Stories about Humanitarian Response from February, 2008
Morocco: On Moroccan Injustice
Blogger Eatbees discusses the differences between the American and Moroccan justice (or injustice systems).
Yemen: Gaza, My Grandmother and Candles
Yemeni blogger Maysaa Shuja has written a profoundly thoughtful post about candles, electricity, and the possible introduction of nuclear energy to her native country - a country which cannot supply a steady stream of electricity. And while the outpour of sympathy for Gaza and its electricity problems continue, Maysaa Shuja talks about how her enterprising grandmother, may Allah rest her soul in peace, taught them the value of candles at their greatest hours of need.
Kenya: Msafara Initiative
Pastor M introduces Msafara Initiative in Kenya: “The Msafara initiative continues to gather momentum. Check out the new website www.msafara.co.ke to learn more about how you can be involved. Many churches across Kenya have signed on to Msafara and many more are signing on! Churches involved so far come from...
Afghanistan: Imagine art after
Sanjar tells about “Imagine art after” project, uniting artists who originate from the same country but who are now geographically and politically separated. At the exhibition, shown earlier this year at the Tate Gallery in London, two Aghanistani artists were paired together – Rahraw Amarzad (living in Kabul) and Shapur...
Iraq: F*** you Washington Post…
...so says Raed Jarrar. Today's post features voices from the edge. Sunshine is waiting for the war on her doorstep to end and writes of her hopes and aspirations; Last of Iraqis is turned back at the Jordanian border and writes of hopes lost; Layla waits in the immigration queue; Baghdad Dentist writes of a relaxed Baghdad and the blogger formerly know as Konfused Kid writes of a world that has changed.
Hindi: No smoking and Cricket Auctions
Amit Gupta takes us on a tour of the latest from the Hindi blogosphere, including bad news for male smokers, good news for cricket fans in Hyderabad, and hopeful news regarding the effort to curb the spread of AIDS.
Kazakhstan: Govt Threatens to Delicense Arcelor Mittal
Zhanna Zhukova reports that after series of tragedies, when dozens of miners were killed in blasts on the coal mines of Arcelor Mittal’s Kazakh subsidiary, the government took a firm stance and warned of the possible cancellation of the license.
Japan: Gov't to admit Burmese refugees
At the Glocom blog, there is news that the Japanese government is planning to admit refugees from Burma now staying in Thailand.
China: Premier Wen, Please Visit your Neighbor
During the snow storm, Premier Wen Jiabo has been traveling around the country and visiting victims of the storm. Tiger temple urged Premier Wen to visit his neighbor, homeless in Qainmen. The city control team has torn away their shelters in cold weather (zh).
Tajikistan: Five Star Hotels, No Electricity
Ian reflects whether or not the general population of Tajikistan loses its patience with the leadership amid continuing energy shortages, water purification problems, bread-price inflation, and more.
Afghanistan: Local Charity Aids Needy People
Mohammad reports that Ahmad Shah Massoud Foundation distributes winter aid for hundreds returning refugee families in the north and south of the Afghanistani capital, Kabul. Ahmad Shah Massoud had been a Defense Minister before he was killed in a suicide attack in 2001.
Sierra Leone: School for Sierra Leone
From School for Sierra Leone Project blog: “The Voice of Sierra Leone Association wants to start by supporting a school by buying furniture, toilets and schoolmaterials. After this they plan to build a school and a clinic in an area where there is no education and healthcare for children at...
Uzbekistan: Tracing Uzbek cotton
Libertad writes about Tesco’s initiative to boycott Uzbek cotton on the international market, because of the use of organized and forced child labor in producing the cotton.
China: Spielberg, the Olympics, and oil
Chinese bloggers shocked world media and those calling for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics this week with blog posts revealing a wide variety of Chinese opinions both independent from and more nuanced than that of the Chinese government on its relationship with Sudanese counterparts. Further surprise came when those...
Egypt: Dov'è L'Amore
Last Thursday was Valentine's Day, and for sure Egyptian bloggers couldn't miss such opportunity without writing about it, or even dedicating a special recipe of a Chocolate Pie for this occasion and calling it "The meal of Love". Tarek Amr has more.
China: Darfur, a reason to say No?
Is the Darfur issue a reason to say No to the 2008 Beijing Olympics? Spielberg nodded recently, while Mr. Bush shrugged, and Beijing frowned. But how about the common people in China?
Uzbekistan: Abnormal Cold, End of “Nirvana” and Genderwise Realpolitik
The abnormally low temperature that lasted in the region for a record-breaking long time seems to have its effect not only on Uzbek-Tajik relations but on the Uzbek blogosphere too — for the past several weeks it was not active at all. However, the topics covered there are still vital...
Myanmar: Ban Ki-Moon Must Go To Burma
Keith commenting on a post about Myanmar's government's ignoring of the UN writes “Ban Ki Moon must go to Burma. If Kofi Annan can go to Kenya and tries to resolve the conflict there, Ban must go to Burma. As a fellow Asian, Ban must show compassion to the Burmese...
Turkmenistan: Turkmen Humanitarian Assistance
CXW takes a glance at Turkmenistan’s announcement that it is sending aid to Afghanistan – 1000 tons of wheat flour, 500 tons of diesel oil and 9000 tons of clothing for the people of Afghanistan to offer them some relief against the extraordinarily harsh and long winter.
Afghanistan: Deadly Weather Conditions
Mohammad reports that according to the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authorities, blizzards and freezing weather across the whole of Afghanistan have killed over 600 people since the start of the year.
Afghanistan: Feedback on Counter-Narcotics Report
Barnett R. Rubin reviews feedback comments on the report, in which he was involved as a co-author, on “Counter-narcotics to Stabilize Afghanistan: The False Promise of Crop Eradication”.
