25 October 2007

Stories from 25 October 2007

Guyana: Iwokrama

  25 October 2007

Guyana-Gyal tells the fascinating story of Iwokrama, “part of one of the last four intact rainforests in the whole wide world!”

Lebanon: Westernized Lebanese

  25 October 2007

“It's very common for the Western journalists to talk about “Westernized” Lebanese. It seems, however, that with this term they are identifying only one part of what is the West […] In reality they are only identifying those middle class characteristics found across the globe in this globalized world,” writes...

Egypt: On Kushari

  25 October 2007

Rebecca, who blogs from Egypt, introduces us to Kushari, a local dish. “It’s a mixture of rice and pasta, and a small amount of lentils and chickpeas, and some dried onion and tomato hot sauce,” she explains.

Turkey: Media Interview

  25 October 2007

The team at Metroblogging Istanbul were interviewed by The Washington Post for the series How the world sees America – Amar C. Bakshi talks to America's lovers and haters around the world.

Trinidad & Tobago: Politcal Debates

  25 October 2007

Notes from a small island is all for Trinidad and Tobago's political party leaders having a debate, “fielding specific questions about the real issues affecting the nation.”

Armenia: Condoleezza Rice Against Genocide Bill

  25 October 2007

Oneworld Multimedia says that it comes as no surprise to discover that support for House Resolution 106 recognizing the Armenian Genocide is waning, with the U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, the latest high-ranking official to urge U.S. lawmakers to drop the bill.

Georgia: Economic Growth

  25 October 2007

In a region where poverty is still endemic, figures for economic growth are a constant feature of speeches and election campaigns by governments. Georgia is no exception, but TOL Georgia asks if high economic growth rates from a low base mean much when they are compared to lower rates from...

Georgia: Russian Paranoia

  25 October 2007

Steady State posts a link to an article in Russian detailing territorial claims that the Republic of Georgia might have on Russia since medieval times. The blog treats such claims with scorn and sees it more as anti-Georgian paranoia than anything based on historical fact.

Azerbaijan: Mr Gay Europe 2007

  25 October 2007

Unzipped: Gay Armenia comments on the surprise entry by 19-year-old Sadikj Ragimov into the Mr Gay Europe 2007 contest. This is the first time that any contestant from the South Caucasus has entered the competition, the blogger notes, and was an amazing show of courage from someone living in a...

Japan: Taiwanese chorus music to the ears

  25 October 2007

A video of an auditorium in Taiwan featuring 258 Taiwanese people watching and singing along to the lyrics of Japanese anime songs became a hit in Japan earlier this week after it was uploaded to a popular video sharing website, attracting over 120,000 views and nearly as many comments. A Japanese blogger considers how this kind of connection can bring Japan and Taiwan closer together.

Bangladesh: Bloggers mobilise against domestic violence

  25 October 2007

(Logo credit: Amnesty International) October is Domestic Violence Awareness month in the USA, devoted to connecting battered women’s advocates across the nation to work together to end violence against women and children. The issue, however, is not country specific. Domestic violence is a menace that is found all over the...

Africa: Is China annexing Africa?

  25 October 2007

Is China annexing Africa?:”The latest project to hit the headlines is a $5 billion offer from the Chinese government to fund roads, railways, hospitals and clinics in the African Congo. Elsewhere, China is already “the biggest investor in the Sudan,” says the Seattle Times. In Freetown, the capital of Sierra...

Kyrgyzstan: Vote Predictions

  25 October 2007

The Azamat Report reviews the pre-electoral political situation, saying that Ak-Jol, a newly established party of the incumbent president has pretty low political standing, but “the so called ‘administrative resource’ will do its job” and ” if the elections take place with the same violations as the recent constitutional referendum...

Kyrgyzstan: Kleptocracy in Action

  25 October 2007

Beaudi reflects on the recent developments in Kyrgyzstan, including adoption of the new constitution on a referendum and call for new parliamentary elections, saying that these developments indicate rollback from democracy in this country.

Uzbekistan: Electoral Theater

  25 October 2007

Bboyd opines on the pre-election environment in Uzbekistan, predicting the outcome of pre-orchestrated campaign: “the play will be a romance, with the incumbent and the state reunited for another decade”.