Stories about Ideas from June, 2009
Metropolis TV and Hivos: Independent People Videos
Metropolis TV is a Hivos and VPRO TV project based in the Netherlands, which brings together film-makers and civil video journalists from all over the world to record and transmit different aspects of life and culture in their homeland. Following, a few videos selected and played on the Netherlands TV station VPRO forWorld Humanist Day around a specific subject: to recognize individuals who live under the ideal of independence and being in control of their own lives.
Bahrain: Making Changes
This week two Bahraini bloggers announced their intention to make some changes in their life: Flymenian has a new routine, and Mahmood wants to lose weight.
Barbados, Antigua: Stanford Similarities
Barbados Free Press sees striking similarities between Allen Stanford's alleged Ponzi scheme and the CLICO Barbados scandal, with one notable exception: “Antigua has integrity legislation.”
Jamaica: Can the IMF Change?
“There is talk of the possibility of the current Jamaican administration returning to do business with the International Monetary Fund“: Abeng News Magazine wonders whether the IMF leopard can change its spots.
Egypt: Weekend Digressing
Egyptian blogger Nermeena has been away from the Internet for a while and shares tidbits from her life in this post, including the latest book she is reading.
Palestine: Finding Lost Relatives Online
Palestinian Mona, who lives in Canada, discusses how the Internet is being used to search for long lost relatives.
Bolivia: Warnings of Scams in El Alto
Falling victim to scams in Bolivia is not uncommon. Attempts to swindle people out of money come in all shapes and sizes, and often come at times when people are most vulnerable, in a hurry or when they are alone, for example. Two bloggers from El Alto share their experiences of these types of tricks, each with different outcomes. They both wanted to share their stories, so that the same thing does not happen to anyone else.
Cuba: Lessons from Iran
Havana-based blogger Generation Y thinks that “what is happening in Iran and its dissemination through the Internet is a lesson for Cuban bloggers.”
Barbados: Illegal Immigration
“Illegal immigrants have rights too”: Bajan Dream Diary discusses the issue in light of the country's recent move to tighten its immigration policy.
Egypt: Friends in Jerusalem
Egyptian Leftist [Ar] introduces us to two of his friends, who live in Jerusalem.
Trinidad & Tobago: Creative Prosperity
Repeating Islands highlights the wonderfully creative animation by Trinidadian artist Wendell Mc Shine, which he produced for a new music video.
Bahrain: Cultural Comparisons
Bahraini blogger Cradle of Humanity, who has spent time studying both in the UK and the US, has come to a conclusion that surprises her: “I think I came to Cleveland expecting to find Cardiff, and that’s why I was shocked…What’s amazing is that Cleveland has more in common with...
Bermuda, USA, UK: Fallout over Guantanamo
Bermudian bloggers still have not stopped talking about their government's agreement to have four detainees of Guantanamo Bay to resettle on the island. Most of their focus seems to be on the fallout that Premier Ewart Brown is facing following the controversial decision.
Barbados: Aquaponics
“Aquaponics is the new way to farm”: Barbados Underground blogs about “its potential to feed Barbadians and at the same time [be] the ideal model for food security.”
Iran: Protests and Repression
Hundreds of thousands of Iranians in Tehran and several other cities have rallied to support presidential candidate Mir Hussein Mousavi defying a government ban on demonstrations. Although Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are currently blocked in Iran, many Iranians have been using proxies to bypass filters and report up-to-the-minute news. Iranian authorities have also blocked SMS text messages, and are also filtering several news websites reflecting reformist opinions.
Talking to Indian-Jamaican writer and blogger Annie Paul
An interview with Jamaica-based Indian writer and editor Annie Paul, whose blog covers art, literature, popular culture, politics, and current affairs.
Bahrain: Learning To Appreciate Bahrain
The Bahrain Taxi blog is back – but is no longer ranting: “I’ve been in Bahrain for nearly two years now and I feel I have finally settled down…rather than being angry at everything and everyone I have opened my eyes to what a great place this can be.”
Trinidad & Tobago: In Naipaul's Defense
Repeating Islands features a defense of Trinidad-born V.S. Naipaul in which the author “makes a valid point about the separation of the writer’s shortcomings as a person from the texts he has produced.”
Bahrain: The Appeal Of Life In Saudi Arabia
Natasha Burge, who blogs at The Voracious Vegan, is excited about moving from Bahrain to live on the Saudi Aramco compound in Dhahran.
Bermuda, U.S.A.: Guantanamo Controversy
Bermudian bloggers are up in arms over the country's controversial decision to grant permission for four detaineees of Guantanamo Bay to resettle in the tiny isle.
Bahrain: No Pride In Being An Arab?
Bahraini blogger Mohammed AlMaskati writes, “Forgive me, for I am an Arab“.
