Stories from 22 August 2007
Russia: Blogger on Trial for Writing Fiction
Blogger Dmitry Shirinkin faces trial for having written on his blog that he had purchased a gun and was going to kill a few dozen people in one of the city’s colleges. According to Shirinkin, the text - posted on April 21, but made private on April 22 - was a work of fiction, "inspired" by the Virginia Tech shooting. According to the prosecutor's office, however, Shirinkin has violated Article 207 of the Russian Criminal Code by "distributing false information on a planned terrorist act." The trial is likely to take place in September; if convicted, the Russian blogger may receive a three-year prison sentence.
Syria: Through the Bloggers’ Cameras
Hovic and Abd are two friends from Aleppo in northern Syria. They are also among the finest photo bloggers on the blogsphere. Hovic and Abd's Blogs, named, Syria Looks and Syria Winks, are online show rooms of Syria. Here is a journey through some of their most amazing collections.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: “Voluntourists”
Bosnia Vault links to a piece on “voluntourists” in Srebrenica.
Russia: Intermarriages
Of the more than 60,000 marriages in Moscow in the first half of 2007, a quarter were between native Muscovites – “typically an ethnic Russian woman – and a citizen of a neighboring country – more often than not a man from Azerbaijan or Central Asia.” Window on Eurasia attempts...
Russia: August 1991
Window on Eurasia writes about the missed opportunities of the August 1991 coup, which out an end to the Soviet Union.
Serbia: Kosovo Roma
Peshas Gypsy Gitan Blog writes about the plight of the Roma of Kosovo.
Jamaica: Media Emergency?
“I am a big supporter of the media and their freedom of speech. I do believe in the public’s right to know. However, I don’t know that the media has some emergency rights giving them free reign over the roads.” Beyondbee wonders what constitutes a “media emergency”.
Trinidad & Tobago: Faith and Tolerance
Caribbean Free Radio refers to an article by Nilanjana S. Roy to make a point about tolerance – religious and otherwise – and puts in her two cents’ worth about Trinidad & Tobago's 2007/2008 Budget.
Russia: Nashi, BBC, and the Upcoming Elections
Mark MacKinnon writes about the recent BBC ban and the Nashi movement's summer camps: “Both the Kremlin's bolstering of “patriotic” youth movements and its crackdown on non-state media outlets are moves directed at heading off any kind of Orange Revolution-inspired uprising in Russia around December's Duma elections and/or next year's...
Estonia: Russia
Yet another blog battle is raging in the comments section of Edward Lucas’ post on the Russo-Estonian relations.
Ukraine: Bukovyna's New Romanians
Edward Lucas writes about Bukovyna's demographic trends: “A Ukrainian TV channel reports that 50,000 people in the western region of Chernovtsy now hold Romanian passports.”
Jamaica: Only Kindess Matters
“A friend of mine saw the hunger in my eyes after the hurricane…and she gave me what she had, two starburst in an easy to open mini pack.” Nuff Conscious Ramblings And Perspectives never underestimates an act of kindness, while Yardflex.com says: “Solidarity in its best form is what the...
Czech Rebublic: “Imaginary Migrants”
Dr. Sean's Diary writes about the Czech Republic's immigration policies and the president's “imaginary migrants and imaginary Muslims.”
Jamaica: Visionary?
Chronicles from a Caribbean Cubicle explores the elements that make vision statements work…or not.
Czech Rebublic, Slovakia: Tax Systems
Dr Sean's Diary compares the tax systems of Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Guyana: Rainmaker
Guyana-Gyal wants to be a rainmaker…
Cuba: Visit to Cuba
“In the end, despite all of Cuba's festering sores, I embraced the country like no other before. It was an odd feeling…I knew I could never live in the country, but yet, I was sincerely heartbroken to say goodbye.” American Katie Mustard shares her impressions of Cuba.
Tanzania: How to shoot yourself in the foot
How to Shoot Yourself in the Foot is the lesson Tanzania’s parliament is delivering, at least for the time being, after its decision to suspend a Member of Parliament for Kigoma North, Zitto Kabwe, has turned into a mini victory for the opposition. Zitto, who keeps a blog, was suspended for allegedly lying to the parliament and humiliating the Energy and Minerals Minister, Nazir Karamagi.
Cayman Islands: Hurricane Wisdom
Blogging from the Cayman Islands, Mad Bull has been through his fair share of hurricanes and shares this piece of advice: “…if your house is in good condition, stay inside, nuh man! No, for some reason, it seems that people feel they have to go outside during these powerful killer...
Belize: Safe After Dean
“It was like nothing I have ever experienced. I always thought that a hurricane would be loud, but it was almost deafening at times.” Belize-y Livin’ recounts her experience of Hurricane Dean as it hit Belize, complete with photos of the damage.
Barbados: Embracing Africa
Barbados is the venue for an African Diaspora conference that starts tomorrow – Caribbean Comment is all for the region forging links with Africa, but says: “Whatever we in the Caribbean may want to try, we will need to remember that African countries also have their own agendas.”
