Stories from 19 May 2008
East Timor: Still hoping on the Independence Day
FORUM HAKSESUK [pt] posts an article by Jorge Heitor about the anniversary of the independence of East Timor, and the uncertainty about the future. “Six years of independence for a suffering people, which has not yet fully met the freedom and development”. East Timor democratic self-government was achieved on May...
Brazil: Investigating bloggers motivations
Raquel Recuero [pt] is investigating the Brazilian blogosphere to assert “the motivations that people have to “pass on” any particular piece of information and how those motivations influence the way in which the social network “echoes” the same information”.
Cape Verde: Three hours waiting to vote
Eileen Barbosa [pt] reports that the elections in Cape Verde yesterday were marked by long queues and people's good will to attend to the polls. “Personally, I found it quite inadmissible, but many people went ahead and… gave up! Who can blame them, more than three-hour wait on a Sunday…...
Driving in Jordan
From Jordan, wasapninjordan writes about driving standards in the kingdom.
Egypt: Sad for Hadeel
Zeinobia, from Egypt, mourns the death of Saudi blogger Hadeel and asks: “I do not know why I feel sad. Is it because Hadeel was young like me , she had just celebrated her 25th Birthday ?? !! Or because she is a blogger like [me] ?? Or because she...
Egypt: Myths about Protests
Egyptian blogger Baheyya dispels four myths about protests in this post.
Egypt: Islamic Feminism Alive
Islamic feminism is alive and well, writes Egyptian blogger Arima, in this first of a two-part series.
Bahrain: Gender Challenged!!
“You would think that it would be relatively easy for the CIO, who is entrusted to keep more than we like of our private and very personal information, that they would know the gender of a person whom they issue the mandatory Central Population Register (CPR) card, wouldn’t you?” asks...
India: Orkut and the Indian Police
Writing Cave on a man in India being arrested by the police for publishing “obscene” material about a politician on Orkut.
Bhutan: Communists and the Press
Freedom in Bhutan on the actions of the communists, who on the one hand demand that the government stop its brutalities, but on the other, threaten freedom of the press.
China: Red Cross China Questioned
China Red Cross refused to give public account to 163.com ‘s donation to Sichuan earthquake (about RMB1.8 million, about USD 0.2 million). The portal website made a public announcement yesterday that they would stop the cooperation with Red Cross China and many netizens criticized Red Cross China’ bureaucratic attitude in...
Sri Lanka: Fighting Homophobia
The Lost Landscape on the immense amount of work it takes to fight homophobia in Sri Lanka.
India: Eating too much?
Condoleezza Rice's statements in the US about India and China's food consumption and its contribution to the price inflation doesn't find favour with Heartcrossings.
Arabeyes: Mourning for Hadeel
Saudi blogger Hadeel El Hadeef passed away exactly a month after her 25th birthday. Bloggers from around the region come together to mourn the death and celebrate the life of the blogger, whose contributions and humanity will continue to remain a living legacy on the world wide web.
Palestine: Balfour to Blair
Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah links to Al Jazeera special 30-minute film, Balfour to Blair, which investigates the role of British policy in the Middle East from the beginning of the 20th century to today.
Bahrain: Cult Books
“What would you put on your list of books that have ‘rewired your head'?” asks Bint Batutta in Bahrain, who links to descriptions of some of The Telegraphs 50 Top Cult Books.
Korea: The birth of the New Political Generation Online
Since the content of the US-Korea Beef Trade agreement was publicized in Korean society, many things have happened. Unexpected scenes of teenage students’ active participation in candlelight vigils against the trade and policies of the current government and their continual activities (not just temporary participation) have been ongoing. Even though...
Israel: Bush's Final Presidential Visit
On the heels of its 60th birthday celebrations, President Bush visited Israel this week, marking his second and last presidential visit to the Middle Eastern state. Maya Norton tunes into the Israeli blogosphere to bring us the latest reactions.
Mexico: Attempts at a US Tourist Visa
Mexican Reporter documents the experience of a Mexican friend and his attempts to receieve a tourist visa to the United States, and where he was denied.
Kidepo, an unbeaten path in Uganda
Omar Basawad writes of Kidepo National Park, saying “Of all Ugandan national parks and game reserves, Kidepo is the most remote and has the most unique wilderness and terrain.” noting that many tourists and travelers are missing out on a pristine location.
Trinidad & Tobago: Failed State?
Jumbie's Watch links to an article in the Trinidad Guardian which makes reference to the twin island republic as one of 96 countries “in danger of becoming a failed state”, adding: “Much work is needed in 4 areas…security, health, education, and in the judicial system.”
