Stories about International Relations from August, 2008
Georgia: Ukrainian Bloggers Action
Peace in Georgia points its readers to an action staged by Ukrainian bloggers. Following reports that Russian troops and South Ossetian irregulars engaged in looting, the bloggers have set up an online shop for looted Georgian goods.
Ukraine: Military Parade Rehearsal
LJ user alex_from_kiev (RUS) posts a video of the Independence Day military parade rehearsal in Kyiv in the ru_politics LJ community.
Georgia, Russia: Aug. 20 Rally in Poti
Photos from the Aug. 20 “Russia Go Home!” rally in Poti, Georgia – by LJ user pepsikolka.
Bahrain: Eyes on Ruqaya Al Ghasra
She may have placed sixth in the qualifying heats and her dreams of becoming the first Gulf Arab woman to run in an Olympic final may be dashed, but Bahrain's Golden runner Ruqaya Al Ghasra has sure created a stir online. A rough start meant that Ghasra, who was Bahrain's flag bearer at the opening ceremony, was eliminated from the women's 200 metres race - but for tens of thousands of Arab and Muslim women - and men - out there, running her heart out fully covered has brought her more than just gold medals.
South Ossetia: Tskhinvali Photos and Reports
On Aug. 21, Columbia Journalism Review published Julia Ioffe's overview of several Russian journalists' blogging from the war in South Ossetia. Featured in her piece are reports by LJ user krig42 (Komsomolskaya Pravda reporter Dmitry Steshin) and LJ user ep-news (Evgeny Poddubny, correspondent for TV Center). Below are a few more blog posts from Russian and North Ossetian journalists, with photos and accounts of what they've seen in the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali over the past week.
Algeria: Focus on Russo-Syrian Relations
The Moor Next Door, from Algeria, discusses Russo-Syrian relations in this post.
Kazakhstan: Kazakh perspectives on the Russian-Georgian War
Ben opines on the implications of the new Caucasus conflict for Kazakhstan and says that Kazakhstan’s president Nazarbayev has been the first CIS leader to make a statement on the conflict during a meeting with Putin in Beijing.
Kazakhstan: Re international relationships
Marat opines on the state of international affairs and Realpolitik around Kazakhstan.
Afghanistan: The Unfortunate Consequence of Militarizing Aid
Joshua Foust sees some of the violent consequences of the U.S. blurring the lines between military and humanitarian aid.
Singapore cancels visa permits of Burmese patriots
Singapore's immigration authorities did not renew the visa permits of Burmese patriots who are based in Singapore. Were the Burmese dissidents rejected for their peaceful political activism?
China: Where the world's e-waste goes
Academic-blogger Bill Chameides at The Huffington Post looks at the issue of e-waste in China, noting that 70% of it worldwide ends up there: “Even though the Chinese government has banned the importation of e-waste, the stuff continues to find its way in.”
Georgia, Russia: The Names of the Dead
An ongoing initiative (RUS) to compile a list of “those who died in the war of 2008, whose names are found on the web” – by LJ user hunu: “The list is incomplete, of course. […] I've placed the names of the dead on the same page – of civilians...
Czech Republic: “Memories of the Russian Invaders”
“Memories of the Russian Invaders” – at The Czech Daily Word.
Russia, Georgia: Oil and War
Window on Eurasia writes about the oil factor in the Russian-Georgian conflict.
Russia: Three Anniversaries
Window on Eurasia writes about “the lessons of three anniversaries”: “Today is the 10th anniversary of Russia’s default on its international financial obligations and the 17th anniversary of the launch of the failed coup against Mikhail Gorbachev that precipitated the end of the Soviet Union, and tomorrow is the 40th...
Georgia: A War Diary
Natalia Antonova links to a war diary by George Lashkhi, commentator on Georgia’s Channel 1, published at GlobalComment.com.
Environmental concerns a priority for Pacific Island bloggers
Outside of denouncing military rule in Fiji, environmental concerns top the agenda as South Pacific leaders gather this week in Alofi, the capital of Nieu.
Morocco: China in the Olympics
Innocent Whispers remarks upon China's role in the Olympic Games.
China: Free Wu Dianyuan And Wang Xiuying!
On the arrest and sentence to one year of re-education labor for housing activists Wu Dianyuan and Wang Xiuying, aged 79 and 77 respectively, David Seth at Daily Kos writes: We need to call on China to free Wu Dianyuan And Wang Xiuying, and everyone else they are holding to...
Barbados, Antigua: Peter Pays for Paul?
Barbados Free Press is not convinced that the CARICOM arrangement is beneficial, referring to an article about the recent double-murder in Antigua to make their point: “The ‘Caribbean Brand’ for tourism…was a disastrous policy created…as part of the effort to prop up the pretense and phony benefits of CARICOM. According...
Slovakia: New Euro Coins
The Foreigner's Guide to Living in Slovakia reports that “the state mint located in Kremnica began minting Slovak euro coins” this week.