Stories from 18 September 2007
Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: Maharaj's New Novel
“I was more interested in the ambivalence that many West Indians feel about the canefields, a reminder of more oppressive times and also a means to a livelihood”: Geoffrey Philp's Blogspot features Trinidad-born author Rabindranath Maharaj as he discusses his new novel.
Jamaica: New Government Gets Its Start
“As quick as I am to congratulate Mr. Golding, I am quite disappointed in a few moves he has made, within a short space of time”: Jamaican Lifestyle has its eye on post-election politics on the island.
UAE: Elaborate Ceremony for the New Academic Year
Brn, from Al Ain, UAE, writes about the elaborate ceremonies staged to usher in the new academic year at the university. “Each year, Sheikh Nahayan, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, as well as Chancellor of the UAE University, comes to give his opening address, and the red...
UAE: The True Meaning of Ramadan
Satsuka, who lives in the UAE, discovers the true meaning of Ramadan. She writes: “Today, a Muslim colleague explained to me why Ramadaan gives him such great joy. He said: Throughout the year I do things for myself in praise of Allah, but in Ramadaan, I do everything for God...
UAE: Social Commitments
UAE blogger e3ashig reflects on social life in the Middle East: “Social commitments are one of the biggest wastes of time and I can see why it is difficult to be dedicated to your work or be creative as there is always some social thing to interrupt you: a death...
Cayman Islands: Motherhood 101
“I have been as relentless as the Paparazzi stalking their prey, all with a view to collate seemingly scandalous and cutesie photos with which to torture the child with embarrassment later in life”: Mighty Afroditee reflects on the true joy of parenthood.
Israel: The Plot Thickens
Snoopy the Goon from Israel writes: “As if it were not foggy enough, now we have Peter Beaumont of the Observer jumping into the fray with a new version of the event. First of all, he came up with a name for this sortie: Operation Orchard. Now, of course, the...
Israel: Remembrance Day
Rav Yossie, from Israel, writes: “Rosh Hashana's official liturgical name is “Yom Hazikaron,” Remembrance Day, so it's quite appropriate to reflect on our recent history this week.”
Iraq: Al Sadr Withdrawal
Raed Jarrar from Iraq writes about the official withdrawal of the Al-Sadr group from the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA), formed originally as the Arab Shia coalition and its implications on Iraq.
Jamaica, DR, Cuba, Haiti: Sugar Protocol
The Latin Americanist reports that ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) countries are calling on the European Union to uphold the “Sugar Protocol” agreement, which guarantees that EU states buy and import agreed quantities of sugar at certain prices.
Egypt: Save Us from Stupid Women
“Anything along the lines of “save the poor oppressed arab women” written by stupid women like this one just makes me puke. Yes we do have thousands of problems to struggle against but please don’t act like everything is perfect where you come from, and what’s with the disturbing generalisations?”...
Egypt: Crackdown on Journalists Not New
“Thursday’s sentencing and fining of four independent newspaper editors is not particularly new or surprising… (T)he two incidents do not herald an impending crackdown on the press, for the simple reason that Mubarak’s regime has been continuously cracking down on and intimidating independent journalists, from at least the early 1990s...
Barbados: IMF Recommendations
Notes From The Margin weighs in on the Barbados/IMF Article IV Consultation: “At the heart of the IMF report is a difference of opinion. Is the Barbados Government being overly optimistic? Or is the IMF being overly conservative?”
Bahamas: Zero Tolerance
Sidney Sweeting, writing at WeblogBahamas.com, thinks that “it is time for zero tolerance” when it comes to violence in the society.
Bangladesh: Yet another Muhammed cartoon controversy
Alpin is one satirical cartoon supplement of the Daily Prothom Alo, which claims to be the most popular Bangla Newspaper in Bangladesh. In the 6th page of its 431th issue a cartoon titled ‘name’ was published (on Monday, September 17, 2007) which created much controversy in Bangladesh. So what was...
Philippines: Blog Round Up
Pinoyblogero has highlights from last week's posting on Philippines blogsphere. The topics include the trail of former president Joseph Estrada and how a blogger stirred up controversy by baiting them on his blog.
Cambodia: Preventing Exploitation of Girls
Vutha summarizes a report on sexual exploitation of women in Cambodia and calls for stricter implementation of laws that according to him are only there for the benefit of the rich and powerful.
Cambodia: Anti-Terrorism Training
K-Media has a better idea for US Federal Bureau of Investigation that is currently involved in training Cambodian Interior Ministry officials in counter-terrorism.
Yemen: Refuge for Iraqis and Somalis
Yemeni blogger Omar Barsawad gives us a chilling insight to how Somalis risk all to escape to Yemen in this post, which also touches on the plight of escaping Iraqis. “For both Somalis and Iraqis: is there a solution in sight? Will Somalia and Iraq settle down and allow its...
Jordan: How to Force a Marriage
Naseem Tarawnah from Jordan links to a story about how a man was jailed for having a relationship with a girl, whose parents turned him away. He set up a tent on a main street, where he had sex with the girl for seven months.
Iraq: Collaborator Tells All
Ladybird from Iraq writes about how an interpreter is threatening the safety of other ‘collaborators with the occupying forces.’
