Stories from 14 January 2009
Two South African inventions
Cape Town Daily Photo highlights two South African inventions, the dolos and the kreepy krauler.
Azerbaijan: Tea
Sheki, Azerbaijan introduces its readers to the tea ceremony in Azerbaijan. The blog says that the country might be one of the world's highest per capita consumers of tea and examines the tradition of how the drink is served. It also looks at the cultural role of tea-houses in Azerbaijan.
Crab Stamps from the Philippines
A set of newly issued Philippine stamps depicts recently discovered crabs from the resort island of Panglao.
Brunei: A New Education System
Brunei bloggers are debating about a new education system which is now being implemented in stages. Described as the 21st Century National Education System, the new program aims to prepare students to meet the new global challenges.
Cambodia: Liberation Day or Invasion Day?
The Cambodian government commemorated the 30th year of the downfall of the Khmer Rouge regime. But opinion is divided whether this day should be celebrated as Liberation Day or Invasion Day since Vietnam, which helped in removing the Khmer Rouge, occupied Cambodia until 1988
Ukraine: Parliament starts gas control commission
What's up, Ukraine? notes that the Ukrainian parliament has founded a temporary investigation commission to follow developments of the current gas crisis.
Russia-Georgia: Tblisi selling out energy supply
FP Passport notes that Georgia is selling part of a hydroelectric plant – supplying nearly half the country's energy – to Russia, amidst the gas crisis between Moscow and Kiev.
The Killing Continues in DR Congo's Wildlife Parks
Reportedly, the fighting in North Kivu province of DR Congo has quieted down a little. Sporadic fighting however continues to claim lives. On WildlifeDirect blogs, there are reports of two incidents inside DR Congo's wildlife Parks in which people have been killed. Paula Kahumbu gives an analysis of various (mainstream)...
Costa Rica: Taking Advantage of Disasters to Make Money
During the recent earthquake in Costa Rica, a helicopter company charged 1700 dollars to rescue trapped tourists. Juan Carlos Hidalgo writes that at first he was disgusted by high fee, but then he said if it wasn't for the company then the tourists would still be trapped [es].
Costa Rica: Cancelling the Palmares Festival
Fusil de Chispas [es] asks whether the famous Palmares Festival in Costa Rica should be cancelled because of national mourning for the victims of the recent earthquake.
Egypt: Airport Policeman Captured Throwing Bag at Toddler
Award winning Egyptian blogger Wael Abbas posted a video taken by a tourist at an airport in Egypt, where a policeman is seen throwing a bag at a crowd and hitting a toddler.
Central America: Panama and Honduras Free Trade Agreement
The recent Panama-Honduras Free Trade Agreement went into effect on January 9 and will help facilitate 80% of the trade between the two Central American nations writes Honduras News.
Colombia: No Smoking in Closed Public Spaces in Bogotá
It's been more than a month since a law went into effect that prohibited smoking in closed public spaces in Bogotá, Colombia and Diana of La Urbi y El Orbe [es] is pleased. However, she laments an incident when a smoker killed a bar manager who asked him to extinguish...
Colombia: President Uribe to Receive US Medal of Freedom
Outgoing U.S. president George W. Bush plans to award Colombian president Álvaro Uribe with the Medal of Freedom. Adam Isacson of Plan Colombia and Beyond criticizes the selection and wishes that, “a U.S. government would someday offer similar recogntion to Colombia’s thousands of other heroes. The country has no shortage...
Spain: Global Voices Lingua Partner Nominated for Web Award
Many of the Global Voices Lingua sites have been partnering with other media websites to exchange RSS headlines as a way to reach more readers in more languages. Recently, Global Voices in Spanish has collaborated with Periodismo Ciudadano, which was nominated as "Best Internet Project" in the Las Mejores Miradas competition sponsored by Spanish television.
Global: Online Petitions Launched in Action for Gaza
Once relegated to the realm of paper and signatures, the petition has gained new meaning, with sites like Petition Online allowing anyone to create one. As Israel's attacks on Gaza rage on, bloggers opposed to Israel's actions are using blogs and social media to circulate petitions for a number of specific causes. Others have thought up other innovative ways to make a difference online.
Palestine: Sameh Habeeb Podcast on Gaza
From Gaza, Sameh Habeeb discusses the latest developments in Gaza in this podcast which appears in Alive in Gaza.
Bahrain: Role of Web 2.0 in Gaza War
Global Voices Online‘s Jillian York speaks to Bahraini Esra'a at Mideast Youth on the role of Web 2.0/social networking sites in reporting the current conflict in Gaza.
Jordan: Help needed in sending aid to Gaza
Jordanian Ali Dahmash says more volunteers are needed to help with organising parcels of aid to Gaza. “Donations are still coming from Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Syria. Yesterday we unloaded 3 trucks that arrived from Dubai and there are still 25 on the way. The whole process is complicated...
Syria: Mideast Youth in Arabic
Mideast Youth has launched an Arabic website, writes Rima, from Syria.
Palestine: Prank Calling the IDF
Along with missiles and bombs, Palestinians in Gaza are being bombarded with flyers, asking them to rat out Hamas militants and flee their homes. Outside Gaza, Palestinian bloggers respond.