Stories about History from August, 2009
The Balkans: “Greek Journalist Sued for Writings on Bosnia”
A Fistful of Euros and Greater Surbiton report on the case of Greek journalist Takis Michas: “A few years back, Michas wrote a book about the links between Greece and the Bosnian war — Greek support for Milosevic and Karadzic, Greek volunteers going to fight for the Serb side in...
Egypt: Five People I Wish to Meet
If you were given the choice of selecting five people you would like to meet in your lifetime, who would they be? Egyptian blogger Ahmed Shokeir blogs at Late Night Stories about five people whom he wishes to meet and be photographed with.
Dominica, Haiti: Hurricane Preparedness
Dominica Weekly wonders if the island is prepared for the 2009 hurricane season, while Konbit Pou Ayiti fears that “Haiti is not ready for the rain.”
Palestine: Remembering Shafiq Al Hout
On 2 August, founder member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Shafiq Al Hout died. Al Hout helped found the PLO in 1964, was appointed PLO representative in Lebanon, and survived ten Israeli assassination attempts during the Lebanese Civil War. Arab bloggers have been paying tribute.
Ecuador: The Cry for Independence 200 Years Ago
Ecuador is celebrating the Bicentennial anniversary of their Cry for Independence from Spain and which helped inspire others from across the region to follow suit.
Hungary: Bloggers Mourn Tamás Cseh
It's very hard to explain the role of singer Tamás Cseh, who died in Hungary this week, in the life of the young generations willing to understand their parents' socialist past. Nobody could describe what socialism looked like, or what the real socialist gym shorts looked like. Nobody but Tamás Cseh.
Georgia, Russia: Cyber Attacks on Blogger ‘Cyxymu’
In 2008, the Russo-Georgian war coincided with the Beijing Olympics, diverting some of the public attention from the peaceful sporting event. This week, cyber attacks on LJ, Twitter and Facebook, targeting Tbilisi-based blogger cyxymu, have added an extra dimension to the coverage of the war's first anniversary.
Sri Lanka: Ravana Waterfall
Kirigalpoththa highlights the legendary Ravana Ella (waterfall) of Sri Lanka: “according to the great epic ‘Ramayana’ the mythical King Ravana of Lanka kidnapped Princess Sitha of India and kept her hidden somewhere close to this waterfall.”
Cuba: The “Maleconazo”
Cuba's Generation Y takes a walk in the area “where, fifteen years ago, the social outbreak known as the ‘Maleconazo’ happened”, observing that “people’s faces seem less convinced, than they were then, that we’re nearing the end.”
Haiti: Honduras Parallels
Wadner Pierre posts an article by Haiti Liberte which examines the “uncanny similarity between the June 28, 2009 coup d'état against Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and that of February 29, 2004 against Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.”
Jamaica: Falmouth Pier
Snailwriter is convinced that the construction of a cruise ship pier in Falmouth, Jamaica will not only “bring very small economic benefits…by way of short term, low level jobs. It is very likely that an authentic place of history will be part Disneyfied, wholly faked, and this old town constructed...
Singapore Minister's “incorrect” remarks on Myanmar
Singapore's Foreign Minister has been criticized for issuing “incorrect” statements about Myanmar. The Minister has answered his critics by posting a reply on Facebook.
Celebrating National Days in Singapore and Switzerland
The Temasek Review has an article comparing the National Day celebrations in Singapore and Switzerland.
CEE, Central Asia: Post-Communist Leaders
A Fistful of Euros writes about “the first generation of post-Communist leaders”: “Well, here’s a question: almost 20 years later, how many of them are still running things? Not so many.”
Bermuda: Challenging the Status Quo
“Why is it that when it comes down to that final vote Bermudians get scared and stick with the status quo?”: 21 Square examines the island's political climate, while Bermuda Jewel wonders if white Bermudians are politically irrelevant.
Russia: New Report on Beslan
La Russophobe links to and quotes from John B. Dunlop's new report on Beslan.
Russia: History of “Housing Crisis”
Sean's Russia Blog writes about “the history of Russia’s housing crisis.”
Russia: Stalin's Grandson vs. Novaya Gazeta
Eternal Remont comments on the lawsuit filed by Stalin's grandson against a Russian newspaper: “By the same legal resoning, someone could sue the Holocaust Museum for besmirching Hitler’s good name. But the Kremlin is despratly trying to rehabilitate Stalin's image these days.”
Bahamas: Thinking About Democracy
Attending a recent seminar on democracy and globalization makes Bahamian blogger Nicolette Bethel realize that “it’s time we gave some thought to what that means for us — and by ‘us’ I mean those of us in the Caribbean, where we by and large have slaked ourselves in the democratic...
Palestine: Palestinians and the Nakba
“I used to wonder what it would be like to be part of the so-called nakba generation. i don't wonder anymore, as i realize now that despite the passage of time, i am in fact a part of it,” admits Al Falasteenyia as she laments the reality of Palestinians.
Egypt: The Original Inhabitants of Egypt
Egyptian blogger Baheyya reviews Bilal Fadl’s latest book – The Original Inhabitants of Egypt: Stories about the Genius of the Place, the Idiocy of the Rulers, and the Indifference of the People (2009).
