Stories from 20 February 2009
Worldwide: 2,500 Languages Disappearing
An interactive map of endangered languages, showing 2,500 out of 6,000 tongues at risk, has been released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The international organization asks users to contribute comments to a project that has many bloggers worried about preserving cultures.
Indigenous Activists Seek New .indigi Domain
Marginalized and oppressed for centuries, indigenous peoples – native communities around the world often considered minorities by states – are seeking Internet autonomy. Encouraged by the opportunity to create new generic top level domains (gTLD), some activists want registration of their own Internet domain – [dot] indigi. But will they...
Exposing Egypt's drug trade
Randa Abu Shakra wrote an article for MENASSAT about an astounding report published by Al Badil newspaper concerning Egypt's drug trade.
Egypt: The 64th anniversary of “the princess of the mountain’
Ramy Mosad wrote in his blog Egyptian Stories a short biography of Lebanese singer, Princess Asmahan el Atrache, who was mysteriously murdered 64 years ago.
Egypt: Because he is Japanese
Zeinobia comments on the Japanese Finance minister Shoichi Nakagaw resignation, after the criticism he received due to his embarrassing moment in the G7 summit in Italy. She also compares him to Egyptian ministers who are in more deep trouble than Nakagaw and, according to her, insist on embarrassing their country.
Martinique: President Sarkozy
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has finally met with elected representatives of French Guiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe and Réunion, regarding the crisis which has been shaking the French West Indies for the last month. Martinican bloggers Imaniyé and blogde[moi] are dissatisfied and note that his TV address raised two questions: Why was...
Egypt: Comedy Channels Disgraceful
“It is really a very good gesture to have a dedicated channel to air nothing but comic shows all the time and transfer some cheerful vibes. That being said I have to say that most of the material aired is extremely disappointing, and goes beyond disgraceful sometimes,” writes Nermeena, from...
Algeria: Elections Forecast
“The April elections in Algeria will lead almost certainly to one result: The re-election of Abdelaziz Bouteflika. While some hailed the 2004 elections as either a step forward or a step backward for democracy and/or stability, the 2009 elections will more resemble the 1999 elections,” notes The Moor Next Door.
Africa: Journalists Blogging From Africa
Take at blogs written by journalist blogging from Africa. The list is compiled by Scarlett Lion, “I'd like to make a sort of ongoing list of foreign correspondents in Africa who blog. Feel free to add to the list in the comments section and eventually I'll put out a revised...
Guadeloupe: Local media under pressure
Guadeloupean CaribCreoleOne is the first blogger to talk about the political pressure put on Guadeloupean media RCI and Canal 10. Some journalists even seem to have been summoned by the Local service of the Judiciary Police [Fr].
Guadeloupe: Where is it exactly?
French West Indian blogger Fwiyapin questions the way in which traditional French media are dealing with the Guadeloupean crisis – images of Guadeloupe and Madagascar mixed up on ITélé, or Guadeloupe suddenly being located in the Asia-Pacific column, in LeMonde.fr.
Guadeloupe, Corsica: Same situation? Same claims?
Martinican blogde[moi] ponders on the possible extension of the French West Indian conflict to the French island of Corsica, following the analysis of a Corsican blogger.
Trinidad & Tobago, U.S.A.: Change? Really?
“He has taken several steps back from the openness he once showed, the willingness to talk to anyone without preconditions. He proposes to send 17,000 more troops into Afghanistan…dampening down one war only to refuel another”: Notes from Port of Spain is “still cynical about Barack Obama.”
Barbados: Hotel Construction Stopped
Barbados Free Press and Gallimaufry report that construction has stopped on the Four Seasons Hotel project, which does not auger well for the island's economy.
Bahamas: Say “No” to Violence vs. Women
“One in three women on this side of the world will experience violence in her lifetime”: Womanish Words says that the woman’s right to live a life free of violence will only become important to the Bahamian government “when we demand it.”
Cuba: Women in Jazz
Havana Times focuses on the contribution of women to Cuban jazz.
Bermuda: Budget Day
Vexed Bermoothes has been following the Bermuda's budget presentation and says: “It doesn’t seem so far to be a change from ‘business as usual'”.
Jamaica: The Power of Words
“Everybody who has felt the need to prove their Jamaican-ness has said it: gays and lesbians ought to be expelled from the national body…”: Long Bench has had enough of that kind of talk, saying, “maybe we are ready to start acting like we live in a democracy, where every...
Paraguay: Mistake During Her Time as Nanny
L.M. shares her story with Somos Paraguayos [es] about her mistake of stealing from the family she had been working for as a nanny in Miami and the lessons she learned.
Armenia: Remembering the Budapest Murder
Yesterday marked the fifth anniversary of the murder of 26-year old Gurgen Margarian, an Armenian officer attending a NATO Partnership for Peace program in Budapest, Hungary. Killed in his sleep with an axe wielded by his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ramil Safarov, some Armenian bloggers made special posts to commemorate the day.
Costa Rica: The Budget for 4 Public Universities Cut
Costa Rican president Oscar Arias recently cut the budget for four public universities and La Foto Salio Movida [es] writes that this will affect scholarships and infrastructure.
