Stories about Ethnicity & Race from October, 2010
Georgia: Halloween protests & revelry
The Young Georgians examines the history of Halloween, and not least in Georgia where controversy often results in religious groups objecting to young people holding their own events. This year is no exception with Orthodox Christians planning to stage protests while several events in clubs and public gatherings are scheduled...
Armenia: Nationalist backlash against Azerbaijan film festival
Unzipped and Le Retour (in 3 Parts) comment on the nationalist backlash to a festival of films from Azerbaijan to be staged in Yerevan, Armenia, next week. The former says that the negative reaction is hypocritical when the same nationalists decry attempts to prevent artistic expression and freedom of speech...
Cuba: Standard of Living
“Nobody on the island may have a high standard of living if it is not authorized by the regime”: Iván García explains that he “aspire[s] to live better. But above all [he] consider[s] [him]self a free man. And that is where a person can be dangerous in Cuba.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Divali
Repeating Islands notes that “it is once again time for the largest Hindu festival in Trinidad & Tobago, Divali or the Festival of Lights.”
Ecuador: The Kichwa of Ecuador and the Oil Companies
Waves of Change points us towards I am a Defender of the Rainforest, a 2008 documentary by the Kichwa people of Ecuador, where they documented their struggles with oil companies who invaded their autonomous territories.
Ukraine, Serbia: Food, Libraries, Dwellings
A Crimean Tatar wedding feast and fall's bounty at a Kyiv farmers’ market – at The Pickle Project; an initiative to help a library in the Ukrainian town of Konotop – at Jud Dolphin Adventure; the Modern Village exhibit at the Pyrohiv Museum of Folk Architecture and Life just outside...
Taiwan: Foreign wives and citizenship
Sinocentric looks at the place of foreign wives in Taiwanese society. The number of foreign wives in Taiwan, mostly from China and Southeast Asia, has increased significantly in recent years.
Slovenia: Dr. Peter Bossman, First Black Mayor
Adventures in Wheelville is “celebrating” the election of Slovenia's “first black mayor” – Dr. Peter Bossman.
Bahamas: It's Time
Nicolette Bethel thinks “it’s time to build our own declaration of democracy”.
Israel: Controversial Loyalty Oath Undermines Democracy
The Israeli cabinet approved by a 22-8 vote the proposed amendment to Israel's Citizenship Law, which would require all those seeking citizenship to pledge allegiance to Israel as a “Jewish and democratic state," sparking controversy on the ground and online.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Online campaigns for the return of casualties of war
A campaign represented as being organized by ‘Armenian bloggers’ has been established to demand the return of the body of Manvel Sarinbekyan, an Armenian who reportedly hung himself while in detention after crossing the border with Azerbaijan.The campaign has been launched in both Russian and English. Meanwhile, and as the...
Georgia: Teach and Learn English
Dream is Destiny [GE] posts the addresses of the blogs established by some of the 350 native English-language speakers documenting their stay in Georgia as part of the new official policy to have English replace Russian as the second-language spoken by its citizens.
Armenia: Domestic Violence petition submitted
Following the recent outrage expressed by some Armenian bloggers following the death of a 20-year old woman at the hands of her husband and mother-in-law, Blogian says that the petition it set up to lobby the government to pass a law on domestic violence was signed by 3,196 individuals before...
Armenia: Prolific blogger suspended on LiveJournal
Kornelij Glas [RU] details the case of Pigh, an Armenian blogger prolific in the mutual tit-for-tat online information war with Azerbaijan and Turkey. Speaking to Global Voices, Pigh says that his blog on LiveJournal was suspended on 8 October after some Azerbaijanis made complaints to the site's administration which included...
The Balkans: Angelina Jolie's Bosnian War Movie
Greater Surbiton writes about “Angelina Jolie's Bosnian imbroglio”; Belgraded reviews “anti-Serb” movies.
Slovenia: Elections in Ljubljana and Piran
Sleeping With Pengovsky reviews the results of the election in Ljubljana – here and here; Adventures in Wheelville writes about a Ghanaian doctor and politician Peter Bossman, who is running for mayor of the town of Piran.
Russia: “Siberian Nationalism”
Window on Eurasia writes about “Siberian nationalism” – here and here.
Caucasus: Attitudes to inter-ethnic marriage
After posting the results of a survey last year examining perceptions of inter-ethnic friendship in the South Caucasus, Social Science in Caucasus now posts information on attitudes to inter-ethnic marriage. According the results, 99% of Azerbaijanis disapprove of their women marrying Armenians while 92% of Armenians disapprove of marriage with...
Caucasus: Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgian opposition parties in cooperation agreement
The Armenian Observer features a guest post from Uzogh [RU] on news that opposition parties in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia have signed a declaration on cooperation. The local blogger, however, remains less than convinced.
Caucasus: Women as a reflection of nationalism
Motherhood, Repatriation and other fictions comments on a recent event staged in Istanbul, Turkey, which women activists from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Russia attended. The blog particularly examines the role of nationalism and patriarchal societies in peace-building and cross-border initiatives in the South Caucasus.
Haiti: Hero on the Titanic
“Joseph Phillippe Lemercier Laroche was the only black man, a Haitian man, to perish in the Titanic; that’s after he saved his wife and kids”: Repeating Islands has the amazing story.
