Stories about Governance from July, 2007
Japan: Sanja Matsuri suspension
Anpontan has posted an overview of the reasons behind this year's suspension of the main event of a three-day festival, which he explains are connected to the increasing presence of...
Russia: Registration
White Sun of the Desert writes about Russia's frustrating registration law – which applies to citizens and non-citizens alike.
Russia: Berezovsky and Britain
Sean's Russia Blog writes about Boris Berezovsky and the problems of Russia's relations with Great Britain.
Russia: Cyclical History
From Russia With Blog looks at Putin's Russia from a “cyclical history” perspective – and also highlights “the apathy of the Russian masses” by describing the annual no-hot-water season.
Russia: Grozny at Google Earth
The world zooms in on Chechnya's capital Grozny via Google Earth and doesn't see much reconstruction going on, A Step At A Time reports.
India: Women, abortions and the Government
Kafila on the girl-child in India, the government's alarming proposals to stop sex-selective abortions and the impact it has on women's control over their bodies.
Turkmenistan: In the last place
Abdul Gamid wonders why Turkmenistan fares so badly in the latest World Bank governance rankings.
Kurdistance: A Victory in the Turkish Elections
While the Turks have had some mixed reactions to the outcome of the recent Turkish parliamentary elections, Kurds have been rejoicing as potential Kurdish parliamentarians have exploited a loophole in the election system and gained a foothold in the Turkish parliament.
Japan: Smoke, Fire, and Fault Lines
Matt Dioguardi at Liberal Japan has posted a couple of round-ups (here and here) on the crisis at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant following the recent earthquake.
Hong Kong: Sorry, you have no rights to know
The Television and entertainment licensing authory (TELA) has given out 17 advices in the book fair (one of them is the “Love Mythology”), citizen reporter, Ip Iam Chong from inmediahk.net,...
Peru: Polls, Strikes, and Independence Day
As Peruvian Independence Day approaches on July 28, the atmosphere in Peru is becoming increasingly festive and the Peruvian national colors, red and white, are cropping up everywhere. However, on the political stage, there is little to celebrate. Despite the end of the teachers' strike, organized by the teacher's union, SUTEP, and despite the probability the other strikes plaguing the country will also come to an end, many people believe that these radical measures will return once the National Holiday concludes.
Russia: Sochi Mosque and Other Non-Olympic Issues
Among other things, Window on Eurasia reports that media attention to Sochi might “force the local officials to allow for the construction of a mosque for the city's 20,000 Muslims”...
Russia: Counterterrorism (Mis)guidance
A flawed textbook on how to identify and counter extremist groups is on the reading list of the Russian police, writes Window on Eurasia.
Ukraine: Big Houses and Big Macs
Ukraine's big houses and the Big Mac Index data – at Ukrainiana.
Czech Republic: Ukrainian Kids Abandoned
Scenes from the Sidewalk writes about Ukrainian babies abandoned in the Czech Republic.
Iran:Student Activist Executed as Gang-Member
Kamangir says that Meisam Lotfi, a student activist, executed as gang-member recently in Iran. His mother said Meisam spent six month in the infamous Evin Prison after the July 1999...
Turkey is Typing….Election Issue
The Turkish parliamentary elections were this last Sunday… and despite public protests in the last few months against the ruling party AKP, they still won with a resounding 47 per...
India At 60: New Book on Partition of India, First Woman President and A Film on Gandhi's Son
A couple of weeks from now on August 15th and 14th, India and Pakistan will celebrate their 60th year of Independence. What stands out in stark contrast is the differences...
Japan: Ground Zero at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa
On July 16, shaken by a massive earthquake originating in a fault line that apparently runs directly underneath it, one of the power generators of the world's largest nuclear power plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, burst into flame and started billowing black smoke. This week's post includes a report from Diet member and blogger Kondo Masamichi, one of the first to arrive on the scene, and the reaction of another blogger who questions the government's handling of the crisis.
Bahamas: Is Crime Learned or Innate?
“I'm convinced the Parliamentarians let their colleagues pass just in case they need the favour returned should they be tempted to put their hand in the proverbial cookie jar. Could...
Hong Kong: Cyber bullying
A newspapers editor and blogger Chow Chauli was attacked by some netizens in her blog's comment section because of her criticism in the newspapers about a B.T user “Nike” who...
