Stories from Quick Reads from January, 2009
Rohingya Muslims facing cultural genocide
Prof. Marranci writes that Rohingya Muslims are “victims of their lack of strategic value, both for their native Southeast Asia and the wider international community.” The Rohingyas are also “facing...
R.E.S.C.A.T.A.R.: Dengue: Manu militari contra la irresponsabilidad
Carlos Rodríguez of Rescatar [es] writes that is shameful that the local government must threaten property owners to keep their land free of standing water, which is a breeding ground...
Ecuador: Finding a Candidate to Face Correa
The opposition in Ecuador is having a tough time finding a suitable candidate to face current President Rafael Correa writes La Voz de Guamote [es].
Guadeloupe: Pépin questions national conscience
In the midst of the social unrest that has been shaking Guadeloupe for almost 11 days, Indiscrétions publishes writer Ernest Pépin's letter to his fellow Guadeloupeans.
Cuba: Hope and Change
On hearing the news that two black Cubans were arrested “after they were heard making favorable comments” about the Obama presidency, Uncommon Sense has these words for the new president:...
France, Guadeloupe: Obama Appointment?
Indiscrétions and RCIgp [Fr] wonder if the appointment of former LCI journalist (Guadeloupean-born Christine Kelly) at the CSA is as a result of the Obama effect.
Martinique: Increase in domestic violence
Martinican blogs [Fr] Blogdemoi and Bondamanjak tell with much consternation about the dramatic increase in domestic violence.
Trinidad & Tobago: Carnival Slump?
With just three short weeks until the big event, Discover TnT Blog and Trinidad Carnival Diary report that the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival season has been slow.
Bermuda: No Thank You?
Vexed Bermoothes is sceptical about the Premier's “kind offer” to subsidize the University of the West Indies, saying: “It’s more ideology than about educational opportunity.”
China: Sino-French Ties in 2009
Mr. Song Luzheng (宋鲁郑）, a Chinese blogger who specializes in international politics, recently listed the five factors that have undermined the Sino-French relations (zh). He asserts that it is too...
Tajikistan: Terrible Tajik-Uzbek relations
Vadim says that Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have chronically had bad relations since early history of the two countries, and the most recent actions of Uzbekistan made these relations even worse.
Kazakhstan: State-run web-sites tested by the public
Mursya reviews the results of an evaluation of web-sites run by Kazakhstani state authorities. The evaluation was performed by MediaNet, the International Journalism Center, supported by Soros Foundation in Kazakhstan.
Kyrgyzstan: Something About Patriotism
Kyrgyzstani citizens are now legally obliged to listen to their national anthem standing with their right hand over their heart, reports Elena.
Tajikistan: Electricity rationing returns
Seemingly a shock to some, Vadim reports upon why electricity rationing in Tajikistan has returned, as well as why it has only just been noticed by the media.
Kazakhstan: Innovations, Kazakh-Style
Arseny writes about the government's innovation strategies in Kazakhstan, and how efficient they actually are.
Afghanistan: Bagram Prison and Obama’s Gitmo Policy Change
Patrick Frost reflects on how President Obama's political stand towards Guantanamo prison would change the administration's position regarding Bagram Air Base prison in Afghanistan.
Russia: Medvedev on Markelov's Murder
RFE/RL's The Power Vertical, Robert Amsterdam's Blog, and Sean's Russia Blog comment on Dmitry Medvedev's remarks about the murders of Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova in Moscow last week.
Russia: Putin's Response to Dell
Eternal Remont and Scraps of Moscow comment on Vladimir Putin's response to the Dell Computer founder at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Ukraine: KGB Archive
Sean's Russia Blog writes this about Ukraine's plans “the entire KGB archive dating 1917-1991″: “These materials will certainly be employed in the further crafting of Ukraine’s ‘imagined community’ of victimization...
Georgia: Glukhov's Case; U.S.-Based “Georgian Chalabis”
Scraps of Moscow writes about Aleksandr Glukhov's case, and notes on the possibility “that Georgian Chalabis are already being groomed Stateside.”
Moldova: A “Stable” Economy
Moldova's economy has been declared “well-protected […] from the slowdown” by London-based magazine The Banker. Eternal Remont comments: “This one gets filed under, ‘I've been down so long it looks...
