· August, 2009

Stories about Ethnicity & Race from August, 2009

Israel: For the Love of Food

With the Jewish High Holidays approaching, food seems to be on everyone's minds. The Jewish blogosphere is ripe with sumptuous tidbits and contemplations about the cultural implications of food, food and identity, and the history and culture of our favorite culinary delights.

Caucasus: Peace Corps blogs on Twitter

  31 August 2009

With most bloggers located in the capitals of the three South Caucasus republics, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) have been indispensible in posting entries from the regions of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. However, with old PCVs being replaced by new ones when their service ends, it's often been difficult to...

Hungary: St. Stephen

  30 August 2009

Hungarian Spectrum writes: “Because there are so many references to St. Stephen nowadays in Hungary I thought I ought to write a post on what ‘Hungary’ looked liked in his days.”

India: We Are Also Indians

  28 August 2009

Partha Pratim writes an open letter to fellow Indians venting frustrations that the people of the seven states in the north-eastern part of India and their issues are often ignored and overlooked by the majority Indians.

China: Are Tibetan Bloggers Being Silenced?

  28 August 2009

Quite alarming to report that all of the most popular Tibetan language blog hosting sites (except one) have been inaccessible for almost three weeks now. Although it is fairly common practice for Tibetan language blog hosting sites to be taken down (sometimes for “maintenance”) at times deemed sensitive by the...

Armenia: Homophobia turns deadly

  24 August 2009

Even if homosexuality was decriminalized in Armenia in 2002, society remains largely intolerant and traditional in its values. With blogs providing LGBT activists with a medium through which to voice their concerns, such fears can now be highlighted more openly than before.

Armenia: Ultra-nationalist homophobic death threat

  23 August 2009

Unzipped: Gay Armenia comments on a death threat made against a prominent LGBT writer by an ultra-nationalist group in Armenia. The blog says that this latest development in what still remains a traditionally homophobic society marks a new move to create internal enemies and hopes that law enforcement agencies will...

Azerbaijan: Eurovision scandal continues

  22 August 2009

Despite attempts by the authorities to downplay the incident, news that the names and addresses of 43 citizens who voted for the Armenian entry in this year's Eurovision Song Contest had been obtained by police in Azerbaijan continues to send out shock waves through the Internet.

Guyana: Curtains for PNC?

  20 August 2009

Guyanese blogger Imran Khan wonders whether the infighting over the PNC political party's leadership will signal “the complete and utter destruction of the party itself.”

India: Religious Profiling

  19 August 2009

Sidhusaaheb writes about a case of religious profiling he faced while staying in a hotel in Indore of Madhya Pradesh state in India: “they had specific instructions to inform the police, whenever a Sikh, Muslim or Tamil came to stay.”

Azerbaijan: Nationalism

  19 August 2009

The Poor Mouth comments on the latest scandal surrounding Armenia and Azerbaijan in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. The blog says that the interrogation of at least one Azeri who voted for the Armenian entry reminds it why nationalism should be loathed.