Stories from 30 January 2006
Afghan Whispers: Censorship & London Conference
Afghan Lord informs us that there are more and more private TV channels in Afghanistan but he warns about the danger of censorship: Beside of four private channels like Ariana tv, Tolo tv, Ayna tv, Afghan tv and including one government TV these two is launched outside of the capital....
Caucasus: YoungCaucasus
Week one of the Young Caucasus Women Project is underway with posts from Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Armenia: Notes
Onnik Krikorian has more notes from the Armenian blogosphere–a roundup of posts on Armenian blogs over the past week.
Kyrgyzstan: Nepotism
T-Moor discusses the Kyrgyz president's response to criticism over his appointment of his brother to a government post.
Georgia: Powerless
Ben Wheeler says that Tbilisi is making due with energy shortages but that despite government claims to the contrary, the burdens are not evenly distributed between rich and poor.
Turkmenistan: Rukhnama in Space
Peter of neweurasia reports that Turkmenistan has sent more national paraphernalia into space.
Poland: Tragedy at Katowice
the beatroot reports on the tragic collapse of a roof in Katowice, Poland in which over 60 people have died. Their reporting continues with a look at whether or not negligence is to blame for the disaster.
El Salvador: Outpouring of Tributes for Handal
Both Tim's El Salvador Blog and Leftside comment on the outpouring of support at the funeral of former leftist political leader, Schafik Handal. The U.S. – El Salvador Sister Cities blog has an economic and socio-political review of El Salvador during 2005 along with some predictions for this year.
Trinidad & Tobago: The sacred and the profane
CaribPundit notes with delight that Trinidadian Carnival designer Peter Minshall is back after a two-year absence with a Carnival band called “The Sacred Heart”, reporting in the same post on an incident in southern Trinidad where police attempted to quell a demonstration over poor road conditions using tear gas, mace...
Republic of Congo: Sassou-Nguesso
Congo Watch reports that the newly elected Chairman of the AU, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, began his role as “African peace mediator on Sunday, meeting with the prime minister of civil war-divided Ivory Coast.’
Trinidad & Tobago: Calypso exhibition
Richard Bolai discusses the travelling exhibition “Calypso Music, Photographs and Illustrations in Postwar America from 1945 to 1960″, now on in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Ethiopia: War against disinformation
One Ethiopia writes on a complaint he made to The Manitoban about an article they published which he said had numerous errors on “its description of the protagonists and its reportage on the demographic characterstics of the country substantially in error.” they have yet to respond and he now publishes...
Nigeria: feminism in Africa
Jangbalajugbu-Homeland Stories reports on a discussion at his university (University of Obafemi Awolow – Ife) on “Feminism & its role in contemporary Africa”….”the audience argued about Religion and Culture and both’s contribution to the subjection of the women folk. Jerome particularly stated that the Bible and the Quoran has been...
Sudan: genocide
SudanReeves reports that Sudan's displaced populations in Darfur are still at risk of being annihilated….”The ghastly final stage in the ongoing violent destruction of non-Arab or African tribal populations in Darfur has begun. An increasing number of reports highlight attacks on camps for displaced persons by Khartoum’s murderous Arab militia...
South Africa: Stereotypes
South African blog, The Hope Flower points to a piece written by” Caine Prize winner Binyavanga Wainaina on stereotypes about Africa. “
Nigeria: Davos
Grandiose Parlour reports on the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos and asks…”What does it mean to Auntie Ngozi in her dusty, remote, erosion-ravaged village in the hills of Ubakala, or Jelili in Makoko, one of Lagos slums? What does it mean to my brothers and sisters in Dafuar- Sudan,...
Nigeria: Fela and the State
Chippla's Weblog writes on Fela and the State…..”While the state appeared to have no problem with Fela's marriages, it simply refused to accept a republic within the Nigerian republic where people could do as they pleased. Kalakuta was raided at least twice by the Nigerian government. In 1977, it was...
Kenya: living abroad
MentalAcrobatics responds to the many discussions in the Kenyan blogosphere around Kenyans living abroad....”I won’t deal with the ridiculous idea that all Kenyans abroad live the good life. If you still believe that Fresh Prince of Bel Air represents life abroad I am surprised you can even log onto a...
Iran: Hunger Strike!
According to Paiz, Nederland based blogger & human right activist, several of arrested bus drivers started a hunger strike (Persian). Hundreds of bus drivers and workers got arrested on Saturday before starting their strike for better work conditions and liberation of their syndicate leaders.
Kenya: solar concentrator
Afromusings points to a report on a $450 “solar concentrator” “Specifically for Africa:First of all, the concentrator can be bought as part of a co-op project. Combine it with a water pump, and you have a way of pumping water from either a borehole or a small dam. Add drip...