Stories from 30 August 2007
Cuba: Changes?
Is change imminent in Cuba? Child of the Revolution offers two opposing views.
Japan: Executed Death-Row Inmate was Mentally-Ill
Asia Death Penalty outlines the results in a report by Amnesty International indicating that one of the death-row inmates killed last week in Japan, Hifumi Takezawa, was mentally ill.
Madagascar : Andriamanankoavy Jonny r'afa on why he writes
Malagasy Author-Musician-Sculptor Andriamanankoavy Jonny r'afa explains his art : “D'abord, à travers l'Art, entretenir et enrichir la ” Mémoire Collective ” des Malgaches. Celà reste un devoir par respect des origines. Trouver alors ce qu'il faut préserver, et les transmettre, les traduire.” “Through art, one can maintain and enrich the...
Tunisia: The Rich and Poor
According to official statistics, there are twice as many rich people than poor ones in Tunisia. Subzero Blue tells us why that really isn't the case.
Israel: Arab and Jewish Refugees
Aussie Dave from Israel discusses the difference between Jewish and Arab refugees in this post.
Jordan: Athletes Health
Jordanian Hareega discusses the untimely deaths of ‘seemingly healthy’ athletes.
Jordan: Urban Development on Facebook
Ahmad Humeid from Jordan writes about a new Facebook group which aims to discuss urban development in the the kingdom.
Morocco: The Upcoming Elections
With the Moroccan legislative elections looming on September 7, Moroccan bloggers share their concerns about the process and its progress.
Cayman Islands: Caribbean Film Festival
Mighty Afroditee is impressed by the quality of films being shown at the Caribbean Film Festival.
Barbados: Two Bodies Recovered
Cheese-on-bread! compares the site of the Barbados apartment building collapse to a “ground zero”, while Barbados Underground and Barbados Free Press report that two bodies (mother and son) have been recovered thus far.
Trinidad & Tobago: A Study in Contradiction?
“First world is not about having things, it is about how we value our musicians, artists, writers, actors as well as our businessmen. We talk about the arts et al, but do we appreciate their value?” asks Half Empty or Half Full as she contemplates the contradiction that is Trinidad...
Japan: Life out of a Manga Kissa
Results of a survey just released by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has found that thousands of people across Japan bordering on poverty live their lives out of Internet cafes or "manga kissa". Bloggers this week reflected on the significance of the results.
South Korea: E.Land Workers Strike
Workers from a local supermarket E.Land has been on strike for two months against the employer's termination of non-regular workers contract. Jamie from Two Koreas has some updates on the latest development.
South Korea: Lee Myung-bak Doctrine
Lee Byong-chul from Ohmynews reported on the presidential candidate Lee Myung-bak foreign policy, in particular his attitude towards North Korea and U.S.
Japan: Soy Sauce for Ice-cream
Edo from Pink Tentacle introduced a new popular food product, a type of Tamari soy sauce specially designed for use on ice cream.
China: Feedburner Blocked Again
William Long reported: Feedburner, the most popular and powerful worldwide RSS service provider, is blocked by Chinese authorities. Last year, Feedburner had also been blocked temporarily.
China: Exploitation in Summer Holiday
Tan Weishan reported the exploitation of student workers by a shoe factory in Dongguan. More than a hundred secondary school kids spent their summer holiday working 12 hours a day with RMB$3 (US$0.4) per hour (zh).
Hong Kong: An Old Man Wishing To Live In Jail
Luqui Luwei commented on a recent news about an 78 years old man who committed a minor crime in order to go to the jail so that he could at least fill up his stomach. As the income disparity is becoming more and more serious, the blogger felt that the...
China: Actor Not Martyr
Ge da-xia from Yaoblog commented on Zoula's citizen reporting practice and argued that citizen reporter should be social actor, not martyr; and that report should be about the incident to a tool for defending citizen interest (zh).
Tanzania: Before Mandela there was Mwalimu Nyerere
Who is Mwalimu Nyerere?: “Before Nelson Mandela there was Julius Kambarage Nyerere. But who is Nyerere? Many do not recognise the name.”
Gambia: Gambian Hip Hop
The global reach of Hip Hop phenomenon: “This is Gambian hip-hop artist Dr Olugander, one of the opening acts of the 2nd International Sable Litfest in Bakau last month.”