Stories from 11 November 2006
Indonesia: Running Out of Topics to Talk with Mr. Bush
The bloggers at Indonesia Anonymus are contemplating the topics the Indonesians want to discuss with American President George Bush and they seem to be running short of ideas.
Congo, France: Prix Renaudot Awarded to Alain Mabanckou
Sanaga Peregrinations announces (Fr) that the prestigious literary Renaudot Prize was awarded to Congolese novelist Alain Mabanckou for his novel Memoires de Porc-Epic [Porcupine Memories]. Explains the blog: “Fine storyteller, Mabanckou takes the voice of a porcupine who confides in his friend the baobab and tells him of his life...
Niger, France: Debt Relief Activist Arrested and Released
On Thursday, Le Pangolin posted that (Fr) Claude Quemar, Secretary of CADTM France [Committee for the Cancellation of Third World Debt] was arrested in Niger presumably for participating in the Niger Social Forum. Today the blog announces that the activist was released last night but with “obligation to leave Niger...
Haiti: UNDP Human Development Index
Tout Haiti Blog points to (Fr) a Haitian news article on UNDP's latest human development country rankings stating: “The group of countries with weak human development only contains two non-African countries: Yemen and Haiti.”
Caribbean, Africa: The concept of fine art?
Afro-Caribbean musician Rasheed Ali ponders the question: what is the concept of fine art in Africa? “For western thinkers and art collectors there may be a sense that these arts pieces are devalued by there sameness. Yet upon further examination we find that the style of many art pieces has...
Malaysia: Remembering Japanese Occupation
Ooi Boon-Leong writes another episode of his blog-memoir of Japanese occupation of Malaya during the World War 2. “It was a Japanese school in that it taught us the Japanese language, arithmetic and drawing. There were about 40 Chinese boys in a class and the form master was also a...
Cambodia: Minefield Trip
The filmmakers writing the lianlian blog take an unusual trip in Cambodia. “But then, Aki Ra invited us to join him on a demining expedition. The offer caught us off-guard. Triggered long, heated discussions and caused a few sleepless nights. How dangerous exactly, was a minefield? Did we really need...
Indonesia: Bombing in Jakarta
Indinesia Matters reports that a bomb exploded in a fast food restaurant in Jakarta this morning. “The low-explosive bomb went off at the Kramat Jati Indah plaza branch of the American fast food chain in east Jakarta at about 13.00 today. One person, with the intitials MN, was hurt, he...
Bloggers on the UN resolution condemning the US embargo against Cuba
On November 8, the United Nations General Assembly voted on a resolution aimed at condemning the US embargo against Cuba. Since then, bloggers have been actively sharing their opinions on the matter. In 1960 the US government imposed an economic embargo against Cuba, hoping that this would help bring about...
Sri Lanka: The Army and the massacre
Transcurrents.com on the escalating conflict in Sri Lanka. “The coastal village of Kathiraweli in the Eastern district of Batticaloa was the scene of Sri Lanka’s latest massacre of innocents in its on going ethnic conflict.”
Nepal: Photographs from rallies
A celebratory tone to events in Nepal, in the aftermath of the agreement being signed between the Ruling Alliance and the Maoists. Photographs at United We Blog! “Today’s rallies in Kathmandu were part of nationwide celebrations lauding the historic pact between the ruling Seven Party Alliance and the CPN Maoist....
Bangladesh: Strikes, livelihood and politics
Journal of a disturbed mind comments on the politics of strike (oborodh) in Bangladesh, linking these strikes to political parties and loss of livelihood. “To me, the situation is like bank robbery, where people are taken hostage to meet the demand.”
Bangladesh: A debate on Presidential Rule
drishtipat has an interesting discussion on the nature of the government in Bangladesh, asking if there is a presidential form of government.
The Week That Was in Bahrain
With the Godfather of Bahraini bloggers Mahmood Al Yousif out of the way and sick in hospital – possibly recuperating from his head-on collision with authorities over the blocking of his blog – his prodigies were out to play this week! First and foremost I would like to extend a...
Holding the line for Internet freedoms in Brazilian Cyberspace
The Brazilian cyberspace was shaken this week by the announcement of a ‘Digital Crimes Bill’ under consideration at the Senate's Constitution and Justice Commission. Disclosing just one item in the bill was enough to ignite the fire. It stated that every user must fully identify herself before using the Net,...
