Stories about Ethnicity & Race from September, 2008
Slovakia: Hungarian Minority
Central Europe Activ writes about political views of the Hungarian minority in Slovakia.
Sri Lanka: On Tamils
Dr. Mala Amarasinghe at Lanka Journal writes about his perception of the Tamil population in Sri Lanka.
Jamaica: Power Struggle
“Portia Simpson-Miller…represents to the elite and middle class in Jamaica what Obama represents to white, bible-thumping, gun-toting mainstream America. Which is worse I wonder: To be black (socially speaking) in a black country or to be black in a white country?” Annie Paul provides thoughtful commentary on the recent opposition...
Ukraine: How Russian is the Crimea?
The 8th Circle discusses the Crimea and Ukrainian fears of a Russian secessionist movement, arguing that the peninsula could be compared to other European regions, which today could not be imagined seceding. He also refers to a new book on this theme by Ukrainian writer Taras Kuzio.
Angola: A new African El Dorado for foreign workers
Since the end of the civil war in 2002, Angola has been home to many foreigners coming to find work. It is estimated that there are over 70,000 foreigners living in the country, mostly coming from South America, China, Portugal and other African countries. Find out how this melting pot is evolving through the view point of Angolan and immigrant bloggers.
Bahrain: The same racism everywhere?
Ali Abdulemam has just watched the film Freedom Writers – and thinks it describes Bahrain perfectly.
Sri Lanka: Anti-Tamil riot videos
ICT for Peacebuilding (ICT4Peace) blog informs of a new site titled “Never Again in Sri Lanka” which hosts videos of the anti-Tamil riots of July 1983.
Trinidad & Tobago: Amerindian Heritage Day
The Voice of the Taino People Online reports that “Amerindian Heritage Day will be commemorated this year in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Barbados, Jamaica, U.S.A.: Political Issues
Living in Barbados says that the recent battle for leadership in Jamaica's opposition party proves “that the overlapping values of candidates’ religion, race, gender, class, colour, speech, perceived intelligence and such personal characteristics–may play out in our little garden of politics at least as much as we think they do...
Bermuda, U.S.A.: Political Dilemma
Bermuda has got some unwanted attention with the Obama camp's latest campaign ad, which accuses McCain of being on the side of tax-dodging Bermuda-based US companies – Breezeblog says the whole thing “underlines the dilemma many Bermudians feel: as much as they wish to finally see a black US president,...
Ukraine: A Letter to Russia by Milli Firqa Party Member
Window on Eurasia writes about media coverage and politicians’ reactions to a letter sent by one of the members of a small Crimean Tatar party to presidents of Russia and Tatarstan.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: “Setback in the Srebrenica Survivors’ Search for Justice”
Samaha posts a detailed update on the outcome of the case brought by Srebrenica survivors against the Dutch state.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Speak Out Against Dutch Court's Decision
Kirk Johnson of Americans For Bosnia notes that “a Dutch civil court sided with the Dutch state and dismissed the case against the Netherlands for their failure to prevent Srebrenica genocide in 1995″ and is urging readers “to contact the Dutch embassy in your country to express your dismay at...
Hungary: Another Study On the “Extreme Right”
Hungarian Spectrum reviews a study of history and “prejudices” of the Hungarian “extreme right.”
The Balkans: Driving Through Bosnia
Csíkszereda Musings recounts a summer drive through the Balkans and, among other things, compares Bosnian motorways to those in Romania.
Jamaica: Post-Portia
“The whole class battle is already history and vanishes with Portia. Still, we will hear about it as long as Portia is leader of the PNP…”: Jamaica and the World examines the aftermath of the opposition's party's leadership elections.
Ukraine: Critique of a Text on NATO Membership
The 8th Circle posts a detailed critique of Jeffrey Tayler’s piece in The Atlantic: “[…] in the process of attempting to make the case against Ukraine’s membership in NATO, Tayler resorts (consciously or not) to claims that are either: misleading or factually inaccurate and/or are highly improbable to be true...
Ukraine: Battle for Crimean minds
Kyiv Scoop discusses how pupils and people in Crimea are influenced to love Russia and loath Ukraine.
Palestine: Prejudice in the USA
Palestinian blogger Laila El-Haddad has had an unpleasant encounter with a man in Virginia: “Free Palestine? Palestine's already free!!” he raged, gesturing to a bumper sticker on the back of my windshield as he began to walk away. … He then turned around and bellowed out “Why don't you go...
Jamaica: Slaves
Jamaican Geoffrey Philp has “had enough of these latter day heroes whose bravery exists only in their febrile imaginations. They denigrate the memory of our ancestors who sucked salt, bore the whip and the yoke of slavery, and invented stories in the dark so that one day their children could...
Brazil: Suspense as indigenous land rulings in limbo
Brazil's Supreme Court (STF) decided to postpone the decision about Raposa Serra do Sol land but will vote on another less complex demarcation case: the Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãe people have been waiting for this decision for over 26 years. Meanwhile, bloggers comment on the fact that, for first time in the history of Brazil's Supreme Court, an indian lawyer defended her people. Watch the video.
