· July, 2009

Stories about Migration & Immigration from July, 2009

Cuba: Political Prisoners

  31 July 2009

Cuban diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense reports that while one former political prisoner has started a blog, another Cuban human rights activist “faces up to 8 years in prison if convicted of trumped-up charges of assault and receiving stolen property.”

Hijablogging: On Burqas and Bans

Although the practice of wearing hijab has been around since pre-Islamic times, the debate surrounding it has increased in recent years. Whereas in some countries, hijab is mandated, in others, it has been banned in schools, workplaces, and sometimes altogether. But whether required or forbidden, Muslim women's dress is almost always a topic of hot debate.

Ecuador: Woman Attempts to Auction Virginity Online in Spain

  28 July 2009

An Ecuadorian immigrant living in Valencia, Spain decided to put her virginity up for an online auction to help pay for medical care for her ailing mother. The ads were eventually taken down, not without attracting strong reactions in blogs and in mainstream media from those criticizing her actions and also brought focus on the plight of immigrants in Spain.

Trinidad & Tobago: Assassination Attempt?

  28 July 2009

The Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister has revealed an alleged plot to assassinate him a few years ago, prompting diaspora blogger Jumbie's Watch to call the claim “a serious piece of dotishness.”

Armenia-Azerbaijan: Musical collaboration

Despite the unresolved conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh which has left many citizens of both countries intolerant and bitterly opposed to the other, a Baku-based newspaper has discovered a video on YouTube of an Azeri girl singing traditional mugham backed by Armenian musicians. Remy_G tweets that the...

Caribbean: On Henry Gates Jr.

  27 July 2009

Caribbean bloggers are still abuzz about the Henry Gates arrest: Jamaican diaspora blogger Pamela Mordecai, 21 Square and Catch a fire from Bermuda and Weblog Bahamas.

Cuba: Political Arrests

  24 July 2009

Diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense links to a report that claims “there were 130 political arrests” in Cuba in the month of June.

Jamaica, U.S.A.: Fatherly Advice

  24 July 2009

Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp considers the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. from a father's perspective: “I want my son to be a man who has enough self confidence to think that he can overcome any obstacle and that he will not permit any kind...

Russia: Markets Shut Down

Scraps of Moscow writes about Moscow authorities’ recent decision to shut down Cherkizovsky and Izmailovsky markets: “It is a shame that Luzhkov and others favoring the reconfiguring of Moscow markets to exclude for'ners have failed to understand that such pockets of other-ness always added to Moscow's richness. And even operating...

Cuba: Ferrer Arrested

  23 July 2009

Cuban bloggers react to the arrest of Dr. Darsi Ferrer on the grounds that he allegedly bought construction materials on the black market to repair his house: Blog for Cuba, Uncommon Sense and Human Rights Cuba.

Armenia: An interview with Liana Aghajanian

Born in Iran, but raised and now living in the United States, Liana Aghajanian is a writer and a relative newcomer to the Armenian blogosphere. However, Aghajanian has set an important precedent for alternative voices and an independent media in Armenia and the Diaspora with her Wordpress-based e-zine, Ianyan.

Turkey: The Turkish of Dr. Oz

Talk Turkey commends Dr. Oz (of Oprah fame) for his ability to speak perfect Turkish while lecturing to Turkish medical students. “Sure he has an accent. Sure he sounds like a ‘foreigner’ when he speaks Turkish. But the reality is; for a man born and raised in the U.S., he...

Cuba: Biscet's Birthday

  20 July 2009

Uncommon Sense marks the 48th birthday of Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, a political prisoner “who by his example provides the moral leadership needed for that struggle [for freedom] to eventually prevail.”

Sri Lanka: Deaths In IDP Camps

  20 July 2009

Indrajit Samarajiva at Indi.ca criticizes the mention of a large number of deaths in Sri Lankan IDP camps by some International media and comments: “making up very serious numbers doesn’t help anyone. It riles up some hard line diaspora elements, but it’s fundamentally a political missive, not a journalistic one.”