Stories from 9 September 2008
Angola: Chaos and hopes mark first election in 16 years
"I waited for this day with great anxiety and curiosity because I knew it was a special day for Angola and Angolans. For many years our daily lives had been marked by the sadness of war. A war that claimed lives, destroyed property and consumed much of our resources and energy. At last we face a historic event", says a blogger about his first vote.
Caribbean: Ike Strikes
The 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season is not letting up. Beleaguered Caribbean islands like Cuba and Haiti barely had time to recover from the ravages of Hurricanes Gustav and Hanna when Mother Nature struck once again, this time in the form of Ike. Tensions were high with bloggers Caribbean-wide.
China: Free market economists urge post-Olympics social and political reforms
The huge economic strides China has taken over the past thirty years was one of the main themes in Olympics coverage; now that foreigners and their media have stopped gawking and left, Chinese economists are busy eking out the next thirty-year plan.
South Africa: Digital Media Business Model
Nic posts slides of his presentation at Highway Africa 2008 in South Africa titled “Digital Media Business Model.”
Morocco: Understanding Mohammed Raji's Sentence
Less than a year ago, Global Voices noted Morocco as the “liveliest free speech zone in Muslim North Africa.” And yet, journalists are all too frequently fined or arrested, and yesterday a blogger, Mohammed Raji, joined their ranks. The blogger was arrested yesterday afternoon for insulting the king, and was immediately tried and sentenced to two years in prison and a fine of MAD 5,000 (about $625). The Moroccan blogosphere, lively as ever, has rallied around Raji.
North Cyprus: The Opera Comes to Town
“One thing that's definitely in short supply here in North Cyprus is opera, so I'm thrilled that no less than 21 opera stars are performing in Kyrenia on September 14th,” writes Kathy from North Cyprus Blogs. Opera singers from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Northern Cyprus, Bashkor-tostan and Tatarstan will...
China: Communication Style
Joel from Fool's mountain is collecting feedback from Chinese readers on this description a typical Chinese communication style. The blogger has posted a list of assumptions for further discussion.
China: The Mummy 3
Many Chinese are angry about the Mummy3 and find the movie insulting Chinese people. More from Chinasmack.
China: “Human flesh searches” have no original sin
David Bandurski from China media project translated some local newspapers discussion against the criminalization of “human flesh searches”.
Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica: Olympic Party
“September is the month for celebration as athletes from Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica return home from the Beijing Olympics”: Caribbean Beat Blog wants to get the party started!
Trinidad & Tobago: Ole Time Wedding
Onika Henry at Discover T&T Blog attends the Tobago Heritage Festival and writes an interesting post on the re-enactment of the Tobago Ole Time Wedding. Photos make you feel as if you were there.
Barbados: Oil Prices
As world oil prices fall, Barbados Undergound wonders why the reduction is not reflected in prices at the pump.
Saudi Arabia: Is wearing nail polish permitted in Islam?
American Bedu has learnt than many Muslim women do not wear nail polish for religious reasons. Find out why here.
Saudi Arabia: No addresses, just directions
Stranger in this Dunya complains that no one in Saudi Arabia seems to use addresses: “Directions will more like: ‘We are on Takhasussi street, just after the Riyadh Bank and behind xyz shop. It’s the building with vines growing up the sides.’ “
Saudi Arabia: Human rights on the syllabus
Crossroads Arabia comments on a report that Saudi Arabia may introduce human rights on the syllabus for law students: “As well as teaching what are deemed to be the ‘Universal Islamic Rights of Man’, it is also important to teach the ‘Universal Rights of Man’ as put forth by the...
Jamaica, Guyana: New Publishing House?
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp reports that “as publishing opportunities for Caribbean writers continue to shrink…Derek Walcott, David Dabydeen, and Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo have agreed to pursue the development of a Caribbean publishing house located in Guyana.”
Africa: Real Nominations at Big Brother Africa III
Wanjiku discusses Big Brother Africa III: “Shock of all shocks Morris nominated Thami! One would think there was some sort of eviction brotherhood when they found themselves played together by Big Brother. Now you know and have proved it ain’t family Morris.”
South Africa: Open Source Newspaper
PV posts the third edition of Open Source newspaper, which covers Highway Conference 2008 Grahamstown, South Africa.
Colombia: Documentary of Massacre by Paramilitary Groups
La Guayabita [es] transcribes a documentary on the murder of 40 people in February 2000 in El Salado, in the region of Bolívar, Colombia, by the paramilitary groups. In the film, a survivor tells of how after the horrifying massacre, her calls for help to the National and International Red...
El Salvador: Will There Be a Presidential Debate?
Hunnapuh [es] wonders whether ARENA presidential candidate Rodrigo Ávila will participate in a presidential debate in El Salvador before the elections, especially since many of his predecessors did not.
Japan: Bloggers debate Uesugi's Collapse of Journalism
In his new book “The Collapse of Journalism”, released in July, freelance journalist Takashi Uesugi strips down the murky Japanese media system and offers a glimpse inside. A former New York Times journalist and currently a contributor to numerous Japanese magazines and TV programs, Uesugi points out anomalies in Japanese journalism when compared with other democratic countries. Read responses from Japanese journalists and bloggers, translated in this post.
