Stories about War & Conflict from May, 2008
Lebanon: Clashes and Babies
Diana, who lives in Dubai and is expecting a baby in two months, is glad to have returned to Lebanon. She explains: “I cried my eyes out when I saw...
Sudan: Stranded Palestinians
Sudanese blogger Yahya Jaser Mohammed [Ar] sheds light at the plight of Palestinians stranded in Sudan – and who cannot return to their homes.
Lebanon: A deal is reached in Doha
“Beirut – Lebanon is where the action will be after a deal was reached yesterday to end the political crises in Lebanon. Finally Lebanon this week will have a president...
Pakistan: On Security
Changing Up Pakistan! interviews an expert from Rand Corporation to get some insight on the security situation.
Afghanistan: Memorial Day Review
Joshua Foust reflects on the victims among American and Coalition soldiers who gave their lives in the fight for a free and stable Afghanistan, as well as on the victims...
Japan: The Secret of Mizuki Shigeru
At age 86, Mizuki Shigeru is one of the most well-known manga artists in Japan thanks to work that stretches over more than four decades, including among them some of the most popular Japanese manga and anime TV series. GeGeGe no Kitarō, a manga series he created in 1959, is Mizuki's most famous, featuring an orphaned yōkai (monster) named Kitaro who fights for peace between humans and monsters. In a post entitled “Why has GeGeGe no Kitaro remained popular for this long?”, blogger ta26 proposes an explanation for the popularity of this manga.
Colombia: Paramilitary Leaders Extradited to the United States
In Colombia, 14 demobilized paramilitary bosses were recently extradited to the United States to face charges of drug trafficking. Bloggers in Colombia discuss how this might affect the current political situation in the country and how much the jailed individuals might reveal now that they have very little incentive to keep silent.
South Africa: What is the meaning of “makwerekwere”?
Khanya traces the origin of the word “makwerekwere,” a slang for foreigners in South Africa: ” A couple of bloggers with an interest in language have asked about the the...
Voices that consent to xenophobia
“The prominent South African political folk who have enjoyed the protection of the Mozambican people and are today entrepreneurs or leaders, why don't they raise their voices strongly to protect...
Taiwan: Tibet Issued Manipulated in Taiwan Election
Kwang Yin from interlocals.net explained how Tibet March riot had been manipulated in Taiwan during the presidential election period.
Palestine: Mass Exodus from Gaza?
“50,000 Arabs have left Gaza since last June,” writes Carl in Jerusalem. “In April, I reported that some 80% of Gaza residents want to leave, but this is the first...
Algeria, Unspoken Stories
Salim Bachi reviews Algérie, histoires à ne pas dire (Algeria, Unspoken Stories), a controversial 2007 film by Jean Piere-Lledo about the Algerian War. Of public reaction to the film, which...
Tunisia, 47th most peaceful country
Tunisia is the 47th most peaceful country in the world, according to the Global Peace Index, Zizou from Djerba writes [Fr].
Colombian anti-military youth group commemorates 10 years of resistance
Last May 17th marked the ten year aniversary of the Antimili sonoro, an event organized by the Youth Network as a way to spread the word about resistance to the mandatory military service in Colombia through music. The date was celebrated with a concert, and the whole month of May was programmed with conferences, talks and marches commemorating the 10 years of the youth organization's Disobedience and Civil Resistance movement. Showcasing the invitation to the events, the promotional clips and a short video from one of the ska bands playing in the concert.
Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria: Zorba the Greek
Greater Surbiton quotes from Nikos Kazantzakis‘ “Zorba the Greek”: “Given current Greek policy toward Macedonia, it is illuminating to read the words that Kazantzakis placed in the mouth of this...
Poland: Irena Sendler Obituary
Edward Lucas reposts the obituary of Irena Sendler, saviour of children in the Warsaw ghetto.
Iran: Anniversary of liberation of Khoramshahr
Several Iranian bloggers celebrated the 26th anniversary of liberation of southern city, Khoramshar, during Iran-Iraq war. Muslim Bloggers created a logo that says “God liberated Khoramshar” and Elaheh Mehr has...
Afghanistan: Al-Qaida's rising figure
Peter Marton reviews the recent story in the CTC Sentinel journal on al-Qaida's rising figure, Abu Yahya al-Libbi, the Lybian who escaped from detention at Afghanistan's Bagram airbase in 2005.
Ukraine: A View From Crimea
Last week, Ukraine banned Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov from the country, after he called for Russia to take ownership of Sevastopol, a Ukrainian Black Sea naval port. The incident received much coverage in the Russian and Ukrainian media and blogs. Below is one more post, written by a Russophone resident of Balaklava, a Crimean town that has an official status of a district of the city of Sevastopol.
Afghanistan: To Negotiate or Not To Negotiate?
Patrick Frost reviews the Hudson Institute scholar's concept of a growing ‘war weariness’ with Afghan, European, and American troops in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: Cutting Through the Noise
Joshua Foust refers in his post to Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson – in Joshua's opinion the only reporter talking about road construction in Afghanistan who is making any sense.
