May, 2008

Stories from May, 2008

Egypt: Strike Number Three

Egypt is gearing up for its third strike in a row on June 5, writes Zeinobia. “People in Egypt are extremely angry from the Government's latest economic decisions to escalate prices in oil and taxes,” she adds.

  30 May 2008

Cédric Kalonji blogs the arrest of Jean-Pierre Bemba [Fr], Congolese president Joseph Kabila's main rival, in Belgium last weekend. The Central African Republic brought charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Bemba, who will be tried by the International Criminal Court.

Japan: Grumpy Jiisan on Nico Nico Douga

  30 May 2008

The latest hit at Nico Nico Douga, Japan's popular video sharing service, is a retired man from Arizona calling himself “Grumpy Jiisan” [Grumpy Old Man], who shoots videos in which he comments on his favorite Japanese anime. Subtitled versions of Grumpy Jiisan's videos at Nico Nico Douga are so popular that they have drawn thousands of comments.

Bahamas: Education Consequences

  30 May 2008

Christopher Lowe at WeblogBahamas.com blogs about the consequences of an ineffective education system, saying: “We are reaping that which we have sown.”

Puerto Rico, U.S.A.: Imagine That Conversation

  30 May 2008

Puerto Rican blogger Liza asks: “Can you imagine having to talk to your kids about the potential assassination of their father?”, adding: “What people don't get is how deep the wounds of political and social violence run in this country. To have people like Hillary Clinton dismiss political assassination as...

Trinidad & Tobago: Indian Arrival Day

  30 May 2008

Today is Indian Arrival Day in Trinidad and Tobago and Coffeewallah reminisces on her former mother-in-law's legacy and the first time she taught her to wrap a sari: “It is an elegant garment…every woman looks beautiful in a sari.”

Bangladesh: Compromised Media

  30 May 2008

Ever since Bangladesh was put under a state of emergency by an interim government supported by the military it was a testing time for Bangladesh media. The credibility of Bangladesh’s Bangla and English-language press is in question as their recent role seems biased and appeasing. This post discusses the degrading situation of the Bangladeshi media.

Jamaica, U.S.A.: Everglades Litany

  30 May 2008

“In anticipation of Caribbean American Heritage Month“, Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp is running video series, which begins with one of his own, entitled Everglades Litany.

Haiti: In memory of a murdered teenager

  30 May 2008

La Dous Ki Vyen Pwezi posts in memory of Kareem Gaspard [Fr], a 16 year-old boy who was murdered in Port-au-Prince last Friday. “I've spoken to, smiled at, or shook the hand of so many people who have disappeared this way. Killed. Like dogs.”

China: After the quake, hoping for aid

  30 May 2008

From inside and outside China, concerned citizens are helping, and putting their hands out to help the victims of the devastating 7.9 in the Richter scale earthquake that leveled out industrial cities, transforming them into refugee camps where people are living under plastic bags, trying to find out their relatives and remake their lives. Four different videos bring us perspectives on how people are dealing with their losses all around the world, and how reaching out to help others could help help ease the pain.

Bolivia: Bloguivianos 2008 Website

  30 May 2008

The organizers of the 2008 version of the Bloguivianos bloggers conference recently launched their website [es]. The 2nd annual Bolivian bloggers conference will take place over two days in El Alto and La Paz on August 29-30.

Guatemala: Animal Del Monte Festival in Xela

  30 May 2008

Quetzaltenango or "Xela" was the site of an international poetry festival called Animal del Monte, which brought 40 poets from around Latin America. A big part of the festival was reaching out to surrounding communities by holding readings to local residents. The festival also highlighted the work of Guatemalan poets, who demonstrated that many fine works come from that country.

Argentina: Commemoration of the Cordobazo

  29 May 2008

Argenautas [es] commemorates 39 years since the “Cordobazo” in the Aregentine city of Córdoba which featured, “the largest mobilization of workers and students and marked the beginning of the end of the dictatorship of Juan Carlos Onganía.”

Bolivia: Blog for Camiri

  29 May 2008

Camiri Digital [es] is a new blog for residents of Camiri, a Bolivian town in the southeastern part of the country. It also helps unite those residents who now live in different parts of Bolivia, as well as those living abroad.

Paraguay: The Creation of a People's Union

  29 May 2008

Edgar Ruiz Díaz of Las Preguntas de Venerando [es] writes about the change in power in Paraguay, and how many public workers will now try to convince the new administration that they belong. He also suggests the creation of a “People's Union,” which will help control the public administration.

East Timor: New blog about economics of development

  29 May 2008

“A blog about economics of development, in particular about the East Timor economy, and about what can then be helpful to economic development of this country”, A.M. de Almeida Serra [pt] introduces a new blog about East Timor.