Stories about History from December, 2008
Egypt: The other side of Gaza’s story
"The Arab world decided that it will take a stand, and place the full blame on one party, and, here is the twist, it wasn't Israel or Hamas. They instead chose to blame Egypt" writes an Egyptian blogger in this post by Lasto Adri that illuminates the conflicting viewpoints and struggles felt by Egyptian bloggers over the recent Israeli Attacks in the Gaza Strip.
Cuba: Remembering José Silvestre White
AfriClassical profles José Silvestre White, an Afro-Cuban violinist who became a composer and professor after graduating from the Paris Conservatory.
Trinidad & Tobago:
“It is an interesting note on which to end this year. Going back in order to go forward, knowing what went to know what comes next”: Trinidadian blogger Attillah Springer bids farewell to the Old Year and welcomes the new…
Azerbaijan: Historical Buildings
IN MUTATIONE FORTITUDO writes on the inauguration of a redesigned metro station in downtown Baku and decries the fact that the modern design does not sit well with the historical buildings in its vicinity. In a second entry, the same blog posts photographs of derelict buildings that will either be...
Egypt: Solidarity with Palestine
Since they’ve heard, Egyptian Bloggers expressed their immediate solidarity with their Palestine brothers against the brutal attack. Everybody condemned the Siege, as well as the blind Israeli bombings that does not differentiate between killing militants or civilians, women, children and men. Mostafa launched a Jaiku channel to pass news about...
Lebanon: Solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza
“In Gaza There is a Boy Standing and Waiting to go to Sleep” these are the words that Mazen Kerbaj chose to summarize the situation in Gaza in one of his cartoons. Taking a second look, the cartoon seems to say: “In Gaza There is a Boy Standing and Waiting...
Syria: More on the Israeli Massacre in Palestine
Diana Ghazzawi, a Gazan blogger who is now based in North America, shares with us her worries that she might not meet her relatives in Gaza one day, if they don't get lucky from the strategic Israeli shelling on the Gazans: This is not about politics. It's not about specifics...
Cuba: Letter to Castro
Cuban diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense links to an open letter [ES] to Fidel Castro, written by a political prisoner.
Trinidad & Tobago: The Goings-On in Gaza
Notes from Port of Spain examines the situation in Gaza: “In terms of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is a total waste of time and of life. It is a big step backwards.”
Venezuela: Casting Doubt on the Cause of Bolivar's Death
Símon Bolívar is a national hero and liberator for many South American countries. In Venezuela, he is especially considered to play an important role in the past and present. Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez began to cast doubts on the true cause of Bolívar's death, which has been to believed to be caused tuberculosis. Now Chávez claims that it was an act of poisoning and has ordered an investigation into the matter, which some Venezuelans are supporting and others say is a waste of resources and time.
Syria: Bloggers Infuriated by Israeli Massacre in Palestine
"Many Syrian bloggers feel depressed and paralyzed over what's happening in Gaza now" writes Razan Ghazzawi as she brings us more reactions from the Arabic-language Syrian blogosphere in our continuing coverage about the current Israeli airstrike campaign in the Gaza Strip.
Trinidad & Tobago, Cuba: City of Contradictions
Trinidadian blogger Tattoo spends Christmas in Havana and comes away with the impression that “the revolution has not achieved a new equilibrium. Instead, it has re-appropriated the inequalities inherent in any capitalist society and ensured that those in power are the haves as opposed to the have nots. And this...
Cuba, U.S.A.: Lifting Limits?
Uncommon Sense links to an article which suggests that US President-Elect Barack Obama seems prepared to lift limits “on how often Cuban Americans can visit family members on the island and on how much money they can send them”, a move which the blogger says would end “one of the...
Jamaica: Blogging in Times of War
The Israeli strikes on Gaza cause Jamaican Annie Paul to remember Nobel Prize-winning German author Günter Grass’ “heartfelt rumination on war and the role of writers in times of war”, saying: “While Grass did not explicitly mention bloggers (perhaps in 2006 they were not as omnipresent as they are today)...
Nigeria: Victoriana in African costumes
Saharan Vibe features the works of British-Nigerian textile artist Yinka Sonibare who had garnered international recognition with his Victorian historical figures dressed in Dutch wax African print costumes. The post includes numerous photos of his works.
Guatemala: Violence Continues 12 Years After Peace Accords
Today marks the 12th anniversary of the signing of the Peace Accords that put an end to 36 years of Civil War in Guatemala. In spite of the agreement and an international commission to oversee the process, violence and lawlessness continue to be a part of daily life in the country.
Iran Review 2008
According to the Berkman Center for Internet and Society there are around 60,000 active Iranian blogs. In 2008 they have been creative, dynamic and active in their diverse fields of interest. Here are a few of them.
Rare Brunei stamp
Rozan Yunos writes about a rare 6c Brunei stamp issued during the Japanese Occupation.
Malaysia: Former king dies
Malaysia's former king, Tuanku Jaafar Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, is dead. He was Malaysia's king from 1994-1999.
Turkey: Apology Shakes Apologia over Armenian Genocide
Challenging 90 years of institutionalized denial of the massacre and deportation of the Ottoman Empire's indigenous Armenian community during WWI, tens of thousands of Turkish intellectuals, academics, writers, journalists and dissidents have apologized online for the "Great Catastrophe."
Lebanon: Jews of Lebanon blog Transforms to website
“After nearly 3 years of work, The Jews of Lebanon Blog will close … I started this site possibly as a naive college student trying to relive the nostalgia of his parents’ memories in Lebanon but today it’s much more than that.” The blogger explains that the work will continue...
