Stories about North America from May, 2009
Taiwan: Lessons in diplomacy
The Far-Eastern Sweet Potato reviews the book Nixon and Mao: The week that changed the world. He says the book offers lessons for the US and Taiwan in their current diplomacy with China.
Syria: Just Say Sorry
Syrian blogger Omar, who is based in Canada, wonders what would have happened had Osama bin Laden apologised after the September 11 attacks: “[O]ver 100 Afghani civilians died in an accidental “strike” (a soft word for bombing). What does Clinton do? Well she apologizes, she just release a statement saying...
Central & Eastern Europe: Swine Flu (aka “California 0409”)
Below are some of the Central and Eastern Europe bloggers' reactions to news reports on swine flu and measures taken by some of the governments to keep the disease from spreading to their countries.
China: Not subsidizing Expo 2010
Adam Minter at Shanghai Scrap is having trouble getting answers to why the United States government is having trouble getting its pavilion together for Expo 2010, but he has nonetheless had some success at piecing the back story together.
USA: Opening Conversations on Sexual and Reproductive Health
Planned Parenthood, a non-profit organization that provides free or inexpensive sexual health services to young men and women in the United States and abroad, has launched a YouTube campaign. The organization is encouraging people to share their thoughts and experiences around getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases, educating their kids about sex, and discussing reproductive rights issues.
Palestine/Canada: On Arabs Abroad
“Why Arabs abroad feel obligated that they MUST know everyone in their city? Even Arabs in nearby cities? Who they are/were friends with? Where they buy their shoes from?” rants Rebellious Arab Girl, a Palestinian who lives in Canada.
Iran:Iranian cartoonist talks about Obama
Nikahang Kowsar, an Iranian blogger,journalist and cartoonist, says: “It's not really easy to make fun of Obama as a person because although he has a sense of humour he is way ahead of most politicians we've seen in recent decade.” Watch his cartoon on Obama's 100 days.
Cuba: May Day and Name Calling
Havana Times and Along the Malecon blog about different aspects of Cuba's May Day celebrations, while The Cuban Triangle notes that “the Obama Administration designated Cuba a ‘state sponsor of terrorism'…and Cuba responded by calling the United States an ‘international criminal.’ So we’re even.”
