Stories from Quick Reads from March, 2007
Ukraine, Belarus: Chernobyl
MoldovAnn attends the opening of a photo exhibition of Belarus-based American photographer Kristina Brendel, held at the Chernobyl Museum in Kyiv; she discovers that the Belarusian government's treatment of the Chernobyl catastrophe differs drastically from that of the Ukrainian government: “…there is total denial by the Belarussian government that there...
Lebanon: Arab Summit
Lebanese blogger As'ad Abu Khalil shares with us his mother's opinion on the Arab Summit, held recently in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “My mother was telling me about her opinions of the Arab summit. She said that she was happy about the Syrian-Saudi rapprochement but only because it will upset the...
Russia: Tolstoy's Diary
De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis notes that Leo Tolstoy's diary turned 160 years old yesterday: “In the complete set of his works the diaries occupy 13 volumes.”
Russia: Lenin, A Collector's Item
“Thus, what is so fascinating about the cult of Lenin is the efforts of an atheist regime to create a kind of religion for political control,” writes Darkness at Noon in a lengthy post about his own very impressive collection of the Soviet busts of Lenin and a recent ordeal...
Antigua: Human Rights Treaty
A new human rights treaty protecting the rights of persons with disabilities opens for signing today at the United Nations and Talk Antigua thinks it is a significant development: “How we as a progressive Caribbean people continue to treat such persons, will be the measure of our human development.”
Ukraine: Online Graffiti Museum
Lyndon of Moscow Graffiti (and of Scraps of Moscow!) links to the online Museum of Ukrainian Graffiti.
Russia: WiFi and All, St. Pete vs Moscow
Lex Libertas compares St. Petersburg's technological development to that of Moscow.
Anguilla: Constitutional Reform
Don Mitchell at Corruption-Free Anguilla was invited by the Members of the House of Assembly to lead them through the Report of the Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission as Anguilla begins the process of constitutional reform: “It is the consensus view that emerges from the series of public meetings that...
Bahrain: Guard Shot Dead
Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif says a hotel security guard was shot dead in his country this morning after “..a scuffle broke out between drunks, purportedly American, and hotel security guards. It is reported that one of the servicemen drew his pistol and shot the Bahraini night-shift guard Abbas Ali...
Venezuela: Renovating Soccer Stadiums
Oil Wars wonders if the Venezuelan government could be spending their money more wisely than on the renovation of soccer stadiums throughout the country.
Venezuela: Constitutional Battle Over Chavez's Reelection
Miguel Octavio on “the looming Constitutional battle over Chavez poposal to allow his indefinite reelection.”
Uruguay: Montevideo's Harbor (in Black and White)
Given special access to Uruguay's usually restricted “el puerto de Montevideo” for a photography contest, Tali shares some beautiful black and white pictures of the harbor.
Mexico: Protests Against New Retirement Age
“Streets blocked, schools and universities closed, public transportation services suspended and violent demonstrations in front of the National Senate, all in the name of . . . what, exactly, I'm not too sure.” But Mark in Mexico does his best to find out. Ana Maria Salazar has more on the...
Honduras: Easter Week Traveling
La Gringa wonders with just what money Honduran Minister of Tourism Ricardo Martinez expects 50% of the Honduran population to travel this Easter week..
Colombia: Army commander allegedly linked with paramilitaries
Both the Colombia Herald and Plan Colombia and Beyond take a closer look at a front page Sunday LA Times story alleging the chief of Colombia's army, Gen. Mario Montoya, has worked closely with paramilitary groups.
Central Asia: Minorities
neweurasia has a collection of 11 posts on minorities in Central Asia and Afghanistan in its latest cross-blog survey.
Armenia: Targeting Students
At the CRD/TI Armenian Election Mointor 2007, a student from Yerevan writes about how the Prosperous Armenia party targets students.
Afghanistan: Watch out Ahmed!
Afghanistanica says that the well-known writer on the Taliban, Afghanistan, and Central Asian Islamism, Ahmed Rashid, seems to have a bit of a problem with Uzbeks.
Uzbekistan: New Attitude
Registan.net says that Uzbekistan has not shown the change of heart regarding its human rights practices that some European Union officials claim it has.
Lebanon: The Plight of Migrant Workers
The sad plight of migrant workers in Lebanon comes under the spotlight in an article by Syrian blogger Yaman which appears on Migrant Rights in the Middle East. (Warning: the item linked to in this post contains graphic and upsetting images)
Singapore: Correcting Greek History
With the release of the movie 300 in Singapore, people are talking about Greek history. Modernburrow.lah.cc takes on a history teacher's letter to a newspaper in a bid to reflect the history more accurately.