Stories from 2 May 2008
Trinidad & Tobago: The Business of Coffee
KnowProSE.com enjoyed most aspects of the Trade and Investment Conference in Trinidad and Tobago – except for the coffee: “Good coffee in the world means good business; it is the ink that flows through the hearts of business to the hands that sign the contracts. It is the PG universal...
Barbados: Edible Oval?
As the Kensington Oval is nominated for the 2008 Structural Steel Design Awards, Barbados Free Press asks: “But can we eat it?”
Bermuda, Cuba: World Press Freedom Day
In Bermuda, Vexed Bermoothes blogs about World Press Freedom Day – as do Cuban bloggers Babalu and Uncommon Sense.
Jamaica: Poem for Bob
Geoffrey Philp posts Jamaican Rachel Manley's poem Bob Marley's Dead.
Hong Kong: Olympic Torch Relay, the Virtual and the Real
The real Olympic torch relay in Hong Kong has been criticized as a political decision as most of the non-athletic torch bearers were from the pro-China political clan. In the street, the Beijing supporters also out-numbered the protesters for human rights. However, in the virtual torch relay organized by local...
Saudi Arabia: Imprisoned in the Office
Have you ever found yourself working late in the office? From Saudi Arabia, Ar6abon [Ar] shares with us this fascinating story about how he was locked up in his office one night.
Jordan: Saudi Golden Era
“With the oil prices through the roof, and Saudi's massive investments in education and infrastructure, I think it's fair to call it the “Golden Era” of Saudi Arabia. And, I think this is Saudi's chance to secure their post-oil future,” writes Arrabbi, from Jordan.
Saudi Arabia: Learning and Technology Symposium
Saudi girls share their ideas on a Learning and Technology Symposium, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on this blog.
Egypt:Hijab and Travel
An Egyptian Muslim girl writes about her experience wearing the Hijab (Islamic headscarf) and travelling to the US in this post.
China: Spin Doctor on Tibet and Olympics
ESWN translated an article written by Huangfu Ping on Tibet and Olympics. He is a former deputy editor for China Daily and a famous political commentator.
China: Chastity Declaration at Nanking University
Li Yinhe criticizes the chastity declaration at Nanking University and suggests to spend resource for proper sex education [zh].
India, USA: Is there really a food crisis?
In a podcast interview Kamla Bhatt talks with Lal David Rai, a second generation farmer of Mexican-Punjabi-Indian origin on the perceived shortage of rice in the USA and the global food shortage.
Georgia: Saakashvili Addresses Breakaway Regions
Steady State comments on a televised address given by Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili to inhabitants of the country's two breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. However, the blog says that apart from at times of clashes, there is little actual dialogue occurring between the sides and that Saakashvili fails...
Caucasus: Geopolitical Linguistics
Window on Eurasia examines the role of Russian language in former Soviet republics based on the findings of a Eurasia Foundation report, Russian Language in the Newly Independent States, which divides the countries into three groups. The blog comments on suggestions by one Russian newspaper on how Moscow should use...
Armenia: Kim Kardashian Plans Visit
Blogian finds a post by socialite Kim Kardashian in which she says she plans to make her first ever trip to Armenia. Kardashian, who is half-Armenian, says she has decided to visit the country after comments on her blog criticizing her for not posting about last week's 93rd Anniversary of...
Macau: Will the torch fire the country?
Nuno Lima Bastos [pt] writes an article about two pieces of news this week: the arrest of an individual suspected of instigating the Olympic torch theft in Macao and the entry refusal for two pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. “The two men complained to the South China Morning Post and,...
Japan: Return of the Gas Tax
Japan's “temporary” gasoline tax of 25 yen per liter of gas, extended for over 30 years and funding some 5000 road construction programs, has been re-instated after a short-lived battle with the opposition, and people aren't happy about it. Bloggers describe their experiences trying to fill up at gas stations in the last day before the gas hike came back into effect on May 1st.
Fiji Times publisher deported
A day after the interim PM speech on guaranteeing Fiji media freedom, Mr. Evan Hannah, the managing director of the Fiji Times was detained and confirmed to have deported out of country. AuCorp, solivakasama, Babasiga and McKenzie have their says.
Myanmar: It Can't Wait – 30 Days Campaign
The Buddhist Blog announces the launch of 30-days campaign called “Burma: It Can't Wait” to support human rights and democracy in Burma.
Venezuela: Left in the Dark
More than 13 states and the most important cities of Venezuela were affected by a power outage last Tuesday, leaving many without electricity for several hours. The subway system of the capital city of Caracas collapsed and left thousands of people having to walk through city streets already crowded with vehicles. In spite of the difficulties, some bloggers were able to record some thoughts on the day's events through Twitter and their blogs.
Morocco: Rage and sadness at this weekend's Casablanca factory fires
This weekend saw two deadly fires, one in a mattress and another in a textile factory, break out in Morocco's economic capital, Casablanca. Dozens of people died from asphyxia after being locked into their workplace by employers. The Moroccan blogosphere responds with questions and expressions of anger and sadness.
