Stories about History from December, 2010
Poland: 29th Anniversary of the 1981 Martial Law
On the 29th anniversary of introducing martial law in Poland, Tasting Poland Blog shares “bitter memories” by posting a selection of photos and video from 1981-83.
Ukraine: Chernobyl Tourism
Chernobyl and Eastern Europe posts a list of errors in the AP story on Chernobyl tourism, supplied by Michael Forster Rothbart, and quotes “a friend in Kyiv who operates one of the companies that offer Chernobyl tours”: “He stated that it looks like the new government has decided to ‘monopolize...
Armenia: Facebook Storytelling
Writing for Ararat Magazine, Global Voices author Simon Maghakyan says that that one Facebook Group is attempting to use the popular social networking site to teach children Armenian history. The post wonders if this might turn out to be a revolutionary way to get them interested in such subject matters.
Peru: Red April, a Novel by Santiago Roncagliolo
In a short book review, Greg Weeks writes: “Santiago Roncagliolo's Red April: A Novel is a creepy yet engrossing mystery set in Peru in March-April 2000. It focuses on the fight against Sendero Luminoso in Ayacucho. […] From the perspective of plot, the book keeps you guessing until the end.”
Nicaragua-Costa Rica Conflict, Revisited: Part II
This is the second part of a walk-through of the Nicaraguan and Costa Rican blogospheres discussing the recent border dispute between the countries. The conflict, which started November 2nd, has become more complex. In this second part, we cover three parts of the crisis: Nationalism in the media, "the X word", and self-assessment and analysis from Nicaragua.
Brazil: Recognition of the Palestinian State
On December 3, 2010 Brazil officially recognized [pt] the Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. The Brazilian blogsphere reaction is an analysis of the meaning of the recognition for the Brazilian government and it's practical effects.
Azerbaijan: Stepanakert
Marut's Blog posts photographs taken during the Soviet era of Stepanakert, capital of the breakaway territory of Nagorno Karabakh. An autonomous oblast situated within Azerbaijan before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the region declared itself independent in 1991, but remains internationally unrecognized. Negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan to determine...
Algeria: Ba'athists and Mauritania
Algerian-American The Moor Next Door shares an insight on the history of the Ba'athist tendency in Mauritania.
Ecuador: “Fiestas de Quito”: Tradition and Resistance
The "Fiestas de Quito" (Celebrations of Quito) are one of the most important and traditional celebrations in Ecuador, marked by the multiculturalism of the city, its traditions and cuisine, where issues of miscegenation and nationalism blend in a fragrant, colorful and musical occasion.
Suriname: Art & Houses
“The Surinamese house from the 19th century is disappearing from the Paramaribo scene and with it a piece of our history”: Srananart's Blog features a painter who is passionate about “characteristic old wooden Surinamese houses.”
Belarus: Search for National Identity
At OpenDemocracy.net, Natalia Leshchenko writes that “Belarusians have come to the point where they need a shared, universally accepted, veritable and satisfying understanding of themselves as a nation, and a common vision of their goals and priorities of development.”
Cuba: Social Tension
“A sociologist who was consulted explains that increases in social tension and discontent which have recently occurred on the island are caused by unemployment, lack of any future, and high taxes on self-employment”: Iván's File Cabinet calls the situation “a time bomb with incalculable consequences.”
Sao Tome & Principe: “Africa is your Home”
Santomean sociologist Humbah Aguiar tells a story on colonialism and the repression of the African people. Part I, II and III [pt] from “Africa is your home” can be watched at his Youtube channel.
Ukraine: Efforts to Save Tustan Preserve From Illegal Construction
The Uncataloged Museum writes about efforts to prevent illegal construction at an archeological fortress site in Western Ukraine: “Rather than wait for someone else to take action, a group of young people, led by the site's director, Vasyl Rozkho, organized a protest […]. A flash mob, photographs documenting the construction,...
Russia: “Battle for Russia’s Heritage Resumes”
Clementine Cecil, a journalist and co-founder of the Moscow Architectural Preservation Society (MAPS), writes on OpenDemocracy.net about protests against the proposed amendments to Russia’s heritage law: “Experts have already written to President Medvedev to voice their concern with the proposals, arguing they would ‘place tens of thousands of monuments of...
Guatemala: The Burning of the Devil
From AntiguaDailyPhoto: “La quema del diablo (Burning of the Devil) used to be this tradition, little known out side of Guatemala. I say “used to be” since the Burning of the Devil is now all over the Internet.” Luis Figueroa [es] blogged about his experience “burning the devil” this year.
Transnistria: A Trip to Tiraspol
The Kalpak writes about a short trip to Tiraspol, Transnistria. Morning in Moldova has more on the situation with Transnistria.
East Timor: A day to celebrate Resistance and Emancipation
Blog Mundorama [pt] recently posted an article by the Brazilian international affairs researcher, Carolina Galdino, about East Timorese “resistance and will for emancipation”. Thirty five years ago today, on December 7, 1975, Indonesia invaded the country and the occupation lasted 24 years.
Poland: Photos from Auschwitz and Birkenau
Greetings from Kyiv posts photo reports from a visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau – here, here, and here.
The Balkans: Angelina Jolie's “Directorial Debut”
Gray Falcon and Srebrenica Genocide Blog discuss (from different perspectives) Angelina Jolie's “directorial debut” – “a love story set during the Bosnian war.”
The Balkans: Genocide Denial
Greater Surbiton writes about “the bizarre world of genocide denial.”