Stories about History from August, 2011
Sri Lanka: The Return Of The Grease Devils
In many rural areas of Sri Lanka the mythical figure of the Grease Yaka (Grease Devil) is being blamed for nighttime assaults on women and thefts/robberies. A number of suspects have been arrested and a few of them even mob-lynched by villagers. Rezwan investigates.
Curaçao: “The re-enslavement of Tula”
Controversy is brewing over a film about Curaçao's “liberation warrior Tula” – read why, here.
History of China in 3½ Minutes
A rap video rounding up history of China from prehistoric times to present day by 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors in Youtube.
Russia: Bloggers Remember 20th Anniversary of August Coup
On August 19, Russians commemorate 20 years since the "August Putsch," a failed coup d'etat conducted by a number of KGB officers and military units who were opposed to Gorbachev's reform program and decentralisation of power to the Soviet republics. Citizens took to the streets to defend democracy, and bloggers are remembering their efforts.
Kyrgyzstan: Bloggers Take a Stand Against Manas-pulation
As Kyrgyzstan prepares for its 20th anniversary of independence and subsequent presidential elections, its legendary warrior king Manas is becoming more and more real by the day. Bloggers discuss the phenomenon.
Russia: Ex-UK Ambassador's Diary of 5 Days in August 1991
OpenDemocracy.net publishes – here, here and here – excerpts from the August 1991 diary of Rodric Braithwaite, who was the British Ambassador in the Soviet Union back then.
Slovenia: Former PM Andrej Bajuk Dies
Sleeping With Pengovsky writes about Andrej Bajuk, Slovenia's former PM, who died at the age of 67 this past Monday.
Cuba: Pablo Milanés’ Voice
Generation Y blogs about the upcoming Pablo Milanés concert in Miami, which some in the diaspora are agitating to boycott: “The troubadour who proposes to sing in Florida in a few days is a man who has grown and matured artistically and civically, conscious, as well, of the need for...
Cuba: First Transsexual Marriage Preceded “Gay” Wedding
Gaspar, El Lugareño [ES] claims that last Saturday's “gay” wedding was actually not Cuba's first, saying the first marriage of a transsexual person happened in the late 80s.
Haiti: Bishop Kébreau's Political Statement
Wadner Pierre examines whether “Bishop Louis Kébreau, President of the Haitian Episcopal Conference, call[ed] on Haitian President Martelly to be ruthless and dictatorial”, adding: “I am very disturbed by the declaration…but I am not surprised because powerful clerics like him have always fought against a democratic government in Haiti.”
Jamaica: Marcus Garvey's Birthday
Diaspora litblogger Geoffrey Philp posts a poem to honour the anniversary of Marcus Garvey's birthday.
Russia: 20 Years After the Putsch
Putin Watcher joins in commemorating all the bicentennials of soviet demise coming up this August by writing about the failed coup against Gorbachev in 1991.
Baltics-Sweden: Twenty Years of Independence
Albatros of Litauen blog reports about [ger] Swedish celebrations of 20 years of independence for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and how Swedish Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, apologised to his Baltic colleagues for recognizing soviet annexation during World War II.
Russia: Volga German Deportation Turns 70
Otto's Random Thoughts commemorates the 70th anniversary of the soviet deportation of Volga Germans during the Second World War.
Serbia: Dramatic Return of the Chetniks
Carl Savich of Serbianna writes about the 1942 radio play, Treasury Parade, starring Orson Welles, and how it glorifies the Chetniks’ struggle against Nazi occupation during the Second World War.
China: The Xinhai Revolution and Tibet
High Peaks Pure Earth translated Tibetan Chinese blogger Woser's recent blog post about the political implication of Xinhai Revolution to Tibet by comparing the fate of Tibetans with Mongolians and Uyghurs.
Russia: 20 Years Since the Putsch
Putin Watcher writes about the Putsch that dealt “the fatal blow to the Soviet Union” 20 years ago.
The ‘New Latin America’ Faces its Past
The Council on Hemispheric Affairs Blog is posting a series “that will explore the concept of the New Latin America by focusing on recent developments that highlight how the region contrasts with its past.” So far COHA research associates have written about the Dos Erres trial in Guatemala, Venezuela's Hugo Chávez and Simón...
Poland: Can Communist Architecture Be Cherished?
Michael Dembinski of W-wa Jeziorki discusses whether edifices of communist era architecture, such as Warszawa Zachodnia station, can be as cherished as older historical landmarks.
Hungary: Memory of a Political Thinker
Eva Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum commemorates István Bibó (1911-1975), who in her opinion is one of the greatest political thinkers in Hungary during the 20th century.
Russia: “On the Eve of Collapse”
To mark the upcoming 20th anniversary of the August 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, OpenDemocracy.net publishes two excerpts from Susan Richards’ 1990 book, “Epics of Everyday Life: Encounters in a Changing Russia.”
