Stories about Youth from September, 2007
Nepal: Students and Minority Groups
Blogdai reflects on the current mood in Nepal – and brings some good and bad news.
Japan: Tokyo's Urban Ruins
Roy Berman at Mutant Frog Travelogue has posted a series of fascinating pictures of soon-to-be-demolished buildings in the backstreets of Shinbashi, Tokyo. Objects photographed include pots and pans, children's toy guns, and a note left behind with the lyrics (in English) to the song “I could have danced all night”.
Japan: Axe Murder, School Days and a Nice Boat
In a bizarre twist of events, the shocking story of a girl who killed her father with an axe, believed to be motivated by her interest in manga, triggered TV networks to cancel airing of the final episode of School Days, a popular anime show. In its place, broadcasters aired a series of slow, meandering shots of castles, mountains, and... a nice boat. A meme was thus born that has spread like wildfire across bulletin boards and blogs, sparked various creative offshoots, and even inspired conspiracy theories.
Libya: Childless Mornings
“The kid's have really started school. And guess what? They are all going in the morning! This is the first time this has ever happened. I actually have peaceful and childless mornings! I've dreamed about this for years and years,” writes an ecstatic Khadija Teri from Libya.
China: On the tazing
Actually, as with almost everything major that happens in America—even Michelle Malkin has multiple Chinese names—people from all corners of China have seen and heard all about Don't Tase Me Bro! Internet news and blogging crossover site Netease has a unique function where all commenters are identified by region, and...
Japan: Moral Education Plan Withdrawn
Debito comments on the withdrawal of moral education plan proposed by former Prime Minister Abe: teaching (and grading) “patriotism”, would leave Japan’s children of international roots in a bind–how can they “love” Japan “properly”, in a way quantifiably gradable?
Venezuela: Taking Over Private Schools
The Devil's Excrement writes about the threat made by President Hugo Chavez to take over Venezuela's private schools.
Arabeyes: Homophobia in Kuwait
Kuwaiti blogger Frankom (Ar) writes an explosive post about what he thinks of homosexuals in his country, sparking a debate among his readers. Amira Al Hussaini translates his post from Arabic.
Ecuador: Senseless Death at Football Match
An 11-year-old boy, Carlos Cedeño, died at a football match between Barcelona and Emelec was caused by a stray firework that may have been the result of feuding supporter sides. Ecuadoran bloggers Cronicacero [ES] and Un Guayaco En Nueva York [ES] both express outrage at this tragedy.
Cayman Islands: Motherhood 101
“I have been as relentless as the Paparazzi stalking their prey, all with a view to collate seemingly scandalous and cutesie photos with which to torture the child with embarrassment later in life”: Mighty Afroditee reflects on the true joy of parenthood.
Bahamas: Zero Tolerance
Sidney Sweeting, writing at WeblogBahamas.com, thinks that “it is time for zero tolerance” when it comes to violence in the society.
Argentina: Children in Salta Living Below the Poverty Line
Roberto Vigo writes in Grito Argentino [ES] that nearly 1/3 of children in Salta live below the poverty line.
China: Has Crazy English gone crazy?
“Stand up, those who refused to be slaves……,” This is what Chinese national anthem tells. But in a class by Li Yang in Crazy English, over 3000 students kneeled down to their teachers. Is this a real thanksgiving or just a brainwashing of how to be a slave?
Argentina: Educ.ar Website is Back
The Argentine educational web portal Educ.ar [ES] is back up and running. Martin Varsavsky, whose foundation provided the funds to create the site, writes on his blog that he is pleased that the site had been relaunched [ES].
Bahamas: School Privatization
Rick Lowe at WeblogBahamas.com links to a study that supports his views on school privatization.
Colombia: Experience With Hiperbarrio
Palabras Vagas [ES] and Muestra Artistica [ES], participants in the Hiperbarrio project express gratitude for the creation of the project.
Russia: Russian Orphanage Graduates
Window on Eurasia writes on the tragic fate of nearly 90 percent of the Russian state orphanage graduates.
Bahamas: Cannabis Conundrum
“I believe that far too many young Bahamians go through life with a criminal record for smoking marijuana when the Police could expend their energy solving more serious crime.” Rick Lowe at WeblogBahamas.com posts video of a British television debate to stimulate discussion on whether marijuana should be legalised in...
Niger: The Yellowcake Conspiracy
The Yellowcake Conspiracy is an African spy thriller for 11 to 14 year-old boys: “The Yellowcake Conspiracy is about a group of malcontent Tuareg fighters mounting a ‘second rebellion’ in Niger under the leadership of a man known only as ‘the Teacher’ (the first rebellion ended back in 1995).”
Bahrain: An Encounter with an Iraqi Girl in Syria
Bahraini blogger One in a Million (Ar) was in Syria recently, where she met an Iraqi girl, which gave her a lot of food for thought on the conditions of Iraqi refugees and the heartbreak the war on Iraq has brought them. Amira Al Hussaini translates her post from Arabic.
Ukraine: Party of the Regions Miscellanea
Ukrainiana writes about Party of the Regions’ attempt to cheat a site meter, and about Soviet-style children's poetry inspired by Victor Yanukovych.
