Stories from 9 April 2009
Trinidad & Tobago: Socialist State?
“Just remember, not too long ago, the prime minister almost got away with this statement. ‘Some of the most prosperous nations in the world are dictatorships.'”: Paolo's Blog suggests that Trinidad and Tobago may be “goose-stepping towards a socialist state.”
Jordan: University Radio Hits Airwaves
“Jordan University Radio started its test transmission on 94.9 FM covering Amman Greater Area. The Radio station, which will be more of a cultural-political “students radio”, will be starting officially soon, and the moment of writing this post, only Classic Music is being aired on its airwaves,” writes Nasimjo from...
Jordan: Corruption in Amman's Municipality?
Corruption at the Amman Municipality? The Black Iris from Jordan has the story.
Iraq: Front pages of Iraqi Newspapers Six Years Later
Salam Pax, the Baghdad Blogger, reviews some of his country's leading newspapers front pages, six years later.
Cuba: 10th Havana Biennial
Havana Times posts photos of installations featured in the 10th Havana Biennial, which continues until the end of April, while Yohandry's Weblog [ES] wonders whether there are two biennials.
Jamaica: Matters of Spirit
Is hers a religious blog? Jamaican diaspora blogger Pamela Mordecai explores the differences between religion and spirituality.
Guyana: Single Parents
Diaspora blogger Signifyin’ Guyana lauds the efforts of the country's Minister of Human Services, as a fund is launched to assist single parents.
Iran: A blogger freed on bail
According to Reporters Without Borders and Committee to Protect Bloggers, Esmail Jafari,a journalist and blogger based in the southwestern city of Bushehr was released from Bushehr prison on 18 March.Read more here.
South Africa: Yet Another Jacob Zuma Fiasco…
The hottest topic circulating the South African blogosphere is none other than the infamous Jacob Zuma (yes, him again). This time, the ANC President is making headlines not for any more embarrassing or inappropriate conduct but for clearly dodging of the charges (783 of them) made against him in an eight-year long running fraud case against him.
Iran: Freegate is accessible again
In Donableh we read that Freegate,a software utility that enables surfers from mainland China, Iran, among others, to view websites banned by their government, is once more available for Iranians.
Palestine: Misconceptions Regarding Criticism of Hamas
The Queen of Sheba is an NGO worker currently in Gaza: “I cannot stand the misconception that by being critical of Hamas, one is automatically condoning the international rejection of its legitimacy, and Israel’s desire to remove it from power. … Too many pro-Palestinian foreigners who come here are too...
Jerusalem: Palm Sunday Procession
Intern in Israel describes attending the Palm Sunday procession in Jerusalem: “My husband and I participated in the procession from Bethphage to St. Anne’s Church just inside the city gates on Palm Sunday. It was the most fun I’ve ever had on a Palm Sunday… But it was truly sobering...
Palestine: Meeting Hagg Ayoub
Natalie Abou Shakra, a Lebanese activist in Gaza, describes meeting a man known as Hagg Ayoub at a demonstration: “Hagg Ayoub, the voice of 61 years of injustice and crimes against humanity!”
Palestine: A Third Intifada?
Marcy Newman, who lives in Nablus in the West Bank, asks if a new Palestinian uprising, or intifada, is on its way.
Bahrain: The Real Highway Code?
Jeremiah, blogging at Prophet in Bahrain, has outlined what he believes is the Bahrain Highway Code: “1. At any junction 1 in 4 cars must do a U-Turn.”
Kazakhstan: Educational deadlock
Translation of the Adam's post Two popular Kazakhstani bloggers – dass and megakhuimyak – are discussing the problems of education these days. The first is concerned over this topic because he's got a school-age son, and the latter is worried because he is delivering lectures at the unversity. Today at...
Moldova: Overview of Blog Coverage of the Protests
For all the attention given to the impact of social media on the protests in Moldova in the past few days, there were people both in and outside Moldova who felt that media coverage of the events was inadequate. To somewhat fill this gap, here is a selection of posts from Anglophone and Russophone blogs.
China: Health Care Reform
Josie Liu from China in Transition comments on the China health care reform blueprint.
China: A Satire That Caused an Uproar in Both China and The Philippines
The story of Chip Tsao's War at home has traveled to mainland China, and nationalistic sentiment is moderating netizen's reaction. China digital times has translated mainland Chinese netizens’ reaction.
Moldova: More on Twitter's Impact on the Protests
Day 3 of the post-election protests in Moldova's capital turned out to be comparatively quiet. Discussion of the role of social media in organization and coverage of the events in Chisinau, which began as the initially peaceful Monday's protests grew violent on Tuesday, has continued throughout Wednesday as well.
Egypt: Stranded Palestinian Mother Tweets Ordeal from Cairo Airport
The ordeal of a Palestinian mother and her two children, who have been stranded at the Cairo International Airport for an entire day so far, has engaged Twitter users across the region today. Journalist Laila El-Haddad, who is en route to Gaza from the US via Cairo, kept her followers, friends and the general public informed of her ordeal through a string of tweets at GazaMom, creating another cycle of retweets, Facebook entries and blog commentaries as hope dimmed and her stamina was put to test.
