Stories from 22 June 2009
Venezuela: The Relationship With Iran
The Venezuelan blogosphere has been both touched, and moved by the latest development in Iran. There have been blogger opinions that try to make comparisons with similar events in Venezuelan recent history, as well viewpoints on the support given by President Hugo Chavez to Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. However, some point out that the relationship may not as simple as it may be portrayed.
Sri Lanka: State of The Civilians In Vanni
Rohini Hensman from Sri Lanka asks “why are the Vanni civilians still being held hostage?”
Pakistan: Thanking Angelina Jolie
Adil Najam at All Things Pakistan thanks Hollywood actress and international celebrity Angelina Jolie who announced a US$ 1 million donation to help the internally displaced Pakistanis.
Palestine: Sweet Success In The Record Books?
Hazem Afana reports that a Palestinian company has received permission [Ar] from Guinness World Records to attempt to make the world's largest kunafa (a traditional sweet).
Lithuania: Oslo mayor in gay protest
Lituanica reports how Norwegian capital's, Oslo, mayor brought his same sex spouse to an international mayors’ conference in Vilnius – in practical protest against Lithuania's increasingly homophobic policies.
Iran: Protesters in Tehran
We can watch a film on Iranian protesters in Tehran on Monday despite a warning by Iran's Revolutionary Guard against the kind of street demonstrations that have roiled Iran for more than a week.
Launch of communist victims website
A Step At A Time draws attention to the launch of a website dedicated to the victims of communism worldwide, by the Global Museum on Communism.
Russia: Carbon dioxide emissions up 30% till 2020
The reference frame discusses Russia's plans to increase its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% until 2020, in contrast to international trends and the goals of the Kyoto accords.
Belarus: A game of pointed questions
LJ user Devushka iz vostoka [RUS] asks for directions for this summer's first game of “Tochka”. The question may seem as a paradox, as directions is really what this game is all about. Two opposing teams are set to the task of finding a specific place, and in the process...
Palestine: Discussing The Arabic Blogosphere
Palestinian blogger Laila El-Haddad recently took part in a panel discussing the Berkman Center's report Mapping the Arabic Blogosphere: “Palestinian blogs signalled relatively low on the radar; it appears bridge bloggers and social networking sites or online forums figure more prominently.”
Palestine: Child's Eye View Of Life In Gaza
In Gaza, Ayman Quader interviews nine-year-old Ali Aqran, whose family is living in poverty: “As a child what did I do wrong to be treated so cruelly?”
Bahrain: Female Lifeguards?
Following a tragedy in which a child drowned, Bahrain Taxi has concluded that the fact that family groups prefer not to use male lifeguards means that Bahraini women should train as lifeguards.
Jordan: Poet Accused of Apostasy
The Jordanian blogger behind Jad's Thoughts notes that a young Jordanian poet has been accused of apostasy by Jordan's Grand Mufti. The accused poet included Qur'anic verses in romantic poetry.
Bahrain: Making Changes
This week two Bahraini bloggers announced their intention to make some changes in their life: Flymenian has a new routine, and Mahmood wants to lose weight.
Caribbean: Following the path of the Caribs
Since the beginning of 2009, French West Indians have questioned their identity, their national heritage and their present-day situation in different ways. Kintamingo Ema, a Martinican blog, presents an initiative which mixes a social insertion, historical and archeological project with an identity quest. Dubbed "Kintamingo Ema, sur le chemin de nos ancêtres" (Kintamingo Ema, following the path of our ancestors), the project was launched by Association Karisko , an association focusing on social integration.
India: When Diplomats Show Arrogance
The New Horizon criticizes the comments of Pinak Chakravarty, the Indian ambassador to Bangladesh, on the Tipaimukh Dam. The Indian blogger opines: “I think it is part (of) Indian policy to show arrogance against neighbors”.
Bermuda: “No Confidence” Motion Thwarted
Part of the backlash against Bermudian Premier Ewart Brown's decision to accept four former Guantanamo detainees into the island has been the opposition party's tabling of a "No Confidence" vote against him in Parliament - a motion that bloggers are reporting has been defeated.
Haiti: Run-off Elections
Repeating Islands says that “despite government efforts to lure voters to the polls in the Senate run-off elections held yesterday in Haiti, voters stayed away in protest against what they see as failed leadership and growing despair.”
Trinidad & Tobago: H1N1
This Beach Called Life: “Swine Flu, A(H1N1), has now hit Trinidad and Tobago with the number of cases increasing daily causing facemaks to become as popular as condoms at Carnival.”
Barbados, Antigua: Stanford Similarities
Barbados Free Press sees striking similarities between Allen Stanford's alleged Ponzi scheme and the CLICO Barbados scandal, with one notable exception: “Antigua has integrity legislation.”
Jamaica: Can the IMF Change?
“There is talk of the possibility of the current Jamaican administration returning to do business with the International Monetary Fund“: Abeng News Magazine wonders whether the IMF leopard can change its spots.
