Stories from 17 December 2008
Trinidad & Tobago, Cuba: National Shame
“The Prime Minister's gone to Cuba to get a tumor removed. He surveyed the length and breadth of our islands and decided there was neither a well equipped hospital nor one single suitably trained Trinbagonian surgeon in our entire country that could perform the procedure”: Trin calls the move “a...
Bermuda: On Whose Dime?
As the Premier sends out Christmas cards to “all of Bermuda's electorate”, 21 Square says: “Such cards would be a very nice touch if I didn't suspect that we're actually the ones paying for it.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Christmas Drinks
In preparation for the Christmas season, TriniGourmet.com posts a recipe for Punch de Creme, “another of Trinidad’s traditional Christmas drinks”, while Simply Trini Cooking does the same for Sorrel: “To me Sorrel is synonymous with Christmas in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, U.S.A.: Ducking the Issue
West Indian bloggers continue to comment on the Bush shoe-throwing incident. Barbadians Jdid and Cheese-on-bread! are unimpressed with the Secret Service's response time, while Notes from Port of Spain says: “It's a pity that the journalist Muntazar al-Zaidi isn't a better shot.”
Bahamas: Debate Over Death Penalty
Doing Theology from the Caribbean republishes a letter from the family of a murder victim arguing “that killing murderers is not the solution to murder”, despite recent protests to resume the death penalty in the Bahamas.
Turks & Caicos, Bermuda, Anguilla: No Confidence
The current administration of the Turks & Caicos Islands has been faced with corruption allegations, sparking an independent inquiry by the United Kingdom. Bermudian blogger Vexed Bermoothes has been following the situation closely and posts an interesting update, while Corruption-free Anguilla adds: “The breaking news is that it may be...
Guyana: Blog Proud
“There's no doubt about it. The Guyanablogoshere has seen a surge of new bloggers within the past year or so,” writes Signifyin’ Guyana, adding: “I couldn't be prouder of them if I'd given birth to each and every one of them myself.”
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Fiji and New Zealand Bloggers Debate Diplomatic Row
Bloggers from Fiji and New Zealand are discussing an ongoing diplomatic row between their governments that intensified when New Zealand refused to grant visas to three family members of senior officials in Fiji's government who came to power in a coup in December 2006.
Guatemala: Favorite Books of 2008
Ronald Flores continues his tradition of naming his favorite Guatemalan books of the year and publishes a list of four books that he especially enjoyed in 2008 [es].
Bolivia: Scams in El Alto Bus Terminal
Nancy Condori of El Chairo [es] warns readers of scams in the El Alto, Bolivia bus terminal where individuals are posing as employees of bus companies.
Greece: Notes on the Riots
Notes on the Greek riots – at LimbicNutrition Weblog: “The riots have been descibed as ‘the first credit-crunch riots.’ Countries with high youth unemployment and a tradition of mass protest (e.g. France, Italy, Spain, Serbia) should be concerned about the riots spreading. From Belgrade to Bordeaux solidarity graffiti warns of...
Mexico: The Passing of Amalia Solórzano, Former First Lady
The Mex Files writes about the passing of Doña Amalia Solórzano, who was considered the “matriarch of the Mexican left” and former First Lady.
Nicaragua: Old Photos of Managua
Nicaraguenses [es] a blog by Dr. Erwin J. Jiménez Morales has been publishing old photos depicting the capital city of Managua from the 1950s and 1960s.
Ecuador: Two Years After Correa's Meeting With Stallman
It's been two years since Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa personally met with Richard Stallman [es], free software activist. Rafael Bonifaz reflects back on the meeting and what has happened since.
Russia: Ethnicity, Labor Migration, Human Rights
A roundup on ethnicity, labor migration and human rights in Russia: IZO cites death statistics for Tajik labor migrants in Moscow. Moscow Through Brown Eyes writes about an attack on Stanley Robinson, an 18-year-old African-American student in Volgograd – here and here. Window on Eurasia writes about a strike by...
Russia: Police Raid on St. Pete's Memorial
Sean's Russia Blog wrote on the police raid of the human rights organization “Memorial” in St. Petersburg earlier this month – here and here. At OpenDemocracy.net, Tatiana Kosinova “itemises the material” confiscated during the raid.
U.S.: Rod Blagojevich's Serbian Roots
Gray Falcon comments on the media mentions of Rod Blagojevich's Serbian roots: “In this era of political correctness and mandatory ‘diversity,’ there are still groups (entire nations, really) one is allowed, supposed, or even required to hate. Serbs are one of those groups.”
Ukraine: Yanukovych and Lytvyn in the Russian Media
Victor Yanukovych and the new speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn talk to the Russian media: translation and summary at Foreign Notes.
Ukraine: Coalition-Building Saga
A roundup of posts on yet another Ukrainian coalition-building saga: In-depth political analysis from Tetyana Vysotska of What's up, Ukraine?, including the latest item on the newly-formed coalition, which, despite having a name – “National Development, Stability, and Order” – appears to be “not constitutional.” LEvko of Foreign Notes wrote...
Ukraine: “Judge Who ‘Borrowed/Harvested’ $2M+Hr. 2M Gets Away”
Ukrainiana writes about a Ukrainian judge “who claims to have borrowed — and harvested — the nearly $2M plus Hr. 2M” – and is now at large.
