Stories from 15 November 2007
Ukraine: Yushchenko Begins Early Campaign?
Ukrainiana writes that president Victor Yushchenko seems to be preparing for the 2009 presidential election by promising, among other things, to pay Ukrainian mothers $3,000 for the birth of a second child – the money that “can buy 1 square meter of middle-class housing in Kyiv.”
Hungary: Open Letter to Slovakia
Pestcentric writes an open letter to Slovakia: “Last year you even had garage bands calling for the destruction of Hungary. This is just not good. It seems that being in the European Union has led you astray. Now, I know you’ve yet to fence off the Gypsies like the Czechs...
Hungary: On Art and Entrance Fees
Pestcentric writes about the Hundertwasser exhibit at Budapest's Museum of Fine Arts – the works and the entrance fees: “…the only Hungarian I heard came from the attendants, not the people paying to be there.”
Europe: Gastarbeiter
Romanians aren't too welcome in Italy, Poles aren't too welcome in Britain. Pestcentric reviews the situation with migrant laborers from the EU's new member states.
Hungary: Communist Monument
Pestcentric spots a Mary Poppins-like figure in a Communist sculpture in Budapest.
Russia: Tatarstan Warns Against Karabakh Independence
Window on Eurasia writes: “By recognizing Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, South Osetia or Transdniestria as independent, as many in Moscow are now urging, the Russian government would undermine the territorial integrity of its own country, a senior member of Tatarstan’s parliament told a Baku newspaper.”
Russia: Money for North Caucasus
According to Window on Eurasia, Moscow invests too much tax-payers’ money to keep the loyal North Caucasian elites afloat.
Russia: Alcohol Consumption
According to Window on Eurasia, Russians drink three times what the World Health Organization says is dangerous and […] eight times the amount Americans drink.
Russia: Review of MacKinnon's ‘The New Cold War’
Michael Averko reviews Mark MacKinnon's The New Cold War at Siberian Light.
Russia: “Rashn for Dummies”
Moscow Doesn't Believe in Tears translates “a double plus good lexicon of newspeak in Moscow’s dangerously jaded fashion community,” originally published in the Bolshoi Gorod.
Russia: Books and Periodicals
Russian Blog recommends books and periodicals to read while in Russia.
Russia: Non-Vegetable Voters and Other Election News
Two weeks remain before the Russian Duma election, and the presidential vote isn't too far, either. Below is the first quick review of the blogosphere's election coverage.
Armenia: Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
With the presidential election only three months away, the Armenia Election Monitor 2008 says that attempts to disrupt opposition meetings might backfire. On the eve of one such rally to be held in Yerevan tomorrow, the blog reports that the authorities have erected a huge stage in the same location...
Pakistan: Anti Jamait Protest
At the University of Punjab, events take a turn as students protest against IJT – who played an important role in getting Imran Khan arrested.
Pakistan: Bhutto and the Emergency
Pakistan Policy on Benazir Bhutto's likely role in the current political scenario.
India: Anti-Sikh Riots, Politics and 1984
Law and Other Things on the Anti-Sikh riots in 1984, which followed the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Pakistan: Activism and the Emergency
PakistanPolitics.net has a letter from an activist lawyer, who writes about living under the “increasingly brutal emergency”.
Nepal: Stupid Political Quote of the Day
Blogdai, as sarcastic as ever, takes a closer look at what the Maoists have to say. “So, if we follow all definitions of “Republic,” Prachanda is saying that we cannot establish an elected representative government until we agree to call ourselves an elected representative government.”
South Asia: Nathuram Godse in 1949
ExecutedToday.com on Nathuram Godse, who was executed on 15th Nov 1949 for assassinating Mahatma Gandhi.
Guatemala: Local Self-Determination on Mining Lands
The mining industry has increased in importance in Guatemala, where given the market prices of some metals and minerals, the lands that many communities are situated are in high demand. Often these communities, especially indigenous peoples, demand a say in how their lands are used. The questions that bloggers have been asking are where is the development and what will happen when these companies leave
Armenia: Freedom of Assembly
The Armenian Observer posts one of two public service announcements aimed at informing citizens in Armenia about their rights when attending political rallies. The PSAs come three months before Armenians go to the polls to elect a new president.
