Stories about Ideas from May, 2006
Argentina: Galbraith and Weinberg
Roberto Bobrow, accompanied by one of his ever-talented caricatures, describes the relationship between American economist John K. Galbraith and Argentine historian Gregorio Weinberg, both of whom passed away around the same time.
South Korea: Human rights campaign
Prior to tomorrow's kick-off to Project Sunshine—a two-week campaign for human rights for North Koreans—a documentary was screened and a mock funeral procession held in, says Joshua at The Korea Liberator, “what appears to be either Myongdong or Apkujeong, but in any event, one of Seoul’s tonier neighborhoods.” Photos included.
Cote D'Ivoire: Prime Minister Delivers Speech
News Ivoirien posts (Fr) a speech by Ivoirian Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny delineating his crisis exit plan for the country. “The plan to end the crisis contains three or four important aspects: disarmament, identification, relaunching of the administration and the organization of elections,” said Mr. Banny.
Africa: List of French Institutions Specialized in the Continent
Generation Consciente, Une Autre Afrique posts (Fr) a list of French universities, centers, laboratories and other French institutions that specialize in the study of Africa.
Haiti: Towards an Anti-Feminist Backlash?
At AlterPresse, Myriam Merlet predicts (Fr) an upcoming backlash to the thriving Haitian feminist movement. Certain anti-feminists, she says, “know how to take advantage of media (…) to spread arguments about ‘women who beat women’ and/or men.”
Iran: Dogs & Men
Sharh, a photoblog, has published a photo of two dogs and their owners. Blogger says having a dog can create opportunities to get new girl or boy friends in Iran.
China: Street savvy
BJ Gemer at China Rant gives some tips on how to tell if your Chinese money is fake or not.
Japan: Nationalist politicians clarified
Tokyoid at Japundit challenges the perception that Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara is a major source of Japan's nationalist problem with the claim that the blame lies with Foreign Minister Taro Aso: “There are those who view Tokyo Governor Ishihara as the embodiment of resurgent Japanese nationalism. They are wrong. Ishihara,...
Interview with Afghan Warrior
Global Voices has started a series of interviews with Afghan bloggers. Our first guest is Waheed from Afghan Warrior. 1 Q: How long have you started to blogging and why an English one? 1 A .I have been blogging since March 8, 2005. I wanted to raise my voice, and...
China: New political campaign shows sarcasm is alive and well
A strange custom of every Communist Party of China leader is for them to come up with their own theory or “ism”. Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping had their own respective variations of Socialist theory. Jiang Zemin has his Three Represents. And what about the current Chinese president Hu Jintao?...
Philippines: Not Backpacker Friendly
Blogger, backpacker and heritage activist Ivan is frustrated by the fact that Philippines is not able to attract as many tourists as other South East Asian countries. He offers some reasons on his blog. “Since we target mainstream tourism too much, we fail to realize that the bigger market is...
Trinidad and Tobago: Restorative justice
Kahaya at The Initiative Against Crime asks, “What are we doing to prevent Trinidad and Tobago from becoming a lawless nation?”, and proposes a solution: restorative justice, “a form of criminal justice that involves reparation to the victim, or affected members of the community by the offender”.
France & Francophonia Commemorate Slavery Amidst Curriculum Controversy
Image courtesy of oliviermr2 A Day of Remembrance France commemorated slavery for the first time on May 10, reports Haiti's Alterpresse: Le président francais qualifie d’infamie, la traite négrière et invite les Français à « regarder tout notre passé en face », « sans concession ». Abdou Diouf, Secrétaire général...
Bubble Gum Ban Video and Singapore
A video titled “Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble” by Nicholas Carlton was linked to Singapore's metablog Tomorrow.sg. Part of the footage is shot in Singapore and refers to Singapore's Bubble Gum ban. Some Singaporeans are not happy with the example use by the filmmaker. A comment on the Youtube page...
China: Inside an election
Does China have democracy or not? Blogging from his home in Eastern China, AllAboutAhom‘s Ahom Kwok—who turned eighteen late last year—shares his photos and experience of having voted in a local election earlier today: “Who are these eleven people? I don't know! I've never met them in my life, and...
China: Death metal opera
Frances at Supernaut describes the choreographing process in preparation for her co-produced death metal Cantonese opera set to show this weekend: “I'm working in a way that is far more satisfying choreographically, and profoundly more interesting and involving as a performer and as an audience, but quite inimical to the...
China: Why Communists survived
EastSouthWestNorth blogger Roland Soong translates an essay from Chinese exile Wan Runnan which gives some answers to those who wonder why the Chinese Communist Party has not gone the way of the former Soviet bloc: “Some people think that the Chinese Communists are still in China because the western governments...
Singapore: Collaborative Science Fiction
“In mid century 2200, the oppressed male population of the earth started to rise for male emancipation, which is pushed by the technology that enables male to be pregnant and to breastfeed.” Rani is inviting co-authors to her wiki to help her write a story about a future where women...
China: Hackers strike portal
Lyn Jeffrey at Virtual China looks at an art studio in South-eastern China's Yunnan province which claims the aim of providing international artists “with the opportunity to experience rural Chinese village life, as an alternative to the intense pressure and marginalized status of the international ‘white box’ art circuit” as...
Japan: Trippy urban art
The an englishman in osaka blogger has a theory on what inspired a creatively-designed work of art commemorating the Japanese city's 900th birthday: “Initial ideas included ‘a singing carpet’ and ‘a piece of string with lollipops attached.’ However, after much discussion they settled on ‘a big plastic thing with two...
Haiti: Presses Nationales Relaunches Lit Classics
The Presses Nationales celebrated 170 years of Haitian literature from May 3 to 6, says (FR) Alterpresse. “34 titles [of poetry, spoken word, fiction and non-fiction] were published or republished.” There were “16 conferences in different parts of Port-au-Prince, talks and readings as well as 8 book signings.” The Presses’...
