Stories from 9 December 2008
Brazil: Deadly chemical leak kills 80 ton fish in Rio de Janeiro
On November 18, a leak of deadly endosulfan pesticide into the Pirapetinga river killed over 80 tonnes of fish, plus water hogs, tortoises, birds, and others creatures. The tragedy was worsened by the fact that it happened during breeding season for many species, some of which are under threat of extinction. After a suspension of 20 days only, the company responsible for the accident resumed operations today. Bloggers react.
Saudi Girls Rock!
A group of Saudi young women are making their voices heard - in a manner unheard of in conservative Saudi Arabia. The Accolade is an all-girl rock band which is making waves across the blogosphere. Here are a few reactions from bloggers in the region.
Ecuador: Correa's Visit to Iran Characterized with Changes in Schedule
Ecuador President Rafael Correa recently visited Iran, and according to La Voz de Guamote [es] the visit was characterized by several changes in schedule.
Costa Rica: High Fines in New Transit Law
Costa Rica is preparing to enact a new transit law, which according to Fusil de Chispas [es] will contain high fines for traffic infractions.
Costa Rica: Unconventional Names for Towns and Villages
In Costa Rica, La Foto Salió Movida [es] searched the electoral lists and discovered truly strange names of townships and villages in the country, and publishes them on his blog. Some of the names, translated into english includes Loser, Ice Cream or Liberty, Beer, Betterthannothing, Cheap Houses, Sewers, Socks, The...
Colombia: Pablo Escobar's Brother Makes Claim of AIDS Cure
Colombia's twitterers are buzzing about the television declaration of the cure and vaccine for AIDS that druglord Pablo Escobar's brother, Roberto states he has discovered. So far, the only available information regarding the claim can be seen on 6 month-old low quality videos of testimonies by people claiming to have...
Côte d'Ivoire: Interview with Best Francophone Blogger Israël Yoroba
Global Voices interviews the Abidjan-based author of this year's 'Best Blog in French' (as chosen by the Best of Blogs jury), Israël Yoroba on how he started a blog, on blogging in Côte d'Ivoire and his wishes for the future.
Iran: “A blogger arrested”
Sibiltala, an Iranian blogger in Canada, says[fa] that Hossein Derakhshan, an Iranian blogger, has been arrested 38 days ago in Tehran. Sibiltala adds that Derakshan's sister “confirmed this news”. Read more here.
Africa and China: Good or Bad Partnership?
Allen from Fool's mountain posted some videos discussing the nature of partnership between Africa and China.
China and U.S: Ideal Citizen Education
Russo at Frog In A Well compares conservative education program in the U.S with textbook in China from 1933-39 about “being a good citizen”.
South Korea: Comfort Women Demonstration
Michael Solis from Ohmynews! forecasts the Korean comfort women demonstration on Human Rights Day.
East Timor: The difference a computer makes
In a country where the cost of the Internet is 3.000 USD a month for a 256 kbps connection, Sara Moreira shares pictures from the times she was teaching Computer Engineerig in Dili. “As you can see, your laptops would truly make a difference for young women in Dili, Timor!”.
Trinidad & Tobago: Language Lessons
“What's with the dumbing down of the English language by people who should know better?” From Trinidad and Tobago, Coffeewallah thinks that “poor language is really a way to keep people oppressed.”
Paraguay: The Leaf Stevia Used as Sweetener
Brenda writes about Stevia, a Paraguayan leaf often used for sweetener, which is also thought to have healing properties.
Jamaica: Looking Back
As the year draws to a close, Jamaica and the World looks back on the good, the bad and the ugly of 2008.
Dominica, U.S.A.: Political Strategies
As Dominicans prepare themselves to go to the polls in 2010, Chris at Dominica Weekly thinks that “there are many strategies that local political parties can adopt from the Obama presidential campaign.”
Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago: VoIPs
“It seems that the CARICOM members have no handle on technology and its positive impact on the economy, and Guyana is no different”: Blogging from Trinidad and Tobago, KnowProSE.com is not surprised that Guyana seems to be on the verge of closing cyber-cafes because of competition from VoIPs.
Bermuda: Issues, Not Race
Vexed Bermoothes finds “a breath of positive air” from two politicians in the midst of the Bermudian Premier's “petty fights about race in Parliament.”
Jamaica: Baby Cereal Break-Ins
A curious situation in Jamaica: a spate of robberies from “a gang of housebreakers [that] have been cleaning out people's homes, only pausing to mix their favourite drink, baby cereal.” Iriegal is befuddled.
Paraguay: The First 100 Days of Lugo's Presidency
The first 100 days have passed since Paraguay’s elected President Fernando Lugo assumed power last August. Paraguayans were eager for a change, a change that had raised so many expectations from the new President, who was an cx-bishop and from his cabinet. Some bloggers took time to write about the first 100 days of Lugo's Presidency.
Ethiopia: Is the Orthodox church losing ground?
Arefe of Addis Journal comments on the decrease in the number of Orthodox Christians, traditionally the dominant church in Ethiopia, in the new census of the country. And, drawing on Professor Medhane Tadesse's essay, “Religion, Peace and the Future of Ethiopia”, he analyses the reasons for this decrease.
