Stories about Ideas from November, 2009
Trinidad & Tobago: Silicon Reality
Taran Rampersad debunks “the Myth of a T&T Silicon Valley.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Traffic Solutions
Alien in the Caribbean has a few suggestions to ease Trinidad's traffic woes.
Cuba: Blogging Prejudice
Late one night, a Cuban taxi driver stops for Yoani Sanchez because of the colour of her skin, but when he learns that she's a blogger, his unease reveals another kind of prejudice: “His spectrum of classification stigmatizes not only some shades of color, but also certain leanings of opinion…that...
Nepal: A Cabinet Meeting At Mount Everest
United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal posts reactions of Nepali netizens after it was announced that the country is planning to hold a cabinet meeting on the base camp of the Mount Everest to highlight the impact of global warming on the Himalayas.
Bermuda: Key Reports
As two critical reports are released in Bermuda, Wishful Thinking says: “Both key reports…will dictate much of the policy as Bermuda moves forward…the important thing is that these reports are actually acted upon.”
Trinidad & Tobago: “Solo” Mio
Trinidadian blogger Club Soda and Salt shares his thoughts “on how to beat that nagging feeling of being quietly judged” when dining alone.
Bermuda: The Sound of Music
Vexed Bermoothes is of the opinion that the Bermuda Music Festival “exemplifies the political tinkering, self-interest, and distraction that has left Bermuda’s tourism sector as a ruined economic basket-case.”
Barbados: Whipping Boy
“We seem determined to deny our history, rather than learn from it. Why else would we, who have been so wounded by the whip, venerate it?” B.C. Pires puts in his two cents’ worth on the recent flogging of schoolchildren in Barbados.
Azerbaijan: Virginity
Emotions on Air, Mind Mute ponders societal expectations that women remain virgins until they marry. Although based in Azerbaijan, the blog notes the same value system throughout the entire Caucasus and speaks out about such patriarchal concepts and practices.
Peru: Chimbote in Blogs
The Peruvian coastal city of Chimbote may be best known for its fishing industry, but there is a lot of cultural activity taking place. Blogs from Chimbote have played an important role in covering this cultural movement.
Trinidad & Tobago: Determining Racism
“The important thing, I think, is that if you don't want to be a racist, you need to focus on how you treat people, not on how you react to people”: Trinidadian Ian Ramjohn suggests that “in the end, it all boils down to what you're used to.”
Jamaica: Of Patties & Personalities
Francis Wade thinks that Jamaicans and Trinidadians can learn a lot from each other.
Trinidad & Tobago: Death Penalty
More discussion on the death penalty from KnowTnT.com, here and here.
Barbados: Do The Right Thing
“Even as we speak – the West Indies Cricket Board is planning its next step in the destruction of West Indies cricket”: From Barbados, B.C. Pires weighs in on the debate over who should lead the Windies cricket team.
Bermuda: To Tax Or Not
Bermuda's 21 Square is not keen on the UK government's recommendation “that territories and crown dependencies should raise taxes to wean themselves out of the recession” – instead, he says “what we should be doing is cutting expenditure.”
St. Lucia: Mobile Ecomomy?
St. Lucia's Caribbean Book Blog thinks that mobile banking might just be “that glimmer of hope” that helps bridge the economic gap in the region.
Syria: Sea Side Story
An English literature professor from the little Mediterranean city of Tartous and a Syrian-Canadian writer on a trip to her mother country exchange glances at a cafe called Sea Breeze. That's how Mariyah and Abu Fares chose to start their adventure, and their readers' new addiction. Yazan Badran has the story.
