Stories from 15 December 2007
Bahrain: A tenfold increase in population?!
This time the roundup from Bahrain covers three weeks. We have frustration on every front, unfortunately: frustration with being surrounded by apathy and ignorance, with being a teenager, and with a ludicrous criminal charge. One blogger is considering leaving the Gulf for a better life back in India, another admits he rarely reads, and a number of others are debating the merits of secularism.
Taiwan: Migrant Worker Rally-“I want my day off!!”
On International Human Rights Day, the dogfighting politics of the two major parties still occupied the front pages in Taiwan's mass media. The politicians consume the terms “democracy” and “freedom” for their own political odds while neglect basic rights of underprivileged communities. GVO Taiwan team would cover some important human...
Benin: Youth and tobacco smoking
Jackie writes about tobacco smoking among the youth in Benin: “According to a recent global youth tobacco survey report, more than twenty percent of school children (aged 13 to 15 years) in Benin are cigarette smokers. The survey involved about 50 schools selected in four regions of Benin, namely Atlantique...
Nigeria: Tolerance in Yoruba religious system
Loomnie writes about religion and tolerance in Yoruba culture: “My friend pointed out that that was a very important part of the Yoruba religious system. In the Yoruba traditional religious system, in the same family, one could have each member of the family worshipping a different god, without any person...
Armenia: Pink Armenia
Unzipped: Gay Armenia informs its readers that a new LGBT NGO has been set up in Armenia. Pink (Public Information and Need of Knowledge) Armenia will specifically work in the area of STI/HIV prevention in the Armenian LGBT community.
Armenia: Xenophobic Official
Nazarian is shocked by a recent article published in the local press penned by an official in the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The article reported the situation Armenian women find themselves in when they marry Arabs. However, rather than call for tolerance, Nazarian says the official urged Armenian women...
Georgia: Alternate Route
Via Kaukasus, Transcaucasus offers its readers an alternate way to reach Georgia from Europe without any flying involved.
Kenya: 2007 Kenya predictions reviewed
Bankelele reviews 2007 predictions about Kenya: “In November 2006, I wrote some predictions in the Business Post December 2006/January 2007 issue, in which I put forward ideas, expectations, and wishful thinking for the country in year 2007. Here’s a review of some of the Nostradamus-like thoughts…”
Zimbabwe: Activists beaten in Harare
WOZA blog has a post about police brutality in Zimbabwe: “Whilst the three people arrested after the WOZA demonstration in Harare on Tuesday were released after paying a fine and without being harmed, it has emerged that riot police beat at least 10 WOZA members as they were dispersing near...
Malawi: Innovation, the digital divide, and politicians who shun the Internet
Although we are not quite there yet, the beginning of the year 2008 will mark one year when the two Global Voices authors for Malawi, Victor Kaonga and myself, will have been writing roundups on the Malawi blogosphere. Victor and I live half a world apart, and are always in contact via email and phone. But we had never met before, until this past weekend.
Oscar Niemeyer: 100 years of a daring architeture
Brazilian and international bloggers have been wishing a happy birthday to Oscar Niemeyer, the prized modernist architect who turns 100 today still very much alive, lucid, working and involved in many projects worldwide.
Korea: When You Can't Sleep…
What is your tactic when you have difficulty falling asleep? Check these methods that Korean netizens recommend and see whether you agree or not. If you do, you may end up redecorating your bedroom or falling asleep with a piece of onion under your nose.
Kazakhstan: Trial over President's Ex-Adviser Postponed Again
Steve LeVine reports that a U.S. court today pushed the foreign bribery case of James Giffen, former energy adviser to the Kazakhstan's leadership, into its fifth year. Giffen is accused of bribing the foreign officials, money laundering, wire fraud and tax evasion.
