Stories about Politics from July, 2006
DRC: Post-Election Roundup
“A Peaceful Election” Congolese at the polls. Photo by Federico, courtesy of Extra Extra. By and large, the voting has ended in the DRC, according to The Salon: With the exception of the three towns that had to continue/report the voting for today, due to numerous arsons (Mbuji-mayi, Mweka and...
South Africa: Trade union
Writes Farrel Lifson at politics.za, South Africa's largest trade union COSATU gets a lot of media exposure, but still has fewer than two million members.
Kenya: Mourning a father
“Next year will be 25 years since you were shot ruthlessly and left to die in some ditch,” writes Farmgirl to her much-missed father. “Oh just want to tell you that Raila and his cronies plotted the whole coup thing that led to your death…I wish he would say sorry...
The unshackling of Bangladesh
Tasneem Khalil reports that Bangladesh is the cover theme for August 2006 issue of Himal Southasian, South Asia's first and only regional magazine. The magazine's introspective comment: "Bangladesh is set to become a powerful member of the world community, once it deals with its difficult issues of mal governance and confrontational politics".
Serbia: Talks of War
Eric Gordy of East Ethnia writes on the talks of war and the pains of forming a viable democratic coalition in Serbia.
Russia: “Mystery Illness” in Chechnya
David McDuff of A Step At A Time has translated a Prague Watchdog/Radio Free Liberty broadcast on the “mystery illness” that affected more than 100 children in Shelkovsky district.
Russia: “List of 17″
Sean's Russia Blog writes about groups present on (and missing from) the FSB's Terrorist Organizations list.
Ukraine: Universal of the National Unity
LEvko of Foreign Notes writes about the Universal of National Unity that president Yushchenko expects the leading Ukrainian politicians to sign, and some of the problems that surround the negotiation process.
Russia: Brian Grover & Matthias Rust
Copydude writes about two men who became (in)famous after they flew their light planes into Russia illegally: Brian Grover (1938) and Matthias Rust (1987).
Saving Nature
KO criticizes the corruption ridden Pakistani politicians for supporting the Pakistan Air Force to acquire land to establish a weapons trial range in the Hingol National Park, the largest National Park in Pakistan. This will drive away the wildlife from the park and the temple of Hinglaj, one of the holiest sites of the Hindus located there will be off limit for the devotees.
Tour Nepal, save Nepal
South Asia Biz tells why the tourists around the world should travel Nepal. With the restoration of a democratic government and the end of Maoist insurgency, there are plenty of reasons to visit this land of happiness.
This Week In Palestinian Blogs: World On Fire
While the flames of war engulf Lebanon, Gaza is still under attack. Many of the victims have been Palestinian children, some barely a year old; and as their families prepare to burry them Haitham Sabbah asks the fundemental question: “How shall we forget? How shall we forgive?” As sound of...
Landing at the Iraqi Blogodrome
With all the war and suffering I just don't feel like blogging. But todays post is important and I feel it is my duty to write it. If you read no other blog post this week read this Caesar of Pentra writes of the numbing pain and screaming anger at...
China and South Korea: whose cultural heritage ?
Richardson in Korea Liberator blogs about the potential debate between China and South Korea concerning Mt Baedu (or Changbaishan in Chinese pronounciation) as China has decided to register Mt. Baekdu on the World Geopark list designated by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
China: Tangshan earthquake
Joel Martinsen in Danwei attemps to explain why the Chinese Government spent so much effort to commemorate the Tangshan earthquake. “To some extent, it is this determination, and not the tragedy itself, that is being commemorated today.”
Bangladesh blog buzz
The latest happenings in Bangladesh related blogs around the world:
DRC: Optimism on Eve of Landmark Election
Foli Kat, a new blogger based in the US, has been following Global Voices's coverage of Congolese bloggers writing about the July 30th election and has a very different perspective from the largely pro-opposition bloggers highlighted in my previous posts. Foli Kat writes that whatever their shortcomings, these elections are...
A Big Laugh in Venezuela
Venezuelans will be holding the funniest elections in the country history. Entertainer Benjamin Rausseo, better known as Er’ Conde del Guacharo (Count of Guacharo), announced this week that he will run for President. Rausseo is Venezuela’s most popular comedian, and he has no political background. His character is a working-class...
DRC: Election Survey Results & EUFOR Crash
Extra Extra posts results of a DRC election survey he conducted from his blog (most respondents thought the election would take place without major disruptions) and explains that yesterday European Union Forces “managed to crash an unmanned drone into a residential area, injuring four and destroying a house.”
DRC: Documentary Video
The Salon posts a french-speaking video-documentary covering the last 6 year's events including the 6-day war between Rwandan and Ugandan armies, the assasination of Laurent Kabila and the promise of elections.
The Week That Was in Bahrain
Local events took the sidelines as Bahrain bloggers turned their attention to the war ravaging Lebanon this week.