Stories about Ethnicity & Race from August, 2008
Russia: Threat Against Georgians in Russia
Suomalais-venäläinen kansalaisfoorumi relays a news report on plans by a Russian racist organization to attack Georgians living in Russia.
South Ossetia: Did Kosovo set a precedent?
When Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February this year, many feared that it would set a precedent for other secessionist regions in the world, particularly in the Caucasus. Sinisa Boljanovic analyzes what bloggers said then and what they are saying now that those fears have become a reality.
Georgia, Russia: Tbilisi Reports
Three bloggers who are currently in Tbilisi describe what life there has been like in the past few days. According to LJ user oleg_panfilov, everything is quiet in the Georgian capital this night, while tomorrow "there'll be plenty of politics," because presidents of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and Ukraine are expected to descend on the city.
Georgia: Armenia Über Alles
My The Caucasian Knot comments on what appears to be the prevalent view of many Armenians supporting Russia in its military action against Georgia, but which at times borders on the extreme.
Georgia: Armenian Tourist Evacuation
Regional Reporters [RU] reports that 1,200 Armenian tourists vacationing in the Black Sea resorts of Batumi and Kobuleti have been evacuated from Georgia. However, the blog notes, not all Armenian tourists decided to leave.
South Ossetia: Georga vs. “Empire of Arrogance”
Lithuanian Bieksia's Weblog reacts to Russian actions against Georgia, calling Russia an “Empire of Arrogance” and cannot accept Moscow's allegations of ethnic cleansing.
Bloggers react strongly to ‘Building a Better Fiji’
A government-appointed committee in Fiji introduced an 11-point framework to augment the Pacific island nation’s constitution and “rebuild Fiji into a nonracial, culturally vibrant and united, well-governed, truly democratic nation.”
Georgia, Russia: Blogger From Poti Recounts the Bombing
Here is LJ user pepsikolka's account of what it felt like when the Russian planes were bombing Poti, her native city: "[...] Around midnight I heard some roaring, ran up to the window and saw shaft of fire, explosions at the port and heard a deafening noise. I didn't even have the time to get scared, I just knew that if a cistern with oil at the terminal gets hit, there'll be fire and an explosion, so I grabbed the phone, called Tengo, Vika answered, screaming [...]"
South Ossetia: History Russian Style
LJ user gklimov [Russian] interviewes Russian historian Gennady Klimov about the history of the Ossetians and Georgians, receiving some interesting answers.
Belarus: Roma still excluded from education
Roma Gypsy Romany Gypsy reposted an article describing how Roma in Belarus are still discriminated from access to education, with a mere 2% Romani finishing secondary school.
South Ossetia: What's next, Nagorno-Karabach or Nakhchivan?
Michael J. Totten draws a parallel between the Russian-Georgian conflict in South Ossetia and Abchazia with the potential for resumed Azeri-Armenian conflicts over Nagorno-Karabach or Nakchivan.
Kosovo: No improvement in Roma situation
Romano Them informs about the situation of Roma in Kosovska Mitrovica and links to their recent report about the situation.
South Ossetia: Former USSR Citizens Right to Citizenship
LJ user anton2ov [Russian] argues that South Ossetians – despite nominally being Georgian subjects – have the right to choose Russian citizenship, as the country is a successor state to the Soviet Union.
Brazil: On the verge of a civil war over indigenous land
While the world celebrates the rights of indigenous people this Indigenous Peoples Day, dispute over land in Brazil is bringing the country to the verge of a civil war.
Russia: Religious leaders call for stopping the bloodshed
Voices from Russia reports that Russian religious leaders – including Orthodox Patriarch Aleksei II – are calling for a stop of the bloodshed in South Ossetia
Mongolia: Day of Fathers to be marked
RML says that Mongolian men work hard, drink hard, live hard, but recently proposed Day of Fathers could be a good step to raise the prestige of being a father, a good husband, and a good provider.
Tajikistan: Saving Shughni Language
Ian tells how a group of scholars at the University of Kentucky is working on a grammar of Shughni language, spoken in the Badakhshan region of Tajikistan.
Georgia: Similarities with 1995 Croatia
Gray Falcon compares the current situation of South Ossetians in Georgia with that of Serbs in Croatia in 1995.
Georgia: South Ossetia Update
With local and international media outlets reporting that fighting is spilling over into Georgia proper, the latest military confrontation with Russia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia looks increasingly like war. Bloggers from the region say signs are ominous.
Jamaica: Bleached Beauty?
“What does the current rage — skin bleaching — tell us about our identity?” asks Jamaican Francis Wade.
Bahamas, Haiti: Migration Nation?
“The capture of hundreds of Haitians arriving by boat on the southern coast of New Providence recently focused new attention on our illegal immigration problem”: Larry Smith at Bahama Pundit maintains that “there are two key immigration issues – stabilising the size of the Haitian community, and integrating long-term Haitian...
