Stories about Food from December, 2011
China: Dairy Company's Website Hacked by Angry Netizens
The latest round of tainted milk scandals broke out last week in China. The country's biggest dairy producer, Mengniu Dairy Co., admitted that some of its milk products contained aflatoxin – a cancer-causing substance. To express their anger, Chinese info-activists hacked Mengniu's official website last night (December 28, 2011). Below...
Cambodia: One Province, One Product Trade and Exhibit
Sreisaat blogs about the One Province, One Product Trade and Exhibit in Koh Pich, Cambodia. Some of the featured products were giant cassava crops and squash from Kampong Speu, assorted gemstones from the mine pits of Pailin, and mixed spices from Siem Reap.
Cambodia: Impact of Organic Farming
Maylee Thavat studies the impact of organic rice farming and fair trade production in Cambodia. The author warns that it could ‘impose First World consumer ideals and tastes that are out of step with the larger realities of agrarian transition’ in the country
A Radical Solution For Global Poverty: Open Borders
Various experts say that extreme poverty isn't inevitable. The most radical solution to drastically reducing global poverty would be, for many economic experts, opening the borders between countries and allowing workers to migrate where labor is most needed.
China: Top 10 Problems in 2011
Paul from ChinaSMACK translated Chinese Academy of Social Science's survey on the top 10 problems in 2011 as perceived by Chinese people.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Garlic Wars
With tensions high between Armenia and Azerbaijan as a result of a still unresolved territorial dispute, the appearance of Azerbaijani garlic in Armenian supermarkets has made some local media hysterical.
Cambodia: How to Cook in a Bamboo Tube
Dorothy blogs about a unique cooking practice using bamboo tubes in Bunong village of Mondulkiri province in Cambodia. This was also common in Laos
Cuba: Food History
Iván García reviews Fidel Castro's history with “experiments”, saying: “The ex-president has put his foot in it many times. In all fields. The most painful has been in regard to food.”
Brazil: On a Bill that Bans Drinking in Public Places
Brazilian blogger Leonardo Cisneiros comments on [pt] a proposed bill in the city of Recife (Pernambuco state) that prohibits the consumption of alcoholic beverages in public places. The proposed bill has caused mixed reactions among the population, including a motion of disgust [pt] and online reactions that have been censored...
Guatemalan Children Caught in the Cycle of Starvation
Guatemala Solidarity Network posts an article by Natasha Pizzey-Siegert entitled ‘The children of Guatemala are starving’ where she writes that, “a slow, deep hunger has been building in Guatemala for decades. And now it’s destroying a generation.”
Macedonia: Ajvar, Glorified
Jovana Tozija wrote lovingly about making ajvar, a traditional favorite winter provision in Macedonia and some other post-Ottoman countries.
North Korean Restaurant in Cambodia
The Travel Fish blog introduced North Korean restaurants in Phnom Penh that offer a glimpse into the hermit kingdom's cuisine and music. Most of North Korean oversees restaurants were set up to acquire foreign currency for the regime.
Trinidad & Tobago: Making Sorrel
“Sorrel, made from the sepals, of the sorrel flower is fruity and fragrant. I have fond memories of sitting at my aunt’s feet as a child, helping her to handpick the flowers. Made properly your sorrel should be thick and syrupy”: TriniGourmet posts a recipe for this traditional Christmas drink.
Trinidad & Tobago: Celebrating Christmas
Outlish offers some advice on what not to say if you're “liming” in Trinidad and Tobago for Christmas.
Azerbaijan: Toy… Tying the Knot the Azeri Way
Toy is the Azerbaijani word for a wedding, one of the most important events for families everywhere. However, in Azerbaijan such importance is placed on marriage that it takes months of planning.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Pomegranate Diplomacy
The Human Journalist posts a photograph of pomegranate juice from Azerbaijan sold at an Armenian market in Los Angeles. With the two countries still locked in bitter conflict over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh, the blog calls the culinary find ‘Pomegranate Diplomacy.’
