Stories from 17 March 2009
Angola: Celebrating Angolan Women's Day with poetry
March is a month of double celebration for Angolan woman: apart from International Woman's Day, Angolan Woman's Day is celebrated on March 2nd because of the bravery of four women who fought for Angola's Independence. Bloggers celebrate by publishing poems and paying homage to women who suffer, love and fight with a large smile on their lips and bold eyes.
Armenia: The virginity debate continues…
Following posts by the Frontline Club and Global Voices Online, Jezebel also comments on the tradition of the red apple in Armenia. In particular, the post has initiated further discussion by Armenians and foreigners alike of a custom which promotes the virginity of the bride but not the groom.
Japan: Shintaro Kago's Terror Animation
Shintaro Kago, a Japanese guro manga artist, has set up a channel in youtube (warning: some are rather scary). via Pink Tentacle.
China: Student Forced to Quit School Due to Blogging?
A Beijing Foreign Studies University female student wrote in her blog on 16 of March that she was forced to quit school because of her blog post that criticized the department of education. However, is she telling the true? What is the other side of the story? more via ESWN's...
China: Shadow of Premier Wen
Mobiuswang posted a PS photo of the shadow of premier Wen Jiabao.
Ukraine: Boy Dies of Cancer As Bank Wouldn’t Give Money Back
Ukrainiana writes about a 12-year-old boy who died of cancer at a Donetsk hospital, while his family tried to find money to be able to afford treatment abroad: “Oleksiy's aunt had Hr. 32,000 (approximately $4,000) on deposit at Pryvatbank. She wanted to use her savings to save Oleksiy. Prvyatbank wouldn’t...
Ukraine, U.S.: Aid to Chernobyl-Affected Area Hospital
MoldovAnn writes about ongoing attempts to help a Ukrainian hospital in the Chernobyl-affected area to receive a humanitarian aid donation from a U.S. NGO.
Russia: Upcoming Election in Sochi
RFE/RL's The Power Vertical writes about the upcoming mayoral election in Sochi.
UAE: YouTube Ban Possible, Goodbye Flickr
Bloggers in the UAE are worried that YouTube may be banned in the Emirates, after access to photography hosting site Flickr has been totally blocked. According to Press reports, YouTube is ranked among the top 10 most popular sites in the UAE and news about its possible censorship has sparked debate in the blogosphere.
Russia, U.S.: Red Star Comic
Copydude writes about Red Star, “a comic produced intermittently from the 50s to the 90s” in the United States.
Poland, UK: “Polska! Year”
the POLSKI blog writes about the Polska! Year in the UK, “a joint initiative of the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the cultural programme of the Year is coordinated by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, which is responsible for the promotion of...
Iraq: Warning to All Shoe Throwers
Iraqi blogger Salam Pax warns all shoe throwers in this Tweet: “..alert to all shoe throwers.. hide your shoes! 3yrs jail for attacking Bush with shoe, and missing!” Muntadar Al Zaidi, who threw his shoes at President George W Bush during a Press conference in Iraq last year, was sentenced...
Poland: Warsaw Zoo
20 east writes about and posts pictures from the Warsaw Zoo.
Latvia: Crisis and Hot Water
Latvian Abroad writes about “signs of crisis in everyday life”: “A Latvian college whose funding has been cut by 30-something % cuts off the hot water in the student dormitories.”
Latvia: The Banned March
Free Speech Emergency in Latvia writes about and posts a video from “the banned march to commemorate members of the World War II Latvian Legion.”
Hungary: The Politics and Unrest of March 15
Hungarian Spectrum writes about the politics and unrest surrounding March 15, the day on which “the birth of parliamentary democracy is celebrated in Hungary.”
Czech Republic, Slovakia: 2nd Republic of Czechoslovakia
The Reference Frame writes about the 70th anniversary of the disintegration of the Second Republic of Czechoslovakia.
Czech Republic: ‘Czechoslovakia,’ writes AP
The Czech Daily Word catches the AP using the name ‘Czechoslovakia’ – and the IHT reprinting the piece without correcting the mistake.
Central & Eastern Europe: Ruthenians
Edward Lucas writes about the plight of Ruthenians.
