Stories from 9 August 2007
Bahrain: Illegitimate Children
Bahraini blogger Lizardo is on an on-the-job training stint - which he has to complete to earn his university degree. In this translation, he tells us some of the hard lessons in life he had to learn as an added bonus.
Kyrgyzstan: SCO summit
The members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will send their heads of state to Kyrgyzstan next week. While the Kyrgyz bloggers are amazed by the beautification of their capital ahead of the summit, Western bloggers ponder the significance of the SCO's growth.
Armenia: World Bank responds
Confronted with allegations of corruption, the World Bank has now written a formal reply to Armenian blogger Onnik Krikorian. Onnik, however, thinks the Bank should launch an official and open...
Afghanistan: Security premium
Reconstruction in Afghanistan's volatile areas is much more expensive and unproductive than elsewhere. Safrang agrees with a columnist that the international community should take another approach.
Georgia: Winter Olympics repercussions
The Black Sea resort Sochi will be hosting the Winter Olympics in 2014, and the near breakaway Georgian province of Abkhazia can expect huge investments from Russia. Scraps of Moscow...
Central Asia: Cultural intelligence
Nathan Hamm shares his thoughts on a New York Times article which argues that while knowledge of the nomadic social legacies of the Central Asian countries is important, an overemphasis...
Part One: Defending online free speech and environmental rights in Bulgaria
The June 29, 2007 decision of the Bulgarian Administrative Court (VAS) to remove the protected status of the National Park Strandzha, has evoked a strong reaction from the Bulgarian blogsphere and also from the country's vibrant environmental movement. The two groups have united to defend the country's largest protected area, which is located on the South Black Sea coast, with its unique eco-systems, biodiversity, cultural and historical heritage.
Trinidad & Tobago: TSTT's Flat Rate
“Why after all this time has the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad & Tobago decided to introduce a flat rate for all customers instead of the ‘complex rate structure’ we all...
Trinidad & Tobago: Caribbean Overlooked for Booker
“What have those judges up in London been overlooking?” asks Nicholas at Antilles, on learning that once again, there are no Caribbean writers longlisted for the Man Booker Prize for...
Jamaica: Nomination Day
“Yesterday was nomination day, the day when candidates officially registered their votes. This is one of the big landmarks in the election trail, and everyone was watching closely to see...
Dominica, Haiti: Earthbag Homes
Living Dominica is impressed by a project in Haiti that provides homes for street children.
Cuba: Taking Off the Boxing Gloves?
Both Babalu Blog and Child of the Revolution focus on the latest developments with the Cuban boxers who tried to defect at the recently-concluded Pan Am Games.
Barbados: Climate Change
“If we believe that man-made changes are causing the bulk of the climatic changes we need to make sure that our small voices start to be heard much more.” Living...
Japan: Tanabata Festival
Shari at My So-Called Japanese Life has posted an article with many photos about the Tanabata Festival which just finished in Asagaya, Tokyo.
Philippines: Tourists Could Stay in Philippines for Two Years
TravelPhilippines has good news for people planning on exploring Philippines. Seems Philippines is thinking of allowing tourists to stay in the country for upto 24 months irrespective of their nationality.
Singapore: Happy Birthday to Singapore from Thailand
Bisean posts national day greetings for Singapore from Thailand. “They have proven us that a little tropical island can attain world-class status. They have shown us what discipline is all...
Kyrgyzstan: Website attacked
Bektour Iskender talks to neweurasia about his citizen media website, Kloop.kg, being attacked by hackers.
Syria: Lebanese Border and Toilet Etiquette
Yazan Badran takes us on a tour of Syrian blogs where bloggers are discussing the worsening of conditions of Syrian workers and families at the Lebanese-Syrian border, calls for the return of the Golan Heights occupied by Israel to Syria, the Czech machine gun and toilet etiquette.
Paraguay: Internet Availability and Prices
Internet en Paraguay [ES} summarizes the velocity and price for the various internet connections in Paraguay.
Chile: Santiago in 100 Words
En Tu Ciudad [ES] writes about the annual writing contest called Santiago en 100 palabras (Santiago in 100 words). First prize is a trip to the Olympic games in Beijing.
China: Speaking for the Rich and Working for the Poor?
Xueyong has recently terminated his working relation with Southern Metropolitan News because the newspapers has censored his criticism of Mao Yushi who argued that intellectuals should be “speaking for the...
