Stories about Youth from December, 2009
Caucasus: 2009 Blog Review
If the Armenian and Georgian blogospheres attracted most interest during 2008 after one disputed presidential election in the former and an albeit short war with Russia in the latter, Azerbaijan was the undoubted focus in 2009. In particular, youth activists quickly embraced both new and social media to spread their message online.
Uruguay: The Best Blogs from School-Aged Children
The blog from Plan Ceibal in Uruguay shares links to the best blogs from school-aged children [es] across the country as part of the campaign, “Your Ideas are Valued.”
Vietnam: Training restaurant for street kids
Michael Brosowski blogs about the establishment in Vietnam of a training restaurant for disadvantaged youth managed by Streets International
Mums In Bangladesh
A new exclusive social networking site for mums in Bangladesh has been launched, informs Nilim.
India: Surviving Child Abuse
Mumbai based creative professional Harish Iyer, who blogs at The Pregnant Thoughts, discusses how he was subjected to child sex abuse in his teens and how it changed his life.
Cambodia: First Gay Blog
GK Network Blog is described as Cambodia's first gay blog. The site aims to raise awareness of straight people about gays and their rights.
Kazakhstan: Another Mass Infection Scandal
KZBlog reports that 150 children suffering from leukemia were infected with hepatitis C. This is not the first case when children get infected during blood transfusions in Kazakhstan.
Turkmenistan: Hip-hop in the country of Turkmenbashi
Turkmenistan's isolation and autocracy hasn’t stopped the global phenomenon of “urban culture”, especially in the form of Hip Hop. Annasoltan explores how Hip Hop can thrive — or die — in a police state.
South Korea: Fan's culture
James Turnbull from the Grand Narratives wrote an interesting article about the changing fan's cultural in South Korea. Middle-aged people are more active in fan's clubs.
Israel: Defining Parenting Styles
“What defines Israeli parenting?” asks A Mother in Israel. Readers provide commentary about their impressions and experiences.
Australia pushes internet censorship; Twitter erupts
Australia's Communications Minister Stephen Conroy declared his determination last week to push through mandatory internet censorship of a government-defined blacklist of websites, sparking an online frenzy in blogs and on Twitter. News of the proposed internet censorship propelled the issue to a “trending topic” on Twitter for several hours, under...
Lebanon: Fun(d)raising
A group of Lebanese bloggers decided to draw smiles on the faces of underprivileged kids by getting them toys for Christmas. Fun(d)raising is the name of their project and they're doing it the fun way.
Russia: Popular Blogger Would Be Glad If Russian Authorities Restrict Internet
Popular Russian blogger and activist Roman Dobrokhotov talks to GVO about the Internet and online activism in the country.
Azerbaijan: Education, free thought and development
Following a previous post from Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines on European concerns with the situation of freedom of expression in Azerbaijan, and especially following the imprisonment of video blogging youth activists Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, the blog comments on remarks made by the country's Minister of Education. The...
Japan: Peace picture books
The pacifist association called Peace Picture Books [ja, en] published online their last story titled Evil & Punishment: psychology of punishment [en]. On the same website it`s possible to read picture books by different illustrators.
Trinidad & Tobago: Poor Packaging
Trinidad and Tobago's This Beach Called Life is livid that a brand of silicone is being sold in bottles best known for packaging a popular children's soft drink: “I have no idea if the OHS Act in Trinidad and Tobago covers household chemicals and food but Act or no Act,...
Yaoi in the Philippines
The View from the Fence blogs about the popularity of Yaoi, “female-oriented fictional media that focus on homoerotic or homoromantic male relationships,” among the Filipino youth.
Lebanon: Queer Parenting
Lily, a guest writer at queer Arab magazine bekhsoos explores queer parenting in Lebanon.
Hong Kong: Undemocratic Legco set to approve the world's most costly express train
The Legislative Council (Legco) in Hong Kong is about to approve the funding for the world's most expensive Express Rail Link (ERL)'s construction plan on the coming Friday (Dec 18). According to the government budget plan announced in November 2009, the 26 km ERL will cost HKD67 billions (USD8.9 billions)....
Barbados, Guyana: Christmas!
Barbados’ Notes From A Small Rock and Signifyin’ Guyana are catching the Christmas fever.
Colombia: Children Dying of Hunger
There have been 100 indigenous children who have died this year of hunger in Colombia, and Valentina Díaz Gómez of Realidades Colombianas [es] writes that the president must do more to address this serious situation.
