Stories about Ethnicity & Race from March, 2006
Panel on DRC Civil Society held in Belgium
At UDPS Liege, Damien Twambilangana questions (FR) Patient Bagenda's mobilization of his NGO Anti-Bwaki in favor of the DRC's new constitution. (The constitution was voted in by referendum last December. ) Twambilangana who is a member of Debout pour le Congo [Stand Up for Congo]confronted Bagenda with his questions at...
South Korea: Shamrocks and kimchi
The Asia Pages, who identifies herself as Korean-Irish-American in honor of St. Patrick's Day, makes a striking case for similarities between Irish and Korean men, particularly the inhabitants of Busan. “They'll both make a bee-line for the alcohol, swear their heads off, all the while talking in loud, obnoxious voices....
Japan: Mind your language
Japundit‘s post on Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's reprimand of a lawmaker for using English financial terms in the course of a parliamentary session sparks further debate in the comments section.
The Balkans: “Finally, the Post-Milosevic Era”
Slobodan Milosevic, former Yugoslav leader and a war-crimes defendant, died of a heart attack in his prison cell in the Hague on March 11. After much debate, it was decided to bury him privately in his hometown of Pozarevac, 80 km of Serbia's capital Belgrade, on March 18. Until then,...
Africa: Ethnicity
Writing on Mzansi Afrika, Lesotho blogger, Rethabile discusses ethnicity in an African context. Majority does not necessarily equal power and minority does not always mean conquered…He also considers what it is like to be an immigrant in Europe.
Uyghurs: The Prince of Pop
The Opposite End of China has another helping of Uyghur pop video, this time featuring Mominjan Ablekim, the prince of Uyghur pop.
Serbia & Montenegro: Dispute on Montenegro's Future Continues
Doug Muir of A Fistful of Euros continues the debate on Montenegro's independence. (The discussion's beginning is here, part 2 is here.)
Japan: How to become a Japanese citizen
Japundit highlights a book by U.S.-born Arudou Debito, formerly David Christopher Aldwinckle, about how he went to live in Japan and became a citizen of that country.
Uyghurs: Girl band from Uzbekistan
Via ESWN, The Opposite End of China offers a pop video of an Uzbek Uyghur girl band, singing and dancing in their own video.
Latvia: March 16 Marches Banned in Riga
All About Latvia reports on the problems associated with the Legionaires’ Day celebration on March 15 and 16. Riga city council has refused to allow ultranationalists to march on these days; the Freedom Monument, a common destination, is closed down for repairs; the marches are likely to take place despite...
Nigeria: Georgia on my mind
Nigeria tech blog, Oro reports from Atlanta, Georgia where he takes the opportunity to visit the Martin Luther King Center and takes a walk around the historic Black city.
Malaysia: Racial Politics
Ktemoc Konsiders discusses Malaysia's race-based politics. “Opportunistic, avaricious and deliberately divisive politics has screwed up our opportunity of a Bangsa Malaysia. Some of us go around saying proudly “I am Malaysian”, yet the truth is that does ring somewhat hollow in our own ears!”
Serbia & Montenegro: Dispute on the Future of Montenegro
Over at A Fistful of Euros, Doug Muir argues against the independence of Montenegro and Brussels Gonzo disagrees with him.
Romania: Hungary Day
Tomorrow is the day when Hungarian nationalists in Udvarhely, a Romanian city whose population is 98% ethnic Hungarian, may clash with their Romanian counterparts, reports Andy H of Csikszereda musings: “[…] And once again the fact that broadly speaking Hungarians and Romanians live together fairly successfully and without rancour, will...
Czech Republic: What Yugoslavia Meant For Czechs
The death of Slobodan Milosevic inspires Gazing into the Abyss to write about the Czechs’ feelings toward (what used to be) Yugoslavia: “‘Yugoslavia’ is likeable word for Czech ears. Serbia and Montenegro, Croatia, BiH, Slovenia, Macedonia… they are not. Most Czechs never took an effort to grasp what happened in...
Czech Republic: Museum of Romani Culture in Brno
Back in February, Jen and Derrick Teal of A Year in the Czech Republic visited the Museum of Romani Culture in Brno, located in the city's Roma neighborhood: “Suddenly, almost everyone we passed had the darker skin tone of many Roma Czechs and the fairer-skinned Czechs seemed to have disappeared,...
South Korea: The realm of the Mothers
The Asia Pages relates a long and intense debate about parental sacrifice and obligation with a Korean man on-line. In the end, she is told, she doesn't understand because she's not Korean.
DRC: Labika on ” The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”
At Renouveau Congolais, blogger JB Labika summarizes (FR) the entanglements of three strands of influence in the DRC as the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. He talks of the relationship between the Congolese Government, the European Union and foreign business based in the DRC. It's a power triangle in...
Estonia: Language Issue and Russian Media
Giustino at Itching for Eestimaa comments on how some Russian media are detached from reality when it comes to the language issue: “If you live in a country where the overwhelming majority of the people speak one language, you are going to need to know that language to work a...
A plea against the 26 province parcelling of the DRC
At UDPS Liege [blog of the Liege, Belgium chapter of a DRC opposition party] blogger Kayembe Tshipamba Jean P. opposes (FR) the parceling of the DRC in 26 provinces, deplores interim President Joseph Kabila's blaming of the continent's problems on the West, invites the DRC to cooperate with Belgium in...
