25 November 2008

Stories from 25 November 2008

France Antilles news website launched

  25 November 2008

le blog de [moi] writes about the launch of a new, daily news website for the French Antilles[fr],  featuring the latest from Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyane: “What joy!  Yes, pure and simple joy, because it was really ridiculous not to use [the internet] at a time when everything is going...

Burkina Faso: Fertility and Underdevelopment

  25 November 2008

According to new official statistics, Burkina Faso's population is growing [Fr] at an annual rate of 3.1%.  Quophybloguer writes [Fr]: “Will the government have the courage to officially limit births in this country, where wrongly or rightly it is believed that children are also a ‘wealth'?”   

Thailand: Rallies and Twitter updates

  25 November 2008

Thailand’s anti-government protesters have surrounded the Parliament building; they are demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister. Thai bloggers and Twitter users have been sending updates about the protest actions in Bangkok.

Afghanistan: Meeting Sayed Pervez Kambakhsh

  25 November 2008

Nasim Fekrat, an independent Afghan journalist, met with imprisoned journalism student Sayed Pervez Kambakhsh in Pul-e Charkhi prison. He seemed disappointed and desperately waved at me. Only for a few seconds I got closer to him, closer to hear him, which was difficult because of the noise. Suddenly my left...

DRC: Didace Namujimbo Radio Okapi Journalist Murdered

  25 November 2008

Cedric Kalonji writes about the tragic shooting death of Didace Namujimbo [Fr], the second Radio Okapi journalist to be murdered in Bukavu: “After learning this news, I was torn between pain, sadness and anger.  I asked myself how a democracy can last in a country so visibly allergic to independent, professional journalists....

Chile: Construction of a Zoo in Curicó

  25 November 2008

Marcelo Aliaga of Bloggeando la Vida [es] opposes the construction of a zoo on the Condel Hill located in Curicó, Chile. He believes that the construction would not be a creative alternative to help promote tourism.

Guatemala: 3,000 XO Computers to Be Donated

  25 November 2008

Three thousand XO computers will be donated to the Guatemalan government for distribution to schoolchildren through the offices of the Ministry of Education and the Secetariat of Social Works of the First Lady, writes Interactiva Web [es].

Guatemala: The 5th Annual Jilotepeque Festival

  25 November 2008

The 5th Annual Jilotepeque Festival will take place on November 29-30 in the Guatemalan municipality of San Martín Jilotepeque. The Casa de la Cultura Sanmartineca is coordinating the event and more information can be found on its blog [es].

Argentina: Created By Immigrants?

  25 November 2008

Juan Pablo Meneses starts his latest series of blogs posts at Crónicas Argentinas [es] by asking the question, “Was Argentina Created by Immigrants? [es]” and receiving dozens of responses, many from those who share their stories of being children and grandchildren of immigrants.

Malaysia: Yoga is OK for Muslims but…

  25 November 2008

The National Fatwa Council of Malaysia has ruled that the physical aspect of yoga without the mantras and other spiritual elements is not wrong. Blogger Nuraina thinks the edict is unnecessary.

East Timor: Air quality

  25 November 2008

Reacting to a report about the worsening pollution in Asia, Dili-gence notes that air quality in Dili, East Timor is better than in the whole region.

Bolivia: Elderly Not Collecting Their Government Pension

  25 November 2008

Willy Jordan writes that many elderly Bolivians are not collecting their “Dignity Pension,” which is a government plan that provides a small stipend to Bolivians 60 years and older. [es] It is primarily because they simply do not know about the benefit or are lacking the proper identification.

Nagorno Karabakh: Compromise Necessary For Peace

  25 November 2008

Blogian provides background information and analysis on the latest developments in efforts to resolve the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. The blog says that peace would be beneficial for both sides, but notes that compromise will be necessary.