Stories from 2 October 2006
Albania: Highway Roundabout Construction
Our Man In Tirana posts photos and an update from one of the capital's construction sites: visitors pass it as they enter Tirana on their way from the airport.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: General Election
East Ethnia writes about an interesting twist in the Oct. 1 Bosnia and Herzegovina: “It looks increasingly likely that Zeljko Komsic from the non-nationalist SDP might be elected Croat member of Bosnia's three-member presidency, with a substantial chunk of his vote coming from ethnic Bosniaks.”
Albania: Ismail Kadare's Novel
Wu Wei reads Ismail Kadare's novel, The Successor: “The Successor is about the ways totalitarian leaders keep their colleagues in check, by invoking the good of the Party. Or perhaps the ways in which the colleagues keep themselves in check by their own fear, having given their leader all power.”
What Salvadoran bloggers are saying — death squads and golf courses
The brutal killing on September 25th of Salvadoran Catholic priest, Ricardo Antonio Romero, has prompted much comment in the Salvadoran blogosphere. Fr. Romero's body was found bludgeoned to death on a roadway 40 miles west of San Salvador. The slaying was added to the daily murder tally(es) at 100 Days...
Brazil: Cardoso on Brazil's Military
Given a chance to ask former Brazilian president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso a question at a recent presentation at the University of Austin, Vikrum Sequeira compares Brazil's global presence with Russia, India, and China and asks: “Do you think Brazil position in the world would be stronger if its military capacities...
Brazil: Elections
A.M. Mora y Leon has an overwhelmingly thorough roundup of roundups on yesterday's Brazilian election (ES).
Brazil: Lula's Risk of Losing it All
Ricardo Carreón, based in Sao Paulo, takes a look at “How Lula lost his chance to win on the first round and is now in risk of losing a second term.”
Argentina: Kirchner's Contradictions
Robert Wright tries to make sense of President Kirchner's recent statement that the constitution should be reformed so that the President serves for 6 years without the possibility of an immediate re-election.
Costa Rica: Julia Ardón
Liz Henry gives a brief introduction to Costa Rican blogger, Julia Ardón and her various online projects and weblogs.
Poland's Pulse in the Blogopshere
We’re looking through the Polish language blogs first, this time, as the political situation in the country generated a lot of heat in the blogosphere, as well as managed to get the world’s attention for a while. Here's the low down… After the break up of the coalition, the ruling...
Republic of the Congo: In Search of Political Heroes
Congo-Brazzaville is repatriating the remains of Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, the French-Italian colonialist, and interring them in a mausoleum built at the government's expense. Togolese blogger, Kangni Alem, rebukes those would defend de Brazza and call him a “good colonizer,” quoting one historian's take on why Brazzaville would decide to...
Caribbean: 5 Questions with poet Adrian Castro
Geoffrey Philp continues his series of Five Questions with Caribbean writers — this week he chats with Caribbean/South Florida poet Adrian Castro.
Apocalypso Now: T&T bloggers on last Friday's earthquake
FEW THINGS say more about a nation's character than the way its citizens react to a natural disaster, potential or otherwise. Some would suggest that Trinidad and Tobago's bloggers aren't truly representative of the national community, but I'd like to make the case for the contrary, in the form of...
United Arab Emirates: Girls walking in peace!
Dubai Sunshine grew up in the UAE. “It's kind of sad when you realise that most girls end up growing accustomed to getting stared at, no matter what they are wearing. This behaviour, as despicable as it is, is a fact of life here in the Emirates,” she said. But...
Palestine: Urgent Appeal For Help From Palestinian Youth Organisations
It is the season to pick the olive crop. There is a race of time in Palestine as Israeli settlers and troops destroy the groves, making it impossible to harvest the rich crops. If you are a visitor to the region, if you live here… this can be your biggest...
Algeria: Tamazight and French
Perhaps the single biggest problem of some branches (certainly not all) of the Tamazight (Berber) movement: they talk about developing Tamazight, but they talk and write and think in French, Lameen Souag said.
Arabic Gems
This blog is an attempt to present to the reader points of benefit concerning various aspects of the Arabic Language, with the aim of encouraging the non-Arabic speaker to embark upon his learning voyage, or to guide the current student through its various seas that may not have yet been...
Bahrain: Freedom of choice
“What is it about men not wanting or allowing their wives and such to be themselves? Is it that they want these women stupid? Is it control? Is it all in the name of religion? I think many use religion as an excuse! Or is it that girls, some girls,...
Israel: Yom Kippur, Tel Aviv Style!
Yael went to the Kol Nidre service last night with some friends, but left after about an hour. It was so not happening. In New York, London, and anywhere else she've been to Yom Kippur services and the places were packed to the gills. This beit-knesset was one of many...
Jordan: Jordan is having rude awakening!
Hatem Abunimeh wonder whether the gripe by the federation of the labor unions is something that will have some grave consequences on the long run, or is it going to end up being just a tempest in the tea pot.! “Getting wrangled in legal proceedings can be very arduous thorny...
Oman: Keeping The Devil At Bay
It's said that during the Ramadhan period, that the Devil clan is chained up, sent to Hell behind locked doors until the end of the month. Literally looked at, it's an excellent opportunity for anyone who has sinned during the past to ask for forgiveness and remorse on what is...
