14 September 2009

Stories from 14 September 2009

Morocco: Rage against the Sandwich

Larbi, in Comme une bouteille jetée à la mer, reports [Fr] on a manifestation that took place on Sunday 13 September in the outskirts of Casablanca, by young Moroccans who...

14 September 2009

Syria: A Week Against Everything and Anything

The Syrian blogosphere is frequently one of dissent. This week, following a post decrying the practice of masturbation and encouraging bloggers to join in a campaign against, the blogosphere exploded in a flurry of opposition, creating their own (often sarcastic) campaigns. Jillian C. York brings us the story.

14 September 2009

Lebanon: Lebanese Bloggers React to Israeli film “Lebanon”

Lebanese bloggers have offered a mixed reception to another Israeli film about the Jewish state's 1982 invasion of its northern neighbour. Conspicuously titled "Lebanon", the autobiographical film is set entirely in a tank as it recounts the Israeli military's involvement in the conflict.

14 September 2009

USA: 30 New York Mosques in 30 Days

Two young men in New York City, Aman Ali and Bassam Tariq, are nearing the end of their journey to document visits to "30 mosques in 30 days" on their blog of the same name.

14 September 2009

Bahamas: educational tourism

Repeating Islands reports on a new “educational tourism” initiative in Eleuthera, one of the Bahamas. “This is travel that unites your purpose and passion and ignites your enthusiasm.”

14 September 2009

Cuba: no substitute for beauty

“The economic crisis in Cuba forced us to find substitutes for almost everything, including cosmetics.” Generation Y reflects on the sacrifices ordinary Cubans once made “in their desire to look...

14 September 2009

Suriname: a word for freedom

“It’s hard for me to imagine a language or dialect without a word for ‘freedom'”: Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp reviews a new documentary film about the Surinamese poet Trefossa.

14 September 2009

Jamaica: uncomfortable silence?

An incident on a minibus provokes Jamaican Ruthibelle to ask: “What is it about being in the silence of their own thoughts that makes people uncomfortable and uneasy?”

14 September 2009

Uruguay: Election Season Underway

Uruguay is currently in the middle of a busy election season. With internal elections completed, the entire country is focused on the Presidential election scheduled for October 25 and which party will win.

14 September 2009

Arab Diaspora: Shall I Marry a Non-Arab?

Arab women living in diaspora have hard questions to answer. Should they marry non-Arabs, non-Muslims or converts to Islam? Palestinian blogger Mona, who lives in Canada and blogs at Rebellious Arab Girl, opens a can of worms when she asks these questions in a post, which has attracted 162 comments so far.

14 September 2009

Oman: Online Activists Questioned

The Initiative for an Open Arab Internet [Ar] reports that a number of online activists have been summoned for questioning by the security and military forces and made to sign...

14 September 2009

Indonesia: Controversial new film law

Indonesia's Parliament has recently approved a new film law which drew strong reactions from the local movie industry. It is feared that the law would legitimize the government's tighter control over creativity and self expression in the industry.

14 September 2009

Palestine: Scenes from Gaza

For uprooted Palestinians, a trip home is a hard and painful experience. Palestinian blogger Ibrahim [Ar] visits Gaza, and finds himself speechless. He leaves us with a photo album to sum up his visit.

14 September 2009

Morocco: A Dangerous Flu

At least five Moroccan independent journalists will appear before a judge later this month in Rabat, after having published articles challenging the official announcement about King Mohammed VI's health. It is believed the monarch has contracted "a viral, benign disease." Bloggers have been debating this issue, mostly denouncing the attacks on journalists.

14 September 2009

Pakistan: Do Not Link Us With Afghanistan

“Whenever Pakistan is linked with Afghanistan, Islamabad reacts sharply and angrily because Pakistanis have been leading the fight against the Taliban on their own, unlike Afghanistan where Americans and NATO...

14 September 2009