Stories from 24 March 2009
India, Bangladesh: Frail Relations
Vinod Joseph at Desicritics asks “Why aren't Indo-Bangla ties warmer?”
Azerbaijan: Referendum warning
Following last week's controversial referendum in Azerbaijan, Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines comments on news that the Council of Europe has warned Baku that it could be expelled from the international body as a result of the conduct of the vote. However, the blog notes, it is unlikely that the...
Armenia: The price of success
Blogian says that passengers on local transport in the Armenian capital, Yerevan were recently impressed by the vocal talents of his 6-year-old niece. However, the blog notes, while talent is not enough to succeed in Armenia, money is.
Sri Lanka: Combine Harvesters Take Over
Rajaratarala at Perceptions: musings of a renaissance farmer reports that this year more and more Combine Harvesters have taken over the job of harvesting from the manual labors in rural Sri Lanka.
Colombia: Are Politicians Making the Most Out of Twitter?
In the last few weeks, as the race for the May 2010 presidential elections has started, two presidential candidates have decided to join the Colombian 'twittosphere'. But, after some initial skepticism, Colombian twitterers show that both candidates (or staffers within their campaigns) are failing to reach the intended audience correctly.
Israel: The Language of Taxis
Rasha Helwa, who is a Palestinian citizen of Israel living in Acre (and describes herself as living in Palestine), has written a series of short posts at her blog Zaghroda about her thoughts when taking shared taxis, and on the significance of the language - Arabic or Hebrew - that the driver chooses to use.
Estonia: “Kevadväsimus”
Itching for Eestimaa writes about kevadväsimus – ‘spring fatigue’ in Estonian: “It is the yearning for sunlight and all of the earthly pleasures that you know must be right around the corner coupled with the grim knowledge that nature will find a way to delay your satisfaction for as long...
Israel Boasts Top Researchers in Medical Marijuana
Caught with cannabis in Israel? It may very well go to a good use. Israelity reveals that Israel has one of the top medical marijuana programs in the world, treating pain associated with cancer, HIV, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, and post-traumatic stress syndrome, with the narcotic.
Israel: World Leader in Water Technology Solutions
Israel is the world leader in water technology solutions with 75 per cent of sewage water recycled for agricultural use. Israeli water technologies are exported to more than 100 countries worldwide. Jonathan Shapira of Cleantech Investing in Israel and Jacob Richman of Good News from Israel have the story.
Israel: Boxes Containing Treats Blocked From Entering Gaza
Jam, biscuits, date bars, tea, sweets, and tomato paste are among the foodstuffs that Israel blocked from entering Gaza, Eva of Israel reports on Mideast Youth. Over 3,000 boxes were denied entry and all boxes containing these items will be detained in the future.
Israel: Thwarted Bombing Had Capacity to Kill 30,000
A bombing was thwarted in a mall in Haifa, Israel on Saturday night, ExpatEgghead reported. Israeli news stated that the 40 kilogram car bomb had the power to kill 30,000 people.
Palestine: Resistance – Not Charity
Marcy Newman writes at Body On The Line about the importance of resistance by Palestinians, not charity from foreigners: “the use of this word ‘humanitarian,’ to me implies that palestinians are some sort of charity case who are not capable of taking care of themselves, of fighting this battle themselves…the...
Palestine: The Politics of Food
Anne at Mapping The Margins describes her attempts to only buy food that is produced locally by Palestinians, rather than Israeli products.
Barbados: Suspect Arrested
Barbados Free Press and Bajan Dream Diary both blog about the recent arrest of a suspect in the Terry Schwarzfeld murder.
Palestine: Art as Resistance
Abdelfattah Abusrour, director of Al-Rowwad Culture and Theatre Center in the Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem, crossposts an article he has written about the use of art as a means of resistance: “I was born Palestinian and I don’t want to do anything to change this. I was born in...
Trinidad & Tobago: Pompoms
“I thought for a second I was hallucinating. Like I think I’m hallucinating when I hear some wild rumour that Papa Patos wants to invoke the Terrorism Act during the Summit of the Americas to stop people from protesting. I mean it can’t be, can it? Cheerleaders in cricket? Why,...
Cuba: Reports of Detainment
Both Uncommon Sense and Sunrise in Havana blog about reports that a photographer and a musician have been detained in Cuba “after offering their show of solidarity in Placetas for political activist Jorge Luis Garcia Perez (Antunez).”
Trinidad & Tobago: A World of Orchids
From Trinidad and Tobago, My Chutney Garden says: “Orchid growing is not for the fainthearted.”
Cuba: The Black Cuban Woman
Havana Times republishes a mainstream media news article on a black, female Cuban blogger who writes about gender, sexual diversity and racism.
Azerbaijan: Cultural Clash
Scary Azeri in Suburbs remembers a visit from her teenage years to the mountain village of Ismailli. The blog says the trips were always a welcome escape from the summer heat of the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, but the blogger also remembers that they also highlighted the cultural differences between the...
Jamaica: Election Example
As the West Portland by-election is settled, Girl With a Purpose says: “What should be noted…is that this by-election went through without incident…the majority of Jamaicans are tired of the crime and violence in general, but especially at election time.”
