Stories about Ideas from February, 2009
Jamaica, Spain: Considering the Environment
As the King and Queen of Spain visit Jamaica, Snailwriter is concerned about what an alliance between the two countries could mean for the environment: “‘Spanish hotels have become part of the geography of Jamaica and they are here to stay.’ And that is the tragedy. When the economic downturn...
Egypt: The Amazing Pepsi Logo
SandMonkey explains why the Pepsi logo looks like a rip off of the Obama campaign logo.
Iran: Mapping change of Iranian blogosphere
Discover a new mapping of Iranian blogosphere thanks to Bruce Etling and John Kelly.
Barbados: Anti-Money Laundering Authority
“I can find little evidence to suggest that AMLA is ‘fully operational’ or even that it exists”: Barbados Money Laundering Advisory has more questions than answers about the Barbados Anti-Money Laundering Authority.
Jordan: The meaning of Jihad
Jordanian blogger Ali Dahmash discusses the meaning of the word Jihad – and how it is misconceived around the world, including the Middle East.
Bahamas, St. Lucia: Poetry in Motion
Scavella's Blogosphere features two new poems that are profiled at Tongues of the Ocean, an online literary journal of Bahamian and Caribbean poetry.
Japan: Hetalia Axis Powers and the limits of parody
Hetalia, a satirical manga set mainly during the Second World War and featuring national protagonists of that era, has attracted attention among both domestic and international audiences for its caricature of world nations. In this post, read reactions in translation from bloggers in both Japan, where the manga originated, and in Italy, the country most strongly ridiculed.
Iran: Bloggers Remember 30th Anniversary of the Revolution
Thousands of Iranians celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution on February 10, by rallying in Tehran and other major cities in Iran. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, delivered a speech. Several Iranian bloggers, both citizens and politicians, blogged on this topic.
Iraq: 25 Random Things
Ceasar of Pentra, from Iraq, shares 25 random things about himself in this post.
Jordan: Bloggers Reflect on Valentine's Day
Bloggers' reflections on Valentine's day in Jordan varied between wishes for a happy day, and raising important issues about the holiday. Here is what some of them had to say....
Cuba: Revolution.com
Generation Y is “more alarmed than comforted” by “hopes for broad access to the internet” in Cuba, but notes: “A true revolution.com takes place parallel and contrary to the rationing they want to impose on the virtual world. Its commanders carry strange names like Gmail, WordPress, Skype and Facebook: they...
Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago: Accountability
“What possesses the leader of a political party to appoint someone who is viewed as the patron of his political party, who is the chairman of a major regional financial entity (CLICO Barbados), as the chairman of government-controlled/national broadcasting company?”: Living in Barbados thinks that the government has some explaining...
Trinidad & Tobago: Curmudgeonly Carnival
“Carnival is big business. Fetes costing five hundred dollars and up, mas costumes that are equivalent to a house or car payment, is it all worth bankrupting yourself?”: Coffeewallah explains why, national festival or not, she won't be participating in this year's Trinidad and Tobago Carnival.
Jamaica: Sex vs. Erotica
“I have no problem whatsoever with sex in fiction. But I do have a problem with erotica”: Jamaican author and blogger Marlon James explains.
Korea: Valentine’s Day, Suicide and Blogs
A blogger shares his experience on Valentine’s Day 10 years ago. On Valentine’s Day this year, four people died on the subway. tracks How will you get over your difficulties and loneliness? Blogs can be the answer, he said. 발렌타인데이였던 오늘 여러 사람들이 투신 자살하는 일이 발생했다. 오늘 하루만 3곳에서...
Jordan: Mourning Rituals
Kinziblogs, from Jordan, discusses mourning traditions and rituals in Jordan, in this post, written as she prepares to meet mourners visiting her home to pay respect for her father-in-law.
Ukraine: History of Anarchism
Der Spiegelfechter writes about [GER] anarchism in Ukraine during the Russian 1917-21 civil war.
East Timor: Suai Media Space Challenges the Digital Divide
In this second post of a series to celebrate the 9th anniversary of the arrival of the Internet in East Timor, Sara Moreira interviews Australian documentary-maker Jen Hughes - founder of Suai Media Space, whose main objective is to make the voices of Suai youth heard all over the world - and discusses the fight to minimize the digital divide even without broadband connection in Suai.
Jordan: Empowering Women, Emos and Live Mesh
Discussions on empowering women to the behaviour of teenagers to the latest new software which lets you synchronize your all your data on your computer are taking place at the Jordanian blogosphere this week. Mohammad Azraq brings us the latest.
Brunei: Think Big ICT Business Plan Competition
The 'Think Big ICT Business Plan Competition' aims "to motivate local entrepreneurs to realise their ideas in the field of information and communications technology with the opportunity to develop their business ideas and enhance their creativity; as well as to provide a platform for identifying, nurturing and showcasing entrepreneurial talents in Brunei."
Caribbean: Let's Talk About Love
The Caribbean has not historically been a region that celebrates Valentine's Day in a big way, but three bloggers (two from the diaspora) take the opportunity to share their perspectives on love.