Stories from 6 January 2009
Dominica: Thinking Environmentally
“It is time for the environmentalist movement and its backers to understand that the battle for hearts and minds begins with the pocket and the stomach”: Dominica's Caribbean Man examines some of the challenges for environmentalists in the region.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Crime Stats
Blogging from St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Abeni breathes a sigh of relief that 2008's homicide rate was lower than the previous year's, but says: “While am happy that the numbers saw a decrease I still wonder if this happened because of measures aimed to reduce crime or is it...
Cuba: Three Kings
Today is Three Kings Day in Cuba – the occasion honours the Wise Men's visit to Bethlehem and suggests that the Three Kings will bestow gifts upon good children. Havana Times.org blogs about the inherent economic disparities, saying: “The ideal solution is that the family educates based on feelings and...
Nepal Entangled in Temple Row
New Year in Nepal is off to a bumpy start. Adding to the energy crisis, the country is now entangled in a row involving one of Hinduism’s holiest shrines -Pashupatinath. At the heart of the dispute is the debate over whether the tradition of Indian priests conducting rituals at the...
Japan: J-CAST vs. newspapers
Blogger smashmedia points to [ja] Japanese business news site J-CAST‘s recent negative campaign against traditional media. The blogger posts links to a J-CAST interview [ja] with freelance journalist Tetsuya Kuroyabu [黒薮哲哉], who explains that more than 20% of newspapers (so-called “oshigami”) are actually undelivered, concealing a lower-than-expected readership; the blogger...
Japan: The end of PingMag?
PingMag, the Tokyo-based magazine about “Design and Making Things”, has announced that it will be “taking an extended hiatus, and will not be updated for the foreseeable future.” Over 300 comments from fans of the site have poured in, many describing people's sadness at seeing the end of a unique...
Sri Lanka: Attack on Sirasa TV
Dare To Be Different terms the attack on the Sirasa TV premises at Pannipitiya, Sri Lanka as “the nastiest ever attack on the media freedom in Sri Lanka”. The blog says: “The motives were apparent. Somebody badly wants to silence Sirasa TV.” Lakbima blog, like some other Sri Lankan blogs,...
Palestine: Communicating with Gaza
Under normal circumstances and despite a high rate of literacy, Palestine's Internet penetration rate stands between 13 and 15 per cent (including both the West Bank and Gaza). Given the ongoing attacks on Gaza, however, Internet access has been significantly diminished. Many Gaza residents are instead sending text messages and making phone calls abroad in the hopes that their stories will be told.
Armenia: Merry Christmas
With Christmas celebrated by Armenians on 6 January, Unzipped sends its readers seasons greetings, but also details outstanding opposition and human rights concerns with political prisoners still in detention or on trial following the 1 March 2008 post-presidential election clashes in Yerevan. The blog also wonders whether an alternative address...
Russia-Ukraine: Variables of gas war
Streetwise Professor analyzes a few factors of significance for the ongoing gas war between Russia and Ukraine, whereas Leopolis presents some views from Kiev.
Russia-Georgia: Overcoming war by wine?
Paul Goble of WindowonEurasia discusses how Georgian wine producers are seeking to get Russia's ban on Georgian wine import lifted.
Estonia: Acquittal of Bronze Soldier Activists
Itching for Eestimaa comments on the acquittal of four activists charged for organizing the spring 2007 protests against removal of the soviet Bronze Soldier momument from central Tallinn.
China: Job Security Problem
Brain Black from China Challenges blogs about the impact of global economic downturn on job security in China.
Hong Kong: A Misleading Internet Poll Of Youth And Pornography
ESWN translated a blog commentary (from Those were the days) criticizing a recent survey on internet, youth and pornography.
New Zealand: Dangerous waters
Cactus Kate blogs about the many dangers of swimming in the beaches of New Zealand
Philippines: New Year Flash Floods
Flash floods brought the festive mood of the New Year to an early close for the thousands of displaced families in different areas in the Philippines.
Australia: Locals divided over Gaza
Australian blogs are dominated by disagreements about the situation in Gaza. The stances taken by Australian politicians have also been attacked by several bloggers. Pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protests were held over the weekend.
Mexico: Parking Violations
Tome Chango Su Banana is noticing drivers in Mexico City are some of the worst violators of parking regulations and tells a story where he witnessed a man taking up 2 handicapped spots with no consideration of others.
Argentina: Wanting to Know About the Crisis of 2001
Blogger Esteban Grinberg of De Todo Un Poco [es] is currently on holiday in Chile and upon hearing that he is from neighboring Argentina, besides asking about tango and Diego Maradona, many seem to always ask about the economic and political crisis of 2001.
Argentina: A Generous Country?
“Is Argentina a generous country?” asks Juan Pablo Meneses of Cronicas Argentinas [es]. It is a phrase often heard about the country, and he looks at the history and use of the phrase over the years.
Uruguay: Summer Activities
Chino of Tan Conectados [es] writes about the start of the tourism campaign in Uruguay called Uruguay a Toda Costa (Uruguay at all costs), which will provide summer activities to visitors and residents of 9 cities.
