Stories from Quick Reads from July, 2010
Serbia, Kosovo: Another View on ICJ's Ruling
The Greater Surbiton writes that “the ICJ’s ruling on Kosovo sets a precedent that is dangerous only for tyrants and ethnic cleansers.” (More views are here and here.)
Serbia: “Punishing ‘Bad Culture'”
Belgraded writes about a 1980s Serbian pop star's idea to introduce “extra taxes for authors of those works of media that fall under the category of ‘kitsch‘.”
The Balkans: Regional Lottery vs Nationalism
Belgraded writes about the planned revival of “the one big regional lottery” in the former Yugoslavia and does not “miss the opportunity to point out just how stupid nationalism is.”
Russia: Merging SVR and FSB; “Another Sexy Spy”
RFE/RL's The Power Vertical reports on the alleged plans to merge Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service with the Federal Security Service. Scraps of Moscow writes about the newest “sexy Russian spy” scandal.
Costa Rica: 60 Years of the Female Vote
Harolds Blog mentions [es] that 60 years ago, on July 30, 1950, women in Costa Rica were allowed to vote for the first time. Today, Costa Rica has a female president, Laura Chinchilla.
Trinidad & Tobago: From the Archives
The Caribbean Review of Books posts some interesting content from its archives.
Puerto Rico: Honouring “Maboití”
A monument in honour of the late master artisan Elpidio Collazo González “Maboití” is being prepared; The Voice of the Taino People Online describes him as “one of the island’s most illustrious carvers of local bird life from wood.”
Dominica: Going Virtual
“The Commonwealth of Dominica has gone virtual with great alacrity” in order to promote tourism; Repeating Islands has the details.
Trinidad & Tobago: Eating for Emancipation
TriniGourmet.com posts some ideas for a mouth-watering menu that honours the spirit of Emancipation Day.
Cuba, U.S.A.: Reason to Smile?
Ariel Sigler Amaya arrives in the United States from Cuba to undergo medical treatment; Uncommon Sense applauds his resolve.
Malaysia: The Kuala Lumpur Zine Fest 2010
Sketch your Brain writes about the Kuala Lumpur Zine Fest 2010.
Vietnam: Pale skin and beauty
Reacting to the uproar in India over a Facebook app which allows users to lighten their skin color, Andy Engelson observes that the idea of equating pale skin with beauty is also strong in Vietnam.
East Timor: Eye care health situation
mivision cites the aim of the East Timor Eye Program to improve the eye health care in East Timor. There are only 11 eye care nurses, one ophthalmologist and no optometrist in the country.
East Timor: Self-regulation of media
Tempo Semanal publishes an article written by Dr. Clinton Fernandes outlining his ideas on self-regulation of media in East Timor.
Indonesia: Spreading migrant issues through internet
EngageMedia uploads a short video clip featuring Community Technology Center in Indonesia, an access point to receive and spread out migrant issues through the internet.
Brazil: African Artist Refused Entry
Spanish based storyteller and artist Boniface Ofogo Nkama, from Cameroon, was refused entry to Brazil last Friday because of the lack of a visa. He had been invited to participate in a Storytelling Symposium [pt], and the organizer, Benita Prieto, pours her heart out and tells all [pt].
Africa: Should Africa care about space exploration?
Should Africa care about space exploration?: “As Africans, we have always had an interest in the sky – the Dogon of Mali were found to have an advanced astronomical knowledge without the use of telescopes.”
Niger: Niger's silent crisis
Watch a video of Niger's silent crisis where 7.1 million people face hunger.
South Africa: Translation of Miriam Makeba's Hapo Zamani
“Thanks to our Facebook page, African music fans from South African and Kenya were able to get the story behind this late Miriam Makeba song,” writes Chale of African music blog, Museke. The song is in Swahili and Xhosa.
North Korean Football Team Reprimanded in Public
North Korea’s national football team were reprimanded in public for losing all of their matches in the FIFA World Cup, South Korea’s Chosun reported. According to the source, team members were summoned to a large auditorium at the Working People’s Culture Palace and were forced to blame their coach in...
Nigeria: Literary prize money that never comes
Jeremy Nigerian writers who never receive their prize money: “There is a general pattern emerging with the award of literary prizes in Nigeria. The delighted author or poet hears the good news and attends the award ceremony…And then the prize money never comes.”
