Stories about History from January, 2009
Russia: Mosque and Armenian Church Near Olimpiysky
Pictures of an Armenian church under construction and a mosque under re-construction in Moscow's Olimpiysky Sports Arena neighborhood – at Pictures of Moscow.
Philippines: The root cause of the flooding
In the Philippines, media reports have cited weeks of heavy rain brought by a cold front as the immediate cause of the massive flooding and landslides. Some Filipino bloggers have started asking more questions. What was the root cause of the flooding? What is really happening? Here are some efforts of Filipino bloggers to make sense of the disaster.
Armenia-Turkey: Genocide Historian Responds
My The Caucasian Knot details and comments on attempts by one group in the U.S.-Armenian Diaspora to silence a prominent Genocide historian. Coinciding with the second memorial of Hrant Dink's murder in Istanbul, Ara Sarafian was quoted by the Turkish media as saying it was ironic that many Armenians seeking...
Cuba: Quelling the Rumours
Child of the Revolution confirms that recent rumours of Fidel Castro's demise have been just that – thanks to reports from Havana that the president of Argentina met with him on the last day of her visit to the island.
Haiti, U.S.A.: Retro Rhetoric?
The Haitian Blogger takes issue with some of the content of Barack Obama's inaugural speech, calling it “reminiscent of his predecessor”: “I wonder when the ‘West’ will accept some of the blame for the ill will that it has garnered for its actions in the global south and in the...
China: Hakka Tulou in Fujian Province
Steve from Fool's Mountain explains the distinctive character of Hakka Tulou (a very special architecture for defense) in Fujian Province.
Azerbaijan: Day of Tragedy
Commenting on a Global Voices Online post, 27 Months in Azerbaijan offers its own opinion on the 19th anniversary of the Soviet repression of unrest in its former satellite on 20 January 1990. The blog concludes that although the day was a tragedy, it also represented the opportunity for a...
Global: Morocco Closes Caracas Embassy
Morocco announced this week that it would close its embassy in Venezuela due to Venezuela's recognition of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), the territory also known as the "Western Sahara," over which Morocco asserts its sovereignty.
Turkey: Obama Trepidation
Istanbul Calling says that the Turkish media has greeted the inauguration of Barack Obama as U.S. President with some trepidation. In particular, the blog says there are concerns that Obama will do what his predecessors have failed to follow through with in the past — fulfill campaign promises to recognize...
Caribbean: Obama's Day
Like the rest of the world, the eyes of the Caribbean were on Washington, DC yesterday, as Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. Regional and diaspora bloggers - for the most part - could not contain their enthusiasm over this history-making moment.
Korea: Worse and Worse – North Korea and South Korea
North Korea announced that South Korea’s attitude might cause confrontation between them and suggested a possible conflict [EN]. It leads to anxieties and concern in South Korea. Since the Sunshine Policy started, relations have seemed better and the two Koreas even started economic cooperation. The other direction of the new...
Azerbaijan: Black January
As much of the world celebrated the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States, Azerbaijan mourned the 19th anniversary of an event which ultimately led to its independence from the former Soviet Union. At least 130 people were killed and 700 wounded in what is now known as "Black January," a day which marks a defining moment in the rebirth of the former Soviet republic.
African Blogosphere On Obama's Inauguration
“It is done. I knew it would come, but, oh, what a feeling! Yes, Mr. President, it is done, indeed!” These words from Kenyan blogger Whispering Inn sum up the emotional responses of most bloggers in the African blogosphere to the historic inauguration ceremony of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America.
Peru: Lima Celebrates Its Anniversary
On Sunday, January 18, the City of Kings, better known as Lima, Peru celebrated the 474th anniversary of its founding. Many bloggers took this opportunity to dedicate a few inspirational words to the city or post some photos, but also reflect on the challenges faced by this large metropolis.
The Balkans: “Whose Is This Song?”
Recently several Macedonian bloggers published the documentary “Whose Is This Song” by a Bulgarian director Adela Peeva on their blogs and started discussing the story. The documentary was filmed as an idea that the director got during a dinner in Istanbul with several friends (a Macedonian, a Serb, a Greek and a Turk), when all of them said that the song playing in the background was from their country.
Bangladesh: Photoblog – Kantaji temple, Dinajpur
Munir Uddin Shamim takes us on a photo trip to the famous Hindu temple in Dinajpur, Bangladesh. Known as the Kantaji temple , this is a fine specimen of terracota art from 1752 A.D.
Trinidad & Tobago, U.S.A.: Blogger Inauguration
For Trinidadian diaspora blogger Chookooloonks, a funny thing happened on the way to the inauguration – she was asked to host a Blogger Inauguration party! Check out the goings-on here.
Jamaica, U.S.A.: One Love?
Bob Marley's One Love was played at Barack Obama’s Opening Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial, prompting Abeng New Magazine to say, despite the ironies: “We are proud that the USA can borrow from us at a critical moment when the president-elect sells the idea that ‘anything is possible in...
Turkey: Armenian “Martin Luther King Jr.” Commemorated
The second anniversary of a murdered journalist once again had the power to move mountains in strained relations between between Armenia and Turkey, two states separated by the biblical mount Ararat and an unholy history. Yesterday's commemoration might not have been on such a large scale, but newspaper articles, editorials, and reaction from bloggers show that the murder of a prominent member of Turkey’s dwindling Christian Armenian minority by a Turkish ultra-nationalist continues to shock the world.
Georgia: Stalin Monuments in Gori
Photos of Stalin monuments in Gori, Georgia – by Latvian photographer Arnis Balcus.
Jamaica, U.S.A.: Political Comparisons
As America gears up for the inauguration of President Barack Obama, diaspora blogger Geoffrey Philp is reminded of “the euphoria that many Jamaicans experienced when Michael Manley was elected as Prime Minister in 1972.”
