Stories about History from January, 2010
Azerbaijan: 20th anniversary of Baku pogrom and Black January
Today marks the 20th anniversary of Black January, the day when the fledgling independence movement in Azerbaijan was brutally suppressed by Soviet troops ostensibly to curtail inter-ethnic tensions in the capital, Baku. Bloggers in Armenia and Azerbaijan, however, remember the date differently.
Turkey: Third anniversary of Hrant Dink assassination
Three years ago today, Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was gunned down outside the office of the Argos newspaper he edited in Istanbul, Turkey. Often ignored, loathed or detested when he was alive by nationalists on both sides for his message of tolerance and peace, one blogger compares Dink to Martin Luther King Jr.
USA: Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 and became arguably the American Civil Rights Movement's most prominent advocate and speaker. In the United States, he is honored by a national holiday, observed the third Monday in January of each year. Today, many bloggers in the United States are honoring his memory with dedicated posts, linking his legacy of social justice with issues of today, demonstrating that 42 years after King's assassination, his words are just as relevant.
Haiti: Aristide's Announcement
HaitiAnalysis.com and Repeating Islands report on Aristide's announcement that he is ready to return to Haiti.
Haiti: History of Earthquakes
Repeating Islands gives a history of earthquakes in Haiti.
Barbados, DR, Haiti: Good vs. Evil
Regional bloggers lash back at American televangelist Pat Robertson, whose comments about the Haiti disaster left a bad taste in their mouths.
Haiti: Bastion of Music Education Destroyed
Africlassical is sad to learn that the earthquake in Haiti destroyed the country's École Sainte Trinité, where Julio Racine taught music.
Uzbekistan: War of the monuments
14th January is celebrated as the Day of Defender of the Motherland in Uzbekistan. On the eve of this day, a grand opening ceremony of the monument “Oath to the Homeland” took place in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. The monument depicting an oath-taking soldier and a benedictory woman behind...
Azerbaijan: Baku pogroms
The Armenian Observer comments on the twentieth anniversary of the pogrom of Armenians in Baku at the beginning of the conflict with Armenia over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. Between 48 and 66 people were killed as a result of the bloody ethnic tensions which would later erupt into...
Why Malaysians are migrating?
The number of Malaysians who are migrating to other countries is increasing. The Other Malaysia provides a historical and political analysis to this phenomenon.
Armenia: Reflecting on the Haiti earthquake
With Armenia having experienced its own devastating earthquake 21 years ago, Ianyan comments on the tragedy in Haiti. In particular, the blog notes the similarities between the two countries, summarizes an account in Armenian by one blogger who spent time there, and also tells its readers how they can help...
Haiti: We're Sorry
Regional bloggers reach out with compassion to their Haitian neighbours, while Repeating Islands notes that “in the past 500 years, a dozen major earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater have occurred in the Caribbean near Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the island of Hispaniola, shared by Haiti and...
Haiti: Earthquake!
The Caribbean blogosphere is busy tonight, discussing very sad news - an earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter Scale struck off the coast of Haiti, causing major damage and loss of life in the already besieged island nation.
Netherlands: Miep Gies, Woman Who Helped Anne Frank, Dies at 100
Miep Gies, one of the people who helped Anne Frank and her family hide during WWII and saved her diary after they were deported, has died. People around the world react to the news.
Paraguay: Vintage Postcard Collection
Muna Annahas shares her collection of vintage Paraguayan postcards in this YouTube video.
Bolivia: Bicentennial Mural in La Paz
Blogsasa [es] writes about the unveiling of a mural in La Paz, Bolivia to commemorate the city's bicentennial. There are pictures of the mural that includes 187 historical figures represented, but there is some controversy about who was chosen to be included.
Suriname: Ferrier Dies at 99
Repeating Islands acknowledges the passing of Suriname's first President.
Russia: Blogger Reports On Fire That Destroyed Historic Building
LJ user zyalt reports on “suspicious” fire [RUS] that destroyed a historic country house of the first chairman of Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament. Built more than a century ago, the house hosted many famous Russian writers, artists and politicians.
Haiti: New Year & Independence
In Haiti, January 1st 2010 was the date of the double celebration of both New Year's day and the 206th anniversary of the National Independence. Haiti Connexion Network posts a cheerful slideshow entitled “Bonne Fête Haïti Chérie”.
Killing Kuka: Timorese Youth Gunned Down
Twenty-five year old Kuka Lebre from East Timor was shot and killed by the local police last week. His death generated a strong reaction in the country. GV author Keta Haluha summarizes the reactions of netizens in East Timor
Bahamas: Day of Absence
Nicolette Bethel posts a series of musings about her Day of Absence – “a day to remember and recognize Bahamian artists and cultural workers, who go largely unsung, unnoticed and unremembered, and who are generally assumed not to exist in this nation”; Bahama Pundit offers a critique.
