Stories about Humanitarian Response from June, 2008
China: Earthquake Animal Victim
In order to prevent plague, most of the animals and pets from the earthquake zone were killed. Zhengying remembered many stories about dogs saving or standing by earthquake victims until the last minute and felt very sad about the killing of animals [zh].
Colombia: The struggles of Barrancabermeja documentary
This nine part documentary created by Taline Haytayan of her experience as part of the Peace Brigades International organization in the strife ridden Barrancabermeja region of Colombia captured my attention throughout. It follows the Feminine Popular Organization (OFP) group which works together to prevent violence against women and violent conflict...
Jordan: Ray's Kuffayeh
Jordanian blogger Mental Mayhem writes here about Rachael Ray's Dunkin Donuts Controversy, and how the Kuffeyeh is an Arabic tradition and that her grandfather and uncle used to put it on while they have nothing to do with the Palestinian Jihad or any similar organizations.
Hong Kong: 100 Blog Posts on June 4
Sidekick puts together 100 blog posts for commemorating the 19 year anniversary of June 4 Massacre [zh].
China: Why School Crumbled?
Hu Yong said that the Chinese government should answer to the question why schools were crumbled in the earthquake zone. The blogger insisted that if the truth was buried, China would have no future [zh].
China: Reconstruction
TECN posted Qian Li qun's speech on earthquake reflection, which stressed that earthquake reconstruction work should incorporate the reconstruction of the Chinese society in term of the development of humanitarianism, civil society, social reform, etc [zh].
Kyrgyzstan: Life of Afghan Kyrgyzes
Elena tells some facts about life of Afghan Kyrgyzes in Pamir Mountains.
Afghanistan: Aid Industry and the Widening Government-NGO Competition
SunLeaf is analyzing the aid industry in Afghanistan, the prospects of funneling of significant portion of aid through the Afghan government and the looming NGO-government discord.
Afghanistan: Afghan Women’s Organisation
SunLeaf tells about the Toronto-based, Afghan Women’s Organisation, led by a committed and renowned social activist, Adeena Niazi, working both for thousands of Afghan communities across Greater Toronto Area and several others inside Afghanistan.
China: Earthquake Witness from Beichuan
Qiang-shan You-ke from my1510 writes in detail what had happened in Beichuan secondary school after the earthquake. The writer lost his wife on that date and witnessed the deaths of hundreds of teachers and students. He believes that 80% of the deaths were result of human mistake [zh].
China: Cruel Olympic Souvenir
Kenneth Tan from Shanghaiist puts together reports and comments on a cruel Olympic souvenir — a live fish keychain.
Hong Kong: 64 Art Action at Time Square
A group of artists performed at Time Square to memorize June 4. Tinywest posted a short video at inmediahk.net on their performance.
Hong Kong: Where's the Apology
CNN and Sharon Stone have apologized to Chinese people. Yesterday a Tibet monk has also made an apology of what he had said about the repression. William Sin wonders why there still isn't any apology for June 4 marsacre for more than 19 years [zh].
Madagascar's bloggers ambivalent about Sichuan earthquake aid
The Malagasy government volunteered to help the international aid effort for the earthquake victims in the province of Sichuan, China. The immense proportions of the humanitarian disaster prompted the government to donate $100,000 USD to the Chinese ambassador Wo Ruidi in Madagascar for the rescue relief effort (fr) The Malagasy...
Southeast Asia: Series of unfortunate disasters
In the past month, natural disasters hit the Southeast Asian region claiming hundreds of thousands of lives and destroying billions of properties. Bloggers discuss the destructive cyclone in Myanmar, the China earthquake which was felt in Hanoi and Bangkok, two earthquakes in the Sumatra island and the strong typhoon in north Philippines.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Book on Srebrenica
Srebrenica Genocide Blog shares information about Hasan Nuhanovic's book – “Under the UN Flag: The International Community and the Srebrenica Genocide.”
China: Don't be a Chinese Kid
Lao sun from my1510 criticized the official propaganda in using children from the earthquake for showing the success of the government in relief work in the June 1 Children's day [zh].
China: Earthquake Victims’ Psychology
Zengying reminded the media to be sensitive about the earthquake victims’ psychology [zh]: the propaganda about well managed relief work would cause resentment for those who didn't receive enough help whereas unsympathetic reports about victims’ misbehavior, such as wasting food would also result in great distress.
China: Where are you, LES blood donors?
After the frightful calamity of Sichuan earthquake, people from all walks of life in China are attending various charitable activities to help those victims, however, lesbians, a special community which is unwelcome to the Chinese traditional mainstream, are left in a predicament when they try to contribute as blood donors.