Stories about Middle East & North Africa from December, 2009
Caucasus: The color of pomegranates
Ianyan waxes lyrically about its love of pomegranates, a fruit synonymous with many countries in and around the South Caucasus such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey.
Tunisia: The White Note Campaign Against Cyber Censorship
Tunisian bloggers organised a White Note Campaign to protest against online censorship on their blogs. One blogger decides to swim against the tide with a Black Note in protest.
Palestine: Twitter accused of silencing Gaza tribute
Twitter has been accused of attempting to silence tributes to Gaza one-year after an Israeli onslaught devastated the Palestinian enclave. Pro-Palestinian and human rights activists used the influential Twitter to express support for the besieged territory. Tweets using the hashtag #Gaza flooded in on December 27th, peaking at number 3 on Twitter's top ten Trending Topics list.
Lebanon: Beirut Drive-by Shooting
With a camera in hand, Lebanese blogger “Beirut Drive-By Shooting” brings you outdoor advertisements from Beirut – to enjoy or suffer along with them.
Iraq: Arabs, Coffee, and Resistance
Iraqi Mojo, connects the dots between calls to boycott Starbucks, calls to resist the Iraqi government, and the size of foreign troops in countries that send the largest number of suicide bombers to kill innocent Iraqis in poor cafes in Iraq.
China: Tweeting in support of Iran
Twenty-four hours later and #CN4Iran remains in heavy constant use by Chinese Twitter users speaking out in support of protests now underway across Iran. The #CN4Iran hashtag has since been joined by a @CN4Iran Twitter account and a central blog. Related is this post with a similar story from 2007.
China and Iran: #CN4Iran
Yesterday, thousands of Iranians took to the street to protest against dictatorship. The protest reminded Chinese people of the Tiananmen democracy movement back in 1989 and Chinese twitterers are using hashtag #cn4iran to show solidarity with Iranian fellows.
Palestine: Gaza's Bloggers Remember The War
It is one year since Israel launched its attack on the Gaza Strip. In this post, Gaza's bloggers remember the war.
Iran: When Rage Overcomes Fear
Iranian protesters poured into Tehran and several major cities in defiance of the Iranian government on Sunday, as large crowds gathered for Ashura, a major religious observance.
Global: Tweeting for #Gaza
In honor of the one-year anniversary of Israel's attacks on Gaza in December 2008, a number of activists have planned a targeted "tweet for Gaza" campaign on Twitter. Jillian C. York has more.
Palestine: Swine Flu Arrives In Gaza
The H1N1 influenza virus reached the Gaza Strip much later than it did other places, a fact attributed to the blockade imposed upon its population by both Israel and Egypt. In this post, bloggers in Gaza report on the fears and reactions of the population regarding swine flu – and on the rocketing sales of the spice believed to prevent it.
Iran: Demonstration in Tehran
Here is a video showing protesters in Manzarieh and Nyavaran in Tehran chanting slogans against Islamic Regime on Saturday.
Iran: Demonstration in Tehran
Here is a video film showing Iranian protesters demonstrated agianst Islamic regime in “Toopkhane” square in Tehran on 24th December.
Israel: A Day of Bedouin Hospitality
Jerusalem Gypsy recounts her day trip to visit the Rashaida Bedouins of southern Israel where she milked a camel, was counseled on Arabic music, and learned the value of sheep's versus goat's wool blankets.
Israel: Micro-Giving Campaign Seeks to Raise $250K
The One Million Drops Jewish Charity Initiative hopes to drive funds to 275 different Israeli nonprofits and spur micro-giving in Israel, Jewlicious reports.
Israel: National Policy Needed for Foreign Workers
Amir Mizroch advocates for a national policy to protect foreign workers in Israel. “You could see the migrant worker story as an inevitable cultural and economic phenomenon with huge potential benefits to Israel. Fields get tilled and houses get built. We enjoy their culture and they enjoy ours. Call it...
Bhutan: The Finer Things In Life
Liz Warren at Teaching In Thimphu looks back at her life in Bhutan focusing on three simple words – laughter, beauty and trust. “Consider your own lives and see where these three words take you,” comments Liz.
Iran:Hope in the Mourning Month
Ankaboute Gouya, an Iranian blogger, writes [fa] that Iranian people have high hopes to change regime and it is first time in Muharram, the mourning month, that people make Islamic leaders to cry!
Lebanon: Don't Break the Egg!
The Beirut City Centre Dome, better known as "The Egg" has been threatened with demolition since 2006. Bloggers have been launching emotional appeals to save it from being destroyed. Katharine Ganly takes a look at the "Save the Egg" campaign.
Israel: Dreaming of a Utopic Middle East
An Italian born gentile living in Jerusalem, Shiksa's Laura Chiesa dreams of a utopic Middle East. “Call me naive, but I caught myself more than once daydreaming about the time were people (including me) will travel freely in the Middle East – how about an afternoon hibiscus tea in Damascus,...
Israel: Separate But Equal?
Promised Land's Noam Sheizaf provides a comprehensive breakdown of the history and potential future of a new amendment to Israel's Basic Law on Human Dignity and Freedom, that, he says, “might officially turn Israel into a democracy for Jews only.”
About our Middle East & North Africa coverage
Mariam Abuadas is the editor for the Middle East & North Africa. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
