Stories from 13 March 2006
India: Meetup in DC
India: Meetup in DC
Bangladesh: Farakka Barrage
Razib has a post based on another article on the very delicate issue of the Farakka Barrage, and water politics between India and Bangladesh.
India: Computers and Employment
Charu on a venture that seeks to link women who seek employment as domestic help to families who are on-the-lookout for employees and has grave doubts.
Pakistan: How protest evolves
The Olive Ream, with characteristic humour presents the anatomy of a protest. The story of how some bloggers picked up on the threads after blogspot blogs were blocked by ISPs in Pakistan from the horse's mouth.
Trinidad & Tobago: No iron at the World Cup?
Smi reports that FIFA has ruled that “patrons bearing ‘iron made instruments’” may not be allowed into World Cup 2006 matches, on the grounds that “iron is ‘heavy’ and ‘can be used as a weapon.’” Which means that fans of Trinidad and Tobago's football team may have to do without...
Jamaica: Possibility
Francis Wade — and, it would seem, several of his compatriots — senses a “whiff of possibility” in the recent changes in the Jamaican political status quo, notably the ascension of a woman to the position of Prime Minister. “Out of nowhere, it seems, our murders have dropped by 20%...
Guyana: Third force
When is a real “third force” going to emerge on the Guyanese political scene, asks Roopster.
Guyana: Who are Guyana's true friends?
Monologist takes MediaCritic to task for the latter's criticism of the Guyanese President's absence from the historic meeting ratifying the Caribbean Single Market in January. “I think, by not going to this conference Guyana actually made a statement to these Caricom ‘brothers and sisters’ that have time and time again...
South Korea: The realm of the Mothers
The Asia Pages relates a long and intense debate about parental sacrifice and obligation with a Korean man on-line. In the end, she is told, she doesn't understand because she's not Korean.
Cuba: A sheep dies for baseball
As Cuba faces Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic in Puerto Rico, Zenia Regalado's neighbours kill and roast a sheep (ES).
Silk Road: Sogdians in China
Musing Under the Tenement Palm blogs about Sogdians, the builders of Bokhara and Samarkand, who spoke Persian and plied the Silk Route through Central Asia and into China for 15 centuries. They show up quite extensively in Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) records recently unearthed in a Turpan burial site.
Hong Kong: Orientalists at LitFest
Glutter is disgusted at the arrogance and lack of courtesy shown to Chinese-language authors at recent workshops in the Hong Kong Literary Festival 2006, who are constantly asked to account for their work with a Western audience in mind. “I still have five more lectures to go and I am...
China: Nike sparks nationalism debate
ESWN picks up on a post on the on the Chinese-language Tianya discussion forum, which says the most recent Nike advertisement hurts the feelings of the Chinese people. Many commentators appear to think this view is that of a rather sad person, however.
Bermuda: Meeting on democracy
The Limey posts a detailed report on a meeting convened to discuss how to make the Bermudian politican system more democratic. Christian S. Dunleavy links to the Limey's post, adding that the meeting was “poorly advertised, badly scheduled and hence lightly attended”.
Cambodia: Sorcery
seserak at From Cambodia to Japan gives us a primer on sorcery in Cambodia.
Malaysia: Correcting Malaysian
A Worm's Perspective discusses Malaysia's campaign to rid national language Bahasa Malaysia of foreign loanwords.
Malaysia: The Mystery of Datukship
In Malaysia, the title of Datuk is supposedly awarded to outstanding citizens. Kenny Sia ponders the mystery of who gets them.
Singapore, Thailand: Missteps by Temasek
Singapore Election Watch asks if the country's normally astute government investment agency Temasek Holdings made a misstep when it bought a large chunk of Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra's Shin Corp.
Thailand: Annotating a Royal Message
Bangkok Pundit evaluates the various interpretations, in the currently polarized political atmosphere in Thailand, made of a decision to replay King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 1992 reconciliation message to rival political parties.
China: Bloggers and farmers
Danwei compares two recent China cover stories about potential threats to the status quo. Newsweek‘s cover is entitled “Beijing vs. the Bloggers”, while Time focuses on rural unrest.
China: Specter of rural revolt
Rounding up this year's National People's Congress (NPC), China Confidential says that while it's not democratic, it is far more than a “rubber stamp”, providing a window into the fears and concerns of the ruling Communist Party. Summing up the military's fears, s/he says: “It is one thing to mow...
