Stories about History from June, 2009
South Korea: Old city is gone
Matt from Gust of popular feeling showed how a large part of the old Seoul city, Pimatgol/Cheongjin-dong area north of Jongno between Gwanghwamun and Jonggak Station, has been shrouded by steel and blanket fences in preparation for demolition.
Cambodia: Report outlines Khmer Rouge Tribunal's latest troubles
A report details the latest issues to plague the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. The report, released in late May 2009, states the Tribunal's legitimacy is threatened by charges of corruption and political interference. The Cambodian government has denied interfering with the Tribunal, including preventing judges of the court from interviewing witnesses who are current government employees.
Philippines: Culture and tourism
John Ryan Recabar shares his thoughts on reviving Philippine tourism and the importance of reliving old traditions.
Iran: Comparisons and Scenarios
Balkans via Bohemia looks at how the events in Iran “would play out vis a vis other successful and unsuccessful revolutions in the past two decades,” including those in Serbia, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine and China.
Ecuador: Galapagos Islands Advance in 7 New Wonders Competition
Ecuador's Galapagos Islands have advanced to the next round in the online competition for the 7 New Wonders of the World. These islands boast some of the most diverse flora and fauna in the world and has attracted many tourists to the area, along with settlers to take part in this industry. As a result, problems such as overpopulation, excess waste, and the introduction of foreign plants and animals can be found. Ecuadorian bloggers are proud that their territory has made it this far, but hopes that this awareness will bring about better care for the land.
Guatemala: The Mayan City of Nakum
Located in the Petén department of Guatemala, the Mayan city of Nakum is a little-known archaeological site not visited very often by tourists. El Blog de Rudel [es] writes that it is well worth the effort and “to reach it is an authentic adventure.”
Ecuador: Eugenio Espejo, Precursor for the Independence Movement
Eugenio Espejo was a writer, journalist, and philospher in colonial Ecuador during the late 18th century. He is often credited for contributing to the precursor of the independence movement. Belén Proaño of Temas Para Debatir [es] has a profile of the man.
Eritrea: Analysing Asmara
Eritreans have always found it difficult to differentiate ‘freedom’ with the politically overloaded word ‘independence’, writes Gabriel Guangul.
Iran: “Iran 2009 vs. Serbia 2000″
Balkans via Bohemia compares the current situation in Iran with the 2000 election in Serbia.
Iran: Ryszard Kapuscinski on 1979
Michael J. Totten quotes from Ryszard Kapuscinski's Shah of Shahs in his post about the situation in Iran.
Cambodia: Health education
Keo Kounila and Hay Phirum write about the many challenges confronting Cambodia’s medical education.
Cambodia: Controversial Angkor Wat lighting project
To promote "night lighting" tours and to reverse the 20 per cent drop in visitors, the Cambodian government has installed artificial lighting in the 11th century-old Angkor Wat Temple. This project is opposed by some heritage conservationists and concerned Cambodian citizens. Angkor Wat is the most popular tourist site in Cambodia and is recognized as a World Heritage site.
Haiti: All Things Haitian
“Haitians are passionate, intelligent, dynamic. Artistic and creative”: The Haitian Queen explains why she chose her blogging moniker.
Serbia, BiH: Mladic Videos
Belgraded comments on the Ratko Mladic videos recently aired on Bosnian TV.
Russia: “The Vyatlag Archipelago”
Ekaterina Lushnikova writes about prison camps in the Vyatka region at OpenDemocracy.net: “The Kirov Oblast is located about 1,000 km to the northeast of Moscow. It is the largest province in the Volga Federal District – 120,000 sq.km. Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg and a few Monaco principalities would easily fit in...
Russia: Soviet Leaders in Vladimir
Arnis Balcus posts pictures from “a weird private house in Vladimir, Russia – the landlord has installed newly built monuments of all the leaders of USSR, from Lenin to Gorbachev.”
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Ratko Mladic Footage
A reaction to the footage of Ratko Mladic aired on a Bosnian TV station – at Rants of a Hyphenated Researcher: “These highly disturbing videos show the banality of evil: the man accused of murdering in cold blood 8000 young boys and men in Srebrenica, shelling Sarajevo on a daily...
Ukraine: Crimean Tatar Protest
Window on Eurasia writes about the continuing protest and growing discontent of a group of Crimean Tatar activists in Kyiv.
Russia: Aleksandr Pushkin
Russian Blog marks poet Aleksandr Pushkin's 210th birthday.
Czech Republic: Anniversary of Destruction of Lidice
CzechFolks.com and The Journeys of Captain Oddsocks write about an anniversary of the destruction of Lidice, a Czech village, by the Nazis in 1942.
Cuba, U.S.A.: Spy Games
Cuban bloggers are abuzz about the case involving accused spies Kendall Myers and his wife Gwendolyn.
