Stories about Middle East & North Africa from September, 2009
Israel: Cafes Discourage Digital Workers
“How do we handle fast shifts in the economy and in people's behavior?” asks Ami Vider of Tel Aviv Tomorrow, reflecting on how businesses respond to the physical presence of digital workers.
Israel: New Organ Donation Law Passed
The Chief Rabbinate (Court) and Knesset (Congress) of Israel have ruled that a patient who is brain dead is legally dead, allowing for his organs to be harvested more effectively before his heart stops beating. OneJerusalem.com discusses the implications of the ruling.
Israel/Palestine: Mocking Qaddafi on Wikipedia
Qaddafi = dog? Mu-ha-med of The Traveler Within reports: “I don't what was it that ticked an anonymous user to edit his Wikipedia page, changing the Libyan leader's name in Arabic from “Muammar Al-Qaddhafi معمر القذافـي” to “DOG كلب.”
Israel: Dealing with Israelis During the Holiday Season
“Every fall, millions of Israelis stop what they are doing (aka “working”) and spend several weeks watching and sending Shana Tova (Happy New Year) greetings to one another.” Gila Weiss of My Shrapnel offers a crash course on what you need to know about dealing with Israelis during the holiday...
Israel: Preparing for Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement
Jerusalem Diaries’ Judy Lash Balint records and remarks upon various traditions preceding the holiest day of the Jewish year: Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
Saudi Arabia: KAUST To Inspire Scientific Achievement – And More?
On September 23 the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology was inaugurated. It is a graduate-level research university, and the first coeducational university in the country. In this post we hear reactions to the inauguration of KAUST by bloggers in Saudi Arabia, including some KAUST students.
Tunisia: Severe Flooding Kills 15
Flash floods hit Tunisia this week, killing at least 15 people and damaging property in the town of Redeyef in southern Tunisia. Bloggers declare two day of mourning and speak out against a media apparatus which trades on people's miseries to trump up the government.
Iran: Green rage against Ahmadinejad in New York
Protesters against Iranian human rights violations and election irregularities demonstrated against Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in New York City, as he addressed the United Nations General Assembly.
Iran: Artists and Green Movement
Artists from different corners of the world have created posters to support Iranian opposition movement (Green Movement) and Iranian people struggle for democracy.
Middle East: The Cupcake Revolution
A cupcake revolution is taking the Middle East by storm and sweet-toothed bloggers are tracking its development. Jillian C. York reports from the frontline.
Kuwait: The Trouble with Non-Smokers
Mark blogs at TwoFortyEightAm about the dilemma facing non-smokers in Kuwait.
Palestine: Real Palestinians?
Palestinian Mohammed Obaidat [Ar] asks his countrymen if they are real Palestinians.
World: Tweeting Gaddafi's Address to the United Nations
In his first address to the United Nations General Assembly, Libyan leader Muammer Gaddafi more than made up for lost time. His speech trailed on for six times the allotted slot, as world leaders laughed and yawned. On Twitter, users had a ball reacting to the speech.
Video Contest: Citizen Embassadors for the 64th UN Day
Actor George Clooney explains how you can participate and be one of the 5 winners who get a chance to be a part of the 64th UN Day in the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
Egypt: Blogging Farouk Hosni's Defeat
Egypt's Culture Minister Farouk Hosni has kept bloggers busy over the previous few days. His failed bid to secure a seat at the helm of UNESCO has polarised the blogosphere, with some even cooking up conspiracy theories to justify his defeat.
Morocco: Teaching Tamazight
Jamal Elabiad, author of the blog A Moroccan Voice in English, discusses the limits of teaching the Tamazight language in Morocco.
Iran: “Bloggers persecuted”
Reporters Without Borders informed us that Ali Pirhasanlou (Alpar), one of the first journalists to start blogging in Iran was arrested last week. This organization adds that Iranian authorities continue to persecute the bloggers.
Iran: Shiva Nazar Ahari, Iranian blogger freed
According to several Iranian news sites Shiva Nazar Ahari, a female blogger and human rights activist was freed after being imprisoned for about 100 days in Tehran.
Bangladesh: Can A Journalist Throw Shoes To A Leader?
“I cannot undermine the sentiment of Al- Zaidi and ordinary Iraqi people who are the sufferer of invasion and war. But he has misused his access and accreditation rights by throwing shoes. I would be happy if Al-Zaidi were a member of any other community except journalist,” comments Bangladeshi blogger...
Turkey: Next Country to Recognize Abkhazia?
Window on Eurasia reports that “there appears to be a chance that Turkey, despite denials by its officials, might break the embargo against recognition [of Abkhazia] because of Ankara’s desire to play a greater role in the Caucasus region, its own long-standing experience as the only country to recognize the...
The Egyptians Tweet Farouk Hosny's Defeat
Bulgarian candidate, Irina Bokova, 57, was elected the head of the UNESCO, defeating Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Hosny. Instead of mourning the loss, Egyptians celebrated his defeat on Twitter.
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