Stories from 3 May 2006
Singapore: Museum policy
Rambling Librarian takes on a policy by Singapore Art Museum that stops visitors from sketching the artwork on display. The blogger urges the museum to change their policy and start selling sketchbooks at the museum shop to encourage creative visitors.
Martinique: More Pictures
Bien Vu posts more Martinique pictures: a hidden beach and dingy traffic that the blogger finds ill-policed .
China: Freedom summit one-sided
AngryChineseBlogger's post on the Freedom in China summit held in Washington D.C. earlier this week reveals some interesting things. Who attended, who wasn't allowed—Gao Zhisheng (高智晟), for example, one of the most prominent activists in China today—and who wasn't even invited: “As has become traditional in the US,” the blogger...
Singapore: Rally watchers survival kit
Tsqine at The Status Quo Is Not Enough blog comes up with a survival kit for people attending election rallies in Singapore.
Vietnam: Retailer's heaven
Matt Powell writing at Target: Vietnam blog links to a study that finds Vietnam as the 3rd most attractive destination for international retailers.
Malaysia: Silence on Darfur
Malaysian politician Lim Kit San questions the foreign ministry parliamentary secretary on why Malaysia as the current chairman of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) is not speaking out on Darfur genocide. Lim Kit San is disappointed with the secretary's reply.
Indonesia: Failed state index
Sarapanekonomi does not agree with the latest index of Failed States in 2006 published by an organisation called Funds for Peace. The post lists couple of obvious examples supporting the blogger's claim that the index is not accurate.
Poland: Populist Politics
The beatroot explains what ‘populist’ means in the context of Poland: “The truth these days is that, in this post-ideological world of managerial politics, where policy is driven by focus groups, all parties have become populist.”
Slovenia: “Offensive” Billboards
Michael of The Glory of Carniola wonders “how far is too far” for ad agencies working in Slovenia.
Croatia: Slobodan Praljak's New Film Idea
Eric Gordy of East Ethnia writes about the former commander of the forces that destroyed the famous Mostar bridge: Slobodan Praljak, an obscure film director now on trial in the Hague.
Slovakia: Players in the June Election, Part 1
Lemuel of Deleted By Tomorrow begins a Slovak pre-election series – “the good, the bad, the ugly” – with “the bad.” Here's a sampling of one of them, Robert Fico, “leader of the main opposition party SMER – Social Democracy, a party poised to win the June elections”: “Forgive me...
Ukraine: Naftogaz vs Pinchuk, Donbas Clan, Etc.
LEvko of Foreign Notes writes about varying approaches of “Ukraine's most powerful businessmen” and those who run “Naftogaz, the Ukrainian state-owned gas company.” He also posts an update on the lack of progress in the coalition talks.
China: Comparatively less censored
Via Danwei, we see China moves out of Committee to Protect Journalists’ list of top ten most censored countries. “Reading through the list,” writes China media guru Jeremy Goldkorn, “is a good idea for people writing about and researching censorship issues in China.”
China: Current trends in censorship law
In September last year, Chinese authorities released a new set of regulations aimed at websites and blogs which show signs of democratic leanings or any behavior which might otherwise threaten the country's one-party rulers. From Sophia Beach at China Digital Times: It is worth noting that these new regulations include...
Iran: Peace Seekers
In Peace seekers blog we read that three Iranian journalists and an Iranian photographer wanted to walk from Iran to Germany. According to this blog, these people wanted to be in Germany at the moment of World Cup inauguration.They wanted to bring a peace message from Iran to the world...
Barbados: Water park threatens wetland area
The future of the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary in Barbados is threatened by a multi-million dollar water park to be built in the area, reports Barbados Free Press. The crux of the matter seems to be the negative environmental impact assessment, which may or may not be ignored.
The Week That Was – Bolivian Blogs
Special Hydrocarbons Nationalization Edition Nationalization. What does it actually mean? The word was bandied about during the 2005 elections. Seemingly every candidate ran on some sort of platform advocating for the nationalization of Bolivia’s hydrocarbons, which currently stand at the second largest gas reserves in the region. The practice made...
Chernobyl remembered and the Amazigh poetry enjoyed in the Moroccan blogosphere
Two very interesting Moroccan blogs are celebrating the first year of their existence. So I'll start by wishing a happy birthday to M.S Hjiouj(Ar) and BLOGS MULTIPLES(Ar). Atmani(Ar) I would like you to know that I have nothing against your political posts, and that it's always a joy for me...
USA: On marches and immigration
“This nation is a work in progress—there’s an imagined end goal— AMERICA —but that end is still very far off. If Americans have lost sight of this fact then it is not the fault of the multitudes who come in from abroad to lend a hand, but rather shows how...
Haiti: Annual Agricultural Fair Showcased Local Produce
“On April 29 and 30, thousands of people participated in the annual agricultural fair organized in Port-au-Prince by the Ministry of Agriculture in honor of International Day of Labor and Agriculture,” reports (FR) Alterpresse. “300 exhibitors were present showcasing local crafts, industrial widgets and various beverages.” Visitors could taste traditional...
Nigeria: Failed healthservice
Grandiose Parlor discusses health care in Nigeria and wonders if managers are unable to manage airconditioning systems how on earth can they manage policy? “This promise definitely holds no water. This is also a sad confirmation that Nigeria has a serious problem- the absence of seasoned and qualified managers at...
