Stories from 11 July 2006
Russia: Putin
On the eve of the G8 Summit in St. Petersburg, Edward Lucas, the Central and East European correspondent of The Economist, writes a lengthy critique of Vladimir Putin and the country he is turning Russia into: “Putin is trying to recreate an empire reminiscent of the Soviet Union – feared...
Russia: Human Rights Situation
David McDuff of A Step At A Time writes about the Other Russia conference and Lyudmila Alexeeva, a distinguished human rights activist.
India: Bloggers react to the bomb blasts in Mumbai
Mumbai was hit by serial blasts today. Commuters in trains on one of the railway lines (Western Railway) were killed by bombs that went off in seven different trains. The blasts occured around 1825 hrs, which is the peak hour for commute in Mumbai, as office goers leave South Mumbai...
Ukraine: Seeking Mayor's Help
“Dear Mayor!!! The building is falling!!! Save us!!!” Downtown Kyiv, Ukraine, July 2006 By Maidan International's New Project for Democracy This desperate attempt by residents to draw attention of Leonid Chernovetsky, the Ukrainian capital's new mayor, to their building's condition has been photographed by Maidan International's New Project for Democracy...
Iran: Lorestan & Aids
Lorblog read in Bamdad, a Lorestan based magazine that 10 percent of country's Aids cases are in Lorestan province (Persian).
Iran: Syndicates & Socialist Revolution
Several Shargh newspaper journalists have launched Zangeh Tafrih, a collective blog to write about economic issues. In Zange Tafrih they explain why Marx prophecy about Socialist Revolution in industrial countries such as England failed. According to Zangeh Tafrih strong presence of workers unions/syndicates was main reason to save England from...
Egypt: The Happy Ending for Journalism Law
Zeinobia sarcastically describe the latest news about the Egyptian president intervention to stop a law that was approved by majority of MBs (who were all members of the same party lead by the president). The controversial law was against the freedom of press. The more stranger is the changing attitude...
Iraq: Good News!
LadyBird, has two good news. According to her, “for the first time an Iraqi official accuses the US and Israel, on creating the chaos in Iraq.” The second good news is that “Iraq will ask the United Nations to end immunity from local law for U.S. troops.”
Israel: Healthy Parliamentarians
Contestants from Israel's version of “The Biggest Loser” visited the Knesset last week in a feeble attempt to educate the Israeli government in the ways of healthy eating. Not surprising in the least, the “parliamentarians” showed absolutely no interest in the meeting, Harry said.
Morocco: Fighting sexual harassment against Moroccan women
Farah announces that a new blog was started by Moroccan activists to help fighting against the sexual harassment against Moroccan women.
Palestine: No American Entry
Palestinian is reporting that, for the first time since 1967, Israel in now barring entry of Americans into the West Bank. The campaign is asking American congressmen to demand that Israel explain why it is preventing American citizens and humanitarian relief workers into the territories while U.S. gives Israel $12...
Argentina: “Buenos Aires for export”
Last month alone Buenos Aires greeted 122,000 foreign tourists, says Shopping Urbano in a post that interviews four tourists about their visit and how much they spend on average per day (ES).
Mexico: Oaxaca Teachers Strike and Luis Echevarria
Mark in Mexico has an update on the teacher's strike in Oaxaca. Ana Maria Salazar, meanwhile, discusses the dropped genocide charges against former president, Luis Echevarria Alvarez: ” Can we read political intentions in this arrest? The answer is probably yes. However, for those who thought this would help the...
Guyana: Zidane's head-butt, in Creolese
Guyana-Gyal posts what is very likely the first written analysis of Zinedine Zidane's head-butt in Creolese, Guyana's “nation language“: “‘You saw that?!?’ I ask in my best ready-to-gossip voice. Right off, Indeera know what I talking ‘bout…that goat-butt the French guy give the Italian. Pow in he chest..“
USA, Cayman Islands: Travelling with ammo
Mad Bull discusses a Cayman Compass news article about an American couple who travelled from Detroit to Grand Cayman via Miami with an unlicensed handgun and ammunition in their luggage: “What is also interesting is the ’slap on the wrist’ that the man who brought the weapon in got! I...
Bermuda: Stop the violence
Sean encourages readers to participate in a letter-writing campaign protesting the brutal beating of a Portuguese national outside a bar in Bermuda. Christian Dunleavy congratulates a local Portuguese activist for holding the government to account.
Uganda: Don't Sleep
Uganda-CAN links to the Web site of “Don't Sleep!”, a new campaign to involve African-Americans and the Hip Hop generation in the plight of Uganda's night-commuter children.
Uganda: Who is afraid of peace?
On the occasion of the Sudan-mediated talks aimed at bringing peace to northern Uganda, Ngomrom says any settlement should be seen as an opportunity to introduce a democratic system in the country.
South Africa: North Korean visit
“I always get the warm fuzzies when we receive state visits from the most oppressive government in existence today,” writes Farrel Lifson at Politics.za on the occasion of a North Korean diplomatic visit. He notes, thankfully, that bilateral trade with the isolated Stalinist state doesn't amount to much, and calls...
Emerging markets: Africa or bust
Curious finds sympathizers with his argument that African countries will be the next to witness major inflows of foreign direct investment, because they are the only true emerging markets left now.
Belize: Work ethic
Karen expresses admiration for the Belizean work ethic.
