4 January 2009

Stories from 4 January 2009

Ethiopia: Opposition leader jailed

Samuel Gebru reports that opposition leader Birtukan Medeksa faces life imprisonment for denying that she apologized to the Government for her role in the 2005 unrest. Mamá Etiopía [Es] reports...

4 January 2009

Zimbabwe: A promise for 2009

Hope of This is Zimbabwe shares a recent story in which a little girl was begging drivers to help her take her grandmother to the hospital, and she makes a...

4 January 2009

Americas: Calls for Peace in Palestine

Several Latin American bloggers are watching the events unfold in Gaza and they often feel helpless. They use their blogs to demand peace in the region. However, they also feel that after these bombings that achieving peace in the Middle East is now even further away.

4 January 2009

Celebrating the Epiphany in Haiti

Haitian blogger J’ai découvert [Fr] writes about celebrating the Epiphany in Port-au-Prince. “The holiday still remains controversial in Haiti for the country's three most popular religions (Protestantism, Catholicism, and Voodism).”

4 January 2009

U.K: London Gaza Protest

Photo This & That, the blog of British photographer Edmond Terakopian, posts photographs of yesterday's protest against Israeli military action in Gaza. In a second post, the established and award-winning...

4 January 2009

Azerbaijan: Cultural Destruction

Another year has passed since the 1994 ceasefire put the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh on hold, but a lasting peace remains elusive. However, both countries continue to accuse the other of destroying cultural and historical monuments. But, while the issue of the destruction of an ancient Armenian cemetery in the exclave of Nakhichevan is frequently raised, less is known about the cultural loss suffered by Azerbaijan.

4 January 2009

Azerbaijan: Back in Baku

Thoughts On The Road returns to Baku, capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and recounts a conversation with a local taxi driver on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The blog reflects...

4 January 2009

Global: Protests for Palestine

The world has come out in support of Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of people have turned up at rallies and demonstrations over the past five days, which have spanned the globe. From Boston to Beirut, Cape Town to Caracas, citizens have shown their solidarity and support for Gaza. Jillian York zooms in on Flickr for some photo action.

4 January 2009

Armenia: Fugitive Activist Blog

Via Tzitzernak2, a blog has been established dealing with fugitive newspaper editor and opposition activist, Nikol Pashinyan. Currently on the run from the authorities following the 1 March post-presidential election...

4 January 2009

Azerbaijan: Foreign Broadcasts Banned Ahead of Constitutional Referendum

As the country prepared to see in the New Year, Azerbaijan's National Council for Television and Radio banned international radio stations from broadcasting on national frequencies. The decision was effective from 1 January 2009 and affected three radio stations broadcasting on the FM frequency. In a region where tight government control defines the media, the ban was seen by some as an attack on the last remnants of free speech in Azerbaijan.

4 January 2009