Stories about History from August, 2007
Egypt: Aliens Myth
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia says that aliens do not exist in this post.
Soviet Union: Female Beauty and Feminism
Natalia Antonova writes about “the Soviet Syndrome” that some of today's feminists seem to be afflicted with.
Croatia: Gračac
Balkan Anarchist writes about his familial ties to and the recent history of Gračac, “a town and municipality located in the south of Lika,” which, before the war, had “a Serbian ethnic majority, the majority of which does not live there anymore.”
Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana: West Indian Writers
Antilles quotes Ian McDonald on the achievements of West Indian writers: “Long after the contradictions and difficulties of our post-colonial societies have been forgotten, the books produced by our writers will have found a permanent place among the valuable, enduring works of man.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Santa Rosa Festival
The CAC Review notes that Trinidad's Carib community yesterday celebrated the high mass of the annual Santa Rosa Festival, with a procession through the streets of Arima.
Bahamas: Art & Culture
A blog post by Reginald Shepherd underscores Bahamian Nicolette Bethel‘s point that art and culture “should be a fundamental part of any social agenda”.
China: Myth Disintegrated
Hu ge used to believe that People's Liberation Army had destroyed 12,000 planes from the enemy during the Korea War. However, a recent CCTV programme disclosed that the PLA had shot down 330 enemy planes. The historical myth is then disintegrated (zh).
China: Missing History
Mary Ann O'donnell wrote some reflections on the missing of master narratives, such as history, tradition in Shenzhen (also in China): without history. shenzhen is the perfect example of new china because it doesn't have any culture or history. but it's not even the best copy of the west.
Japan: Peace Child 2007
Hasan at hasanhujairi[dot]com has posted an outline of his experience at the 10-day Peace Child program at a farm in Chiba, two hours from Tokyo, discussing issues such as war and peace, pollution and the environment. Hasan transcribes and reflects on a speech by a survivor of the atom bombing...
Japan: Time-lapse Tokyo
Pink Tentacle brings together ten great time-lapse videos shot in Tokyo, including one of 35 years of construction in Shinjuku, one of the construction of Roppongi Hills, one of a trip along the Yamanote Line, and one of lighting striking in Higashiyama.
Russia: An “Oasis of Nonchalance”
August 19 marked sixteen years since the beginning of the Soviet Union's collapse. On this day, LJ user galerist (Marat Guelman, gallery owner from Moscow) happened to post a sketch on his visit to a rich client's estate - a sketch that, in a way, highlighted some of the changes that have - and have not - occurred since 1991.
Ukraine: Independence Day
Scenes from the Sidewalk and Ukrainiana write about Ukraine's Independence Day – today and 16 years ago.
Ukraine: Another Poisoning?
Foreign Notes writes about an alleged poisoning of the author of “the only book written to date describing the turf wars that took place in the early and mid '90's in Donetsk and their alleged participants.”
Russia: Opinion on Chechnya
Window on Eurasia cites opinion polls on the Russian attitudes toward Chechnya.
Europe: Elimination of Roma in 1944
Peshas Gypsy Gitan Blog writes about the elimination of the Roma by the Nazi in 1944: “The Roma kept very few written records the Generations gone before were remembered and kept alive in memory by word of mouth. Those murdered in the death camps were not only killed but they...
Russia: Tešanović on Politkovskaya
On Boing Boing, Jasmina Tešanović writes about Anna Politkovskaya, who was her friend.
Barbados, Jamaica: Dean Winning Votes?
“Now taking advantage of disaster is a time honoured tradition amongst West Indian politicians,” writes Notes from the Margin, commenting on the impact Hurricane Dean may have on Jamaica's upcoming elections.
Senegal: Africa according to Nicolas Sarkozy
Francophone Africa was awaiting anxiously the newly elected French President's arrival. Nicolas Sarkozy's reputation certainly preceded him in Africa. He was minister of the interior under Jacques Chirac and was responsible for quenching the revolts of disaffected youths (ones he referred to as “racaille” (scum)). Today Africa is still reeling...
Kannada: Independence, festivals and more
20 runners from 12 countries; the youngest among whom is a 23 year old American woman and the oldest, a 60 year old American man; an Indian, Sunil Jayaraj, from Kolar, Karnataka. A 95 day project, covering 4 continents, 16 countries and 24000 KMs, organised by Blue Planet Run. They...
South East Asia: Ghost Month
The Travellers Tale blog explains the origins of the Chinese Ghost Month feast.
Russia: Communist Youth League and Just Russia
Sean's Russia Blog writes about the current political preferences of Russia's Communist Youth League.
