Stories from 8 August 2008
Bahamas, Haiti: Migration Nation?
“The capture of hundreds of Haitians arriving by boat on the southern coast of New Providence recently focused new attention on our illegal immigration problem”: Larry Smith at Bahama Pundit maintains that “there are two key immigration issues – stabilising the size of the Haitian community, and integrating long-term Haitian...
Armenia: Oil, Genocide and Obama
Voices Without Votes takes a look at why many Armenians at home and abroad support U.S. Presidential Election Democratic Party Candidate Barack Obama and how Azerbaijanis and Turks are responding to his campaign promise to recognize the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
Cuba, China: Politics & Sport
“I consider myself a fan of the Olympics…this time around, I just can't get excited about the Games”: Cuban blogger 26th Parallel thinks that the Chinese regime is “as oppressive as the smog that's covering Beijing.”
Barbados: Let the Games Begin
“Barbados had its flag raising ceremony on Wednesday…no mention of it was placed on the Barbados Olympic Association’s website. Why? Difficulties getting info from out of China. Yet I found links on the web on Jamaica and Cuba’s flag raising ceremonies”: Bajan Global Report thinks that “there is no reason...
Jamaica: Presumption of Innocence
My View of Jamdown from Up So thinks that Jamaicans are not being measured in their response to the crime situation: “Truly things…have become bad when cool-headed, optimistic people are joining in the call for ‘hard policing’; if we don’t address the real disease now, the day will soon come...
Georgia: War in South Ossetia
Following clashes and allegations of the shelling of Georgian villages by separatists in the breakaway territory of South Ossetia, there are fears that war will once again rage in the volatile South Caucasus. With the media reporting that Georgian troops have surrounded the capital, Tskhinvali, all eyes are on how Russia reacts to the latest developments.
Jamaica, U.S.A.: Stupid is as Stupid Does
“It’s the glorification of ignorance, the association of dimness with your degree of blackness that troubles me”: Jamaican Marlon James is troubled by the pressure put on black people to “dumb things down”.
China: Tweeting the Olympics
Have you seen the GVO Olympics Twitter account? Check it out for an idea of what's being tweeted about the Olympics in real time.
China: Beijing doesn't love masks?
Four U.S. athletes arrived at the airport in Beijing for the Olympics wearing masks over their mouths. Regardless of the air condition, many Chinese considered this behavior rude, and railed against them in online forums. The athletes have apologized. Are we being overly sensitive?
Russia: Violence on the Southern Borders
Erik of Sochi Travel comments on two recent disturbing developments in Southern Russia: a blast on one of the Sochi beaches in which two people died, and “Georgia waging new war on it’s breakaway republic – South Osetia”.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Lost London Connection
Tim Clancy of the blog Pure Intent laments the cancelation of flights between Sarajevo and London. He says: “The city of London has done great things for this country. Although we do not bare the entire blame of this misfortune, we certainly are guilty of having our heads in the...
Japan: Letter to Google about Street View
One year after its debut in the United States, Google's Street View has arrived in Japan, where it is already drawing criticism. Despite the company's generally positive image in this country, bulletin board threads and blogs are filled with comments questioning the way Google has rolled out its latest service.
Hong Kong: I'm Not Ready
Life is but an empty dream… feels frustrated about all the Olympic propaganda on T.V and expresses respect for the protesters who are speaking out the truth they believe in.
Peru: Blogging About Food at Home and Abroad
Peruvian food has been receiving plenty of attention in the media, and bloggers are writing about their favorite dishes. Alejandro García of Peru Food provides the latest blog roundup about the subject of local cuisine found at home and in the diaspora communities.
Russia: South Ossetia – Holding Back the War Mongers?
Osteuropablog [German] discusses an interview with Aleksandr Dugin, leader of the Russian Eurasianist movement, in which he calls for war against Georgia over South Ossetia. Wu Wei elaborates on the escalating conflict, asking “Who is picking the fights?”
Eastern Europe: Trafficking with no end in sight
Natalia Antonova reflects upon a problem “that won't go away” – human trafficking, and comments on an article about the issue from The New Yorker.
