Stories about International Relations from October, 2008
Serbia: International Belgrade Book Fair
Balkan File writes about the 53rd International Belgrade Book Fair.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: “Faceless Child Victim” From Srebrenica
Srebrenica Genocide Blog re-posts James Mason‘s photo and writes about Sead Bekric, who was 12 when he was blinded in an explosion in Srebrenica, which killed 62 children and wounded 152 others on April 11, 1993, in Srebrenica.
Caucasus: U.S. Presidential Election Preferences
Social Science in the Caucasus examines the findings of a poll for The Economist which indicates that support for Republican presidential candidate John McCain is stronger than for his Democratic rival, Barack Obama, in the Republic of Georgia. With the poll also showing that support for Obama is stronger in...
Cuba, Jamaica: Press Freedom Index
Diaspora bloggers from Cuba (Uncommon Sense) and Jamaica (My View of JamDown from Up So) talk about where their respective countries fall in the recently-released Reporters Without Borders 2008 press freedom index.
Trinidad & Tobago, U.S.A.: The World's Vote
“Would the world prefer to deal with McCain or Obama? The world, if you listen, is saying Obama. These are the nations and peoples that the United States trades with, makes policy with, and otherwise negotiates with. McCain has shown his politics in his campaign, smearing his opponents whenever he...
Blogging Rural Morocco: Peace Corps Volunteers
Morocco has an active and healthy blogosphere. Bloggers write in Arabic, French, English, Spanish, and Amazigh, covering a wide range of topics and issues. The one negative about the Moroccan "blogoma," however, is that the majority of its adherents are clustered within major cities (Casablanca, Rabat, Fez) and abroad; little is blogged about the rural areas. That's where the Peace Corps and Fulbright bloggers come in; as many are stationed in remote areas of Morocco, they are able to paint a picture of the other side of life in the country.
Egypt: To Gold or Not To Gold
It seems that the financial crisis rocking the US markets is hurting people everywhere - even the daily decisions of laymen and people who do not own businesses. One Egyptian blogger describes what people in her country are doing with their hard earned savings.
Haiti, U.S.A.: Powell's Edorsement
Far from being impressed by Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama, The Haitian Blogger says: “In Haiti, Powell was the ‘Head Negro in Charge’ of dismantling Haiti's democracy and installing the Bush administration's goon, Gerard Latortue.”
Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago: Bad Publicity
As news surfaces of another tourist attack in Tobago, Bajan Global Report says: “Whether minor or major, we just can’t afford the publicity on tourist attacks. As guests in our region, the onus is on us to safeguard their stay…and make their desired destination a safe haven to be in.”
Ukraine: Politics, Economic, Sports
The 8th Circle writes about Ukraine's three current problems: politics, economics and sports.
Central & Eastern Europe, U.S.: Visa-Free Travel
The 8th Circle reports that citizens of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia will now be able to visit the United States for up to 90 days without an entry visa; Polish citizens, however, are not included in this list: “It’s ironic, because of the immense role...
Poland: Notes on the Countryside, Politics, Etc.
Sylwia Presley writes about her parents’ village in Poland and ‘golden Polish fall’, among other things: “There is a sense of magic in the fact that Poles do not clear the paths from leaves – it makes the parks look like a golden carpet at this time of the year.”
Poland, U.K.: “Poles Apart” by Polly Courtney
Sylwia Presley discusses some issues raised in Polly Courtney's novel about Polish immigrants in the U.K., “Poles Apart.”
The Balkans: Roma Mass Graves Discovered
Romano Them re-posts a Reuters piece on the discovery of two mass graves containing the bodies of murdered Roma in Bosanski Dubočac, Bosnia & Herzegovina: “The order for the killings was issued by a number of Croatian Army generals, including Ante Prkačin, claims Nijaz Čaušević Medo, a former high ranking...
Russia, Georgia: Report Says Stan Storimans Was Killed by Cluster Bomb
From the Frontline links to a report on the findings of the Dutch government investigation into the death of a Dutch TV cameraman in Georgia in August; according to the report, Stan Storimans was killed by a Russian cluster bomb. “In May 2008, more than 100 countries agreed to ban...
U.S., Ukraine: Obama and Ukrainian American Voters
Ukrainiana writes about Barack Obama “courting Ukrainian American voters.”
Pakistan, India: Old trade route opened
CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan reports with backgrounds: “Today, India and Pakistan between their respective parts of Kashmir, reopening an old trade route across the Line of Control [LoC] for the first time in sixty years.”
Dominica, U.S.A.: Of Omar & Elections
Steve's Dominica says that the island is “bouncing back” after Hurricane Omar, while Dominica Weekly wonders why the US presidential race is getting all the media attention when “the EPA is going to impact us more than US elections.”
Cuba, U.S.A.: More than Politics
“Whatever you might think about Barack Obama or his economic plan, doesn't it diminish the suffering of the Cuban people to transform it into a mere debating point in order to discredit Obama's proposals?” Uncommon Sense says that Cuba deserves better.
Guyana: EPA Signed
Living Guyana reports that the government has finally signed the new European Union Economic Partnership Agreement.
Jordan: Who is Abdullah Al Barghouthi?
Jordanian Ola Eliwat asks: “Do you know who is Abdullah Al Barghouthi?” To find out click on the link.
