Stories about Migration & Immigration from May, 2008
Cuba: International Day vs. Homophobia
“It'd be churlish to criticise Ms Castro's work on behalf of one of the most marginalised minorities in Cuba. But her ability to essentially whitewash the atrocious treatment of Cuban homosexuals over the past 50 years…is, well, breath-taking”: Child of the Revolution blogs about recent celebrations in Havana to mark...
Jamaica, Cuba: Dual Citizenship
“”What would Daryl Vaz do if he had to visit Cuba on state business?” That simple question forces Francis Wade to reconsider his views on dual citizenship and political position in Jamaica.
Diaspora: Armenian-American Homophobia
Writing on its blog, The Armenian Gay & Lesbian Association of New York reports on a recent anti-homophobic event at a Glendale school and the ensuing battle of words that materialized in the local press between ethnic Armenians living in the United States.
Armenia: International Day Against Homophobia
To mark International Day Against Homophobia, Unzipped: Gay Armenia posts its Unzipped: Gay Armenia List 2008 which recognizes individuals, organizations, media outlets, blogs and events which have worked towards promoting gay rights and equality in Armenia and the Diaspora. The blog, which coincidentally celebrates its first anniversary today, also posts...
Ukraine: A Blog on Crimea and Crimean Tatars
Lots of interesting and informative posts on Crimea and Crimean Tatars, including the most recent one, with photos, about Khydyrlez, “the annual Crimean Tatar May celebration of strength and vitality” – by Marusia of My Simferopol Home.
Ukraine: 64th Anniversary of Sürgün
J. Otto Pohl reminds readers that this coming Sunday, May 18, marks the 64th anniversary of Sürgün, the mass deportation of Crimean Tatars in 1944.
Jamaica, Guyana: The Jaguar
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp posts a poem by Guyanese writer Abdhur-Rahman Slade Hopkinson.
Blog for Palestine Day
Blogger za3tar has organized Blog About Palestine Day for today, May 15, the anniversary of the Nakba and Israel's 60th anniversary celebrations. Bloggers around the world were invited to blog for Palestine, as noted by Global Voices here. Many bloggers chose to participate in the event; here is a selection.
Palestine: Sixty Years of Al Nakba
Celebrations are under way to mark Israel's 60th anniversary - but for millions of Palestinians whose grandparents and parents were made refugees in the process, today marks Al Nakba - a day they were forced to flee their lands or were forcefully expelled from their homes as the State of Israel was born. Following is a cross-section of reactions from Arab bloggers.
Cuba, USA: Texas Trade Visit?
As the Texas state agriculture commissioner prepares to visit Cuba (the first state-elected official to do so since the 1962 trade embargo), Uncommon Sense says: “American policy toward Cuba must be measured by only two standards: Is it good for the United States, and is it good for the Cuban...
Jamaica, Barbados: Human Rights
Jamaican Geoffrey Philp is joining in Bloggers Unite‘s awareness campaign for human rights, “especially in Jamaica where the rights of our gay men and women are denied almost daily”…while Barbados Underground chooses to “highlight the plight of many women in our own backyard.”
Guyana, USA: Speaking With Soul
Signifyin’ Guyana is enjoying reading a book about Ebonics, but says: “If I ketch any one of my students writing that way, he or she gon get a straight up F.”
Africa: The Simba Lions of Congo
African migrants and refugees enter South Australian amateur league: “The Simba Lions of Congo has, for the first time, entered the South Australian Amateur Soccer League (SSAASL), as a registered club. The club is made up of young migrants and refugees from Africa who now call Australia home.”
Jamaica: Outdated Citizenship Laws
Jamaican Francis Wade blogs about the controversy surrounding politicians having dual citizenship: “We simply cannot have our cake and eat it too. While the high-minded goal of having leaders with undivided loyalty is fine, our attempts to ensure that desire through the laws of citizenship are outdated, and reflect very...
Guyana: The Art of Blogging
“I feel at home in my language–this brash, sexy combination of Standard-American-slang-Guyanese-creolese in which I speak and write. I own it. I am comfortable in it. I have no problem showing it off”: Blogging has helped Signifyin’ Guyana realise how much she loves to write.
Jamaica: Alluding to the Fact
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp explores the question of how to use allusions in creative writing.
Kazakhstan: Kazakh or ethnic Kazakh?
Özgecan shares her thoughts about Kazakh history from the point of view of a person, who is part of the Kazakh diaspora in the Western Europe.
Poland, UK: London Mayor
The beatroot writes about the Polish dimension of London mayoral election.
Hungary: Anti-Semitism and Foreign Media
Hungarian Spectrum and Pestiside.hu discuss foreign media coverage of anti-Semitism in Hungary.
Azerbaijan: Cleveland Cultural Garden
Blogger Interrupted comments on the opening of an Azerbaijani cultural garden in Cleveland. The blogger wonders why with a 100-strong Azerbaijani community such an initiative was taken.
Morocco, Israel, and Palestine: A Unique History
Since the Nakba and Israel's claim of independence 60 years ago, Israel and Morocco have had an interesting relationship. Prior to the creation of an Israeli state, Morocco had a large, if not thriving, Jewish population. Here's what a few Moroccan bloggers have to say on this, the 60th anniversary of Israeli independence.
