Stories from 21 January 2008
Tajikistan: Children and Energy Crisis
Vadim translates an excerpt from a news report about a baby who died in a hospital because of electricity cut-off in Tajikistan amidst continuing energy defivit in the country.
Kyrgyztsan: “I do not believe” campaign goes national
Asel informs that “I do not believe” campaign activists, who have started their activities after the parliamentary elections they believe were fraudulent, are planning to create a powerful nationwide youth...
Kyrgyztsan: Economic Freedom Index
Mirsulzhan reviews the latest Index of Economic Freedom released by the Heritage Foundation and looks at the Kyrgyzstan's place in the rating.
Central Asia: Potential Water Wars
Marat analyses potential conflicts in Central Asia that may arise in near – or not so near – future following the deficit of water resources in these countries.
Afghanistan: How to produce opium
Bipasha Ray says that Intrepid Independent reporter Patrick Cockburn finds that Afghans are helping Iraqi farmers grow poppy and produce opium, as traditional crops of oranges and pomegranates prove to...
Turkmenistan: Russia Wins Gas War
Steve LeVine opines that Russia seems to have put the last piece in place for a triumph in the epic war to control the natural gas supply between Turkmenistan and...
Turkmenistan: President Legitimizes Opera
Steve LeVine reports that President of Turkmenistan Berdymukhamedov is finally starting to disassemble the weirdest decisions of his predecessor. Today he legalized libraries, the circus, cinema and the opera.
China: Suicide MM's Blog
ESWN translated a series of discussions concerning a suicide note in Jiang Nan blog. The woman has committed suicide and died. But the story continues to reveal itself through the...
Hong Kong: Worker Union is Equal to Triad?
A district councilor Raymond Ho commented, in an internet video show, on a local artist Eason Chan's urge for the establishment of trade union for creative workers by saying that...
Cambodia: Mia Farrow in Cambodia
Munivong Boulevard complies the news on Mia Farrow's visit to Cambodia to protest against the killings in Darfur.
Indonesia: Indonesians Living Abroad Forum
Finally Woken has created a forum for Indonesians living outside the country and is inviting contributors to help out with the content.
Chile: Microsoft Executive Insults Cyber-Activists
A Microsoft executive recently referred to some Chilean activists as “pelagatos,” which is an offensive slang term used in Chile. Luis Ramirez collects some reactions [es] and responses [en] to...
Indonesia: Spotting an Indonesian Blogger
Marisa Duma identifies 50 signs that makes one an Indonesian blogger.
Kuwait: Relative Freedom
Fonzy, from Kuwait, discusses the Independent Freedom House's ratings of some Arab countries and Israel.
Egypt: Free Kareem Campaign in French
Free Kareem, a site launched to rally support for jailed Egyptian blogger Kareem Nabil Sulaiman, is now available in French here.
Avaaz Launches Free Fouad Petition
Avaaz has launched a petition rallying for the release of jailed Saudi blogger Fouad Al Farhan, writes Esraa from Mideast Youth.
Thailand: Blog Censorship
iTeau's Dirt looks at a Thai blog portal censoring its members blog.
Taiwan and China: Prisoners in Freedom City
Hsiang-Tai posted the documentary about the life of Hu Jia and Zheng Jinyan under the monitor of national security police. The Taiwan blogger pointed out that: If China really wants...
Hong Kong: Copycat Design without Attribution
Sidekick is angry about local artist Lam Hoi-fung. Not because he has designed his poster by taking reference of Yue Minjin's artwork, but the fact that he refused to give...
China: T-shirt with Chinese Character
Alpar shows a t-shirt with Chinese characteristic, with slogans and pictures of eight prides and eight shames, harmonious society, city management teams’ violence (zh).
Colombia: In Remembrance of Tomás Carrasquilla
Piso Tres [es] remembers Colombian writer Tomás Carrasquilla on the anniversary of his birth nearly 150 years ago. Several associated activities have been taking place in Medellín and Santo Domingo...
