Stories from 27 March 2008
Kenya: SLUM-TV
African Loft has an article about SLUM-TV in Kenya: “Operating from Mathare, the biggest slum in Kenya, the SLUM-TV was created to document the lives of the people in the slum and to ‘reevaluate’ these lives through the camera.”
Nicaragua: Inflation Difficult for Families
Inflation in Nicaragua, especially in basic goods and electrical energy, is causing distress for families writes Isabel Valdez González of McDonald [es].
Costa Rica: Government Program to Protect Water Resources
Out of Costa Rica [es] salutes the program Bandera Azul Ecológica, which has been in effect since 1996 to protect water resources throughout the country. Communities and beaches receive this accredition from the president after meeting certain standards.
Puerto Rico: Earth Hour
“The aim of the campaign is to express that individual action on a mass scale can help change our planet for the better. Furthermore, it cements the connection between energy usage and climate change, showing that we as broader community can address the biggest threat our planet has ever faced.”...
Barbados: Archaic Laws
Barbados Free Press has heard of a woman “who was recently raped by her estranged husband – and our police say they are unable to lay charges because our laws are reflect a time when wives were owned by their husbands.”
Cape Verde: Woman's day
Eurídice Monteiro [pt] takes the opportunity of the Cape Verde Woman's Day today to reflect on gender equality in the country. “The point is that we try to understand the current situation and demand that, regardless of gender, people are treated with respect and have the necessary means to live...
Brazil: When the justice doesn't get the Internet
Idelber [pt] is finding a new resolution by the Brazilian Superior Electoral Court hard to believe. It rules that any campaign for the 2008 local elections will only be allowed from July 6, even in the Internet. The blogger asks: “If someone decides to campaign for their candidate in his...
Burkina Faso: Home of black bags, baobabs and cute kids?
This roundup will begin with some old business. From Stephen Davis of Voice in the Desert: His book Sophie and the Albino Camel is up for the Norfolk Shorts shortlist of books under 150 pages. While he won’t know the outcome until April 16, he did expound on why he loves writing short fiction.
Kenya Back to Normal
Residents of Nairobi, who were adversaries and concerned about their ethnic background, are now united in attacking the local government minister for changing the public transport routes and forcing people to walk long distances. The ethnic hatred seems to have been pushed aside and now people are pushing a common agenda and pursuing economic survival. Online discussions also reflect the diversity, bloggers are concerned about the Initial Public Offer (IPO) of East Africa's largest and most successful Mobile phone company- Safaricom.
Brazil: Listen to Brazil v Sweden in the 1958 World Cup
If you didn't get excited by the Brazil v Sweden friendly match yesterday, Donizetti [pt] has found a link to a moving live radio narration (in Portuguese) of the same confrontation, but in the World Cup in 1958. “Playing were Gilmar, Nilton Santos, Orlando, Bellini, Djalma Santos, Didi, Zito, Zagalo,...
Tajikistan: Politicized Navruz
Navruz is one of the main celebrations for Tajiks. This time — more than ever — it means end of one of the harshest winter in several decades. People could hardly wait for these warm days that have come with the beginning of spring. Navruz has been celebrated throughout the...
Japan: 40% Spam Blog
Asiajin pointed to Nifty Laboratory survey which found out 40% Japanese Blogs are spam.
Kazakhstan: “Alash”, a new magazine for young patriots
Askhat reports that the Kazakhstani youth movement “Bolashak” is to create their own magazine and newspaper to cover the problems of students and resist the growth of violence and skinheads’ movement in Russia.
Turkmenistan: Fewer Large Families
Maciula wonders if depopulation is a real problem as the Turkmenistan Chronicle suggests in a recent article, and compares the country’s population growth rate with that of neighbouring states.
Kazakhstan: Former Presidential Son-in-Law Named Plotter
Zhanna Zhukova reports on the outcome of the second trial in absentia over presidential foremer son-in-law and key figure in the Kazakhstani establishment Rakhat Aliev. He was earlier sentenced for creation of a mafia gang and abduction of people. Now he is found guilty of plotting a coup.
Afghanistan: Aid Effectiveness in Afghanistan
Khushal reviews the recent study on international aid effectiveness in Afghanistan, which he says demonstrates the failure of international community in delivering what was promised to the Afghan people.
Afghanistan: Nato Now Fires $150,000 a Round
Sanjar says that the US and Canadian armies in Afghanistan are now using GPS-guided artillery shells at the cost of $150,000 a round. This is the most expensive conventional ammunition ever fired by the armies.
China: Petition to Stop the Ban On Tang Wei
Eric Mu from DANWEI translated a petition to stop the ban on Tang Wei – the main actress in the movie “Lust, Caution”.
China: The Wolves are Here!
Huge commented on the debate about Tibet news: When a kid kept on telling lies, one day when the wolves really popped up, no one would believe him anymore [zh].
China: Remembering Our Predecessors
A number of intellectuals, media and cultural workers have written a joint declaration [zh] to commemorate their predecessors, who died for seeking and speaking the truth, before Ching Ming Festival.
Hong Kong: Shopping Experience
Onemanbandwidth has written some funny shopping experiences in Hong Kong.