Stories from 23 September 2008
Cuba: The Power of Books
Both Uncommon Sense and Generation Y blog about three Cuban political prisoners who have started hunger strikes after they were prevented from receiving books and magazines: “They suspect that when Adolfo, Pedro and Antonio are engrossed in an essay or a story the bars disappear, the jail fades away, and...
Bermuda: Promoting Politics
Blogging from Bermuda, Vexed Bermoothes is not on board with the idea of political advocacy on the public dime.
Jamaica: Post-Portia
“The whole class battle is already history and vanishes with Portia. Still, we will hear about it as long as Portia is leader of the PNP…”: Jamaica and the World examines the aftermath of the opposition's party's leadership elections.
Pakistan: Marriott Hotel blasts by Fidaeen-e-Islam
CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan reports that “an unknown militant group, Fidaeen-e-Islam, (‘Partisans of Islam’), claimed responsibility for Saturday’s Marriott Hotel attack.”
Bangladesh: Election thoughts
Black and Gray has some apprehensions about the general election in Bangladesh scheduled on December 18 this year: “even though the government and the Election Commission have carried out some reforms in the electoral process to make it free and fair, honest, competent candidates are still difficult to come by.”
Kazakhstan: Who Lives Well in Kazakhstan
As long as Kazakhstan still aspires to enter the top 50 most competitive states of the world (although these efforts have so far resulted in decline of its competitiveness, as the World Economic Forum’s annual reports show), the republic has managed to enter another list of countries, unfortunately, a shameful...
Japan: Not just Hatena, the whole Internet has too many ads
Hatena user id:gnarl responds to id:rycotan's complaint that Japanese bookmarking service Hatena has too many ads on its keyword page with a post arguing that it's not just Hatena: the whole Internet has too many ads [ja].
Ecuador: The Concern for Citizen Safety
Ecuador's economic difficulties are said to be one of the chief causes of crime around the country. Much of it is caused by the unemployed, who will find alternatives to eat and survive, which often means committing crimes or stealing. For the ordinary citizen, it is a quite different experience dealing with the cities' insecurity and local bloggers provide their thoughts.
Indonesia: Lights, Camera, Elections!
Next April, Indonesian voters will elect new members of Parliament. Political parties are now quietly launching their election campaigns. What surprised (or disturbed) many Indonesians is the high number of celebrities who were named as parliamentary candidates.
Hong Kong: Finance Tsunami
As a major financial center in the world, the financial tsunami triggered by Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy hit the city badly. On sept 18, the Hang Seng Index (HIS) dived about 1,300 points in the morning and touched 16,283, but due to Chinese and Hong Kong government's joint intervention, it rebounded...
Iran: Remembering Rasoulov, a Passionate Artist
Mohsen Rasoulov, a passionate Iranian photographer, artist, cartoonist and photo-blogger was one of 68 passengers who lost their lives when an Iran-bound Boeing 737 crashed at the end of August this year.
Japan: Takeda Castle, the Japanese Machu Pichu
An entry entitled “Japan's Machu Pichu? The ruins of Takeda Castle, Castle to the Heavens” [ja] posted at Tomorrowearth.com has an incredible set of photos (more here, here and here) of an abandoned castle in Asago city, Hyōgo Prefecture. More pictures and a map of the castle ruins here [ja].
Estonia, Finland, Russia: Relationship Now and Then
A Step At A Time writes in depth about the relationship between Finland, Estonia, and Russia – now and in the past.
Ukraine, Russia: Kvas
Darkness at Noon posts an ode to kvas: “To be sure, kvas is the national drink of the East Slavic peoples. Vodka doesn't count because it is consumed largely for its well-documented medicinal benefits. Or at least this is what a local guide in Odessa recently told me. And while...
Russia: “Stirka” Bar in St. Pete
Eagle and the Bear writes about a St. Petersburg bar named “Stirka” (Laundry).
Russia: Svetlana Bakhmina
Robert Amsterdam writes about the case of Svetlana Bakhmina, a jailed former lawyer for Yukos and a pregnant mother of two children.
Russia, U.S.: Kremlin for McCain?
Robert Amsterdam explains why the Kremlin may prefer John McCain as the next U.S. president and notes that “Mr. Putin and others should be careful what they wish for.”
Japan: Nobuto Hosaka on the streets of Tokyo
Politician and blogger Nobuto Hosaka [保坂展人] of the Japan Social Democratic Party writes at his doko doko diary [保坂展人のどこどこ日記] about his experience yesterday giving speeches [ja] on the streets of Koenji [高円寺], Asagaya [阿佐ヶ谷], Ogikubo [荻窪] and Iogi [井荻] (neighborhoods of Tokyo) in preparation for upcoming elections.
