Stories about Migration & Immigration from September, 2008
Madagascar: Living abroad changes a man
In an article published in March, economists William Easterly and Yaw Nyarko noted that in Sub-Saharan Africa, remittances (money sent by immigrants abroad back to their home countries) on average amounted to 81 percent of the foreign aid received by an individual country. The role of the diaspora in the...
Jamaica, U.S.A.: In Memoriam
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp is saddened over the passing of American poet Reginald Shepherd and also posts a poem in memory of the 9-11 firefighters, who lost their lives seven years ago today.
Cuba: After Ike
“it now appears that Havana and its many historic buildings will be spared from the worst of the storm that has brought devastating consequences to the island’s housing, agriculture and other economic infrastructure”: Circles Robinson blogs about Hurricane Ike; The Cuban Triangle posts photos of devastation from Holguin province and...
Jamaica: Soon Come
“For me, this was like staring into a mirror and recognizing myself for the first time”: Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp reviews Hugh Hodges’ Soon Come, which he says “provides a useful context for understanding Jamaican religions such as Myal, Kumina, Revivalism, and Rastafari and their connection with the work of...
Caribbean: Ike Strikes
The 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season is not letting up. Beleaguered Caribbean islands like Cuba and Haiti barely had time to recover from the ravages of Hurricanes Gustav and Hanna when Mother Nature struck once again, this time in the form of Ike. Tensions were high with bloggers Caribbean-wide.
Armenia: Football Diplomacy & Relations with Turkey
A number of World Cup qualifying matches were played worldwide on Saturday, but many were interested in what might instead prove to be a historic political rather than sporting event. Without diplomatic relations or an open border, Armenia played against Turkey in its capital, Yerevan. Despite historical grievances, Turkish President Abdullah Gul arrived to watch the match with his Armenian counterpart in what many referred to as “football diplomacy.”
Cuba, Barbados, U.S.A.: Palin's Speech
While Cuban diaspora blogger Babalu is “still a bit in awe from Palin's speech last night”, Barbadian diaspora blogger Jdid says: “She tried to attack Obama on some trivial stuff that he's been attacked on before, she didn't break new ground and with her Tina Fey look and those weak...
Jamaica, Guyana: Poet as Maker
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp features Guyanese poet Cyril Dabydeen in his own words.
Cuba: Blogging about Fear
Havana-based Generation Y blogs about the Cuban diaspora and their “portion of fear”.
Cuba: Effects of Gustav
The Cuban Triangle says that the effects of Hurricane Gustav were devastating, especially in Pinar del Rio province, while Child of the Revolution suspects that the official figures about the damage “are almost certainly conservative.”
Parti Liberal du Tchad on illegal migration
Parti Liberal du Tchad calls for an “integral” solution to illegal migration from Africa to Europe and the establishment of a high commission to examine the problem. “Without the flow of migrants, many European countries would not be where they are today. So it is important to remember what these...
East Timor: On the struggle of the diaspora
“The East Timor sons in other countries have fully contributed to the visibility of the atrocities that were happening in the country to our brothers. It was another kind of struggle, a much less terrible one, different of the fight of those who stayed, but it was still a fight...
Cuba: Gorki Released
Uncommon Sense, Blog For Cuba and Review of Cuban-American Blogs report that Gorki, the Cuban punk rocker who was arrested and initially charged with “pre-criminal social dangerousness”, has been released from jail.
Iraq: They call this freedom
It can be hard to believe that it is approaching 2000 days since the beginning of the occupation of Iraq. After all the promises and expectations made at the start of the war maybe it is worth taking stock of the current situation for Iraqis. Bloggers have been reviewing their lot and give some slices of their daily experiences.