Stories from 11 March 2009
Iran: No Cake for Iranian Women on their Day
Although the Iranian government does not recognize the International Women's Day and has banned women activists from organizing gatherings and demonstrations to commemorate the day for the previous 30 years, Iranian bloggers and women activists remembered the 8th of March, honouring women in Iran and the rest of the world.
Tunisia: Tribute to authors who promoted the women's movement
Tunisian blog Kissa Online [Ar] highlights pioneering authors who pushed for more rights for women in the Arab world.
Egypt: The Influential Role of Women in History
Egyptian blogger Lasto Adri [Ar] posts excerpts from a book entitled The Modern Women's Movement: The Story of Arab Women in the Land of Egypt, where she highlights the influential and integral role played by women in their communities in history and how that changed in 222BC.
Pakistan: Sharif Brothers Under House Arrest
Open Pakistan reports quoting GEO TV that “Pakistani authorities on Wednesday decided to put Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif and his borther Shahbaz Sharif under house arrest to prevent a planned long march by the opposition party workers and lawyers to Islamabad.” CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan reported...
Dominican Republic: Upset at World Baseball Classic by Dutch Team
The 2nd edition of the World Baseball Classic tournament is underway and features Major League baseball players representing traditional baseball powers like the the Dominican Republic whose roster was filled with professional All-Star talent. The tournament also features countries with less tradition playing this sport, such as the Netherlands, who pulled off two improbable victories over the Dominican team eliminating them from the competition.
Peru: Protests as Fujimori Trial Draws Closer to Completion
As the time draws nearer for the completion of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori's trial, Gran Combo Club [es] writes that there are protests in the streets of Lima in support and against Fujimori.
Bangladesh: Sisimpur Turns five
Meandering Memos informs that Sisimpur, the popular Bangladeshi version of Sesame Street have started its fifth successful broadcast season.
Nepal: The Rights Of The Minorities
Paramendra Bhagat supports the ongoing movement of the Tharu indigenous people in Nepal for their rights. He goes further to add: “I look forward to the Dalits, Muslims and women of the Terai similarly rising up, similarly waking up to claim their due share at the table.”
Pakistan: Live Coverage Of The Long March
A section of the Pakistani Lawyers and political activists have finished all their preparations for a scheduled Long March and sit in protest starting tomorrow to reinstate the deposed judges. Tensions are running high in Pakistan because the opposition leader Nawaz Sharif's party (PML-N) is participating in the protests and the government has started crack down on activists and imposed ban on protests. Pakistani citizen journalists have started to cover the events as they unfold using live blogs, live picture updates, email/SMS and Twitter messages.
Senegal: This Is Dakar
Ugandan blogger's impressions of Dakar, Senegal: I went out today to check out Dakar. Very beautiful place with a little bit of everything. European kind of narrow streets, arabic influenced building and all the African traditional things. I can't forget the Chinese cheap products that have flooded all of Africa...
Madagascar: Is military rule next?
News of a mutiny at one of Antananarivo's most important barracks stunned Madagascar yesterday. The mutiny has since spread to other barracks and Madagascar's Defence Minister, Vice-Admiral Mamy Ranaivoniarivo, has resigned. Is Madagascar coming under military rule?
Burkina Faso: A Special Day In Burkina Faso
March 8, 2009 was a special day in Burkina Faso in West Africa. Blogger Stephen Davies of Voice in the Desert explains.
International Women's Day in Tunisian Blogs
Tunisia celebrates its National Day for Women on August 13. Calls are now being echoed in the blogosphere to join international women in their celebration and mark the day with the rest of the world on March 8, reports Lina Ben Mhenni.
Iran: Iranian Women's art in London
Iranian female artists share their stories in London. Watch their art here
Lebanon: Israel Apartheid Week Ends
UrShalim, from Lebanon, posts a video to mark the end of the Israeli Apartheid Week 2009.
Morocco: Travel Guilt
“Maybe people need to travel for the rewards of cultural exchange, new experiences and not for the bragging rights?” notes The View from Fez in a post discussing “travel guilt” during this economic crisis.
Jordan: “I've been Twittered”
From Jordan, Kinzi joins Twitter. “I've been Twittered,” she announces on her blog.
Kuwait: Slumdog Millionaires Back in the Slums
Kuwaiti ZDistrict discusses the fate of the child actors in Slumdog Millionaire in this post. “The sad thing is the kids have gone back home after all the glitz and glamour, and the only thing waiting for them there is the slums,” he notes.
Yemen: Does Bill Gates Eat Apple?
Bill Gates doesn't allow his family to use Apple products and iPhones, remarks Teedoz [Ar] from Yemen.
Jordan: Is the Government paying off Journalists?
Does the Jordanian government pay off journalists. Check out The Black Iris for more details.
Africa: Two Africas In America
A Tanzanian film-maker in the United States, Josiah Kibira, is working on a new documentary titled “TWO AFRICAS IN AMERICA”…One African, One American, which will examine the relationship between Africans and African Americans in the United States.
