Stories from 16 February 2009
Guadeloupe, Martinique: Farewell Mr. N'Diaye
Martinican blogger Imaniyé and Guadeloupean B.World Connection both pay homage to Boubacar Joseph Ndiaye, who recently passed away. He was the Conservator of Gorée Island and instrumental in making French West Indians go back through the Door of No Return in the late 1990's.
Cuba: Revolution.com
Generation Y is “more alarmed than comforted” by “hopes for broad access to the internet” in Cuba, but notes: “A true revolution.com takes place parallel and contrary to the rationing they want to impose on the virtual world. Its commanders carry strange names like Gmail, WordPress, Skype and Facebook: they...
Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago: Accountability
“What possesses the leader of a political party to appoint someone who is viewed as the patron of his political party, who is the chairman of a major regional financial entity (CLICO Barbados), as the chairman of government-controlled/national broadcasting company?”: Living in Barbados thinks that the government has some explaining...
Trinidad & Tobago: Curmudgeonly Carnival
“Carnival is big business. Fetes costing five hundred dollars and up, mas costumes that are equivalent to a house or car payment, is it all worth bankrupting yourself?”: Coffeewallah explains why, national festival or not, she won't be participating in this year's Trinidad and Tobago Carnival.
Barbados, Grenada: Domestic Violence
Ongoing attention to the Rihanna/Chris Brown incident prompts Blah Bloh Blog [Grenada] and Barbados Underground to focus on the issue of domestic violence in the Caribbean.
Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Anguilla: New Constitution
Vexed Bermoothes [Bermuda] and Corruption-free Anguilla blog about the Cayman Islands’ new draft Constitution and Bill of Rights that is scheduled to go before a public referendum on May 20.
Jamaica: Sex vs. Erotica
“I have no problem whatsoever with sex in fiction. But I do have a problem with erotica”: Jamaican author and blogger Marlon James explains.
Korea: Valentine’s Day, Suicide and Blogs
A blogger shares his experience on Valentine’s Day 10 years ago. On Valentine’s Day this year, four people died on the subway. tracks How will you get over your difficulties and loneliness? Blogs can be the answer, he said. 발렌타인데이였던 오늘 여러 사람들이 투신 자살하는 일이 발생했다. 오늘 하루만 3곳에서...
Zimbabwe: Why Arrest Bennett?
“Why arrest Bennett?,” asks Ethan Zuckerman. Roy Bennet is a controversial Zimbabwean politicial and a vocal critic of President Robert Mugabe.
Africa: Mobile-XL releases SMS Browser for Mobiles for Africa
Mobile-XL has released a mobile browser for SMS in selected African markets. The browser has been released in collaboration with Nokia.
Sri Lanka: Appreciating Opposing Views
Serendipity hopes that the positive contribution of the Sri Lankan bloggers appreciating opposing views will bring harmony in a divided community.
Pakistan: Wearing Taweez
Mohammad Yusha at Chowrangi writes about the tradition of Muslims wearing Taweez for protection from black magic.
South Africa: Senegal shares China's Africa love-spell
Listen to the voices of residents of the neighborhood in Dakar, Senegal where the Chinese would be constructing a national theatre. The residents are not pleased with the construction.
Russia: Blood feuds increasing problem in Ingushetia
WindowsonEurasia writes about the increasing problem of blood feuds in Ingushetia.
Russia: George Soros on effects of economic crisis
A Step At A Time comments on an article by international financier and philantropist George Soros on the economic crisis and world affairs.
Belarus: The case of external liberalisation
LJ user Plaschinsky begins [RUS] a series on the externally driven liberalisation and transitional democratisation of Belarus.
India: The Free Hug Campaign
AJ at Desicritics.org joined the Hug Karo, Pub Bharo aandolan (hug and fill the pub movement) and posts his experience including photos. This was organized by the Blogaloreans (Bangalore Bloggers group) to protest the moral policing of Shree Ram Sena activists in Mangalore.
Bangladesh: Nuclear Energy Required
Alap Bangladesh discusses Bangladesh's energy crisis and opines that Bangladesh should start constructing nuclear power plants to tackle the issue.
Hong Kong: Network Mobilization Against Religious Hegemony
Yesterday (Feb 15), more than 800 people participated in a demonstration against Christian Right Wing in Hong Kong. The rally has no traditional NGO back up and it is mainly mobilized via facebook groups. Sidekick reported about the rally via twitter during the rally and put the messages together in...
Armenia: Be Free
Unzipped: Gay Armenia says that while the voice and music of local singer Shprot might be nothing remarkable, her performances are. Challenging traditional notions of gender, sexuality, religion and nationality in the South Caucasus country, the blog says that the controversial singer's message is one that all Armenians should take...
Taiwan: Sovereignty on trial
A recent case heard in the US Court of Appeals is based on the claim the US is the legal occupying power of Taiwan. Michael Turton dismissed the case as “a crank lawsuit”. Taiwan Echo believes the case is important. Also on the topic of sovereignty, Talk Taiwan discusses a...