Stories about North America from June, 2009
Saudi Arabia: Michael Jackson v. Elvis Presley
When Saudi blogger and journalist Yasser Al Ghaslan heard about Michael Jackson's death, he immediately remembered when he heard that Elvis Presley had died.
Haiti, U.S.A.: Danticat Cops Guillén Prize
Repeating Islands reports that Haitian-born author Edwidge Danticat has won the 2009 Caribbean Philosophical Association’s Nicolás Guillén Prize.
Cuba, U.S.A.: Connecting the Dots
Call it coincidence, but diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense thinks that in light of news that Cuban human rights activists Jorge Luis García Pérez “Antúnez” and his wife were once again arrested, “it might be best to connect the dots”, particularly “in the wake of the NED ceremony, at which Antúnez...
French Caribbean: Farewell Mickael
The news of the death of the King of Pop was like an earthquake felt around the world. The shock wave reached the French Caribbean, where bloggers from Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, all pay homage to the late artist.
China: Netizens’ reactions over Michael Jackson's death
Fauna from ChinaSMACK translated Chinese netizens’ reactions over Michael Jackson's death.
Israel/Palestine: Analyzing the New York Times’ Coverage
Peace activist Richard Silverstein analyzes the New York Times’ coverage of Israel and Palestine by reporter Ethan Bronner. Silverstein criticizes what he perceives to be Bronner's pattern of deprecating and minimizing the work of the Israeli peace movement.
Ukraine: A Tribute to Michael Jackson
Taras of Ukrainiana posts a tribute to Michael Jackson.
Caribbean, USA: Tributes to the “King of Pop”
Despite the controversy which plagued him for the latter part of his eccentric life, the sudden and unexpected death of American-born entertainer Michael Jackson, dubbed "The King of Pop", has touched millions of people around the world - and the Caribbean is no exception. Regional bloggers pay their respects...
Cuba, U.S.A.: Obama & “Antúnez”
Cuban human rights activist Jorge Luis García “Antúnez” said that President Obama's words of support make a big difference for those fighting for Cuban liberty, but diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense is still of the opinion that “Obama should of, and could of, done more to honor the Democracy Award nominees.”
Cuba, U.S.A.: Missed Opportunity
Havana Times reports that U.S. President Barack Obama released a statement in which he said he hoped that all Cuban political prisoners would be released, but Uncommon Sense thinks that Cuban activists deserved better: “A busy schedule or confusion about the dates, is not enough of an excuse for President...
Palestine: Open Letter To President Obama
Members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams in the West Bank have posted an open letter to President Obama: “We ask you to demand that Israel stop its campaign of violence against the Palestinian people.”
Palestine: Fighting For Their Land In The Canadian Courts
Joy in Palestine reports that the West Bank village of Bil’in is taking two Quebec-based corporations to court on charges that they are committing war crimes.
USA: Celebrating Tel Aviv's 100th in New York
New Yorkers may have been shocked to encounter a beach party, and accompanying artificial beach, in the midst of Central Park this weekend. The event, organized by the Tel Aviv/Jaffa and New York City municipalities in celebration of Tel Aviv's 100th birthday, included thousands of partygoers and 15 tons of...
Israel: Obama's Ratings Plummet in Jewish World
OneJerusalem.com and Jewlicious observe that American President Barack Obama's popularity ratings in the Jewish world have taken a significant dive since his Cairo speech and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's subsequent White House visit, both in May.
Bermuda: “No Confidence” Motion Thwarted
Part of the backlash against Bermudian Premier Ewart Brown's decision to accept four former Guantanamo detainees into the island has been the opposition party's tabling of a "No Confidence" vote against him in Parliament - a motion that bloggers are reporting has been defeated.
Guyana, U.S.A.: Watch List
Signifyin’ Guyana agrees with the Human Services Minister's response to reports that the US Department of State has placed Guyana on a watch list for human trafficking.
Egypt: American High School Students Visit Farm
From Egypt, Maryanne Stroud Gabbani writes about the two-week visit of a group of California secondary school students to her farm to learn more about real life. “They've stayed at my farm in the midst of Egyptian farmers and visited some of the less touristy sites of Cairo […] two...
Israel: Journalism 101
At Checkpoint Jerusalem, Dion Nissenbaum discusses what he describes as Israeli Journalism 101 in this post.
Egypt: Sign Avaaz Settlements Petition
Egyptian Dalia Ziada announces that she has just signed an Avvaz petition, which supports US president Barack Obama's call to stop the building of Israeli settlements on Palestinian territories. So far, 179,699 people have signed the petition.
Bermuda: Guantanamo Protest
As Bermudians continue to react - unfavourably for the most part - to their government's acceptance of former Guantanamo Bay detainees as full citizens of the tiny island, bloggers comment on yesterday's protest and what the public outcry could mean for the nation's Premier.
Bahrain: Cultural Comparisons
Bahraini blogger Cradle of Humanity, who has spent time studying both in the UK and the US, has come to a conclusion that surprises her: “I think I came to Cleveland expecting to find Cardiff, and that’s why I was shocked…What’s amazing is that Cleveland has more in common with...
