Stories from 17 March 2006
Cuba: Blogger blogs blocked?
Ernesto, based in Havana, responds to a concern that Blogger blogs are being blocked in Cuba (ES), possibly by Google itself, by posting at his own Blogger blog. “Nevertheless this doesn't prove anything,” Ernesto writes, “since Google may have blocked some and not all Cuban blogs. I am not aware...
Caribbean: Women writers’ blog
Over at BlogHer, Karen Walrond announces her new project, The Pan Collective, “a community blog featuring the voices of wonderful women writers from the Caribbean”.
Philippines: Red Spectre
caffeine sparks criticizes the Philippine government's “resurrection” of Communism as a threat to national stability. She recounts meeting a real Communist and not being very scared or impressed. “I don’t remember the details of what he said, but I remember thinking he didn’t say anything I didn’t already know and...
Singapore: Suicide Watch
Singapore Election Watch discusses the disturbing trend of Singapore's suicide rate. In the famously safe country, it's now one of the top three causes of death.
Cayman Islands: The price of dope
A drug bust in Grand Cayman reveals that dope prices in the island are spiraling out of control. Cayblogger is very concerned.
Thailand: Love of Sports
Steve Suphan at thai-blogs.com discusses the Thai love of sports!
Vietnam: Home Design
Antidote to Burnout is an architect from San Francisco who now works in construction in Vietnam. He's started a series evaluating the small design touches on Vietnamese homes he sees in Saigon.
Venzuela: Gente del Petroleo
Oil Wars won't be offering spare change to the ‘Gente del Petroleo’ any time soon.
DRC Diasporas Organize to Vote in June Election
Renouveau Congolais lauds (FR) efforts by Congolese diasporas in the United Kingdom and the United States to pressure the DRC's electoral commission for voting centers in host countries and encourages Congolese the world over to launch similar efforts. Despite the electoral commission's decision not to allow diaspora voting, the UDPS’...
Sri Lanka: NGOs
Hell's Dire Agent on NGOs in the aftermath of the Tsunami, the role they play in the civil society and the legitimacy required. “NGOs need to be examined as entities that are serious political actors alongside political parties, politicians and the institutional organs of the State.”
India: Sexual harassment
The Commonwealth Games begins with the news of a person on the Indian contingent being held for sexually harassing a woman. More at Blogpourri.
Pakistan: The future
Pickled Politics on the future of Pakistan, Musharraf and South Asia.
Bangladesh: Affinity credit card
Drishtipat Group Blog on an affinity Credit Card for Bangladesh – “Each time a consumer uses the affinity card for a purchase, a balance transfer or a cash advance, the bank donates a percentage of the amount to the organization.”
India, Pakistan: Vintage Car Rally
myHimachal Blog on a vintage car rally in the Himalayas that starts in Pakistan and goes on into India.
Iran: Ganji!
FM Sokhan, Iran based blogger & journalist, talks about Ganji's, Iranian famous jailed writer & journalist, liberation (Persian). Blogger says for him/her Iranian New Year does not start at 20th of March but 10 days later when Ganji will become a free man.
The Balkans: “Finally, the Post-Milosevic Era”
Slobodan Milosevic, former Yugoslav leader and a war-crimes defendant, died of a heart attack in his prison cell in the Hague on March 11. After much debate, it was decided to bury him privately in his hometown of Pozarevac, 80 km of Serbia's capital Belgrade, on March 18. Until then,...
Cayman Islands: Biodiversity project
Cayman Time reports on last week's launch of the Cayman Islands Darwin Project, whose centerpiece is a biodiversity action plan for the territory.
Nigeria: Impact of slavery
Nigerian blogger, Eseme Udoekong's Africa writes on “the impact of slavery on Akwa Ibom State and the Diaspora. “In all walks of life we are enslaved, not enfranchised. Independence without freedom is what we are given. Duping and robbery, smuggling and looting are impacts of slavery too”
Ghana: Plastic surgery project
My Hearts in Accra points to a project called “The Ghana Plastic Surgery Project“” The center at Korle-Bu is the first center for plastic and reconstructive surgery in West Africa and is helping train doctors from around the region in carrying out critical surgeries. The NYU students are raising money...
Kenya: Outing Heterosexuality
Diary of a Mad Kenyan Woman writes on Africa's desire for “freedom” yet it's unaminous and united front against the mere “whisper” of sexuality that is anything but “does not follow the missionary position sex-is-for-the-purpose-of-reproduction-only-and-any-other-type of-sexual-activity-will-send-you-into-the-inferno heterosexuality. Did you get that? Homosexual, bisexual transsexual, gay, queer, lesbian, transgender, cross-dresser”
Africa: Ethnicity
Writing on Mzansi Afrika, Lesotho blogger, Rethabile discusses ethnicity in an African context. Majority does not necessarily equal power and minority does not always mean conquered…He also considers what it is like to be an immigrant in Europe.
