Stories about Weblog from June, 2007
Iran: Gonu's victims, Palestine's crisis, and a stoning suspended
About two weeks ago, Gonu, a tropical storm, hit Oman and the Sistan and Balouchestan province in Iran. Iranian bloggers report that victims in this impoverished province have not received enough government help, and that lots of people are deprived of food, water, and health care. They criticize the government's...
U.S. Concerned About Armenia’s Ties With Iran
“Iran is planning massive investments into the economies of Georgia and Armenia. We’re talkingof 1 billion dollars for Tbilissi and a analogous offer to Yerevan. For your consideration: the total amount of Russian investments in Georgia in 2006 did not exceed 30 million dollars, as to Armenia, after arrangements made...
Tahitians can dance!
See photographs of over seventy Tahitian dancers performing in costumes fashioned from pandanus leaves.
Bahrain: Are Taxes Un-Islamic?
Money matters feature high in the posts of Bahraini bloggers this week, writes Ayesha Saldanha. Other issues being tackled include: Are taxes un-Islamic? Is culture and art appreciated in Bahrain? And how hot does it really get in the Middle East in Summer?
Tamil Blogosphere: Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in India
Back in Nov 2006, Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie was in India and had showered praises on India for giving shelter to displaced people from a number of countries. She also said that India's action of providing shelter to refugees from various countries, though it had needy people of its own...
Landing at the Iraqi Blogodrome
“To light a candle is much better than cursing the darkness.”Today I will concentrate my post on reactions to the second bombing of the shrine in Samarra. An event that has provoked much speculation among Iraqi bloggers. The first bombing proved to be a juncture in the ongoing war in Iraq and the second may prove just as critical, so it important to record responses here. That is not all, there is also Iraqi food and if you read to the end, which is the most sectarian blog ever?
So signed off Ausama on his last video for Hometown Baghdad.
Arabeyes: Arabs Should Talk to Each Other Rather than the West
Arabs should open up avenues of dialogue amongst themselves before starting conversations with Europeans and the West, writes Batir Wardam from Jordan. Why? He explains his stance in the following post, where he sheds light on why Arabs cannot communicate with each other, let alone with those of different opinions in their own countries.
Egypt: Blogger is Released, Court Case to Block 50 Blogs, Press Attacked By Bloggers and More
In this week’s round-up from Egypt, Big Pharaoh is back, bloggers are unhappy with the Press, a blogger who was arrested last week is now free, public opinion is not taken on top movies, and finally a court case in motion to block and shut down 50 blogs and websites....
Colombia: Pixelazo New Media Urban Lab and Medellín Blogger Meetup
Colombia has been enjoying a flurry of new media-related activities. Last week was the MedalloBloguero (the city of Medellin´s blog community) beers and blogs, where Colombian bloggers in the city got to meet each other, talk, and share drinks. A guest visitor from Bogota, Victor Solano took pictures and posted...
Sri Lanka: Being young through War and Peace
Sayanthan, a talented Sri Lankan Tamil blogger based in Switzerland is famous for his entertaining podcasts. His blog is usually full of enthralling anecdotes. Today, he posted a thought provoking post on young people and their way of dealing with the conflict in Sri Lanka. A translation of Sayanthan‘s post...
Taiwan: 《Voyage 15840》– the photo book powered by migrant worker
Voyage, means a period of trip to anywhere. 15840, it is the minimum wage for workers in Taiwan. However, for migrant workers in Taiwan, it means the “maximum”. By naming Voyage 15840, TIWA (Taiwan International Workers’ Association) gathered all the photo works from 19 migrant workers in Taiwan. They published...
Arabeyes: World Refugee Day – Focus on Iraq
As the world marks the World Refugee Day today, the Middle East finds itself again at the centre of a mounting humanitarian tragedy. With more than 4 million of the 10 million refugees being Iraqi, let us see what bloggers are saying about this mounting humanitarian tragedy, often neglected by mainstream media.
Korea: “No Bare Feet in Slippers. No Sportswear or Shorts”
A Korean university put this warning on a business school building. Students have reacted sharply. They say it is excessive control by the school. A school representative clarified that the intention of the warning was to teach the next generation’s business leaders about etiquette. Some bloggers criticize students’ criticisms of...
Turkey is Typing…Sex Matters
The equality of the sexes has been a topic on the fingertips of Turkish bloggers as of late. Even with reforms to the penal code about a woman's right to veil (or not too), a woman's freedom of body, and stricter repercussions for rape, the equality between man and woman in Turkey is still contested. The legacy of Ataturk's secular reforms when the Republic of Turkey was founded has given the country the veneer of female equality...but with probing questions does the polish wear away?
Myanmar: Birthday Wishes for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
Myanmar Bloggers celebrate and send their wishes for Burmese Opposition Leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's 62nd Birthday on the 19th June 2007.
Croatia: “Feral Tribune” Shuts Down
Last week, Croatian finance ministry froze bank accounts of the region’s legendary political weekly, Feral Tribune, due to 68,000 Euros of tax debt, forcing the publication to close. "The only independent journal on the Balkans has now been silenced," wrote one Serbian blogger. Sinisa Boljanovic has more on the causes and the significance of this loss.
China: Chen Guangcheng beaten, on hunger strike
It's Dragon Boat time, nearly a year to the day since blind reproductive rights advocate Chen Guangcheng was taken in by police, and civil rights blogger Hu Jia makes his blogging return with news that Chen has been beaten while in prison.
Afghan Whispers:Education, music, wonderful nature and freedom
Sun Leaf talks about the painful situation of Afghanistan's education system. The blogger says Compared to other countries in Asia, the Afghan education situation is startling. The statistics below show that tremendous challenges remain. One of the poorest measures includes funding or implementing short-term education projects, which are abrubtly brought...
Costa Rica: Breaking Relations with Taiwan and Starting with China
After 60 years of diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the Costa Rican government broke this relationship to begin a new one with China. Some bloggers see this as a positive commercial step for the country, while others think that Costa Rica prides itself on being a defender of human rights and freedom of speech and that this should not be compromised in exchange for access to markets.
Arabeyes: The Middle East in Pictures
This week's pictorial tour of the Middle East takes us to a wedding with a difference in Amman, Kuwait in a dust storm, where Lebanese escape the news and finally a picture of a hatching Bulbul in a tribute to a loving father from Bahrain.
India: Theatre in Education
Tolubommalata & Koodiyattam are few amongst the variegated theatre forms in the sub-continent. While this ancient art is slowing fading away, modern Indian theatre is taking stage. It now is not only a form of entertainment but a beacon for educating young minds. Umesh from ‘Theatre in Education’ explains that...