Stories about History from January, 2007
Bahamas: Does the war on drugs make sense?
Larry Smith offers a useful historic overview of the history of the drug trade in a post that asks the question: can the war on drugs be won?
Poland: Clothing for the Pope vs G-Strings
A small Polish town is divided: is it a sin to make sexy underwear for a company that used to make ceremonial clothing for Pope John Paul II? The beatroot has more on it.
Poland: The Soviets’ Nuclear Arsenal
The beatroot writes about the “now unclassified documents which show that Poland was nothing more than a buffer to the West for the Soviets and one that they could afford to make into a nuclear desert!”
Egypt: The History of Nimrod
Blogger Tom Gara gives us a brief history of Nimrod and Zionism following a brief research after the funny looks he got on the metro while singing to himself.
Kurdistance: The Kirkuk Referendum
While the Kirkuk Referendum isn't expected to take place until December 2007, it is creating waves within Kurdistan, Iraq and their neighbors. Why the flurry of activity now? The Iraq Study Report recommended that the referendum be delayed, citing the the area as a “powderkeg”. The Republic of Turkey wants...
Guatemala: Unearthing the Future
Xeni Jardin, best known for her writing at BoingBoing has also been blogging her recent travels in Guatemala including a five-part series for NPR called ‘Guatemala: Unearthing the Future.’ Patrick of the Guatemalan Solidarity Network expands on Jardin's first piece titled, “Group Works to Identify Remains in Guatemala.”
Russia: On Economy
The Russian Dilettante comments on Masha Lipman's recent column.
Czech Rebublic: New Arms Race?
NvB: Bored in Brno writes that the “proposed radar stations around the Czech Republic may be a forerunner of the new silent arms race.”
Czech Rebublic: Dechovka Music
NvB: Bored in Brno writes about dechovka music and posts a YouTube video of Eva and Vasek, “the most successful musical group in the [Czech] Republic from the standpoint of record sales”: “Happy listening! And remember, every Czech is not just a musician but also a dancer.”
Albania, Serbia: Views on “Greater Albania”
Our Man in Tirana writes about the views of the international community as well as the Albanian populations of Kosovo and Albania on the idea of a “Greater Albania.”
Czech Rebublic: Return of the Drawings
Four Bees reports on the return of the drawings that were looted by the Nazis in 1939 to the family of a Brno lawyer.
Serbia: Mladic and the EU
Neretva River points out some legal issues that might make the transfer of Ratko Mladic to the ICTY impossible.
India: In Korlai
Trivial Matters on Korlai, with some wonderful photographs. “You would be surprised to hear that I am not in Korlai for the views or even the crisp Arabian Sea breeze. I am in Korlai, in a search for haunted forts, fallen churches and a lost Portuguese Creole soon to disappear.”
Swahili Blogosphere: CIA's Role in the Zanzibar Revolution, Bloggers Association, The Wretched of the Earth, and Protesting UK's $12M Secret Payment
Following their virtual conference last November, Tanzanian bloggers are currently discussing the details of the organization they are intending to form. A blog has been set up by the interim committe, to facilitate the process. So far, they have chosen the name for the organization, Jumuiya ya Wanablogu Tanzania (the...
Taiwan: textbook debate
Micheal Turton from the View from Taiwan gives us more background concerning the change of textbook content in Taiwan: This is part of a continuing wave of pro-Taiwan educational changes that began back in the 1990s with the introduction of Taiwan-focused junior high history texts. In 1997 the Ministry of...
Lebanon: What Does Nasrullah Want?
Lebanese blogger Anton Efendi objects to Hassan Nasrullah‘s Ashura speech, saying that the Hizbulla leader “is intent on taking the country to war.” “What was his message to the Shiite community and the Lebanese? It was one of war, death, and suicide. This was best crystallized in a truly disturbing...
Ukraine, Romania: Serpent Island Dispute
Ukraine List writes about a Ukrainian-Romanian dispute over Serpent Island: “The island itself is just a small chunk of limestone (.17 km sq.) with a layer of topsoil. […] The geo-political history of the island is a bit complex […].”
Serbia, Croatia: Bora Djordjevic Interview
Illyrian Gazette writes about the interview with the Serbian rock singer Bora Djordjevic.
Ukraine: A Roundup
From Orange Ukraine, a roundup of Ukrainian political happenings.
Turkey is Typing….a Follow-up on the Death of Hrant Dink
Today marks a first, well for me at least! Today's article is written in direct response to your wishes, dear reader. Last week, Turkey is Typing focuses on the Death of Hrant Dink by using both Turkish and Armenian sources, and sparked an avid debate on the comments section. Many...
Somalia: the spread of transnational Islam
Evans Wafula, who blogs at Africa News, analyzes the conflict in Somalia in a thought provoking post title, “The Spread of transnational Islam and the future of nation states in the Horn of Africa.”