Stories from 20 August 2007
Barbados, Jamaica: One Love
Gallimaufry reports that “The Anglican Church in Jamaica is proposing the addition of songs by Bob Marley and Peter Tosh to its hymnal.”
Barbados, Jamaica: The Politics of Dean
Barbados Underground thinks that Jamaica's political landscape could be affected in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean: “It will call for collaboration between the PNP anf JLP at a time when emotions are close to flash point.”
Iran: We haven’t tortured them yet !
Khorshidkhanoum writes that Said Mortazavi, Tehran’s Chief Prosecutor, called the families of Ehsan Mansouri, Ahmad Ghasaban, and Majid Tavakolli, the three imprisoned Amir Kabir University students, and told them angrily and authoritatively: “We warned you several times not to speak anywhere, not to interview, not to distribute the news about...
Tanzania: The making of the movie, Bongoland II
If you can make a movie in Dar es Salaam, then you can make a movie anywhere: “First there are production and logistical issues. The production issues were easily resolved because we had anticipated those and planned for them. What we did not anticipate are the issues beyond our control…traffic...
Africa: Is East Africa a literary desert?
Are there writers in East Africa?: “For many years we were made to believe that East Africa was a literary desert. Taban lo Liyong said it and regional publishers vindicated him. And they kept him vindicated for many years but we all knew it was an excuse to invest solely...
Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago: Ian Ali Passes On
Ringplay Productions and Now is Wow acknowledge the passing of television personality, artist and educator, Ian Ali.
Bahamas: Self-Publishing
Bahamian Nicolette Bethel posts a great piece on self-publishing.
Aruba: After Dean
Despite her love of waves, Arubagirl says: “I think I join everybody living in the Caribbean when I hope that the hurricane season will PLEASE be over soon.”
Kazakhstan: No surprises
KZBlog reports that the ruling Nur-Otan party of President Nazarbayev has reason to celebrate their landslide in Kazakhstan's parliamentary elections while the opposition is refuting the poll result.
Let Hoder Speak!
Following the suspension of Hossein Derakhshan’s blog (aka Hoder) by the U.S. based hosting company, Hosting Matters, an online petition has been launched by The Eyeranian in support of Hoder’s right to freedom of speech: “Hoder, like all of us, has a right to express his opinion. Opinions expressed in...
Kyrgyzstan: Post-SCO reflections
Mirsulzhan Namazaliev shares some of his thoughts on the SCO summit which took place in Kyrgyzstan last week.
Tajikistan: Discussing Russian xenophobia
Vadim and his readers at neweurasia discuss the racist murder video which appeared on Russian websites last week (GV reported).
Uzbekistan: Against Tajik plans
Uzbekistan stands out to loose most if Tajikistan was to go ahead with the construction of new hydro-power plants. The two rivers in question, Syr Darya and Amu Darya, provide most of the water for Uzbekistan's cotton sector. Jamiyat wonders about the potential consequences.
Georgia: Offensive
After the alleged Russian attack on one of its radio stations, Georgia seems determined to move the case up to the UN, reports Joshua Foust at Registan.net.
Armenia: Pan-Armenian Games
Onnik Krikorian visited the opening ceremony of the 4th Pan-Armenian Games, in which 2,500 competitors from communities in Armenia and the Diaspora compete (more photos here).
Malaysia: Talking Politics with Kids harder than talking about Sex
5Xmom says its harder to talk about politics with kids compared to talking about sex. The blogger offers some suggestions to the parents on balancing their kid's independent thinking and political correctness.
Indonesia: Teen Virginity Tests
Indonesia Matters reports on a unsuccessful plan by a local government to give virginity tests to teenagers after several sex videos that had high school students in them started surfacing.
Singapore: North Korean Trip
Singaporean blogger Oikono meets a North Korean tour guide who shares the blogger's interest in Economics.
Malaysia: Malaysian Youtube Rapper
Cowboycaleb comments on a rap video that a Malaysian student in Taiwan uploaded on youtube. The video has the Malaysian national flag as the backdrop. Malaysian police are contemplating charging the student under the country's sedition charge.
Iran:Award winner writer in trouble
Khabgard reminds[Fa] us that Yaghoub Yadali, an award winner writer, is going to be judged in court because of his novel “The behavior of unrest”. This story was published two years ago with permission of Iranian authorities and won a couple of awards.It seems some people complained against some sentences...
Peru: Fragile Tourist Destinations
Touristic patrimony is often fragile, writes Jorge Gobbi of Blog de Viajes [ES] in reference to the destruction of some of the natural formations in Paracas, Peru.
