Stories from 3 January 2009
Egypt: How Can We Help Gaza?
Egyptian bloggers are rallying in support of Gaza, which is being pounded by the might of the Israeli forces for a week. Lasto Adri takes a look at blogs from her country and introduces us to some initiatives being pushed for by her colleagues who are asking: What can we do for Gaza?
Languages and dialects of Mali
Mali Travel Diaries writes about Mali's multilinguism, a country where French is the official language and 50 others are spoken.
Ethiopia: Limited internet availability
Owen Barder reports on the limited internet availability in Ethiopia, especially since the three underwater cables linking Egypt to Europe were cut by an ship’s anchor. Before that bandwith had usually been limited, and unpredictable.
Saudi Arabia: Who is to blame for Gaza?
As in the rest of the Arab world, Saudi Arabia's blogs have been full of commentary on the events in Gaza. However, there is no consensus as to who is politically responsible.
Niger: The griot entertainer
Esther Garvi of Ishtar News posts some pictures of the griots, professional entertainers in the Hausa culture in Niger.
Global Health: Hopes and Resolutions for 2009
As 2009 kicks off, many people are trying to create changes in their lives. Whether it's large or small goals, serious or humorous ones, bloggers around the world are posting lists of their New Year's resolutions — and health-related wishes often top the list. The U.K.-based mental health organization Mind...
Egypt: Change The Channel Initiative Kicks Off
Egyptian bloggers embraced the Change the Channel initiative, spearheaded by blogger Tarek Amr to reflect positively on events and everyday life around them. Amr reviews blogs in this round up of posts from the day.
Jordan: “Our treaty with Israel keeps us safe”
Jordanian blogger Farah Nimri writes a post entitled “Why I’m Against Annuling the Treaty With Israel“.
Ghana: President announced
Kent's diaries reports that the results of the Presidential runoff election in Ghana have just been announced, with opposition candidate John Atta Mills winning the tight race. The blog also offers a profile of the new President.
Kenya: Controversial media bill passed
Moses Kemibaro reports that Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has signed into law the controversial Communications Amendment Bill 2008. He notes that “the Bill has been signed even as Kenyan Media, in particular, and Kenyans, in general, have expressed concerns about the Bill as there are aspects about it that will...
Kenya: Top 10 most influential women
Kachwanya has made a list of the Top 10 most influential women in Kenya, led by Minister of Justice Martha Karua who is also running for President in 2012.
Caucasus: New Year, Christmas
With Christmas and the New Year usually accompanied by lavish television spectaculars and decorations in the center of most cities worldwide, celebrations in countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia are the same to some extent, but usually more low-key and family-orientated. A number of expat workers and Peace Corps Volunteers in all three countries offer an outside eye on proceedings.
Brazil: Reform won't unify Brazilian and European Portuguese
Fabio Said believes that the Portuguese language spelling reform will not make the main variants of the language uniform. Commenting on a BBC news which states otherwise, he argues: “In fact, this passage is nonsense. European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese will always be two different language variants, with very strong...
Turkey: Relations with Armenia
As the first post for 2009, The Eastern Middle offers its opinion on recent moves to normalize relations between Armenia and Turkey. Now studying in the U.S., the blogger says that she did not realize the magnitude of problems between the two estranged neighbors until she left the country of...
Popular rapper in France is Laotian
Check out a YouTube video featuring Bolo, a popular rapper in France who is a Laotian.
Cambodia's first rock opera banned
Cambodia's first rock opera was banned after monks have convinced authorities that it insults Buddhism.
Cambodia: Shining star of Indochina in the 1960s
When Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore visited Phnom Penh, Cambodia in the 1960s, he made this remark to his host: “I hope, one day, my city will look like this”.
Indonesia: Art deco heritage
Elyani's Place blogs about the art deco heritage in Bandung, Indonesia.
Bangkok nightclub fire
Check out a YouTube video clip and the Wikipedia page on the Bangkok nightclub fire disaster which claimed the lives of 60 persons.
Bruneian bakers use blog as a marketing tool
Home makers in Brunei have utilised the blog as a marketing tool to sell their wares. Many are bakers and cake makers that display their products on their respective blogs. Many of them are mothers or working professionals that do part-time baking. It has been a success for many and created a buzz for blog readers and supporters.
Japan: A possible solution to the economic crisis
Wishing a happy new year to everybody, Nobuo Ikeda makes remarks about Japan's destiny in 2009, following the global financial crisis in the last months of 2008. Professor Ikeda believes that it would be better for Japan to go through a drastic and radical economic crisis at all levels once...
