Stories about Politics from October, 2008
Trinidad & Tobago: Not Adding Up
“Last month the record 2008-9 budget of nearly TT$50 billion was based on an assumed oil price of $75 a barrel. At the time, the price was well above that. A month later, it’s below $64. So even the richest economy in the Caribbean either has to make some serious...
Bermuda: Gambling with the Future?
As the government considers introducing internet gaming to the island, both FreshieBlog and Vexed Bermoothes think that it is a bad idea, saying that it “could taint Bermuda’s reputation as a serious business jurisdiction.”
India: Mangalore violence
“It has been over a month since the riots in Mangalore but the anger has not gone away,” writes Apurva Mathad at Kafila after visiting a Monastery which was attacked in retaliation to the allegation of forced conversions. Madhat posts some pictures in his blog.
Russia: “Help Svetlana Bakhmina” Petition
As of now, 71,250 people have signed an online petition appealing to the Russian president to pardon Svetlana Bakhmina, a former senior lawyer for Mikhail Khodorkovsky's oil company Yukos, who was arrested in December 2004 and sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison for embezzlement and tax evasion in April 2006.
Zambian Bloggers Discuss Presidential Election
Zambian blogger Kaela Mulenga writes, "Thursday, October 30, 2008, is the day set aside in Zambia as a presidential ‘by-election’ date to replace the just deceased President Levy Mwanawasa (Levy). Mwanawasa had a stroke and passed away in a Paris hospital on August 19, 2008.
Tax incentives to invest Africa: chance for development or more Françafrique?
Le Pangolin [Fr] posts an excerpt from Le Journal du Dimanche on a new provision that would reduce taxes for French companies that invest in developing countries, “especially in Africa.” According to the excerpt, one logic behind the provision would be to encourage more private investment in the hopes that it...
Zambia: What Type of President Do We Need in Zambia?
Zambian blogger, Percy Mwale, asks, “What type of President do we need in Zambia and what type of parliament will ensure prosperity?” She continues: “Firstly, all MPs must be mature enough to support any progressive move or bill in parliament, to the benefit of all Zambians not just a party,...
Israel: Heading Towards General Elections
The leader of Israel's ruling party, Tzipi Livni, gave up her attempts to form a governing coalition. Livni has been trying to put together a government since she replaced Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as head of the ruling Kadima party last month. Elections are now set for February 10. Gilad Lotan reports from Israeli blogs.
Trinidad & Tobago: Crime Watch
“Like any other country, we have a well-laid out and codified set of laws for the populace to follow. Of what good is our law however, when particularly in relation to serious and violent crime, we appear to have little success of apprehending and convicting those who break it?”: Trinbago...
Barbados: MSM & Democracy
Barbados Underground says that “the current fast food diet of journalism being served up by the local media” poses a threat to the country's democracy.
Jamaica, U.S.A.: Race to the White House
“Let's be real… you want him to win because he's black…”: Stories of Me thinks that “it's no coincidence that most of Jamaica supports Obama for President, and wish they could vote. Only a fraction of those ‘supporters’ know much of Obama's policies, or fully understand the impact of an...
Guyana, U.S.A.: Making History?
“We may see in the possibility of America’s first Black president the sign of more tolerant times. We may see in the possibility of this particular Black president the sign of a more genuine concern for global affairs. And we can’t help but be caught up in the positive feel...
Japan: Net users versus mainstream media on Governor Hashimoto
id:Chikirin observes that lately a pattern of estrangement has developed in Japan between the tone of existing mainstream media and public opinion on the net [ja], one that can be traced to a generation gap. The blogger takes the case of Osaka Governor Tōru Hashimoto, recently in the news for...
Bangladesh: Liberal Voices on the rise
Bangladeshis usually have strong political views and tend to lean towards a party of their choice. Many of them ‘religiously’ follow the dictations and deliberations of their leaders. However, An ordinary citizen reports that the voices of the liberal citizens’ groups are growing in Bangladesh.
Uzbekistan: Karimov Comes to Town
Nathan reports on a prank by New York's Citylife blog, which sent a letter to a handful of NYC politicians claiming to be from Alisher Vohidov, Uzbekistan’s consul general to the United Nations, regarding a planned visit to the city by the Uzbek president Islom Karimov.
Kyrgyzstan: Boucher Schmoozing
Patrick Frost writes that Kyrgyzstan’s capital of Bishkek, which just last week hosted a Commonwealth of Independent States CIS summit, was the site of a meeting between US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher and President Bakiyev.
Afghanistan: President's Family Accused of Abuse of Power
Azar Balkhi reports that provincial opposition activist has accused Karzai’s family for illegal seizure of 20,000 acres of land in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.
Russia, France: Update on Karinna Moskalenko
Robert Amsterdam posts an update on the situation of lawyer Karinna Moskalenko.
Russia: Kozlovsky Wins Human Rights Award 2008
Oleg Kozlovsky writes about receiving the Human Rights Award 2008.
Russia: Migrant Workers and the Crisis
Moscow Through Brown Eyes writes about migrant workers in Russia and the economic crisis.
Russia, U.S.: McCain and the KGB
Eagle and the Bear and The Ivanov Report write about John McCain's campaign – and, among other things, his “repeated references to the K.G.B.”.
