24 May 2007

Stories from 24 May 2007

Ecuador: The President Pushes Free Software

  24 May 2007

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.”

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...

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...

India: Street Vending and the Media

  24 May 2007

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

  24 May 2007

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

  24 May 2007

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

  24 May 2007

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

  24 May 2007

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...