Stories from 13 December 2005
Hong Kong, South Korea: Protest Blog
Looking forward to the usual WTO demonstrations? Here's a new blog (in Korean and English) by Korean-Americans documenting and accompanying Korean farmers’ protests at the trade meet in Hong Kong.
Japan: Remembering Ronin
David Weber at Japundit writes about the Dec. 14 commoration in Japan of the deaths of 47 ronin — an annual tribute to the samurai way.
Philippines, Singapore: Blog Race
theory.isthereason follows the race between Singapore's sexy celeblogger Xiaxue and not-as-sexy Mr. Brown for the title of Best Asian Blog: “While such blog awards help us recognize the most popular bloggers on the Internet, these sort of awards technically perpetuate the popularity of the select bloggers.” Commenting on the same...
Singapore: Mr. Wang on Marriage
Mr. Wang picks apart the reasons why younger Singaporeans say they don't want to get married.
El Salvador: Who do Salvadorans trust?
Tim's El Salvador Blog looks at a recent study by the University of Central America, which asked participants where they placed their confidence. Churches and political parties were far apart.
Southeast Asia: Skeptic's Constitution
After Southeast Asian leaders signed a pact to write a regional constitution, Rajan Rishyakaran claims he has an early draft — a skeptical, darker version that describes the realities both the region and its charter would have to answer.
Vietnam: Hair Ban
At the Saigon-based art blog diacritic.org, a post bemoaning the year-and-a-half-old law from Vietnam's Ministry of Culture prohibiting radical hairstyles.
Russia: False Vodka Advertising
Russia Marketing Blog reports that the government is taking steps to stop the marketing of vodka as such things as candy or mineral water.
Russia: The Revolving Door
Scraps of Moscow reports on the revolving Russo-German door–in which Gerhard Schroeder has taken a position with a major (Russia's) Gazprom-led gas pipeline project shortly after leaving office.
Russia: Volgas
Carpetblogger reports the demise of a beloved (well, by some people anyway) Russian automobile, the Volga.
Kyrgyzstan: Crippling Credit
Sasha reports on Kyrgyzstan's credit system.
Kyrgyzstan: Economics & Migration
neweurasia's Baktygul discusses economics and migration in Kyrgyzstan.
Uzbekistan: Embargo
Nick reports on efforts by some to enact an embargo on Uzbek cotton at neweurasia.
South Africa
South Africa provides some “food for thought” on South African media.…Four major newspaper groups – Independent Newspapers, Johnnic Communications, Naspers and CTP/Caxton, dominate the South African print media market.
South Africa: Spying in Zimbabwe
The Fish Bowl reports on the arrest of a South African spy for running an espionage ring in Zimbabwe! ciommenting “If that's the only thing we, and the people of Zimbabwe, get out of quiet diplomacy, it really has been a waste of time..”
Kenya: personal reflections
Feminist African Sister publishes some personal reflections on her life at present…….My body has shut down, essntially saying that this December the brain and soul are on their own. My body is on strike! But in the meantime, the following thoughts have been running through my brain. Not all at...
Nigeria: Book review
Musings of a Naijaman reviews a book by Sudanese writer Leila Aboulela called “Coloured Lights”
Nigeria: Housing sell off
Chippla's Weblog voices his disgust at the latest privatisation of the housing sector in Nigeria…..”Welcome to the Nigeria of the future where the government will continue to sell off its interests in public companies. And such interests include its holdings in housing infrastructure in the commercial capital of Lagos………Yes it...
Kenya: Poetry
ThinkersRoom gets into some melancholy poetry…. “The Rain of Tears“….
Lebanon: Personal grieving for Gebran Tueni
Rami writes; Gebran Tueni is not responsible for sectarian divisions in Lebanon. His entire platform was built around unity, a unity that he partially embodied. Those who decry his words are those that stand against a unified Lebanon. To substantively engage what he has said and to call him out...
Kenya: Book reviews
African Bullets & Honey posts some critical reviews of “Okri, Naipaul and Arundhati” by one John Dolan and basks in his (Dolan's) particularly unpleasant bushwaking of the three writers..
