Stories from 6 February 2007
Egypt: Super Bowl Superheros?
Freedom for Egyptians is not at all enchanted with the Super Bowl. “Anyway, the game was over and the trophy was about to be awarded to the winning team. The presenter said now the trophy goes to the “world’s champion Indianapolis Colts”. I looked at my friends and said did...
Guatemala: Skeptical of US Troop Deployment
Noting the dubious track record of the US military program New Horizons and the upcoming elections, Patrick of the Guatemala Solidarity Network remains skeptical of the latest US troop deployment in San Marcos, Guatemala.
India: Remembering Zanskar
It Isn't remembers a trip to Zanskar. “As I write this, it would be winter in Zanskar. I imagine those people sitting in there around the stove during these long winter months, drinking chang and tea, maybe reading a book of scriptures, looking at the vast landscape of white sorrounding...
El Salvador: Ensuring Safe and Dependable Water
Tim Muth has started another excellent series, this time on issues affecting El Salvador's supply of safe and dependable drinking water. So far, the first post introduces the issues and the second describes the importance of water in the words of Monseñor Eduardo Alas, Bishop of the Diocese of Chalatenango.
Pakistan: A suicide bomber
A suicide bomber at the Islamabad International Airport causes much alarm. Metroblogging Islamabad asks “Is this what our city has been reduced to? This will be our claim to fame; the capital of a Muslim state identified by the blood of innocents spilled by their own brethren in the name...
Nepal: 198 methods of Non Violence
Democracy For Nepal on the 198 ways to exercise Non Violent action and protest. “Come out into the streets in humongous numbers. The crowds should be so large, curfew orders and police guns should become irrelevant. They should fall by the wayside. That happened in Birgunj recently. The police simply...
Nepal: The Army and Democracy
United We Blog! indicates at the brewing trouble in the Nepal Army. “No doubt Dilip Shumser Rana (pic) is a living symbol of the reactionary forces in Nepal who is still trying to play against democracy and freedom in the country. This man, a RANA, is also a burning example...
Peru: Animator Wins 25K in Contest
La Nuez congratulates [ES] the Peruvian animator Jossie Malis who won US$ 25,000 for his grand prize winning short animation, “Bendito Machine.” According to AniBoom, “Malis's beautiful use of color and shadow-puppet imagery has been internationally praised in this indigenous art inspired tale of power, religion, sex and money.
Venezuela: On Free Media
Leftside criticizes those who claim that there are no free media in Venezuela.
Egypt: Gay Spy in Custody
Blogger Zeinobia discusses the case of an Egyptian spy, allegedly recruited by the Mossad and is now held in Egypt. To add spice to the story, she is convinced that the spy is gay.
Bahrain: Disney Land Soon?
Bahrain may soon have its very own Disneyland on one of its islands, at the staggering cost of almost $8 billion, reports Mahmood Al Yousif.
Afghanistan: Aid Failures
Joshua Foust takes a look at problems with the aid given to Afghanistan.
Bahrain: First Woman Commercial Pilot
Bahraini Maysaa Hazeem has been appointed as Bahrain's first female commercial pilot, reports Mahmood Al Yousif. He hopes this will be an inspiration for women who think sky is the limit.
Kazakhstan: Farewell, Bazaar
Michael Hancock bids a bittersweet farewell to the Shymkent bazaar.
Armenia: Election Monitor
Onnik Krikorian has another update on the upcoming Armenian parliamentary election, saying that managed “democracy” will be the order of the day until Armenian citizens feel they have a stake in their country's future.
Ethiopia: human rights abuses
Ethiopian Life, Politics, Culture and Arts writes about the Ethiopian government's response to Amnesty International's report, “AI's report on torture at Maekelawi(which was first reported on this blog) has left the EPRDF machine confused and utterly discombobulated. The federal police flip-flopped twice in four hours over the issue.”
South Africa: safety in darkest Africa
The world’s officially appointed jester writes about the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, “Will you be safe in the darkest Africa?”
Nigeria: Internet is a force for change
“Voices from Nigeria is a series of video shorts from Nigerian Kabissa members on how the internet has “been a force for change in their organisations,” Black Looks reports.
China: Disney sweatshop closed down
Chong translated a citizen report by Lung at interlocals.net on the closure of Disney's factory which is found having environmental and labour problems. However, about 800 workers were left unemployed and the factory failed to pay workers various compensations, a total of 4-5 million Yuan.
Taiwan: corruption confession
ESWN translated an article by Lung Ying tai, the former minister of Culture Bureau, confessing her “corruption” crime, which is similar to Taipei city mayor Ma Ying-jeou's “corruption” case.
Japan: birth-giving machines
Japan’s Health Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa recently called women “birth-giving machines” and got himself caught in trouble. More from Japan Probe
