Stories from 17 August 2008
Palestine: H Daboor at the Islamic University
Gazan blogger Nostalgia parodies the recent Egyptian comedy H Daboor in a critique of Islamist trends in Gaza today.
Remembering a Childhood in Serbia
Daniel Durini, a Mexican-Serbian blogger, recalls his childhood (second part here) in Belgrade during the late 1970's and the 1980's in his blog Eslavos del Sur [Spanish]
Czech Republic: History Happens on 8
The Journeys of Captain Oddsocks recounts important events of Czech history that happened in years ending in 8, such as the birth of Czechoslovakia in 1918 or the Warsaw Pact invasion of 1968, and wonders if something important is going to happen before the end of this year.
Reasons for the Latvian-Georgian Friendship
Pēteris Cedriņš of Marginalia writes about the sympathy of the Baltic states in general and of Latvia in particular towards Georgia.
Brazil: Farewell to Dorival Caymmi
YouTube user imperadorminas pays homage to Dorival Caymmi, one of the most important songwriters in Brazilian popular music, who died yesterday August 16, aged 94.
Jamaica: One Gold; Two Silvers
Abeng News Magazine is thrilled to report that “Jamaican women sprinters set a new record placing one, two, two in the 100 meters at the Olympics in Beijing, on the birthday of the island's first national hero, Marcus Garvey.”
Blogger of the Week: Lydia Beyoud
Today's Blogger of the Week is Lydia Beyoud - a writer and listener at heart, and a thinker, who has recently become a doer. This is how the blogger, who has five languages under her belt, describes herself. From Portland, Oregon, Lydia covers Moroccan blogs written in French. What is her relationship with blogging and Morocco? Read on to find out.
Angola, Brazil: A culture shock divide
Angola and Brazil's special relationship means that business between the two former Portuguese colonies is booming - as well as migration both ways across the Atlantic. But, how are these two sibling peoples getting on? This post offers the perspectives of both an Angolan and a Brazilian blogger living in Luanda.
Egypt: A Letter to Obama
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia, writes about the letter jailed Egyptian politician Ayman Nour wrote from his prison to US presidential hopeful Barack Obama.
Egypt: Protesting European Embassies
Egyptian blogger Sand Monkey, comments on the Egyptian Foreign Ministry's last protest to European embassies in Cairo, where Egyptians applying for entry visas are not treated with dignity and respect.
Egypt: Farewell Twitter SMS
A few days ago, Egypt woke up to the sad news that Twitter is no longer delivering outbound SMS to few countries, including Egypt. Lasto Adri reviews the Egyptian blogosphere, which is already looking for alternatives, for reactions.
Egypt's first Septuplets
Egyptian Blogger Zeinobia, writes about an Egyptian woman, from Alexandria, who gave birth to seven babies – even though she claims she did not take any medicine.
Jordan: No Free SMS Tweets for Arabia
“[M]ost of the world including the Arab world won’t get Free SMS updates from their Twitter friends,” reports Arab Crunch, a technology blog from Jordan.
Bahrain: Code of Ethics Site Launched
“In order to consolidate all our efforts regarding the Code of Ethics Against Hate Speech and the mechanisms which will be adopted in the future to effect the Code and oversee it, I have registered and authored a new site [Ar] specifically for that purpose,” says Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al...
Egypt: Shut Up and Rule
“I really wish that Ahmed Nazif ,our smart prime minister to shut his mouth and do his job as he should without attacking the people and provoke them with useless statements,” writes Egyptian blogger Zeinobia.
Egypt: Alone in New York?
Egyptian blogger Eman is leaving to New York, where she will pursue her higher studies. “Right now I’m in the middle of a whirl of emotions, however that is not something I’m bothered with… What bothers me is people’s reaction to the fact that I am traveling on my own,”...
Peru: One Year After the Pisco Earthquake
One year after a powerful earthquake struck the southern part of Peru, many bloggers look back and note the lack of progress. Most of the blame falls on the local, regional, and national governmental officials that often promised a lot, but delivered very little. However, other bloggers remember the mobilization by Peruvians at home and abroad.
Caribbean: Lightning Bolt Strikes Beijing
This post is going to be as long as Jamaican Usain Bolt's sprint to 100m-dash Olympic glory was short and ever-so sweet - because Caribbean bloggers still have not come down from the high that Bolt's amazing win has created.
Haiti, Cuba: Tropical Storm Fay
Haitian blog Pwoje Eswpa says that Tropical Storm Fay is beyond the island, but “we are drenched and the winds are still pretty strong”, while Cuban diaspora blogger Babalu is concerned about the approaching storm.
Palestine: Is literature in Gaza dead?
With the death of Mahmoud Darwish, the Arab world has mourned the loss of one of its greatest poets. However some Palestinians have been critical of Darwish. One Gazan blogger can't understand this, and he asks what has happened to literature and creativity in Gaza today.
Iran: Baha'i minority
MideastYouth.com's Censeo Productions and BahaiRights.org announce the release of their new video defending the rights of the Baha'i minority in Iran.
