Stories from 18 May 2007
Peru: Just Say No! to the OLPC
The Peruvian Minister of Education, José Antonio Chang, recently announced that Peru would participate in the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project. With only a model of the XO in hand, he said, “This will permit the children to have access to technology from all parts of the country and...
Belarus: Blog Roundup
TOL's Belarus posts an overview of Belarusian blogs: “The burning news of the BB (belarusian blogosphere) recently has become a new witty initiative of the government to remove all satellite antennas and climate control devices located on outer walls of Minsk buildings.”
Romania: “Urban Contrast”
Owlspotting posts pictures of Romania's old and new neighborhoods: “As metal rusts on one edge of town, metal gives birth to new neighborhoods at the other. Cities are expanding, people are slowly gravitating outward, traffic jams have become common place, and metal is once again in fashion.”
Moldova: June 3 Elections
Public Policy Watch writes about the upcoming local elections in Moldova.
Moldova: Charity Concert
Life in Moldova posts pictures from an HIV/AIDS benefit concert.
Ukraine: Prime Minister's Knee
Ukrainiana writes about the price of PM Yanukovych's knee surgery.
Ukraine: Kyiv Street Fashion
Inspired by the weather, Olechko takes pictures of Kyiv's “simply beautiful people, irony aside” and posts them on Flickr, in her Kyiv street fashion photo set.
Ukraine: Reckless Driving
Foreign Notes writes about Ukrainian politics and reckless driving.
Ukraine: Yushchenko's UK Visit Cancelled
Foreing Notes writes about the cancellation of president Yushchenko's meeting with Tony Blair.
Russia: Dissent and Samara Summit
Samara-based blogger Dmitri Minaev and Sean Guillory write about the EU-Russia Summit in Samara and the regime's ways of dealing with dissent.
Africa: Blog This Poem!
The African blogosphere is rapidly expanding, bringing more voices online in the form of commentaries, opinions, analyses, rants...and poetry. Blogs have created a new space for African poets to share their creative and imaginative works with a wider audience. Today, I will introduce you to a few poems written by African bloggers.
Serbian “Prayer” Wins Eurovision Song Contest
Just a few days ago, major news outlets reported that the main course of discussion at the Serbian Assembly session was to determine which political party is supported by the 2007 Eurovision winner, Marija Serifovic. Milutin Mrkonjic, who presided at the meeting, invited the singer to visit the parliament. When she came in, Mrkonjic said, “Fellow deputies, please turn around and greet Marija Serifovic. We will be having a short break. Let all of us go to the lobby to have a juice with our Marija.” Serbian bloggers have been discussing various aspects of Serifovic's victory, too, of course, and Ljubisa Bojic translates some of the reactions.
Kazakhstan: A President for Life
On 18 May the Parliament of Kazakhstan adopted the changes into the Constitution in the second reading. According to one of the amendments, the first president of Kazakhstan will no more have limits on how many times he can run for the president's office. Let us see how the Livejournal...
Morocco: Fighting ignorance, injustice, and irrationality
Giving one's child a special first name should be an inalienable right, not a lengthy bureaucratic process. Hamza Daoui covers a debate stirring up over this very issue, as well as the upcoming Moroccan elections and the timeless subject of ignorance.
India: The trouble in Punjab
Indian Muslims on the ongoing conflict between the sects of the same religion in Punjab. “That brings me to some really troubling happenings in Punjab recently. Apparently there is a sect called Dera Sacha Sauda that claims a following of 15 million people. 15 million is a huge number even...
India: Mythology and culture
The Kerala Articles on similarities between various mythologies across the world. “There are many other similarities between the various mythologies in the world. It is not possible to cover all of them under the realms of a single post. But it is infinitely fascinating to learn more and more about...
Nepal, Bhutan: Bhutanese Refugees
Nepal Monitor summarizes the findings of a report on the plight of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. “Bhutanese refugees languishing in the camps in Nepal and India should be free to choose between returning home or resettling in the US, says Human Rights Watch. In a 86-page report entitled, Last Hope:...
Bangladesh: On Wolfowitz
Wolfowitz's exit from the World Bank prompts imperfect world 2007 says. “his man who is responsible for so much death and destruction personifies the unreal world neocon thinking inhabits. If you remember he was the man who predicted that US soldiers would be feted in the streets of Baghdad after...
EgyptL Bahma Update
Egyptian blogger Nora Younis continues to update us on the developments in the village of Bahma, which witnessed sectarian strife between Muslims and Copts last week. “I received the following message today saying Egypt’s State Security asked Christian victims of Bamha to change their official testimonies and on-record complaints to...
Israel: Brits Banning Israeli Universities, Professors and Students
“The Brits are at it again. (Like they’ve ever stopped). So British academics are again putting together a boycott of Israeli universities, Israeli professors, and Israeli students. Four Israeli academics went to meet with the boycott put-togetherers in the U.K. this week,” notes blogger Yael from Israel.
Iraq: Al Jazeera Bending to US Pressure
Iraqi blogger Lady Bird claims that Qatari-based Al Jazeera is being forced to bend to pressure from the US. “Reported today the board members of Aljazeera were removed [including Chief director Wadah Khanfar] and a totally new board was established appointed by the Emir of Qatar directly.The rumors are that...
