Stories from 22 October 2008
Egypt: Laila Echoes Reverberate in the Land of the Nile
In its third year, the Kolena Laila (We Are All Laila) campaign took a different turn, reaching out to women with no access to the Internet and giving them a chance to speak to the world. Nermeen Edrees reviews some of the voices which had a chance to be heard.
Russia, U.S.: LJ User Drugoi in NYC
LJ user drugoi, one of the most popular and prolific Russian bloggers, shares his wonderful photos of New York City - and his thoughts on some of the issues discussed on Oct. 17 at the Russian-language blogosphere conference at Columbia University School of Journalism - "Russia Online: Mapping the Russian-Language Blogosphere and Participatory Internet."
Cape Verde: Crisis? What crisis?
After questioning the reasons for a recent wave of prices rise in Cape Verde, bloggers were surprised last week at the news that the country is immune to the economic crisis that has devastated the world. Even petrol prices, which were on the rise three weeks ago, have now been reduced.
Pakistan: The other face of Islamic banks
Mohammad Yusha at Chowrangi questions the operation of Islamic banks in Pakistan: “Are these banks Islamic? Not even close. These wolves in sheep clothing will suck your blood if they have to, to earn money in the name of Islam.”
Ghana: Presidential Candidate Wants Electoral Commission in Court
The Electoral Commission in Ghana is accused of disqualifying a presidential candidate: “[H]aving failed to successfully filed his nomination forms to contest the December elections, Mr. Dan Lartey, flag-bearer of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), is nursing a plan to drag Ghana's electoral body to court for “deliberately” refusing...
Nigeria: Web 2.0 Aggregator for Nigeria?
Loy asks, “Isn't it time for a Wb 2.0 aggregator for Nigeria”: I think I won’t be wrong to say that the only web 2.0 technology that Nigeria has ever brought to the web space to date is Sturvs, Nigeria’s version of Digg. Thanks to sturvs, we now have a...
Bangladesh: Protecting dolphins
Black And Gray tells the story of the struggle for a protected area in the Sundarbans for Bangladesh’s threatened dolphins.
Colombia: Indigenous Protests and Murders Under Media Blackout
Indigenous groups in the Cauca region of Colombia have been marching and protesting their way to Cali, one of the countries larger cities. Accusations of government fire weapon usage against protesters have bloggers expectant of the outcome.
Blogging Rural Morocco: Peace Corps Volunteers
Morocco has an active and healthy blogosphere. Bloggers write in Arabic, French, English, Spanish, and Amazigh, covering a wide range of topics and issues. The one negative about the Moroccan "blogoma," however, is that the majority of its adherents are clustered within major cities (Casablanca, Rabat, Fez) and abroad; little is blogged about the rural areas. That's where the Peace Corps and Fulbright bloggers come in; as many are stationed in remote areas of Morocco, they are able to paint a picture of the other side of life in the country.
Egypt: To Gold or Not To Gold
It seems that the financial crisis rocking the US markets is hurting people everywhere - even the daily decisions of laymen and people who do not own businesses. One Egyptian blogger describes what people in her country are doing with their hard earned savings.
Syria: Farewell Om Abed
Syrian Mariyah mourns the death of Om Abed – a neighbour and family friend – in this touching post.
Egypt: Dying Fish at Marsa Matrouh
Egyptian Zeinobia reports on an environmental catastrophe is Marsa Matrouh and the North Coast
Jordan: The Fall and Rise of Rainbow Street
Jordanian Roba Al Assi overheard this conversation at her office – about the rise and fall of Rainbow Street.
Jordan: Black is the Colour
From Jordan, Mai Al Shareef [Ar] argues that black is the best colour for the Islamic veil worn by women.
Jordan: Time and Facebook
On the power of Facebook, Loza, from Amman, Jordan, shares this video.
Palestine: Why are Palestinians Destined to be Occupied?
Palestinian Iman remarks: “Reading Zait o Za3tar’s comment kinda makes me wonder why some (i.e., Palestinians) were destined to be occupied, oppressed, humiliated …”
Trinidad & Tobago: Higher Standards
“When a few stupid women lower their standards, we all suffer…It’s time we learn from our animal friends and reclaim the power nature entrusted to us. Like the Alpha female wolf, we have to start to give sexual consent to only to the Alpha Male and snarl and bite when...
Nepal: The ignored IDPs
Rakesh Ranjan writes in Nepal in Peace that the IDPs (internally displaced people) in Nepal are ignored in the peace process. In his opinion, amnesties to armed combatants (such as Maoists) will ignore IDP rights for compensation and seeking justice for the crimes against them.
Haiti, U.S.A.: Powell's Edorsement
Far from being impressed by Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama, The Haitian Blogger says: “In Haiti, Powell was the ‘Head Negro in Charge’ of dismantling Haiti's democracy and installing the Bush administration's goon, Gerard Latortue.”
India: First Mission to Moon
India’s first unmanned moon spacecraft Chandrayaan-1, was successfully put into initial orbit today morning. TechBanyan posts pictures and videos of the launch of the PSLV-C11, which carried the Chandrayaan-1.
Trinidad & Tobago: Steelpan Goes Wii
The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society is tickled that Instrument #29 on Wii Music is none other than the steelpan!
