Stories from 18 September 2008
Iran: An important Shi'a server was hacked
Javanrood, an Iranian blogger, says [Fa] the most important Shi'a server was hacked by Group-xp, a Wahabite group. Several high ranked clerics’ sites have been hacked too.
Madagascar: Saluting Rado, a Poet Legend
Bloggers in Madagascar mourn the passing of a renowned poet.
UK: Gay Azerbaijani Artist Faces Deportation
Unzipped: Gay Armenia reports that gay Azerbaijani artist Babi Badalov faces deportation from the U.K. this weekend. The blog has chronicled concerns about the persecution of people such as Badalov in the South Caucasus and urges its readers to protest against the decision.
Eastern Europe: Victory at the Paralympics
The 8th Circle posts a list of results by the East European national teams and sportsmen at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.
Sri Lanka: Clearing the way
Jason Motlagh reports in Untold Stories: “Journalists have been barred from covering the war in Sri Lanka's battered northern region, and now aid workers are out of the picture. As government forces aggressively advance toward the Tamil Tiger capital, Kilinochchi, tens of thousands of displaced Tamils have lost the only...
Nepal: Less documentaries in TV
Mediaharsha is outraged with the fact that Nepali TV channels show less documentaries.
Venezuela: Digital Workshop in Carabobo
Luis Carlos Díaz of Periodismo de Paz [es] writes about the recent workshop of the use of web 2.0 in the community of Carabobo, Venezuela. Here, students learned the use of Google maps, Wikipedia and other participatory media tools.
Environment: Interview with John Romankiewicz of China's Green Beat
China's Green Beat is an effort by “Green brothers” John Romankiewicz, Shane Zhao and Rene Ng to raise awareness about environmental issues in China. The project has developed more than ten short films, complete with bilingual Chinese-English subtitles. From its inception a year ago, China’s Green Beat has received a...
El Salvador: The Diversity of Faces
Miguel Angel Servellón publishes some of his photography showing the diversity of faces from El Salvador [es].
Madagascar: Falling in love with Madagascar
David Sasaki loves Madagascar, an island in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. And he is not the only one…
Japan: The End of OhmyNews Japan
At the end of August, 2008, OhmyNews, the citizen journalism site from South Korea that entered the Japanese market in 2006 with much fanfare, closed its doors. First officially announced on February 22, 2006, and launched shortly thereafter with help from the Japanese media giant Softbank and an investment contract valued at 1.3 billion yen, OhmyNews had a rough ride in Japan right from the beginning. Bloggers reflect on the rise and fall of the Japanese citizen journalism project.
Saudi Arabia: The need for Saudi nurses
Saudi writer Sabria Jawhar argues that more Saudi women should become nurses: “Even in 2008 a stigma that nursing is a less than noble profession remains in Saudi minds.”
Saudi Arabia: Fighting hypocrisy
Saudi blogger Sara is tired of the hypocrisy she sees around her: “an example is people in ramadan do pretty weird things .. pretending to go to a religious lecture and they are not even interested in hearing what the guy has to say .. it’s just because there’s guys...
Jamaica: Short Story
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp recommends “a good short story grounded in Caribbean reality, history and mythology.”
Cuba: Imprisoned Journalist Wins Award
Uncommon Sense reports that “imprisoned Cuban journalist Héctor Maseda Gutiérrez has been named a recipient of a 2008 International Press Freedom Award by the Committee to Protect Journalists.”
Environment: Polluted Fish?
La Maguerite considers whether to buy a parrot fish or not, especially after seeing the plastic pollution at a beach just the day before. “…I just wonder how safe is it? How much of the chemicals from the pelagic plastic we found on the beach, have made their way into...
Deal Reached on Extension of Renewable Energy Tax credits
On Gristmill blog, Kate Shepard reports “The Senate appears to have reached a deal on a major tax package that includes the extension of tax credits for renewable energy that are set to expire at the end of this year.”
Moroccan Blogger acquitted by appeals court
Moroccan Blogger Mohammed Erraji has been acquitted by appeals court and is now free.
Wind Powered Rotating Skyscraper in Dubai
The Green Prophet writes about the plans for Dubai's wind powered skyscraper, which not only has ‘tremendous cool factor’ but also incorporates advanced building principles. (Also discussed on the post).
Bermuda: Tightening the Belt
Vexed Bermoothes thinks Bermudians should brace themselves for tough economic times ahead: “It’s time to rein in the spending … and fast.”
Guyana: Unspectacular?
Guyana-Gyal examines “the mundane, the ordinary, everyday routine of living” – with a twist.
