Stories from 22 September 2008
Ukraine: Critique of a Text on NATO Membership
The 8th Circle posts a detailed critique of Jeffrey Tayler’s piece in The Atlantic: “[…] in the process of attempting to make the case against Ukraine’s membership in NATO, Tayler resorts (consciously or not) to claims that are either: misleading or factually inaccurate and/or are highly improbable to be true...
Kuwait: I never wear things made in China
Twenty Three and Enjoying Life, from Kuwait, is surprised at the number of groups popping up on Facebook. The latest she encounters says: I never wear things made in China.
Kuwait: Animals are not Toys
From Kuwait, Madred's Weblog sheds light on animal rights. “A number of people these days view animals as nothing but toys, an object for entertainment so that their children can play and kill time with,” writes the blogger.
Japan: Too many ads in Hatena Keywords
User id:ryocotan complains that the keyword page at Hatena, Japan's largest social bookmarking service, has too many advertisements [ja], demonstrating this problem with a diagram for the keyword “violin” (バイオリン [ja]) in which actual information is highlighted in blue, and ads highlighted in red.
Iraq: Look at the World – Where is peace?
Today a mixed bag of posts. A meeting of old friends, a little politics, a coin of excellence, a dose of female geekery and, if you read to the end, find out what fasting really does to you.
Ukraine: MTV and Domestic Violence
Natalia Antonova links to her piece on GlobalComment about “MTV Ukraine and the normalization of domestic violence.” LJ user maryxmas has translated Antonova's text into Ukrainian; a Russian translation is posted in the feministki LJ community.
Ukraine: Battle for Crimean minds
Kyiv Scoop discusses how pupils and people in Crimea are influenced to love Russia and loath Ukraine.
Ukraine: Overcoming political stalemate?
Foreign Notes posts a translation of an article by Party of Regions’ (PoR) Andriy Kluyev, calling for renewed efforts in forming a solid and long-term Ukrainian government – presumably a PoR-Tymoshenko coalition.
Russia-Georgia: Reports on military and civilian death tolls
Wu Wei comments on and links to reports on Georgian military and civilian death tolls in the recent Russo-Georgian war. She also posts an interesting overview of demographic developments in Georgia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia.
Baltic States: Unity project for next generation of Balts
Lituanica reports from a Baltic youth conference, where visions of bringing Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania closer together stood out as the vision of a young Baltic generation.
Egypt: Kidnapped Tourists
A group of 15 foreign tourists, including five Italians, were kidnapped on Monday in southern Egypt. Egyptian bloggers react.
India: Help Bihar flood victims
To Revolutionize India informs of an innovative site to help the flood victims of Bihar, India. You just have to answer simple questions, and the sponsors will pay to the NGO on your behalf.
Estonia: Top-ranking official in spy scandal
Osteuropablog comments on [GER] an article in Estonian newspaper Postimees of spy charges brought against a top-ranking official in the Ministry of Defence.
Russia: Ingushetian president accused of journalist murder
Finnish-Russian Civic Forum posts a translation of an article from Ingushetiya.ru, where the news site accuses the president of Ingushetiya for ordering the murder of its owner.
India, Nepal: Kosi Rivers fury
Tritiopokhkho discusses how the Koshi river, which flows from the Himalayan ranges of Nepal and flows into the plains of Northern Bihar of India, has caused massive floods in vast areas of Nepal and India.
Estonia: Calls for change for unfamiliarity with continuity
Itching for Eestimaa discusses how a growing number of Estonians call for a government change for the mere reason that they are unaccustomed to having cabinets in power for more than two years at a time.
Pakistan: Rallying for Chavez
Pak Tea House reports that the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is gaining support in Pakistan for his stance against the USA.
Belarus: Elections without political life
LJ user junkie beatnik comments on [RUS] the absence of political life in Belarus, where neither opposition nor government seem to comment on politics with only a week left until parliamentary elections.
Belarus: Youth activists in strange accident
LJ user toshirskij directs attention to [RUS] a Charta 97 article reporting on an opposition youth activist from the Young Front in a freak car accident. Returning from a meeting in preparation for protests on parliamentary election day 28 September, the wheel of his car fell off at high speed,...
Belarus: Making it in the sausage competition
LJ user luchecon received a phone call [RUS] from his worried grandmother, that Belarus is cutting down the meat content in its sausage production, because it cannot meet the price competition with Russian sausages’ lower meat level. As it turns out, Belarus has a meat deficit, substituting it already with...
India: Police and politics
I love life..so I explore says that in India the police allegedly keep a corrupt nexus with the politicians who shield the criminals and terrorists. But usually they are the ones under public scrutiny instead of the politicians.
