Stories about History from February, 2009
Azerbaijan: Sumgait
The Armenian Observer posts video from 21 years ago showing rioters in Sumgait during an anti-Armenian pogrom which left 26 ethnic Armenians and 6 Azeris dead.
China: From Red Guards to Cyber-vigilantism to where next?
Rebecca Mackinnon from Rconversation discusses the rise of Net power in China: “Will the Chinese people rise above cyber-vigilantism and use the Internet to build a just and fair society governed by accountable leaders?”
Pakistan: Déjà vu 1971?
“Zardari is doing exactly what Bhutto had done in 1971 – eliminating all challenges that may come in his way to become another “Civilian Martial Law Administrator”, comments Teeth Maestro while discussing the recent “verdict that refuses to give the democratically elected government its right to function.”
Arab Bloggers Rally Against the Judaization of Jerusalem
As Israeli authorities evict Arab residents and demolish their houses in Jerusalem, Arab bloggers are set on not letting this pass unnoticed. Another blogger calls for designating a week to blog for Jerusalem.
Azerbaijan: Thoughts on Khodjali
Following on from an earlier post, Sheki, Azerbaijan posts a photograph of a monument dedicated to those killed in the massacre of civilians in Khodjali, an Azeri inhabited town, during the Karabakh war. The blog notes that carnations have now become synonymous with grief and mourning in Azerbaijan and hopes...
Azerbaijan: Khodjali Anniversary
Sheki, Azerbaijan marks the 17th anniversary of the massacre of hundreds of civilians in the Azeri-inhabited town of Khodjali during the conflict with Armenia over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. The blog says that such victims can be found in every war zone where people “become toys in hands...
China: Reactions on the auction of stolen bronze relics
Fauna from ChinaSMACK translates Chinese netizens’ reactions on the auction of stolen bronze relics in France.
Taiwan: Google Map back to 1944
Kaishao introduces (zh) a new google map mashup presented by Center for Geographic Information Science, Academia Sinica. The map combines Google Map with the maps of several counties of Taiwan illustrated by U.S. Millitary information agency back in 1944.
Haiti: Carnival History
Real Hope for Haiti writes a detailed post about the island's Carnival traditions.
Cuba: BTTR Four
Cuban diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense wants us to remember “the BTTR Four”.
Guyana: Mash 2009
Guyana Providence Stadium posts photos from this year's Mashramani celebrations.
Indonesia: Tsunami museum
A Tsunami Museum opened in Aceh, Indonesia last Monday to commemorate the 230,000 people who died in the 2004 Asian tsunami. But some have criticized the project since they want the government to prioritize the homeless tsunami refugees.
Iran: Students protesting against martyrs re-burial are jailed
Up to 70 students from the Amir Kabir University in Tehran were arrested today, Tuesday 24th of February, while protesting against the re-burial of five anonymous Iran-Iraq War martyrs in the grounds of the university. See videos of the protest and the first reactions on the blogosphere.
Georgia: Punk Rock
Georgian Live Music says the country's second largest city of Kutaisi was synonymous with rock and punk bands in the 1990s. The blog posts information and photos of some of them.
Brunei: The nation turns 25
Brunei Darussalam celebrated it's twenty-five years of independence yestderday. To celebrate the Silver Jubilee, a grand parade was held at the National Stadium. Brunei blogs are buzzing with colourful photos of the historic occasion and many bloggers are sharing their aspirations for the nation.
Azerbaijan: Historic district under threat
In Mutatione Fortitudo decries the destruction of an historic part of the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, to make way for construction of a new boulevard.
Bangladesh: Remembering The Language Martyrs
Desherchobi posts a photo essay describing how Bangladeshis commemorate the martyrs who gave their lives for their mother tongue Bangla on 21st of February, 1952, now recognized as the International mother language day.
Serbia: The Museum of African Art
A Yankee-in-Belgrade writes about Belgrade's Museum of African Art.
Estonia: WWII History
Itching for Eestimaa writes about the history of WWII and the Holocaust in Estonia.
Peru: Portrayal of Andean Life in Llosa's Movies
The recent film "The Milk of Sorrow" by Peruvian director Claudia Llosa was recently awarded with the Golden Bear at an international film festival in Berlin. Even though the film has yet to open in Peru, debate has started whether or not Llosa's portrayal of Andean life is accurate or in some cases racist towards the indigenous communities that figure prominently in her movies.
Russia: Henri Cartier-Bresson's Photos of Soviet Union
LJ user jolita (RUS) has posted Henri Cartier-Bresson's 1954-55 and 1973-74 photos of the Soviet Union in the ruguru LJ community.