Stories about History from October, 2008
Serbia: Campaign Against Sonja Biserko
Greater Surbiton writes about smear campaign against the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia and the organization's head, Sonja Biserko.
Ukraine: “Truth and Falsehoods” of Holodomor
The 8th Circle writes in detail about “truth and falsehoods” of Holodomor, “an artificially created famine by Joseph Stalin during 1932-33, which starved to death 3 – 3.5 million Ukrainians.”
Russia: Justification of Stalin's Deportations
Window on Eurasia writes about a new book that justifies ethnic deportations by Stalin.
Ukraine: Rally Against UPA
At Ukrainiana, lots of photos and video from a rally against the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, which took place in Kyiv today: “As expected, I found myself in the Jurassic Park of communism, progressive socialism, pan-Slavism, Russian monarchism, imperialism, Eurasianism and whatnot.”
Jordan: The UN and Israel
Ali, from Jordan, reviews the UN resolutions passed against Israel in this post.
Russia: Blog Roundup; Bailout of Iceland
Siberian Light posts a Russia blog roundup for October, and also writes about Russia's bailout of Iceland now and a similar initiative undertaken by the Soviet Union over 50 years ago.
Cuba: Imprisoned
Diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense calls Cuba the “concentration camp of the Caribbean”, while Havana-based Generation Y blogs about the rise of prices on the informal food market, saying: “These days, chanting ‘Eeee-eeeggs’ may be more dangerous than chanting anti-government slogans. OK, let’s not exaggerate, opinion has always been punished more.”
Barbados: Finanical Fallout?
Living in Barbados suggests that “once all the financial dust has started to settle there will be a very different world of international finance, with most of the world's major banks owned or largely controlled by the State.”
Grenada: Artefact
“It is not unusual, during the course of a morning, as we weed or mole or fork the land, for us to unearth some pottery shard or rusted garden implement from long ago”: Grenada's Free Spirit finds an unexpected treasure from the 1800s.
Cuba: War Reflections
“Today, we are informed about every loss suffered by the American army in Iraq but I remember the secrecy about the number of Cuban soldiers who fell during the Angolan War”: Generation Y reflects on the loss of life as a film about the Cuban war in Angola is released...
Haiti, Jamaica, T&T: Thoughts on Haiti
Haiti Innovation wonders what's next for the hurricane-ravaged town of Gonaives, while Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp focuses on a new book about Haiti.
Jamaica: Changing Attitudes?
As The Jamaica Gleaner runs an article on the changing attitudes towards homosexuality (along with an interesting choice of stock photography), My View of JamDown from Up So wonders “what/if any backlash there will be among readers regarding this picture of two women, especially considering this is published on a...
Ukraine: “Swan Song for the Orange Revolution”
Petro of Petro's Jotter remembers the 2004 Orange Revolution in Ukraine as “an incredible, festive, peaceful time of working together as a people” and writes about the upsetting changes that have taken place in the past four years.
Saudi Arabia: Ancient churches
Saudi Jeans explains that Saudi Arabia is the site of some of the oldest churches in the region, even though Christians cannot publicly practise their religion in the kingdom today.
Lusosphere: The origins of the American Banjo in Africa
Emerson Santiago [pt] writes at Patafurdia Magazine about akonting, the musical instrument found in Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau in West Africa. “The Portuguese colonizers and the North American slaves owners began to call the instrument “Banjo”, coming from the Quimbundo word “m'banza” (language of the second largest ethnic group in...
Brazil: The country pays homage to the Samba master
If he was alive today, Cartola, one of the key figures in samba music, would be celebrating 100 years this October 11. Cartola composed over 500 songs, deeply loved by Brazilians, who today published their favorite song or poem, videos, photos and bits and pieces of the history of this legend.
Brunei: Railway line, 1952
The Daily Brunei Resources writes about a 1952 Brunei Darussalam Annual Report which mentioned an old railway line in Brunei.
Palestine: The 9/11 Truth Movement and Nobel
“Dr. David Ray Griffin and everyone involved in the 9/11 truth movement have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The recipient of the Peace Prize will be announced this Friday, October 10,” announces Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah.
Palestine: The Jews and Israel
Palestinian Pundit links to a story about a historian who claims that the idea of a Jewish people was “invented” and that “most of today's Jews have no historical connection to the land called Israel.”
Kuwait: Blast from the Past
Kuwaiti Fernas links to an archive of photographs of a British family who lived in Kuwait in the 60s and 70s.
Bhutan: A kings dream
Expressions blog pays tribute to the King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck recognizing that the nation’s dreams are shared fully by the new King.