Stories about Ideas from May, 2009
MENA: Does Swine Flu Spread from Touching Pigs?
More than 14 centuries after Islam prohibited the consumption of pork, pigs are once again making headlines across the Arab world - this time in the form of tweets. Here's a quick snapshot of some of the messages from Twitter users across the region.
Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago: Gayle Reactions
Reactions to controversial comments made about Test Cricket by West Indies captain Chris Gayle, from Guyanese blogger Imran Khan and Barbados-based Trinidadian B.C. Pires.
Trinidad & Tobago: Seeing the Signs
“It matters not how many skyscrapers, malls, American chain restaurants or chemical plants a country has…if [it] possesses at least five or more of these signs of underdevelopment and tyranny, then it is still a third world country at the very core”: Alien in the Caribbean sees many of those...
Saudi Arabia: Thoughts from a London Trip
Saudi blogger Prometheus [Ar] is just back from the UK and shares his impressions from his visit and the people he saw there in this post. During his visit, he tells us about the books which are banned in our countries and are available in London, and the open heated debates between the media and politicians which are beamed on television screens. Read to the end to see his final conclusion.
Trinidad & Tobago: Progress & Social Media
Trinidadian blogger KnowProSE.com shares his thoughts on ways in which people do not help the world progress via social media.
Jamaica: Screwed?
While Life, Unscripted, on the Rock is “fully aware that everything is certainly not copacetic here in Jamaica”, she takes issue with an international mainstream media article that she describes as “a totally skewed portrayal” of the island.
Guyana: Telling Tales
“If flu does spread from animal to people and kill people…we better look out for mini-bus drivers flu starting in Guyana”: Guyana-Gyal has a tale worthy of the Grimm Brothers.
Bahrain: Thoughts on Activism
“Activism isn't just about justice. It's an effort to provide the freedom necessary to build a sustainable civilization,” writes Esra'a at Mideast Youth. Read more of the young Bahraini activist's thoughts on activism in this post.
Cuba: Blogging from Prison
Uncommon Sense reveals that “Cuban independent journalist Pablo Pacheco Ávila…has started a blog”, while Octavo Cerco fills in the details on how he's managing to get his voice heard from behind prison walls.
Cuba, Jamaica: Examining the Revolution
“What has the Cuban Revolution achieved for the people of the country, the Caribbean and the wider world after 50 years in power?” Jamaican diaspora blogger Mark Lee, writing at Abeng News Magazine, attempts to find out.
Jamaica: Dealing with Crime?
Jamaica Salt is not convinced by the National Security Minister's approach to solving crime.
Guyana: There Goes the Community
“As we, as a nation, strive to put food on tables and to build, renovate or spruce up our homes we have developed a culture of neglecting our wider environment and particularly places of recreation”: Guyanese blogger Imran Khan calls the neglect “a sad and sorry state of affairs.”
Japan: What a marker can do
Minimal, beautiful drawings of women by Yutaka Onozawa at his blog 11 nines.
Turkey: Female-designed Mosque Opens
Turkey's first mosque designed by a woman was opened in Istanbul, writes Emre Kızılkaya.
Egypt: New blog for human rights
Ramy Raouf started his new Egyptian blog for human rights (EBFHR) [Ar]. The blog monitors the development of human rights especially in Egypt, as well as the Arab world in general.
Jamaica: The Road Most Traveled
“Universities are supposed to provide hope that at least the coming generation will be better and brighter than the one so corrupted now”: The Phoenix in a Gas House is disappointed that young academics “opted for the ignorant draconian approach” when faced with a burglary incident at Jamaica's Mona campus.
Japan: Motion graphics videos
GilCrows suggests that motion graphics is drawing attention on the Japanese video sharing website Niko Niko Douga [ja]. In the post, also a ranking of the best videos uploaded to NND. (The movie Ukiyo Hakkei (浮世捌景)is also available on youtube)
Bahrain: The Secret of Nicknames
Bahraini blogger Ali discusses his nicknames and how people started using them in this post.
Guyana: Advertising Issue
The new Banks beer commercials in Guyana have blogger Imran Khan incensed: “What does it say about a company which foists upon a nation an advertisement lecturing to the citizenry that we should all guzzle alcoholic beverages because it builds the nation?”
Jamaica: A Sensible Tax
Jamaica's Yardflex.com is overjoyed that “smokers and drinkers will now have to shoulder the bulk of the taxation measures intended to plug the hole in the government's budget.”
Japan: Japanese electro-pop and clubs
If you are interested in “Tokyo & Japan's clubs, electro-pop, and Shibuya-kei-related scenes”, check out Chipple.net (in English): a “Japanese music, movie release and event announcement blog”.
