Stories about History from March, 2008
Haiti: The Terror of Globalisation?
“All the fake, elegant-suited blather about bringing democracy and prosperity to Haiti has boiled down to murderous military occupation…while starving people survive by eating cakes made of dirt”: Toni Solo writes a detailed editorial of the situation at HaitiAnalysis.com.
Barbados, USA: Black President?
“Many Barbadians are in awe that a Black man in the year 2008 could be challenging for the presidency,” says Barbados Underground.
South Africa: We'll argue with our parents and play video games!
Earlier this week, President Thabo Mbeki proposed that an oath be recited by school children every day in a nation-building effort. Breaking News says that the Opposition Democratic Alliance Leader, Jack Bloom, had welcomed the effort. However, South African bloggers have another idea entirely.
26th March – Bangladesh celebrates the Declaration of Independence
As Bangladesh celebrates its Independence Day on 26th March, the Bangla blogosphere is inundated with posts reliving the horrific Operation Searchlight that was launched by the Pakistan Army on 25th March 1971, in a desperate attempt to stamp out the Bengali Nationalist movement. Abul Bahar brings to life that fateful...
Japan and Korea: Comfort Woman
Michael Solis from Ohmynews! reported on Korean comfort women who live in the house of sharing.
Czech Republic: “A Scary Masterpiece”
Czechmatediary.com writes about the Bone Church of the town of Kutna Hora.
The Baltics: Deportations of 1949
Marginalia writes about the 1949 deportations from the Baltic states.
Russia, Ukraine: The Nose; Andropov vs Khrushchev
De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis, in the March 25 entry, pays tribute to “The Nose” by Nikolai Gogol and quotes from Yuri Andropov's 1970 proposal to suppress Nikita Khrushchev's memoir.
Kazkahstan: China’s Territorial Claims
Adam Kesher reviews posts from the Kazakh blogosphere about China’s rumoured territorial claims towards neighboring countries, including Kazakhstan.
Czech Republic: Havel Supports Anti-Missile Radar Base
Dr. Sean's Diary reports that ex-president Vaclav Havel supports stationing of the U.S. anti-missile radar base in the Czech Republic.
Europe: Recognition of Kosovo
Balkan Baby and readers discuss Kosovo's independence.
The Balkans: NATO
Balkan Baby writes about George W. Bush's upcoming Central and Eastern European tour, the NATO Summit, and the Balkan states’ “quest to join NATO.”
Bosnia & Herzegovina: “Graffiti Street”
Bosnia Blog writes about a documentary on the “meeting of [Sarajevo] musicians after a separation caused by war.”
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Writing a Book on Sarajevo
Pure Intent is working on a book on Sarajevo – and is asking his readers to share ideas: “It's your city too. What we're lookin’ for is nothing ordinary….quite the opposite actually. I want to tell stories of the water fountains, of the zanatlija, of tucano kahva, how we hid...
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Sarajevo War Memorial
YakimaGulagLiteraryGazett comments on the plans to erect a memorial to Serbian war victims in Sarajevo: “Here is how I think the money should be spent instead of building the cross, why don't these people help Serbian war survivors? Why don't they help the injured people from their side?”
Latvia: Musings on Ethnic Homogeny
Among other things, Marginalia muses on the “basic bonds between peoples and their languages, lands, beliefs, cultures and even cuisines” and how it relates to Latvia.
Poland: Warsaw; Online Forums
Among other things, Polandian writes about the Warsaw Ghetto in the final installment of “Inside Warsaw.” Also, there's a post on “why Polish people don’t smile” and a review of Polish-English online discussion forums.
Japan: The New Era of Video
Last Friday, Japan's national broadcaster aired a special on the "New Era of Video" predicting changes in the industry of broadcast television that will shake the foundation of mass media. But why would a broadcaster as big as NHK air a TV special about the end of TV? Wouldn't that be against its own interests? Blogger Kobayashi Akihito asked if there wasn't more to the NHK special than meets the eye.
Brazil: The end of the Burning of Judas
Once one of the most popular Easter-time rituals in Brazil, the ‘Burning of Judas‘ is disappearing from the streets of Rio de Janeiro, as noticed Jorge Alberto [pt].
Iraq: Five long years … most of them in tears
For me the whole story of the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war can be summed up one post. One post that says nothing about the past five years but implies everything as well. We can talk about the lack of security, the number of deaths, the failure of the occupation, but all this talk has become as meaningless as glib phrases like "Collateral Damage." What really matters is how the war is affecting people's lives, writes Salam Adil.
Iran: A New Year Begins
Yesterday, marked the first day of spring and the Iranian New Year. Nowruz or Norouz is celebrated in Iran and several other countries such as Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Several bloggers celebrated the day and shared their wishes and ideas on this occasion. Some, like Raze No (meaning “new secret”) added...
