Stories about Migration & Immigration from May, 2010
Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia make Eurovision Top Ten
This year's Eurovision Song Contest drew to a close on a Saturday in a televised final which attracted around 125 million viewers worldwide. But while some media reported lagging interest in the 54-year-old competition and concerns about spiraling costs, countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia continue to take it very seriously indeed.
Nigeria: Cast your vote in the 2010 Nigerian Blog Awards!
It's time again for the Nigerian Blog Awards! Starting Monday, voters can cast their ballot for the best blog in over 30 categories, ranging from “Best Fashion Blog” to “Most Controversial Blog” to "Best Student Blog" and more.
Chez Gangoueus: A brilliant blog about African literature in French
A close runner-up for the Best of Blogs in French Award is Chez Guangoueus (fr). Réassi Ouabonzi blogs about African and diaspora literature in French from a reader's perspective since 2007. Here is an interview of him for Global Voices:
Slovakia: The Fight for Nationalistic Voters
Tibor Blazko writes about the growing nationalistic sentiments driven by some Slovak and Hungarian politicians and translates a related satirical video.
Caucasus: Social media, cleavage, and rare unity in Eurovision
Although last night's second semi-final for this year's Eurovision Song Contest has been and gone, Twitter was alive with commentary and updates throughout. The annual international competition, noted more for its kitsch entries than for its music, is viewed by well over 100 million people worldwide. Its presence online is nowhere near as large, but is increasingly becoming an important consideration.
Jamaica: Resetting the Clock
“Jamaica's bizarre socio-economic clock cannot turn back but it can be reset”: Living in Barbados suggest the current situation “may be the spur to find ways to start dealing with...
Brazil: Exchange Student Victim of Racism at the University
Kadija Tu, an exchange student from Guinea-Bissau, was severely beaten inside the campus of UFPB [Federal University of the State of Paraíba] on May 24th, reports Eugenio Cruz from the...
Jamaica: Situation Improving?
Four days into the state of emergency imposed on the Jamaican capital, the situation is becoming clearer - not simply in terms of statistics - but in understanding the chain of events that led to the current impasse. There are also reports that life in the capital city may slowly be returning to normal.
Russia: “Circassian Nationalism and the Internet”
At OpenDemocracy.net, Zeynel Abidin Besleney writes about “the role played by the internet as a lifeline linking otherwise isolated activists and communities and reinforcing the Circassian nationalist cause.”
Latvia: May 9 in Riga
Arnis Balcus posts photos from the May 9 celebrations in Riga and writes: “In Latvia 9 May is more than just a victory celebration, it is also an expression of...
Armenia: LGBT rights abroad, homophobia at home
Posting news of a Armenian LGBT conference in the U.S., Unzipped: Gay Armenia also posts a photograph and comments on homophobic leaflets and posters from an ultra-nationalist group appearing in...
Caucasus: Eurovision Social Media
With the first semi-final in this year's Eurovision Song Contest due to take place tomorrow, activity on blogs, social media networks and micro-blogging sites in support of entrants from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, the three countries making up the South Caucasus, is naturally increasing. However, their use also sometimes reflects the geopolitical and technical realities of the region.
Peru: Schoolgirl Questions US First Lady About Immigration Reform
During a recent visit to a Maryland school, US First Lady Michelle Obama received a question from a schoolgirl of Peruvian descent, who asked why people without immigration papers were being taken away and who disclosed information about the status of her parents.
Diaspora: Youth and violence
Ianyan comments on yet another killing in Los Angeles and says that it's about time that Armenians stopped focusing on the past in order to resolve their problems in the...
Cuba: Monitoring Arrests
Ever since the February, 2010 death of Orlando Zapato Tamayo, the first Cuban hunger striker to perish in 40 years, the situation in the island appears to have become even more tense.
Jamaica: Logan Act?
My View of JamDown from Up So thinks that “it should be clear in the aftermath of the Prime Minister's revelations about the Jamaica Labour Party's retention of a lawyer...
Bulgaria: Update on Arevik Shmavonyan's Case
Maya's Corner posts a detailed update on the case of Arevik Shmavonyan, a pregnant Armenian citizen who is still being kept at the Special Centre for Temporary Accommodation of Foreigners...
Taiwan: In memory of Chao-Jung Hsu, a Taiwanese WWII veteran
As part of an impassioned campaign to create a memorial park for Taiwanese WWII veterans, Chao-Jung Hsu's set himself on fire and died exactly two years ago.
Caucasus: Armenian-Azerbaijani coexistence
Georgian “Maybe” Time, a new blog from the Caucasus, comments on the experience of a friend from Azerbaijan who was recently chastised for her cooperation and communication with Armenians. Meanwhile,...
Jamaica: “Dudus” Extradition
ttgapers.com and Caribbean Camera are following the “Dudus” extradition case with great interest.
Cuba: Remembering Zapata
Uncommon Sense pays tribute to the late political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo, who would have turned 43 tomorrow, while El Cafe Cubano reports that his tomb has been desecrated.
