Stories from 27 April 2007
Kuwait: Healthcare Update
“(M)isinformed decision-makers and erroneous popular belief have shifted resources away from many of the basic foundations of a sound health care system (in Kuwait),” writes blogger Nadeem, as he continues to discuss healthcare in Kuwait.
Iraq: Al Maliki Snubbed by Saudi Arabia
Iraqi blogger Ladybird debates why Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki was denied a visit to Saudi Arabia. While some claim it was for ‘technical’ reasons others say that he was snubbed because of his support for the Shia.
Japan: Reflections on postwar “Child's Play”
Debito reproduces a passage from John Dower's famous book “Embracing Defeat” dealing with the games children played in post-WW2 Japan, including “holding a mock black market, playing prostitute and customer, and recreating left-wing political demonstrations.” Debito comments that Dower's account “is something rarely considered in historical accounts: The barometer of...
Iraq: Satirical Stats
I have found a great Arabic Wiki called Beidipedia (lit. Eggepedia) about the Middle East in general but is predominantly focused upon Iraq, its approach is to present satirical items in the traditional neutral news/encyclopedia approach a la The Onion, writes Iraqi blogger Konfused Kid, who is based in Jordan.
Bahrain: Mahmood's Den Fourth Anniversary
The Godfather of Bahraini bloggers Mahmood Al Yousif marks his blog's fourth anniversary with a gift to his readers.
Liberia: the man da can put Charles Taylor inside
Liberian Ledger on Liberian English and “the man da can put Charles Taylor inside.”
Somalia: Mogadishu Tech Massacre
Espresso Royale Commentaries discusses “Mogadishu tech massacre”: The Mogadishu massacre was bigger in number but lesser known to most people because it didn’t make to be a prime media piece. This massacre was even worse. It was Virginia Tech shooting multiplied by 100 and it is repeated daily and ongoing....
Kurdistance: A Week Like Any Other
The news coming out of the Kurdish blogs this week is as varied as the landscape of Kurdistan itself. From predictions on Syrian Kurd alliances with Israel, to censorship in Turkey; from explorations of Northern Iraq, to essays on intolerance, the Kurdish bloggers cover it all. But for this week, I think we will begin with why, to Kurds, April is considered as the "Bride of the Year".
Kenya: Kenyan film wins African award
“Last month Nigerian films made a sweep at the African Movie Academy Awards. Incidentally, only one film from Kenya was nominated, Voice in the Bin for Best Film,” writes KenyaImagine.
Uganda: Uganda ratifies Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
Jackie Tumwine reports that the Uganda government has ratified Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC): “Uganda signed this first ever global public health treaty back in March 2004- the same month that the national ban on smoking in public places came into force.”
Africa: the cultural construction of African homosexuality
Gukira discusses “the cultural construction of African homosexuality”: If we are to understand the cultural construction of African homosexuality, it must be from within the prison. Once we understand sodomy as a tool of political repression, or, more precisely, as being intertwined with political repression, then we can understand, if...
Cameroon: Autobiographies, biographies, and memoirs from Cameroon
Dibussi Tande on Cameroonian national figures with autobiographies, biographies, and memoirs: “For example, Albert Mukong and Christian Tobie Kuo both wrote two volumes of their memoirs. Same with Jean Martin Tchaptchet (who shared that infamous last meal with nationalist leader Felix Moumie in Geneva in 1960), who has published two...
Armenia: Pop Stars for Status Quo
Oneworld Multimedia reports that Armenia's pop stars have finally come out in support of the ruling political party in the country's parliamentary election campaign.
Georgia: Talent, A Rush, & Photos from Abkhazia
Josh Kucera has more from Abkhazia, a de facto independent region of Georgia, including photos and video from a talent show.
Armenia, Georgia: Comparing Local Governance
Social Science in the Caucasus compares local governance in Armenia and Georgia.
Kazakhstan: Investment & the Court
An American businessman in Kazakhstan, Marc Seidenfeld, has been arrested in what appears to be a frame-up by local business interests to retaliate against him for selling his business in an open auction, raising its final sale price. Bonnie Boyd says that this points to a serious problem with rule...
Afghanistan: Fourth Estate in the Balance
Safrang reports that Afghanistan's parliament is debating a bill that would further erode the diminishing freedom that Afghanistan's media enjoys.
Argentina: The Maradona Rumor Mill
Juan Pablo Meneses of the Crónicas Argentinas [ES] blog, which compiles all things Diego Maradona, discusses the latest death rumor that caused quite a false alarm stir, which has become such a common occurrence in Argentina. He finishes with, “why does Maradona die so often?”
Armenia: British Election Scandal
Onnik Krikorian discusses an Armenian election scandal involving the British embassy.
Bolivia: Screening of “Cocalero” in the Chapare
Much of the world's interest in Bolivia has to do with the first indigenous president, Evo Morales. He got his start as a union leader with the coca growers in the Chapare region of Bolivia. A recent documentary called “Cocalero” followed Morales during his victorious campaign of 2005. The film's...
Guatemala: Laundry Day!
A photo of day of life in Antigua, Guatemala brings readers of Antigua Guatemala Daily Photo a glimpse into life in this Central American country. The most recent photo shows a public washbasin where the women of the area wash their clothes by hand. A shared water tank is combined...