Stories from 1 May 2007
Israel Confiscates Land North of the Jordan Valley
‘Receiving the notices of confiscating 238.6 dunums by the Israeli authority yesterday was painful for the residents of Bardala in the north of the Jordan Valley, especially for those who own agricultural land. The notice said, “According to my authority as commander in the Israeli Defense Force in the area...
Palestine: May 1 Day of Mourning
Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah says May 1 isn't a day of celebration but of mourning for Palestinians. In his post, Sabbah details the Ein al Zeitun massacre, which took place in 1948.
Iraq: US Death Toll Passes 100
Palestinian Pundit – Tony – reports that last month's American death toll exceeded 100.
Israel: The Best Blogs
New York-based Israeli blogger Sholom discusses the on going battle to figure out the best Israeli blogs here.
Oman: Public Smoking Ban?
Omani blogger Sleepless in Muscat discusses banning smoking in public and increasing taxes in the Omani capital Muscat here.
Turkey is Typing….Is Turkey Heading for Another Coup?
Increased tensions over the Turkish presidential elections result in more protests and even statements from the military alluding to a possible coup if the current Presidential candidate Abdullah Gull becomes elected. What is a country to do? As many of the Turkish bloggers point out, sit by their televisions and watch. Watch the elections proceedings, watch the film footage of the protests in Istanbul, watch for the signs of the change to come. This week's Turkey is Typing focuses on the waiting of the Turkish people; waiting for the future.
Labouring in Qatar
Like many of the Gulf States, Qatar is heavily dependent of foreign expatriate workforce to help fuels its growth. Demographically, Qataris make up less than 25% of the 800,000 people living in the country, with the remaining 600,000 or so people being expats or children. With a reported per capita...
Morocco: Naming laws, springtime quiet and Sufi music
Although Spring maybe quiet in Morocco as locals dip into specially prepared cuisine, bloggers are busy debating naming laws for new Moroccan parents in The Netherlands and and basking in the spirit of Sufi music in Fez. Follow the arrows to read Jillian York's report.
Guadeloupe: Celebrating May Day
For French Labor Day, celebrated on May 1st, Convention pour une Nouvelle Guadeloupe writes [Fr]: “We … denounce the social model imposed by French authorities of the left and of the right and we … want a new model rooted in Guadeloupean values and founded mostly on the end of...
Guadeloupe: Let's Vote
About the upcoming French presidential second round elections, Guadeloupe Attitude writes [Fr]: “Vote Saturday! Vote well! And let's roll up our sleeves Monday for the challenges that await us!”
Haiti: Happy to Be Home
At Notedor.com, Nancy Chapoteau writes [Fr]: “After a couple of days away, I have just returned home. I received a warm welcome … I think the walls sang to celebrate my return. Where else can one be better off than home? … I refuse to believe that it is normal...
Vietnam Bloggers Crash the Linguistic Divide
Ironically bloggers like Joe's Blog and Vietnamese God put the lie to the idea of a single blogosphere, a unified world of blogs that spans the globe. Yes, blogs have become a global phenomenon, but studies show increasingly that there are multiple blogospheres defined by culture, language and different technologies. Far too often these worlds are distinct solitudes operating in parallel.
