinced that the CARICOM arrangement is beneficial, referring to an article about the recent double-murder in Antigua to make their point: “The ‘Caribbean Brand’ for tourism…was a disastrous policy created…as part of the effort to prop up the pretense and phony benefits of CARICOM. According...
Slovakia: New Euro Coins
The Foreigner's Guide to Living in Slovakia reports that “the state mint located in Kremnica began minting Slovak euro coins” this week.
China: Checking up on Olympics uncensorship
A post from sw at the OpenNet Initiative blog looks at results of tests carried out during the first week of the Olympics and finds that while in fact not many websites have been unblocked for the Games, those that are can now be accessed all throughout Beijing and possibly...
