Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from December, 2008
Azerbaijan: Historical Buildings
IN MUTATIONE FORTITUDO writes on the inauguration of a redesigned metro station in downtown Baku and decries the fact that the modern design does not sit well with the historical buildings in its vicinity. In a second entry, the same blog posts photographs of derelict buildings that will either be...
Azerbaijan: Day of Solidarity
Sheki, Azerbaijan writes that 31 December is not only New Year's Eve, but also marks the Day of Solidarity in her country. The blogger says that while Azerbaijan posses an abundance of natural resources, a lack of solidarity gives way to negative traits among its people. Concluding that respect is...
Azerbaijan: Pilaf
Sheki, Azerbaijan sends its readers seasons greetings and takes a look at plov (pilaf) and the various ways in which it is cooked throughout the regions of the South Caucasus country. The dish, with rice or cracked wheat as its base, is also served in honor of respected guests and...
Turkey: Apology Shakes Apologia over Armenian Genocide
Challenging 90 years of institutionalized denial of the massacre and deportation of the Ottoman Empire's indigenous Armenian community during WWI, tens of thousands of Turkish intellectuals, academics, writers, journalists and dissidents have apologized online for the "Great Catastrophe."
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...
A Review of Global Voices in 2008
Nearly 3 million people visited Global Voices in 2008, and here are some of our most popular stories of the year.
Kazakhstan: Religion Law Point/Counterpoint
KZBlog analyzes the controversial new law on religion which passed Parliament is waiting for the President’s signature. The law is clearly created defensively to prevent cult-like activity or terrorist cells from working in the country. However it effectively criminalizes religion by demanding that religions prove themselves innocent before being allowed...
Kazakhstan: Religious Law and OSCE Chaimanship
Joshua Foust reviews the Kazakhstan's new Religion Law, which is still pending presidential approval, and says that without any leverage—say, threatening their OSCE chairmanship—there is little influence the West could exert.
Afghanistan: US Plan for Militia Is Dangerous
Azar Balkhi reports that the plan, proposed by some American experts, to form local semi-military troops to fight against the terrorists, was met with criticism in Afghanistan. The Afghan MP opines that such a step would diminish the role of local tribal leaders, and power will be taken by the...
Mongolia: Ninja Mining
Bilguun writes about so-called ninja miners in Mongolia – the people, who dig small unauthorised mines or pan dirt for gold. Ninja mining towns have become more or less self-sufficient, with their own economy, rules and social structure, nearly independent of the government thanks to the government choosing to ignore...
Russia-Georgia: The value of Russian passports
Eternal Remont refers to an Al Jazeera news story on South Ossetia to argue that Russian citizens’ passports handed out to South Ossetians in practice are used rather as Russian domestic passports.
Caucasus: 2008 Blog Review
Last year ended with a state of emergency declared in Georgia, but few could imagine that the events of 2008 would eclipse those of 2007. Three presidential elections, a war, and yet another state of emergency defined the South Caucasus this year, and bloggers were there to document events from...
Azerbaijan: Into the Mountains
After living and working in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, for two months, a religious holiday provides Joe's Trippin’ with the opportunity to explore the north of the country. In particular, while surviving various attempts to marry off the Canadian to local girls, the blogger visited the town of Quba and...
Georgia: Cannon Fodder
The Tbilisi Blues examines the state of the Georgian army before and especially during the August war with Russia. The blogger says that he saw with his own eyes how reservists were sent into action in Gori wearing nothing more than tennis shoes and ill-fitting uniforms to serve as cannon...
Turkey: An Online Apology to Armenia Campaign
According to Istanbul Calling, a new online campaign allowing Turks “to sign onto an apology for the “great catastrophe” that the Armenians suffered during World War I” has been launched by Turkish academics and intellectuals. “The apology, now signed by more than 15,000, studiously avoids the “G” word, but it...
Turkey: Campaign for a Joint-Commission on the Armenian Question
Talk Turkey urges individuals to join his new campaign to demand that “Turkey and Armenia form a joint-commission to research and investigate the facts of genocide and other claims; without any pre-existing conditions, and reservations, and that both sides promise and resolve to end this matter once and for all.”
Armenia-Azerbaijan: LGBT Cultural Icons
Unzipped: Gay Armenia writes that most Armenians are not aware of the sexuality of two of the nation's greatest cultural icons, Sergei Parajanov and Yeghishe Charents. Meanwhile, as the Azerbaijani parliament votes to lift the restriction on the number of terms a president can be elected for, IN MUTATIONE FORTITUDO...
Azerbaijan: Linguistic University Recollections
Sheki, Azerbaijan remembers studying 15 years ago at the University of Languages in Baku. The blog says that corruption was rampant at the university during the Soviet era, but that post-independence reforms in the admission system have improved the situation. It also remembers one lecturer who was sent to Siberia...
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Muntazer al-Zaidy Reaction
The Armenian Observer rounds up reaction to Muntazer al-Zaidy's attack on outgoing U.S. President George W. Bush in Iraq. Meanwhile, IN MUTATIONE FORTITUDO asks whether such an incident could have happened under Saddam Hussein.
Armenia-Turkey: Apology Row
Talk Turkey is unimpressed by various online petitions established to apologize or not apologize for the massacre and deportation of Armenians living in the then Ottoman Empire. Known to most as the Armenian Genocide, the blog says it instead favors a joint Armenian-Turkish commission to investigate the circumstances of the...
Turkmenistan: Parliamentary Election Took Place
Patrick Frost analyzes the Turkmenistan's 4th Mejlis (parliamentary) elections, which was deemed a great success and ‘historic event’, as for the first time more than 1 candidate was running for each seat, although all of them were from the only one registered, pro-governmental party.
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