Stories from 22 January 2009
![](https://globalvoicesonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/obama8.jpg" alt="" title="obama8" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-55810")
China: Obama, can you?
Obama has been sworn in as the first African American president, with a popular support peaking at its high. His inauguration summoned as many as two million people, and his address occasionally interrupted by thunder-like claps and acclaims. The rhythmic incanting “O-ba-ma!” oftentimes burst out of the packed and vital...
Middle East: Boycott as a Political Weapon
Many people across the Middle East have decided to boycott Israeli and American products in response to the Israeli war on Gaza. Tarek Amr reviews what bloggers have to say about this.
Egypt: Al Jazeera or Al Arabiya
Zeinobia compares here between Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya news channels, elaborating on why she hates Al Arabiya more than Al Jazeera.
Egypt: Bye Bye Bush
“I admit…it feels very good that George W. Bush is no longer President of the United States of America,” writes The Arabist, from Egypt.
Egypt: Blogger Facing Lawsuit
“I spoke before about the Egyptian citizen Journalism blog from Port Said “El Hakika”. Its owner and blogger Tamer Mabrook was facing the first civil lawsuit against a blogger for defaming a corporation,” writes Zeinobia, from Egypt.
Maghreb Politics Review Launched
“Check out the first post at Maghreb Politics Review. I’ve added some people as contributors, if you want to be added as an editor or as an admin, let me know,” announces Algerian blogger The Moor Next Door.
Palestine: Coexisting?
Palestinians who choose to co-exist with Israelis “fare no better than any other Palestinian,” observes Ummkahlil, a Palestinian blogger, who lives in the US.
Russia: Migration Issues
Window on Russia writes about a Ryazan Tajik activist's appeal to the Russian media to stop “fanning the flames of ethnic hatred against migrants” and the launch of the Migration-007 magazine, whose goal would be to “'change the stereotypes and myths’ that Russians have about migrants and that migrants have...
Russia: Mosque and Armenian Church Near Olimpiysky
Pictures of an Armenian church under construction and a mosque under re-construction in Moscow's Olimpiysky Sports Arena neighborhood – at Pictures of Moscow.
The Egyptian Bloggers Bookfair
With more than 15 new titles, Egyptian bloggers take the 2009 Cairo International Book Fair by storm. Marwa Rakha reports how bloggers are planning to organise group visits to make the most out of the annual show.
Saudi Arabia: A boycott that might work
Crossroads Arabia reports on a call by Saudi women to boycott lingerie shops that refuse their demand to hire women – an initiative backed by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Saudi Arabia: Thoughts on the inauguration
Saudi blogger Hala, who currently lives in the United States, has posted her thoughts on Obama's inauguration: “For those of us who think it’s possible to see democracy in our part of the world, check the emphasis on holding government officials accountable, can we have such a system in our...
Israel: A Plea to Obama
An Israeli human rights activist makes an impassioned plea to the new American president in a video: “Obama, take away the pain in my stomach.”
Nepal: Bollywood Movie Banned Over Buddha Birthplace Row
A Bollywood movie titled ‘Chandni Chowk To China’ was banned in Nepal because a narrator in a scene suggested that the Buddha was born in India instead of Nepal. Badmas comments: “Such false information to the world through bollywood movie has made Nepalese people think, ‘Enough Is Enough’.”
Philippines: The root cause of the flooding
In the Philippines, media reports have cited weeks of heavy rain brought by a cold front as the immediate cause of the massive flooding and landslides. Some Filipino bloggers have started asking more questions. What was the root cause of the flooding? What is really happening? Here are some efforts of Filipino bloggers to make sense of the disaster.
India: Blog Camp in Mumbai
Asfaq writes about the recently concluded Blog Camp 2009 in Mumbai, India.
Armenia: Homophobic Media
Despite the country's recent endorsement of a UN declaration against discrimination on sexual orientation, Unzipped: Gay Armenia continues to expose the prevalent homophobia in Armenian society. Following recent discriminatory and alarmist comments from a leading member of civil society, the blog notes that one newspaper has discovered there are lesbians...
Pakistan: Taliban ban music in buses
Deadpan thoughts reports that after banning shopping for women in the troubled North of Pakistan, the Taliban threatened to ban all music and videos shown in public buses in their held territories.
Nigeria: Nigeria's Football Online Community
711football.com is a football platform where Nigerian football fans meet to discuss and share views on football. Launched in June 2008, the site is gradually becoming Nigeria’s hottest destination for football news and entertainment from all over the world including the Nigerian Premier league.
Africa: Africans Welcome Support for Democracy
Africans are ready for democracy support from Obama administration, reports AfricanLoft.
Nigeria: Future Awards Winners 2009
Read this to know the winners of Future Awards 2009 in Nigeria.
