Stories from Quick Reads from December, 2008
Chile: Santa Claus the Bus Driver in Santiago
Paloma Beytelman boarded a bus in Santiago, Chile to find the driver dressed as Santa Claus, who continues this tradition every year to entertain passengers [es]. She filmed a short interview with the driver and his wife, who accompanies him on this occasion.
Russia: A Muslim Trade Union?
Window on Eurasia writes that Central Asian migrant workers in the Urals are considering forming a “Muslim trade union.”
Chile: Creative Commons Licensed Album Nominated for Prize
Creative Commons Chile [es] applauds the album by Antonio Díaz titled Minimental, which was recently nominated for the Qwartz Prize in France. The highlight is that this album is licensed under Creative Commons.
Egypt: Down sizing Car factory
In the middle of everybody's talk about Gaza's siege and Israeli brutal attack on Palestinians, Egyptian blogger Zeinobia is asking people not to forget Egyptian internal affairs. In her new post, “Don't forget the inner line” , she highlights the Government's new decision to downsize the Nasr Car Factory as...
India, Bangladesh: Explaining South Asian Politics
Santosh at Über Desi explains the results of the Bangladesh parliamentary election: “Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party won because it was time for a change. The last elected government was formed by Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Yes, politics in South Asia can be explained in such simplistic terms.“
Pakistan: Remembering Benazir Bhutto
Adil Najam at All Things Pakistan wonders if Benazir Bhutto had not been killed would things have been different for Pakistan?
Bangladesh: A Landslide Victory Is Not A Mandate For One Party Anarchy
Shada Kalo reminds the Awami League led Grand Alliance after their win in Bangladesh elections held yesterday: “A landslide victory does not mean a license to mess with the constitution or the civil rights of people.”
India: A Guide To The Biggest Moments in Indian blogging History
Pramit Singh at MediaVidea provides a guide to the biggest moments in Indian blogging history.
India: The Top Five Newsworthy Events in the Indian Blogosphere in 2008
Gaurav Mishra at Gauravonomics digs into the Indian Blogosphere to find the top five events in 2008, in which the Indian blogosphere itself became newsworthy.
Ghana: Tired of dirty politics
Omanba of Ghanaconscious criticizes politics in Ghana as pressuring people with “with negativity and scandalous innuendos”. For him the recent presidential elections have brought “the worst of humankind in Ghana”.
Israel: Debunking Israeli arguments about Gaza
Mo-ha-med, who is based in Israel, outlines why he believes all the “pre-packaged pseudo-arguments” for attacking Gaza won't stand up.
Cuba: Letter to Castro
Cuban diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense links to an open letter [ES] to Fidel Castro, written by a political prisoner.
Trinidad & Tobago: The Goings-On in Gaza
Notes from Port of Spain examines the situation in Gaza: “In terms of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is a total waste of time and of life. It is a big step backwards.”
Cuba: Subsidies
As “Raúl Castro reaffirmed the idea of ending subsidies”, Generation Y observes: “Between the symbolic price of a pound of rationed rice, and the enormous ‘slice’ of our salaries taken by those who govern us, we are more the givers than the receivers of subsidies.”
Cuba: Wishing for Freedom
Cuban blogger Retazos [ES] shares some of her wishes for 2009.
Barbados: Football Match Mayhem
As four people are shot at a football match, Barbados Free Press says that this is “what happens when you combine no rule of law with no effective police force and a top-down culture of corruption in government…”
Mexico: Campaign to Curb Drunk Driving
The latest campaign to curb driving while intoxicated in Mexico has already jailed 456 drivers writes Jessica Uribe of Vivir México [es].
Mexico: Campaign to Canonize Carlos Abascal
Mexablog [es] thought that the news about the campaign to canonize Carlos Abascal, who passed away earlier this month, was part of the Innocent's Day festivities, which is famous for trying to fool people in believing false news. However, he was shocked to find out that the effort to make...
Bangladesh: Landslide Victory For Awami League Led Grand Alliance
E-Bangladesh reports that its a landslide victory for the Awami League-led-Grand Alliance in today's national election.
Kenya: Banks should embrace money transfer service M-pesa
Bankelele explains why he thinks Kenyan banks should embrace M-Pesa, the popular money transfer service offered by the mobile phone provider Safaricom: “Banks need to change and embrace M-Pesa as it is able to do some things they can't or won't do”.
Azerbaijan: Pilaf
Sheki, Azerbaijan sends its readers seasons greetings and takes a look at plov (pilaf) and the various ways in which it is cooked throughout the regions of the South Caucasus country. The dish, with rice or cracked wheat as its base, is also served in honor of respected guests and...
