Stories from 9 November 2006
Madagascar: Public Health and Corruption
TZ=Indian/Antananarivo writes (Fr): “Health is apparently one of the sectors most affected by corruption in Madagascar … Things may be getting better but there is still a long way to go…”
India: Numbers and Opinions
Kafila on the use of numbers in the media and beyond in gauging public opinion, reflecting aspirations and instant voting on cellphones on people's fates. “With the spread of cheap computers and design software in the 1990’s the statistical image became ubiquitous, standing in as an explanation of the contingencies...
Pakistan: Reactions to elections in the US
Azad Forever has a video with reactions to the elections in the US – “On the eve of the election night we sat down with some American and Pakistani-American Law Students to hear their thoughts on the elections as well as on the results.”
Nepal: Maoists and the agreement
United We Blog! on the celebratory tone of various people on the signing of the historic agreement between the ruling alliance and the Maoists. “Newspapers, general public and political leaders are unanimously praising the Agreement and celebrating the achievement”
Nepal: Peace deal with Maoists
More reactions from Nepal on the recently signed agreement. Our Dream says “Finally Nepal government signed a peace deal with the Maoist rebels. Hopefully, they will all be sincere in carrying out the peace deals in the days to come.”
Arabisc: Egyptian Blogger Arrested While Arab Bloggers Debate Unity Issues
With most Arab countries waging a war on the Internet, Egypt decided to score brownie points with its bloggers by arresting yet another online writer. Egyptian blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah, who has himself enjoyed a stint behind bars, reports to us his colleague's ordeal. أمرت نيابة محرم بك بالإسكندرية...
Serbia: Issues to Resolve
Neretva River posts a list of “issues that need to be resolved for [Serbia's EU] accession process to move forward.” Wu Wei hopes Europe would not ignore the fact that during the recent referendum on Serbia's new constitution “Kosovars were not invited to vote unless they were Serbs, who were...
Serbia: The Countryside
Trans Europa Express continues to post pictures and stories from the Serbian countryside.
Moldova: Help Kids Learn English
Mihai Moscovici reports on how anyone can help Moldovan kids learn English: send children's books to Moldova-based Peace Corps Volunteer Andy Buchanan (who blogs at Random Musings on a Moldovan Odyssey).
Russia: First Yolki
Snowsquare reports on the first New Year trees – yolki – that have already appeared in Moscow.
Romania: Spelling Changes
The spelling of the Romanian word for “scissors” has been changed by a committee, and many people learn about it from their kids, the hard way, reports Andy H of Csikszereda Musings.
Slovenia: “The United States of Greater Austria”
The Glory of Carniola posts a 1906 map of an imaginary entity called “The United States of Greater Austria.”
Russia: A Dedication to Vysotsky
Adrian J. Erlinger of Leopolis dedicates a vignette on today's Moscow to Vladimir Vysotsky, a legendary bard who died in 1980: “What would Vladimir Semyonovich Vysotsky think of all this, the Asiatic Medieval Post-totalitarian Capitalist Order? He would roll a paparos, blow blue smoke through on the balcony…Would he hate...
Barbados: Water crisis
Barbados Free Press posts the first in a series of article on the country's water crisis.
Russia: Churchill Houses
Copydude writes about British sailors and Russian women in the wartime Soviet North, and a film to be made about them by a Russian director.
Mexico: Expansion of Credit
Ricardo Carreón is pleasantly surprised by the increase in consumer spending and credit lending in Mexico over the past few years. According to Carreón, “this is what economic stability can bring to an economy. A great testimony to the goodness that a responsible management of public finances can do to...
Mexico: Oaxaca Governor Meets with Secretary of Interior
Ana Maria Salaza writes: “As a result of a meeting held by Oaxaca governor Ulises Ruiz and Carlos Abascal, the Secretary of the Interior, to evaluate the situation in Oaxaca, Ulises Ruiz has come to a partial compromise by promising to establish a program to recuperate some sort of normality...
Nicaragua: Disgust with Daniel Ortega
If Uri Ridelman's first post about why he opposes Nicaragua President-Elect Daniel Ortega isn't clear enough, then the second one will hammer it home.
Argentina: Pillow fight flash mob party
How many cities have official government weblogs that organize flash mob pillow fights? Liz Henry tells us where to head to on November 18.
Cambodia: Celebrating Water Festival
Julayne describes the water festival celebration in Cambodia. “I love how much the people of Cambodia celebrate things that actually matter….I mean, to celebrate, in such a huge way, the gift of water…it's amazing to think about all the things we take for granted. “
Mexico: Fox: I'm Outta Here
You would think that heads of state would be a little more careful about what they talk about when their wearing a microphone. Listen to outgoing Mexican President Vicente Fox say one thing on-air and quite another off-air [ES].