Stories from 16 March 2006
Peru: Bloggers Meetup
It's the event that Peruvian bloggers have been waiting for says “Leuzor:” the next bloggers meetup, which will take place on Saturday, March 25th in Lima. From the comments, it looks like it will be a big party.
Kyrgyzstan: Celebrate the “Revolution?”
neweurasia covers the debate over whether or not to celebrate the first anniversary of Kyrgyzstan's Tulip Revolution. The debate also encompasses whether or not what took place can even rightly be called a revolution.
Armenia: Turkish Trade
Christian Garbis explains how it is that trade with Turkey flourishes despite it being illegal and complaints about low-quality Turkish products.
Kyrgyzstan: Allah's Rooster
Registan.net has news of a rooster in Kyrgyzstan's city of Osh that reportedly says “Allah” over and over again. The chicken is credited with turning at least a few people toward increased worship.
Central Asia: Snow Leopards
James of neweurasia says that economic incentives may be behind the rise in Central Asia's snow leopard population. Their numbers, though, are still dangerously low.
Mongolia: TV on the Steppe
Just because one leads a nomadic life doesn't mean one should suffer poor television reception. Shards of Mongolia writes that reception stands to get much better for Mongolia's nomads soon.
Mexico: World Water Forum
Nick Buxton and Oscar Reyes will be blogging live from the World Water Forum in Mexico. Joe Zacune gives historical context to the forum on OpenDemocracy.
Argentina: Mendoza's Stencil Graffiti
Robert Wright explains that he hasn't been posting is usual collections of Buenos Aires stencil graffiti lately because the pickings have been slim. So instead, some stencil graffiti from Mendoza.
Argentina: Mundialmente
Fernando Casale has an update (and some sample tracks) of the Argentine-Brazilian band Mundialmente. If you like their music, send them an email says Casale.
Venezuela: A Happy Birthday to All
Miguel Octavio sarcastically wishes a happy birthday to “the amazing Gonzalez family.” He's referring to the nearly 2000 registered voters with the last name Gonzalez who were born on the same day, 32 years ago in the he western state of Zulia. Unbelievably, when Steven Dudley and Phil Gunson randomly...
Palestine: Beware the Ides of March
Israel acts not just with absolute impunity, but with the support of western powers: that is the message that has been reinforced in Jericho, Laila El-Haddad said. See her full article in the Guardian's new Comment is Free blog.
Lebanon: Low Internet Penetration
Middle Eastern audiences are literally disconnected from the rest of the world and the rest of their countrymen. Less than four per cent of people in the Arab world are internet users, according to ITU data. The penetration rate is just 3.7% – in a region with an 8.59% penetration...
Saudi Arabia: Stolen heritage
The Highlander hopes that the Saudi government and greedy businessmen do not ‘misplace’ or deliberately destroy their heritage.
Saudi Arabia: Clips
Ahmed post more video clips from Al Jazeera Forum, and post a link to letter from Reporters Without Borders to King Abdullah.
Taiwan: Cloud Gate Thunders
ESWN has translated a transcript of a conversation between top Taiwan choreographer Lin Huai-min (of “Cloud Gate” fame) and the publisher of the pro-KMT United Daily News Wang Shiao-lan. Lin is disappointed at the paper's political positioning and the poverty of coverage, especially of culture.
Uyghurs: The Prince of Pop
The Opposite End of China has another helping of Uyghur pop video, this time featuring Mominjan Ablekim, the prince of Uyghur pop.
China: Guo Feixiong taken to Jiangxi
China Information Center reports that Guangdong-based human rights lawyer Guo Feixiong has been taken back to his hometown in the eastern province of Jiangxi by the authorities in an apparent attempt to keep him from carrying out sensitive rights work, and to separate him from Beijing-based lawyer Gao Zhisheng, with...
Japan: See it. Film it. Change it.
Joi Ito announces his appointment to the board of WITNESS, a group which aims to advance human rights advocacy through the use of video and communications technology, and strengthen grassroots movements for change by providing video technology and assisting its partners to use video as evidence before courts and the...
China: Mashup Camp
Back from the NPC, Asia Pundit looks forward to mashup camp in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing, where a bunch of prominent bloggers are due to meet to discuss Search Engine Strategies and Web 2.0, drink beer and play with model airplanes(ZH).
China: Anti-corruption vaccine
The Peking Duck Pond has a discussion thread on attempts to “vaccinate” Chinese schoolchildren against corruption at an early age, with special educational sessions addressing the temptations of power.
China: CDT is back up
Non-violent Resistance points to a reappearance of China Digital Times via Feedburner, after reporting it as unavailable in China earlier in the week.