Stories about War & Conflict from June, 2010
Israel: Dubious Thanks to USAID
JoeSettler posts a photo of a sign he often passes that reads, “This [road] is a gift from the American people to the Palestinian people.” “What I think that USAID overlooked,” he comments, “Is that Jews also use this road regularly.” According to their website, USAID has donated $1 billion...
Israel: Storing Water for Emergencies
When you live in the Middle East, water is essential to your daily survival. Israeli Kitchen recommends ways to store water in preparation for an emergency and what water sources you can use if your standard stores dry up.
Blogger Compares Russian Army to American Prison
Blogger mr_bison analyses [RUS] Russian military statistics. The results are shocking: Russian army is more dangerous environment for a human being than a prison in the US. Plus, almost every fifth death in the army is a suicide, another sad military fact says.
Sri Lanka: Reflections On The Problems In Gaza
Sri Lankan MP and blogger Rajiva Wijesinha reflects on the adjournment of resolution on the problems in Gaza: “the world is desperately in need of consensus based on universally accepted principles of justice, rather than continuing indulgence to old victims by old victimizers.”
Sri Lanka: Forgetting Those Killed
Sanjana Hattotuwa at ICT for Peacebuilding (ICT4Peace) points out that “post-war Sri Lanka is very far from a just peace, or meaningful reconciliation” as the celebrations of the victory over the LTTE did not include commemoration of the loved ones killed during the war.
USA: Soldier Homecomings on YouTube
The moment when a soldier returns from duty abroad can capture human emotion like no other. On YouTube, videos of soldiers coming home have multiplied over the past several years.
Kenya: Bloggers react to Uhuru Park bomb blast
Six people were killed and 75 injured in an explosion at a political rally in Nairobi on Sunday. The rally was organized by the "No" team, which opposes the passing of the new constitution. Here are reactions from Kenyan bloggers.
Afghanistan: Death of al-Qaeda's leader
Nick Fielding reports on the death of Sheikh Mustafa Abu al-Yazid in a US drone strike in North Waziristan, noting that it came as a huge blow for al-Qaeda, as soon as the man was the head of the organisation in Afghanistan since May 2007.
Kyrgyzstan: Info Wrangling on Osh Unrest
Christian Bleuer reviews press and expert opinions on the dramatic developments in southern Kyrgyzstan, focusing on the conflict roots and
Afghanistan: Fresh Allegations Against Karzai
Nasim Fekratْ reports that Taliban revealed information regarding its relationship with the Afghan authorities.
India: Economic Blockade In Manipur State
The northeastern state of Manipur in India is facing a humanitarian crisis with the price of necessities soaring up as it has been subjected to a blockade of the National Highway 39 (NH-39) connecting Imphal (Manipur) with Kohima (Nagaland).
Colombia: Armed Forces Rescue 4 Hostages Kidnapped by FARC in 1998
News of the rescue of 4 FARC hostages in Colombia caused a quick reaction from Twitter users. They commented on their thoughts and feelings about the rescue itself, the political implications and the way the Media covered the story.
Kyrgyzstan: Provocateurs seen behind ethnic clashes
Clashes between the ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbek population in the southern Kyrgyzstan have developed into large-scale violence. After three nights of shooting in the isolated conflict zone - the population still has limited access to telephony, electricity and food.
France: Reflections on Being Part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla
Miloud was on board of a Greek ship sailing to Gaza with the Freedom Flottilla that was raided by the IDF. Back in his home town of Marseilles, he tells [Fr] Marseille Bondy Blog about his experience.
Egypt: Iara Lee's Flotilla Attack Footage
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia posts Iara Lee's one-hour footage from the Gaza-bound flotilla on the night it was attacked by Israeli commandos here.
Iraq: A Series of Explosions
Iraqi Pundit comments on the series of explosions that rocked Baghdad yesterday. “Whoever attacked wanted to remind us they're still around,” he remarks.
Israel: iPhone Weather App Divides Jerusalem
If you want to know the weather for Jerusalem on your iPhone, you're going to have to get specific, reports Jewlicious‘ CK. You will now have to choose between East and West Jerusalem. “On the Yahoo weather page East Jerusalem’s weather is in Palestinian Occupied Territories >West Bank >Jerusalem and...
Israel: Politics and Protest with Humor
I see your protest and I raise you one. Jameel of the Muqata gives us politics with a much needed sense of humor. Last Saturday, a left-wing demonstration protesting 43 years of Israeli occupation in the West Bank was infiltrated by counter protesters holding signs such as, “We believe in...
Israel: Violence, Non-Violence, and Palestinian Solidarity
In “7 Reasons I'm Conflicted about the Fredom Flotilla” Daniel Sieradski writes: “By engaging in violence…[the activists] have demonstrated succinctly to Israel's supporters and allies that they, and by extension all Palestinian solidarity activists, are neither non-violent nor pro-peace. This hampers their cause and the greater cause of Palestinian liberation.”
Israel: Barred from Spain's Gay Pride Parade
In an entry entitled “You Know You're an Outcast When…” Israeli blogger David Bogner remarks on Spain's barring of Israel from its gay pride parade. Meanwhile, Tel Aviv celebrated its largest parade ever with 100,000 participants, Isrealli reports.
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan: Initial Coverage of the “Osh Massacre”
On June 10, 2010, local clashes between the ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbek population in the Kyrgyz part of the Ferghana valley turned into a full-blown massacre and further exodus of the Kyrgyzstan-based Uzbeks. It seems that the conflict had been incited by the Kyrgyz organized criminal gangs in order to destabilize the region and might be connected with the revolutionary events in Kyrgyzstan two months earlier. The post summarizes initial coverage of the event by local bloggers.
