Stories about Education from April, 2009
Macedonia: Alexander the Great as Media Bait
For several years now, the Macedonian traditional media have have been involved in relentless promotion of all and any claims related to Alexander the Great deemed "positive" in terms of generating public approval and more readers/viewers. Such coverage tends to grow more bizarre, as shown by recent events.
Azerbaijan: Freedom of speech, censorship and expulsions
Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines comments on news that a student activist has been expelled from his university. The blog says that the move is most probably connected to his political activities and wonders when the cycle of repression and intimidation will end.
Kuwait: Is Graffiti Art or Vandalism?
It is a recurring question: Is graffiti art or vandalism? This question was recently the centre of debate in the Kuwaiti blogosphere.
Cuba, U.S.A.: Play Ball
“The ball is in Cuba’s court after Obama threw it yesterday, as he announced new flexibility in his policies toward Cuba”: From Havana, Generation Y says: “The game would become more dynamic if they let the Cuban people take hold of the erratic ball of change. Many would kick it...
Barbados: HIV & Young People
Bajan Dream Diary takes a look at the HIV epidemic among Barbados’ youth.
Russia, Ukraine: Education in Russian/Ukrainian
Window on Eurasia writes about “a Russian activist [who] has written President Dmitry Medvedev asking that the Kremlin help Russian regions provide assistance to Russian-language schools in Ukraine.”
China: Underage prostitution ring sparks public indignation
Teenage girls in high schools and even primary schools, being coaxed or threatened, were turned into prostitutes that serve local officials and teachers. The exposure of the entire prostitution ring in Xishui, Guizhou reveals the image of both moral and administrative degeneration of a Chinese town.
USA: No More Columbus Day at Brown University
In response to protests from Native American and other students, the prestigious Brown University in the United States has changed the name of the national public holiday Columbus Day to "Fall Weekend" on its academic calendar. Bloggers are debating this modification of a holiday that honors the European explorer Christopher Columbus for “discovering” America.
Lebanon: Academics and Bloggers Call for Israel Boycott
Lebanese academics and bloggers are lending their voice and support to the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel. Antoun Issa sums up reactions from Lebanese and Palestinian blogs in this post.
Argentina: Mi* Platform for Budding Spanish Speaking Citizen Journalists
From Argentina, the Mi * (asterisk) citizen journalism website has sprouted up, with the intention of becoming the platform for budding Spanish speaking citizen journalists to post their work and receive comments, discuss topics, receive training and share content. So far citizen journalism workshops have been given in Argentina, Ecuador and Dominican Republic, and citizens from these and other countries have been participating on the site.
Russia: “Extorting the Victims of Beslan”
A translation of LJ user varfolomeev-v‘s report (RUS) on how “The State is demanding money from former hostages in Beslan” – at Robert Amsterdam's blog.
Brunei: Creating Environmental Awareness
The Earth Hour event highlighted the need for continued awareness on the need to preserve the fragile environment. Many bloggers in Brunei supported the Earth Hour event. But there are also those who believe that it was an insufficient action to preserve the environment.
Bahamas: A Free Society?
“In a free country, identity and employment should not be linked. One should not be dependent on the other”: Nicolette Bethel warns that the Bahamas is going back to “plantation” values.
Jordan: University Radio Hits Airwaves
“Jordan University Radio started its test transmission on 94.9 FM covering Amman Greater Area. The Radio station, which will be more of a cultural-political “students radio”, will be starting officially soon, and the moment of writing this post, only Classic Music is being aired on its airwaves,” writes Nasimjo from...
Guyana: Single Parents
Diaspora blogger Signifyin’ Guyana lauds the efforts of the country's Minister of Human Services, as a fund is launched to assist single parents.
Kazakhstan: Educational deadlock
Translation of the Adam's post Two popular Kazakhstani bloggers – dass and megakhuimyak – are discussing the problems of education these days. The first is concerned over this topic because he's got a school-age son, and the latter is worried because he is delivering lectures at the unversity. Today at...
St. Lucia: Walcott & Oxford?
St. Lucian-born Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott apparently has “the slimmest of edges” in “the campaign to succeed Christopher Ricks as Oxford professor of poetry”, according to Caribbean blog Repeating Islands.
Jamaica: Learning from Adveristy
“Adversity and being a writer, especially one from the Caribbean, are synonymous”: Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp shares what he has learned.
China: Psychiatry with Chinese characteristics
Peking University Law Professor specialized in forensics, Sun Dongdong, told China News Weekly on March 23 that 99% of China's petitioners (zh) are mentally ill and that he support for forced hospitalization of them. Update (April 8, 2009 @ 8:00): Internet monitor center issued a notice to webmasters of portals...
Bermuda: Education Suggestion
21 Square calls the island's current education system “a terrible shame that no Bermudian should be proud of”, asking, “Can we please just cut out the middle man and pursue a voucher system so everyone can have the means to opportunity as opposed to just the rich?”
Mexico: University for Senior Citizens
A new university for senior citizens in Mexico City has been opened and Jessica Uribe of Vivir México [es] has details about the courses and programs offered for its students.
