Stories about Food from July, 2011
Ukraine: Survival of the Stolovaya
The Pickle Project discusses a visit at one of the few remaining public stolovayas – soviet style lunch canteens – in Crimean city of Yalta.
Denmark: Starvation Day
The severe drought in Africa's Horn is echoing in many online corners of the world. But not only established organizations are raising funds for food. Here's a Danish Facebooker introducing an alternative event – Starvation Monday [en]: “Starve yourself on August 1 and donate the money you would have spent...
Africa: Africa Cartoon Stirs Famine Pornography Debate
Natasha Elkington looks at satirical newspaper cartoon commenting on media priorities around the Murdoch scandal and the East Africa famine which has sparked debate about pornography: “The image, labelled “Priorities”, depicts three naked, emaciated children holding empty bowls, with swollen bellies, ribs sticking out and flies swarming above them.”
Russia: Beer Considered Alcohol
Kyle Keeton of Windows to Russia turns attention to a new Russian law that finally defines beer as alcohol in the country.
Barbados: Escargot, Anyone?
Barbados Free Press suggests that when it comes to the invasive Giant African Snail, if you can't beat ‘em, eat ‘em.
Azerbaijan: Culinary Competition
Scary Azeri comments on the tendency for her fellow Azerbaijanis living in England to outdo each other when it comes to preparing meals for get-togethers. The blog says that this inherent competition ultimately leads to less such meetings.
Guinea: Mass Slaughter of Cattles After Ethnic Clashes
According to guineelibre.com [fr] “Over 1,200 cattle were slaughtered after ethnic clashes between Fulani and Malinke – the minority groups of Guinea – reported residents of the village of Thiakoro, in south-eastern Guinea.”
China: Adding shampoo into tofu
China Media Project highlights another food scandal. A tofu workshop in Lanzhou added chemicals and shampoo into Tofu to create a sticky texture.
Cuba: The Challenges of Agriculture
Iván García blogs about the experience of a farmer who is convinced that “the main responsibility for the scarcity of agricultural and cattle products is the Cuban government.”
Videos: Tortillas, Chapatis, Bread and More Around the World
Most cultures accompany their meals with a grain based product; bread, flatbreads and steamed buns are part of people's meals in many places of the world. Today we visit artisans and cooks to see how they prepare and make the food that feeds them and their families.
Dominica: “Price is King”
“One of the biggest ironies of Dominica is that whilst the economy contracts, more and more people are importing food and inferior products and dumping it on our markets”: Caribbean Man doesn't understand why his compatriots seem to prefer the cheap option.
Mexico: Photos of Street Food in Mexico City
Lesley Téllez posts pictures of street food in Mexico City in her blog The Mija Chronicles.
Ukraine: “Mouth-Watering” Market Photos
The Pickle Project posts “some mouth-watering photos from two Kyiv markets” as well as photos from a highway-side market in Donetsk region.
China: Exploding Watermelon Is Safe?
Local state media exposed that farmers in China's Jiangsu province are experiencing a problem with “exploding watermelons” due to the overuse of growth enhancing chemicals. The Ministry of Agriculture has recently asserted that the chemical growth enhancer for watermelon is safe, but Chinese netizens are doubtful.
Azerbaijan: Depardieu promotes local cuisine
Kebabistan reports that French actor Gerard Depardieu has signed a contract to publicize and promote Azerbaijani cuisine. The deal comes after recently starring in an advertisement for the national air carrier of Azerbaijan's estranged neighbor in the region, Armenia.
The North Korea Food Aid Dilemma
On July 4, the European Commission pledged USD 14.5 million in emergency food aid to help impoverished North Koreans. The Opening Up North Korea blog posted an analysis on the timeless dilemma in aiding North Korea.
Sri Lanka: Alcohol Policy Needs A Change
G.D. Dayaratne writes that Alcohol Policy in Sri Lanka needs to be rethought as it fails to address illicit alcohol consumption across the country and its consequences.