Stories about History from September, 2010
Nigeria: This Bitch of a Life Tour
This Bitch of a Life Tour in Nigeria: ““Fela: This Bitch of a Life” is a moving account of Fela, told from the inside. During his stay in Nigeria, Carlos will read from the book, discuss Fela and his times with Very Special Guests…”
Nigeria: Nigeria@50: What is there to celebrate?
Nigerian blogger Adeola Aderounmu says the country’s democracy is in a shambles and the N17bn for the independence celebrations is money ill-spent.
Haiti, Dominican Republic: The Presence of DR Troops
Wadner Pierre says that “the decision of the Dominican government to send troops in Haiti proved the participation of the Dominican government in destabilizing Haiti peace”.
Belarus: Opposition and the Presidential Election
Andrei Khrapavitski posts a note on the Belarusian opposition and the upcoming presidential election.
Trinidad & Tobago: Film on the Amerindians
Repeating Islands blogs about “one of the documentaries being screened at the 2010 Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival…Tracy Assing’s new film The Amerindians.”
Iran: The Art and Design of the ‘Green Movement’
“Where is my Vote” is an exhibition of 150 political posters for the Green Movement in Iran that was on display at the School of Visual Arts in New York by graphic artists from around the world in support of the protests in Iran that followed the 2009 presidential election.
UK: Interview With Donald Newholm On ‘History of USSR’ Tetris Song
A Good Treaty interviews Donald Newholm of Pig With The Face Of A Boy about the band's popular song, “A Complete History of the Soviet Union As Told By A Humble Worker, Arranged To The Melody Of Tetris” (the YouTube video to this song has been viewed over 500,000 times).
Russia: Pavlovsk During WWII
More on the history of the Pavlovsk Experiment Station – at Vaviblog.
Nigeria: Nigeria@50 – Why We Celebrate
A YouTube video called “Why We Celebrate” about Nigeria's 50th Independence Anniversary.
Trinidad & Tobago: Parang Time
Simply Trini Cooking blogs about Parang – “one of Trinidad and Tobago's folk music that seems in a remarkable way to stay true to its original form” – here and here.
Uruguay: A Weekend Celebrating the Country's Heritage
Every year, Uruguayans dedicate a whole weekend to remember their heritage during the so-called “día del Patrimonio” (Heritage Day); they attend different cultural events and visit historic sites and venues. To commemorate the weekend, Todo Por la Misma Plata [es] shares three videos of Uruguayan musicians.
Lebanon: March to Save Beirut’s Architectural Heritage
“Beirut used to be a city of gorgeous mansions and gardens and now it has become a boring heap of high-rises and construction projects,” said Yvonne Sursock Cochrane, 88, founder of the Association for Protecting Natural Sites and Old Buildings in Lebanon. Around 150 Lebanese men and women marched late...
Angola: Meet the Country Through its Windows
Uma janela aos domingos [A window on Sundays, pt], is a series of weekly posts featuring photos from Angolan windows with stories told by their authors. As Gabriel Toureg explains, “it's a way to know more about the country, its culture, remote locations, architecture and people of Angola”.
Malaysia: Historic labor town
EngageMedia uploads a video about Batu Arang, a small town in Malaysia which was the site of numerous historic labor actions in the country.
East Timor: The Past is Present
For many East Timorese families that have lived through the violent Indonesian occupation, the past is still present. The poignant words of Fidelis Magalhães - the son of a slain pro-independence fighter - mark the eleventh anniversary of the UN run Popular Consultation which resulted in the independence of the country.
Russia: Campaign To Save Pavlovsk Experimental Station
Vaviblog draws attention to the campaign to save Russian botanist Nikolai Vavilov's Pavlovsk seed bank from destruction.
Poland: Jarosław Kaczyński and PiS
More updates on Jarosław Kaczyński, his Law and Justice (PiS) party, and Poland's politics – the beatroot, Raf Uzar, and Politics, Economy, Society.
Poland: Solidarność 1980 vs. Solidarność 2010
Raf Uzar wrote this on Aug. 31 about Solidarność‘s 30th anniversary: “Lech Wałęsa’s refusal to attend the celebrations was a clear cutting of the umbilical cord and demonstration of the fact that the legacy of Solidarity 1980 is to be found elsewhere, not in Solidarity 2010.” Polandian added: “So, to...
Russia: Luzhkov “Power Struggle”
A Good Treaty analyzes the situation with the Moscow mayor, suggesting “that Yuri Luzhkov will not be replaced before his term expires next year”: “But the Luzhkov affair has the appearance of a power struggle […]. The appearance of a more active and confident Medvedev gives off the impression that...
UK, Romania: “Katalin Varga”
Csíkszereda Musings writes about Katalin Varga, Peter Strickland's film, set and filmed in Transylvania.
Russia: Photos of Kolyma Highway/Road of Bones
AskYakutia.com posts 45 winter photos of “the Road of Bones (officially known as the Kolyma Highway) built by GULAG work camp inmates in the time of Stalin.”