· October, 2009

Stories about Central Asia & Caucasus from October, 2009

Mongolia: Only Mongolians Can Protect Mongolian Rangelands

  19 October 2009

Ariungerel on Nomad Green critisizes the effects of many projects aiming to protect or restore rangelands in Mongolia. “Once a project ends and the result is reported to the world, both of their money and minds would disappear”, and in many cases, those restored rangelands return to waste desert because...

Georgia: Andy Garcia's starring role

  18 October 2009

Tbilisi's Blog – News, Events, Comments… reports that U.S. actor Andy Garcia has arrived in Georgia. The Hollywood star might play Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili in a film on last year's August war with Russia.

Georgia: New Media Forum

  14 October 2009

Following last year's Caucasus Bar Camp in Tbilisi, Georgia, came this week's New Media Forum. It also gave Global Voices Online's Caucasus Editor the opportunity to interview three of the country's most prominent and prolific new media advocates.

Mongolia: Agriculture Initiative Changes People's Lives

  13 October 2009

How could Mongolian nomadic herders find a new living in capital city Ulaanbaatar? Ariungerel, citizen journalist of Nomad Green, interviewed Ms. Baytskhandai and told us her story of how she manages to change lives of poor and disabled people and be environmental-friendly by teaching them agricultural skills.

Hong Kong: Asia Blogfest09

  12 October 2009

The first Asia Blogger festival will take place in Hong Kong from 6-8 of November. Details of the program can be found here.

Azerbaijan: Tea

  11 October 2009

Now based in the U.K., Scary Azeri in Suburbs looks at one custom that both English and Azerbaijanis have in common — drinking tea. The blog says that enjoying the drink is an important tradition for both nations.

Tajikistan: Me No Speak the Tajik

  8 October 2009

Vlad reports that Tajikistan has adopted legislation to downgrade the official status of the Russian language in a move that has reportedly had the country’s minorities up in arms.

Afghanistan: Jordanian royals fighting in Afghanistan?

  8 October 2009

Nick Fielding tells about a curious news in the Pakistan newspapers, which say that six women, all members of the Jordanian royal family, are due to be handed over to the Jordanian Embassy in Islamabad tomorrow following the death of their husbands in a Coalition airstrike several months ago.

Kyrgyzstan: UNESCO against fountains in Osh

  8 October 2009

Arawanski writes that UNESCO is against building of two fountains on the foothills of the Sulaiman Mountain (the southern part of Kyrgyzstan), as it considers they pose a threat to the condition of the sacred mountain.

Kyrgyzstan: Gypsies community

  8 October 2009

Elena presents a photo-post about her visit to the community of Luli (or Gypsies, or Roma) on the outskirts of Osh, a town in southern Kyrgyzstan.

Afghanistan: Kamdesh Area

  8 October 2009

Joshua Fousts comments on the news that eight American and an unknown number of Afghan soldiers were killed after an attack on outposts in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: Conflicted Response

  8 October 2009

Captain Cat is conflicted over the dispute within UNAMA: she thinks they do good work, but their acceptance of the fraudulent election is ruining their credibility.

About our Central Asia & Caucasus coverage

Nurbek Bekmurzaev
Nurbek Bekmurzaev is the Central Asia editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.

Arzu Geybullayeva
Arzu Geybullayeva is the South Caucasus editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.