Stories from 23 February 2007
Uzbekistan: Mathematical Expression
Claire Wilkinson discusses a report showing that medieval Islamic art shows an understanding of complex geometry that did not find mathematical expression until fairly recently. The researcher first became interested in the subject while visiting Islamic structures in Uzbekistan.
Turkmenistan: Flurry of Activity
neweurasia reports on the flurry of personnel shuffling, diplomatic calls, and presidential edicts since Turkmenistan elected its new president, who, the post says, must shake things up in order to survive.
Kazakhstan: Environmental Buyout
Ben Paarmann says that ChevronTexaco has long had problems with accumulating sulfur deposits at its Tengiz oil field in Kazakhstan. So why is the government suddenly threatening to punish the company for environmental damage? Ben suggests that Kazakhstan's government may be trying to get more control over the project.
Armenia: Dual Citizenship
At Life in Armenia, Raffi K. notes that dual citizenship is closer to becoming a reality and hopes that sticking points holding it up can be sorted out soon.
Turkmenistan: Turkic Reunion?
At neweurasia Peter reports on how relations between Turkey and Turkmenistan are changing in the wake of the death of the country's former President Saparmurad Niazov.
Haiti: Picture of 1901 Port-au-Prince
As its “historical image of the day,” Alterdestiny posts a picture of Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 1901.
East Timor:
Teresa writes about the latest controversy in East Timor where a Timorese person was shot by an Australian peacekeeper. Both the Australian and the East Timorese recount different versions of what actually happened. Teresa hopes “Of course, this event will now be used by some to foster instability, leading to...
Romania: Claudia Schiffer Banned
In Romania, “celebrities have been barred from advertising children's food” – which makes Claudia Schiffer illegal, reports Blog Bucharest.
Poland: Offensive Cartoon
Chris Borowski of Traveling Life writes about the New Yorker cartoon that has offended many Poles; the beatroot responds with a childhood story.
Poland: Anti-Euthanasia, Anti-Missile, Anti-Semitism
The beatroot writes on one Polish man's right to die, on the U.S. anti-missile systems, and on the anti-Semitic writings of the Polish education minister's father. As always, the discussion area is bursting with comments.
Cambodia: PopStar Shot At
Sopheak writes about a Cambodian pop star Pov Panha who was shot in broad daylight on Feb 23.
Jamaica: “Satan is Real”
Unreconstructed racists the Louvin Brothers, composers of the country classic “Satan is Real”, “would have been horrified to know that just near the equator hundreds of negroes were loving their music,” writes Marlon James, in a post touching upon reggae's roots in country-and-western music.
Hungary: Paedophilia Controversy
According to Pestcentric, “Hungary has one of the lowest age-of-consents in the EU at 14 years old” – and this is causing foreign media to announce that the country is about to make paedophilia legal.
Estonia: Migrant Workers
Hello Estonia writes about Estonian construction workers in Finland.
Europe: Pre-Lent Celebrations
Wu Wei writes on Pancakes racing in Britain on Shrove Tuesday, Uzgavenes in Lithuania, Maslenitsa in Russia, and Kurentovanje in Slovenia. Nami-Nami shares a recipe of Estonian lenten buns.
Jamaica: Homophobia and violence
Leon Robinson prefaces a post about a series of brutal attacks on gay men in Jamaica by saying: “Homosexuality is frowned upon in Jamaica. Not because were “homophobic” (surely we can't be afraid of them), but because it is unlawful, as our law is based upon the Bible.“
Top ten Caribbean novels
In response to a meme about books and reading, Geoffrey Philp posts his list of top ten Caribbean novels.
Puerto Rico: Pondering corruption and passports
Gil the Jenius offers some points to ponder relating to government corruption and the new regulations requiring US citizens to have passports in order to travel: “Although Puerto Rico is exempted for U.S. citizens (meaning they can visit without a passport), many people won't grok that.“
Europe: Recycling
Wu Wei writes about rubbish recycling in the UK, Lithuania, Greece and Slovenia.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Dayton Accords Discrimination Case
Neretva River discusses a case brought before the European Court for Human Rights: “Sarajevo's Jewish community, led by Jakob Finci, is arguing that the Dayton Accords are discriminatory as they de facto bar from high public office members of minority communities that happen not to fit nicely into ‘Croat,’ ‘Muslim’...
Serbia: Kosovo “Deadlock”
Balkan Baby writes on the Kosovo “deadlock.”
