Stories from 27 August 2008
Lebanon: Maid is Lebanese for Slave
How are some housemaids or domestic helpers being treated in Lebanon? Nash Suleiman sums up the reactions of Lebanese bloggers to this tragedy, following the release of a report on the situation by Human Rights Watch.
Bangladesh: Celebrating
Bangladesh from our View on the biggest celebration in Bangaldesh – the first day of the new Bengali year.
Korea: Can a brassiere be a dangerous product?
On the 15th of August, the 815 Liberation Day led people to gather together and to have a 100th candlelight vigil. While they marched on the street, some of them were taken to the police station. A scandal emerged when it was discovered that in a police station in Seoul...
Jamaica: Athletic Subversion
“Jamaica's garrison politics found its way onto the Olympics stage in two performances – once in a scintillating display of athletic grace and vigor, and once in a celebratory performance of the “gully creepa”: Abeng News Magazine explains.
Haiti: Hurricane Gustav
“Tensions are running really high right now”: Pwoje Espwa describes the conditions as Hurricane Gustav passes over Haiti.
Cuba: Punk Rocker Arrested
As several bloggers voice their outrage at the arrest of Cuban punk rocker Gorki Aguila, Havana-based Generation Y claims: “They took him because nothing destabilizes the intransigents more than a man in his most free state.”
Barbados, Cuba: Broadcasting Meeting
Bajan Global Report reports on the Prime Minister's trip to Cuba to attend the 39th General Assembly of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, an organization which supports and promotes high quality work of regional radio and TV entities – but Barbados Free Press calls it “irony defined”: “We are disappointed that...
Georgia: Pulitzer Crisis Analysis
Untold Stories, Dispatches from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, quotes from a speech made by its Executive Director blaming all sides for the crisis in Georgia. In a second post, the blog examines the issue of Abkhazia's independence.
Georgia: Russian-Georgian News Item Translations
Exercises in Translation has started translating news items in Russian and Georgian on the conflict between Moscow and Tbilisi over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In the two most recent posts, for example, the blog translates a news item on Russian president Dmitri Medvedev's interview to French TF-1 and a Georgian...
Georgia: The View from Tbilisi
Michael J. Totten's Middle East Journal is in Tbilisi and reports from the Georgian capital on a recent press conference given by the government's media advisor. The blog also recounts a conversation on the conflict with Russia between Totten and veteran Caucasus journalist and author, Thomas Goltz.
Peru: Work on Lima Streets Taking Too Long
Luis Ramos of Vivir Lima [es] complains about the time that it is taking for the work on some Lima streets. He also republishes the results from a recent survey where “Limeños” don't believe the work will be finished in time for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November.
Peru: Blogger Inducted to Academy of Spanish Language
Daniel Salas from Gran Combo Club [es] salutes the induction of Camilo Fernádez Cozman to the Peruvian Academy of Spanish language. Camilo, besides an academist is also a blogger. His induction speech can be read at his blog La Soledad de la Página en Blanco [es].
China: Cop Killer's Case
The Shanghai Cop killer's or Yang Jia case was on court on yesterday (26 of Aug). Both Shanghai citizens and reporters were not allowed to attend the trial as all the seats were booked by local police. Liu Xiaoyuan pointed out that such kind of arrangement is de facto secret...
Hong Kong: Long Hair
Both Sin bin and DM said that they would vote for Long Hair in the coming Legco election.
Twitter users and Bangkok rallies
Thai Twitter users are commenting about the huge rallies led by anti-government groups in Thailand. One user, bodychan, writes: “I don't want Samak say this word ‘No one died in Government House’.”
Anti-government rallies in Bangkok
A teacher who is based in a province in Thailand is surprised that people are not talking much about the huge rallies in Bangkok which forced the Prime Minister to seek protection in a military compound.
Taiwan: Where do eggs come from?
Mong compared ordinary chicken farm with special chicken farm with a humane environment. The blogger urged consumers to buy eggs with humane label.
Middle-aged Bangkok protesters?
MrPavee notes that Bangkok protesters who stormed the government house were mostly 45 year-old middle class individuals. He also writes that the rallies “showed the government is really losing its grip and is actually really weak.”
Anwar Ibrahim back in Parliament
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will become Member of Parliament again after winning in a recent election. No Kacau, Don't Kacau sees a better political landscape for Malaysia.
Japan: Pet Culture
Lee from Tokyo Times blogs some photos showing Japanese pet culture in daily consumption.
Post-tsunami reconstruction efforts in Aceh
angieindo visited Banda Aceh, Indonesia and was able to witness the post-tsunami reconstruction efforts in the area.
