Stories from 16 November 2005
The Week That Was – Bolivian Blogs
The date was June 2002, the last time Bolivia held Presidential elections, and the Bolivian blogosphere had yet to sprout. One of the true trailblazers of this internet community, Barcelona-based Miguel Esquirol, was one of the few that was even blogging at the time. In his blog El Forastero, he...
El Salvador: Protests and Encounters with the Law
Tim's El Salvador Blog follows the story that the University of El Salvador has been shut down by protesters while Meg describes her run-ins with the Salvadoran military and police.
Ecuador: Homophobia and Sexuality
Muerto de Risa has a tough time with Ecuadorean attitudes towards homosexuality.
Cuba: “On Snail-Mail and Email”
Steven Mansour shares his adventures in snail-mail and email with friends in Cuba.
Costa Rica: Anti-CAFTA Strike Tomorrow
Costa Rica Blogs warns that there will be a protest beginning tomorrow at 10 a.m. in Central Park against the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Dean Córnito wrote an open letter to George W. Bush last week about his comment to President Pachecho that he “take his time” in ratifying...
Chile: Folksinger, Victor Jara
William Burroughs’ Baboon introduces Chilean folk singer, Victor Jara (with audio).
Brazil: Salvador and San Francisco
Sangroncito explains why he splits his time between San Francisco in the U.S. and Salvador in Brazil. The National Rifle Association of America, meanwhile, explains why it thinks Brazil is wiser than San Francisco.
Argentina: New album by Richter
Zona Indie showcases the new album by argentinian electro-rock band Ritcher. Five songs are freely available for download.
Jordan: Terror in the digital domain
Zeid Nasser calls to unite to denounce the actions of terror groups, also to be vigilante on the Internet, keeping an eye open to subversive and suspicious activities. “It's the least, we the Internet community, can do, Zeid said.”
Jordan: Jordanians Disapprove Al-Qaida
Natasha says that almost two thirds of Jordanians have changed their views of Al-Qaida for the worse following suicide bombings against Amman hotels. She feels very sad and extremely frustrating that it took an attack in Amman for some Jordanians to change their views about Alqaeda terrorism.
Nigeria author writing prize
Musings of a Naijaman reports that Nigerian author of Purple Hibiscus, Chimamanda Adichie has been shortlisted for the “John Llewellyn Prize for “fine young writers early in their careers from biographers, novelists and historians to travel writers, dramatists and poets”.
Rwanda
African Woman has been spending some time in the US and wonders why 10 years after the event Americans are so “interested”in Rwanda….”Why is the US suddenly so revved up? Hotel Rwanda, the movie. Apparently, if you want to mainstream an idea/story/concept in the US today, you don't push it...
Uganda: arrest of Besigye
Bazungu Bucks reports on the recent arrest and detention of Uganda opposition leader, Kizza Besigye. “Museveni is desperate and drunk with power. He is ready to kill or get killed in order to remain in power. He is also closing the Monitor newspaper again! People used to think that people...
Brand Africa
White African posts on yet another “country” survey, this time “countries as brands”. In the outdoor section there are three African countries, Egypt, South Africa and Kenya.
Zimbabwe: evictions
The Bearded Man has various reports from Zimbabwe – Mugabe dishing out free maize ahead of a local by-election and evicts 250 people despite a court order to the contrary.
Kenya: johnson-sirleaf
Mentalacrobatics congratulates Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf on winning the Liberian elections and more…. “Congratulations to the people of Liberia the latest example that, despite the hype, democratic elections do work in Africa”.
South London: poet
Obifromsouthlondon – Soul on Ice – gets into a mellow mood with some poetry “8 million stories” “I see her in a distance, walking towards me, slow paced, autum leaves twirling around her feet. My black queen, glorious in her grace and splendour. Her love, my citadel of African bliss...
Kenya – Rugby
For rugby lovers only – ThinkersRoom reminisces about Haka, Tana Umaga, scrums, props and lineups – thats rugby to you and I – if you still dont know what rugby is all about TR provides a “beginners guide”.
Marrakech film festival
Senegalese blog SEMEtt (the Black Spark) reports that there are no black African films being presented at the 5th Marrakech (Morocco) Film Festival. In fact there is only one African film “El Ayel ” (the kid of Tangier) of the Morrocan Moumen Smihi.” He accuses the festival organisers of being...
WSIS in Tunisia: governance issue settled, free speech issue boils
Here at the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis, a compromise has been reached on internet governance. Now the spotlight turns to free speech issues and the Tunisian government's heavy-handedness against dissidents and journalists. In addition to the copious news reporting, bloggers are hard at work. Be sure...
China: Learning Shanghainese
sinosplice helpfully assembles a list of resources for those who wish to learn Shanghainese.
