Stories from 24 May 2007
Ecuador: The President Pushes Free Software
The use of YouTube to disseminate messages has now reached the presidential palace in Ecuador. President Rafael Correa last month spoke about the use of free software and its benefits for his country. The video was featured on the channel used exclusively for videos coming from his office. Bloggers, not only in Ecuador, but bloggers all across the region applauded this new use of technology.
Ukraine: Piskun, Again
Ukrainiana writes: “Svaytoslav Piskun, Ukraine’s perennial prosecutor general, lost his job today.” Once again. This time, though, his dismissal has caused some Ukrainian politicians to talk of “an attempted coup.”
Russia: Investments in Austria
Robert Amsterdam writes about Russian investments in Austria.
Morocco's UN Refugee Office Closes its Doors
Cat in Rabat reports that The United Nations Refugee Office in Morocco has closed its doors after African migrants stormed the building on Saturday. “They were demanding financial assistance for accommodation and food, as well as residency papers, access to healthcare, and the right to work,” she says, adding: “There...
Ukraine, Serbia: Investigating Political Murders
Taras Kuzio writes about political assassinations and pursuit of justice, and compares Ukraine to Serbia: “Ukraine’s fragile democracy is closer to Serbia’s democratising state than to Russia’s autocracy.”
Serbia: Kosovo Shelter for Stray Dogs
Prishtine: Independence and Kanun writes about Kosovo Shelter for Stray Dogs.
Latvia: Presidential Candidates
Marginalia and All About Latvia write about the presidential candidates, including the governing coalition's Valdis Zatlers, “the nearly unknown medical doctor.”
Belarus: More on Student Rallies
More on the recent student protest and the “official” opposition at TOL's Belarus: “Student protests have not been that successful – and official opposition media have mostly failed to deliver appropriate reports from them. An action on the 20th of May has gathered round 250 people, whereas an action on...
Estonia, Russia: More on Cyber War
Edward Lucas writes on “cybersecurity,” and Urmo, in the comments section, gives an update on the Estonian-Russian “information war.”
Iran:what do people when they are worried about being arrested?
In recent weeks several Iranian-Americans including Haleh Esfandiari were arrested and have no right to have a lawyer.View From Iran writes what do people when they are worried about being arrested:Here's the drill:1. Sell all the alcohol.2. Backup everything on the computer and then reformat the hard drives.3. Call people...
India: Street Vending and the Media
Sacred Media Cow on how the media covers the issue of street vendors. “The local English print media has often targeted hawkers invoking a liberal-democratic discourse of citizenship: the rights of the ‘common man’ or the ‘pedestrian’ to public space, the ‘common man’ being a politically innocent, classless, neutral entity...
India: Television in the 80s
DesiDabba remembers television serials aired in the 1980s and early 90s, and wonders if they would have their appeal if they were to air today. “This brings us to the very question I started with. Swamy was based on a well written literature. What if the same serial would have...
India: Supermarkets, Chain stores and Corner Stores
The Qualitative Research Blog on the differences between supermarkets and traditional stores in the UK and India. “It’s interesting to see how retail establishments from these two worlds are converging – borrowing elements that work and shunning away those that don’t. The small – medium size ‘supermarket’ ensconced in residential...
Pakistan: Thinking as a Nation
The Pakistani Spectator on the importance of thinking like a nation. “We have totally disregarded thinking as a nation, if symbol of unity and integrity is thinking on such lines then we cannot blame a poor who is only thinking of his wages. We need to think like a nation...
Pakistan: Violence, Terrorism and Islam
iFaqeer on Islam, leadership, terrorism and the politics of it all. “Given that, the problem as I see it, both with Muslims in the West and globally, and “communities of concern” in places like Karachi, and Kashmir, and Palestine, is that, now that there is “leadership” in place that a...
Israel: Sderot Under Attack
From Israel Katherine links to a video of a Sderot factory worker badly hurt in a Qassam rocket attack. “Sderot is a little town a few km's from the border with the Gaza strip. For the past few days its residents have had to put up with a huge number...
Israel: Give Peace a Chance
IsraeliMom writes : “What bothers me most, is the implicit support of the Kassam attacks by ordinary Palestinians living in Gaza. I hope I'm wrong there and that they don't support it, but I don't see any outright condemnation either. The Kassams are bad for Palestinians – not for Israelis....
Palestine: Waiting for the Dreadful Conclusion
Palestinian blogger Laila Al Haddad updates us on life in Gaza. “I can't sleep. I get up maybe once every two hours. Go to the bathroom, walk around a little, and then doze off again. Only to be awakened by the drones, followed by the manic hovering of helicopter gunships....
Lebanon: Civilians Unharmed by Army
“During the past couple of days, media and many blogs have been reporting the cruel racist targeting of innocent Palestinian civilians by the Lebanese Army. Some even went as far as comparing the Lebanese Army with the Israeli and American ones, and how they all share a common interest in...
Lebanon: Where Will the Next Bomb Strike?
Lebanese blogger Charles Malak is asking: Where will the next bomb strike in Lebanon? “So, where can we expect the next attack? Hamra? Jal ed Dib? Batroun? Bhamdoun? Most Lebanese go to work, and return home immediately. Friends, the other day, came over to my place. They said, “We'll go...
Kuwait: Filipinos Gear Up for National Celebration
The Filipino community in Kuwait, in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy laid the groundwork for the observance of Philippines’ 109th Independence Day anniversary on June 12, 2007 in a meeting held Monday at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Jabriya. The first part of the celebration will hold a a...
