· October, 2009

Stories from Quick Reads from October, 2009

Hungary: Budapest

  29 October 2009

Marietta Le of Remainder of Budapest comments on Budapest Business Region's campaign video and on the discussion raging on YouTube and elsewhere – here and here. She also links to a site that lists seven tour routes for those interested in Budapest's contemporary architecture, and posts pictures from a walk...

Hungary: 1956

  29 October 2009

Hungarian Spectrum writes about an online collection of testimony (HUN) on the events of 1956, which “helped the western powers understand the Hungarian situation, not just events that occurred during the revolution but more importantly the reasons for the outbreak of the uprising.” Remainder of Budapest wrote this on the...

Cuba: Contemplating Change

  28 October 2009

“I think that for Cuba to transition to an open society from a society ‘with some emergency exits’, some of the people now occupying positions of power in the government could take a long vacation…”: Octavo Cerco contemplates what's needed for meaningful change in Cuba.

Guadeloupe, Martinique: Soccer & Religion

  28 October 2009

A video showing an interview of the famous French soccer player Thierry Henry in which he expresses his affiliation to Islam, has caught the attention of Martinican blogger Bondamanjak [Fr/Fr Cr] and triggered impassioned comments from readers.

Reunion: Creole becomes second official language

  28 October 2009

In the midst of the International Creole Month, Guadeloupean blogger CaribCreoleOne discusses [Fr] the now official use of Creole language alongside French in all the administrative procedures and places, in the city of Le Port in Reunion.

India: Climate Policy

  28 October 2009

“India’s climate policy must be founded on the development needs of the majority of its population and the needs of India’s future development,” opines Prabir Purkayastha at Roger reports.

Bangladesh: Sidewalk Bookseller World And Best Sellers

  28 October 2009

Ulysses at Back To Bangladesh wonders how the sidewalk booksellers in Dhaka streets, who sell cheap bootleg bestsellers during traffic jam, pick up which books to sell. The blogger asks: “do people buy these books because there is nothing else affordable? Or do they really read these books?”

Azerbaijan: Blogger trial dilemma

  28 October 2009

Following yet another postponement in the trial of detained video blogging youth activists Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, In Mutatione Fortitudo offers its opinion on the case so far. The blog says the authorities in Azerbaijan face a dilemma. If the two detainees are imprisoned it will result in significant...

Indonesia: Youth Pledge Day 2009

  28 October 2009

Breaking Tweets gathers twitter posts on the commemoration of Indonesia's Youth Pledge Day. The historic day, October 28, 1928, is recognized as an important date for Indonesia's aspiration to become a free and independent republic.

Taiwan: Ethics of gift giving

  28 October 2009

Michella discusses the ethical issues for journalists offered gifts. She finds it difficult to understand some of the gift and money giving traditions in Taiwan.