7 September 2009

Stories from 7 September 2009

Nepal: The not so pristine Himalayas

  7 September 2009

On travel blog Worldhum, Joanna Kakissis reports that climate-change watchdog group Eco Everest has created a successful new “cash for trash” program that rewards climbers for the waste they bring down from Mount Everest.

Nigeria: New Submarine Internet Cable Lands in Lagos

  7 September 2009

The arrival of the GLO-1 submarine cable in Lagos this weekend has West African bloggers excited. GLO-1 connects Nigeria and 13 other West African countries to the global telecommunications system via Europe, bringing new bandwidth to the region.

Japan: Deconstructing Gundam

  7 September 2009

Bloggers ARM1475 and R360 went to photograph the deconstruction work that has begun for the gigantic model of Mobile Suit Gundam in Odaiba, Tokyo. The attraction welcomed 4.15 million visitors in six weeks. Its next destination is undecided.

Guadeloupe: Erika Delays School

  7 September 2009

The first day of school was seriously challenged by Tropical Storm Erika: les Cantin en Guadeloupe [FR] expresses fear as the alert levels are raised, Critiqart Guadeloupe [FR] can't see the need for delaying the first day of school because of some rain and wind, and Shakazulu [FR CR] thinks...

Grenada: Bishops Killers Scheduled for Release

  7 September 2009

Repeating Islands reports that the last of the “Grenada 17″, convicted for the murders of then-Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and ten others, “were scheduled to be freed as early as this past Saturday after serving nearly three decades in prison.”

Cuba: Political Conscience

  7 September 2009

Uncommon Sense focuses the spotlight on one of many political prisoners who cannot attend the Juanes concert, saying: “Hopefully, Juanes will…come to understand that without justice for him and other Cubans imprisoned because of their commitment to their consciences, there will be no peace in Cuba.”

Trinidad & Tobago: Commission Off Track?

  7 September 2009

As the Commission of Inquiry into the Construction Sector in Trinidad and Tobago is postponed because of a legal oversight with regard to gazetting, This Beach Called Life comments: “This latest incident shows the people either how smart manish this Government really is and everybody knows a smart manish Government...

Martinique: Gas Station Assault

  7 September 2009

Repeating Islands republishes writer Raphaël Confiant's account of his experience of “physical aggression at a service station in Martinique.”

Azerbaijan: The importance of life

  7 September 2009

In the time of butterflies, a new English-language blog from Azerbaijan, contemplates the importance of life after an incident with an abandoned kitten. The blogger says that the battle she witnessed as the kitten struggled to escape death made her realize why the sanctity of life is more important than...

Palestine: A Change Of Language

  7 September 2009

In Gaza, Abu el Sharif has decided to start blogging in English instead of Arabic: “I really need to be more rude, and talk a little more about the shit we live here, without thinking too much about the results!”

Bahrain: We Have Our Own Idiots

  7 September 2009

Bahraini blogger Flymenian wonders about the use of foreign labour in Bahrain: “I'm not here to say that foreigners are all bad and we do not need them, I'm simply saying instead of importing idiots to fill stupid positions why can't we employ our own idiots; at least they are...

Thailand: Amnesty criticised on lese majeste issue

  7 September 2009

The issue of lese majeste is again in the news following the 18 year prison sentence given to Daranee Chanchoengsilpakul. International human rights groups including Amnesty International have come under criticism for their failure to take sufficient action in lese majeste cases. Political Prisoners in Thailand says that Amnesty should...

Indonesia: A generous president?

  7 September 2009

Martin insists that the Indonesian president has claimed that he donated 58.8 percent of his total personal wealth for the victims of the 7.0 strong earthquake that rocked Java last week.