Stories from 22 July 2009
Russia: Medvedev and Sick Babies in Gelendzhik
LJ user baxus writes a letter (RUS) to president Medvedev, in which he describes how his infant son and many other kids got sick in Gelendzhik, a Russian Black Sea resort town, and what an ordeal it was to move around the area on the day of Medvedev's visit, due...
Azerbaijan: An interview with Arzu Geybullayeva
Despite the accent formed from education in the United States and the United Kingdom, Arzu Geybullayeva, now a regional analyst, has become one of Azerbaijan's most well-known bloggers on the country with her Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines blog.
Israel: A Belief In Coexistence – Interview With Activist Ibn Ezra
While Israel as a whole has moved to the right in recent years, there are nevertheless Israelis who oppose their government’s policies towards the Palestinians. Global Voices Online has interviewed activist Joseph Dana, who blogs at Ibn Ezra, about his involvement with the group Ta'ayush ("coexistence"), the state of activism in Israel, and using social media to get the message out.
Saudi Arabia: The Meaning of Names
In Saudi Arabia, all names have meanings, notes American Bedu, an American married to a Saudi.
Syria: Erdogan's Visit and Iran
Syrian blogger Maysaloon comments on Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Syria. “In light of everything that has been happening recently one wonders about the timing of the visit and whether the Israelis are trying to find out Syria's position on a possible strike against Iran,” he asks.
UAE: Dubai Bashing Continues
Seabee, from Dubai Thoughts, says there is yet another article following the fad for Dubai bashing. This one is in the UK Sunday Times. “Once again it's an article concentrating solely about what's wrong, with no balance, but at least it isn't the sort of inaccurate and often patently untrue...
Turkey: The Turkish of Dr. Oz
Talk Turkey commends Dr. Oz (of Oprah fame) for his ability to speak perfect Turkish while lecturing to Turkish medical students. “Sure he has an accent. Sure he sounds like a ‘foreigner’ when he speaks Turkish. But the reality is; for a man born and raised in the U.S., he...
Uganda: Government Quiet as Famine Takes Toll
As drought spreads throughout East Africa, more than three million Ugandans are at risk of starvation. Hunger has claimed the lives of more than 40 people, and bloggers fear more will die before the government takes notice.
Japan: No Twitter for Election Campaigns
In response to the government's decision that the usage of Twitter in election campaign activities violates the Public Offices Election Law, Kengo Preston wonders why disruptive methods such as direct phone calls and street speeches with megaphones are permitted while these low-cost and practical new technologies are not.
Cambodia, Thailand: ilovethailand website sparks controversy
The recently launched website ilovethailand.org is causing a stir online. Thailand's Prime Minister announced that the website is intended to restore the country's image and unify the nation in light of recent unrest. The controversy stems from the website's claims about Thailand's “lost territory” — territory that is present day Cambodia.
Bangladesh, South Korea: Bandhobi, Addressing Migrant Workers’ Issues
Bangladeshi blogger Fahmidul Haque introduces us [bn] to a Korean Movie which features the love between a Bangladeshi migrant worker and a South Korean teenager girl and addresses migrant workers' issues.
Puerto Rico, B.V.I.: Earthquake
Repeating Islands reports on an earthquake that was felt yesterday in Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands.
Guyana, Jamaica, Bahamas, U.S.A.: Racial Profiling?
Signifyin’ Guyana, Jamaican Geoffrey Philp and Bahamian Nicolette Bethel all comment on the arrest of (and subsequent dropping of charges against) Harvard professor and black American scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Cuba, Jamaica: Film & Music
AfriClassical notes that famed Afro-Cuban composer Leo Brouwer has received his country's 2009 National Film Award, while Repeating Islands discovers that the musical based on Jamaican Perry Henzell’s 1972 film The Harder They Come will soon open in Canada.
Trinidad & Tobago: Journalistic Integrity
Trinidad and Tobago blogger KnowProSE.com says that “no preconditions leads to better interviews…and that's where journalism sells out – and social media is beginning to.”
Barbados: Where's the Culture?
Barbados Underground suggests that when it comes to Crop Over, “culture issues have taken a backseat in recent years at the expense of running the festival as a business”.
India: Cool Summer Drinks
Anuradha Goyal at Desicritics reviews some delicious and healthy Indian summer drinks.
Maldives: Law To Tackle Anti-Social Behavior
Abdullah Waheed reports that a legal bill has been introduced to the Majlis, Maldivian parliament for discussion and enactment to tackle the growing cases of gang violence and anti-social behavior in the country.
Pakistan: A Fatwa To Stop Electricity Theft
Kalsoom at CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan informs that “the Karachi Electricity Supply Company (KESC) has reportedly obtained a fatwa [religious decree] from 12 senior Islamic scholars against the theft of electricity, which is costing the company 1 billion rupees ($12.3 million) a month.”
Pakistan: On Recognizing Israel
Farrukh Khan Pitafi at Pak Tea House brings up the question “should Pakistan recognize Israel?”
China: Memorable Quotations from Qin Gang
Qin Gang is the spokesperson of Foreign Ministry. C.A. Yeung from Under the Jacaranda Tree cites a number of memorable quotes made by Qin in his weekly press conference.
