Stories about Jamaica from December, 2008
Jamaica: Communing
“We won’t be condemning the Palestinians or the Israelis…we won’t be contributing to the chaos on frontlines…[we] have decided that our approach will be to help bridge communities”: Jamaica's Abeng News Magazine has a very clear goal for 2009.
Jamaica: Blogging in Times of War
The Israeli strikes on Gaza cause Jamaican Annie Paul to remember Nobel Prize-winning German author Günter Grass’ “heartfelt rumination on war and the role of writers in times of war”, saying: “While Grass did not explicitly mention bloggers (perhaps in 2006 they were not as omnipresent as they are today)...
Global Health: 2008 Blogs In Review
Bloggers in 2008 showed all the ways in which global health is interconnected with other issues, by covering health stories that touched on everything from poverty and women's rights to the environment and economics. They shared stories such as the prohibition of cannabis in Japan, how ads for children's food...
Jamaica: Bailout Plan?
“It is indeed a sorry state of affairs. Usually in times of downturn, alcohol sales increase as people look to drown their sorrows!”: As employees of a rum manufacturer are laid off, Jamaica Salt wonders whether “the government of Jamaica should be considering a bailout plan.”
Caribbean: 2008 in Review
From natural disasters to lightning bolts of the athletic kind, 2008 was a busy one for the Caribbean blogosphere. Here are some of the highlights...
A Caribbean Christmas
'Tis the season - and nowhere celebrates Christmas quite like the Caribbean! Here's a glimpse into what bloggers are doing to get into the spirit of the festivities...
Jamaica: Christmas Present
All blogger Long Bench wants for Christmas is “a public apology from Bruce Golding for how he and his government have been a spectacular failure and embarrassment to Jamaicans in 2008.”
Jamaica: Half & Half
Jamaicans have an innovative method of dealing with the impact of the global economic crisis – Iriegal says that merchants “are now cutting everything in half and selling it at reduced prices.”
Jamaica: Death Penalty
“An issue which seems to be troubling the government over their decision to reinstate the death penalty, is the worry that foreign governments will stop making aid contributions”: Jamaica Salt explains.
Jamaica, Grenada: “Reggae Boyz” Win
YardFlex.com reports that the Jamaican football team (affectionately referred to as The Reggae Boyz) has won the Digicel Caribbean Championship, defeating Grenada 2-0 in the finals.
Jamaica, Cuba, U.S.A.: A Shoe in Hand…
Blogging from Jamaica, Annie Paul declares Muntadar al-Zaidi (the Bush shoe-pelter) her “Man of the Year”, calling his action “the most inspired (and inspiring) act of the last few years”, while noting: “Bush must also be congratulated for his restrained response…” Review of Cuban-American Blogs and Yohandry's Weblog (ES) also...
Jamaica: Speaking Patois
Iriegal explores the origins of Jamaican patois and links to a few examples of how to speak it.
Jamaica: Looking Back
As the year draws to a close, Jamaica and the World looks back on the good, the bad and the ugly of 2008.
Jamaica: Baby Cereal Break-Ins
A curious situation in Jamaica: a spate of robberies from “a gang of housebreakers [that] have been cleaning out people's homes, only pausing to mix their favourite drink, baby cereal.” Iriegal is befuddled.
Jamaica, India: Examining Mumbai
“Why is it that nations always try to save face before saving lives? Why do the authorities always wait for disaster to strike before putting in place the necessary safeguards?”: Jamaican Annie Paul tries to make sense of the Mumbai attacks, adding that “these questions are as relevant in Kingston...
Jamaica: National to be Awarded UN Prize
Abeng News Magazine is proud that Jamaican Dr. Carolyn Gomes “was recently announced as a recipient of the prestigious United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights for 2008.”
Jamaica: When You Gotta Go…
Need to go to the bathroom in Jamaica? Iriegal can point you in the right direction.
Jamaica: The Agony of Defeat?
Jamaican Kadene Porter, writing at Abeng News Magazine, notices that women are often less than gracious “when it comes to conceding defeat in a political campaign.”
Jamaica: death penalty “savagery”
Idle Yout Speeks weighs in on the death penalty debate in Jamaica: "just beneath the surface we all hold a level of primal savagery that we keep under wraps under the premise of civilized behavior."
Jamaica: World AIDS Day
Today is World Aids Day, and as a region with a relatively high number of people living with HIV/AIDS, you would think that bloggers Caribbean-wide would be very outspoken about the issue - but Jamaica is the only regional territory whose blogosphere - as a unit - seems to be adding its voice to the global discussion.
Jamaica, Bermuda: Quotes on Mumbai
“There is a lot to be said about the shocking series of events in Mumbai that finally–too late–drew to a bloody and violent close”: Jamaican blogger Annie Paul may eventually get around to articulating her own feelings about the attacks, but for now, she posts “a collage of quotes from...
