15 September 2009

Stories from 15 September 2009

Pakistan: Back Home And Starting A New Life

  15 September 2009

After nearly two months of living in squalor in temporary camps the displaced people of the Swat region of Pakistan were allowed to go back home from July 13th. Although they still face uncertainties and challenges, there are signs of normalcy as many of the displaced families are now starting a new life.

Trinidad and Tobago: budget “daggering”?

  15 September 2009

Writer Attillah Springer blogs her most recent newspaper column, comparing the Trinidad and Tobago government's annual budget presentation with the violent “daggering” trend in dancehall music.

Jamaica: development or destruction?

  15 September 2009

Snailwriter reports on the illegal bulldozing of an area of forest near Jamaica's sensitive Martha Brae River. “The situation … well illustrates why the destruction of Jamaica's natural resources continues unabated.”

Barbados: lizard life

  15 September 2009

My Rustic Bajan Garden does a photographic survey of lizards in her garden and reminds readers why these creatures are useful to humans.

Barbados: speaking bluntly

  15 September 2009

“They don’t come more honest than your average Bajan.” Notes from a Small Rock reflects on Barbadians’ habits of plain speaking.

Anguilla: imported massage?

  15 September 2009

A newspaper advertisement for “excellent massage” prompts some tongue-in-cheek commentary from Corruption-free Anguilla.

Bangladesh: Interview With Professor Anu Muhammad

  15 September 2009

Bangladesh Watchdog publishes an interview with Professor Anu Muhammad, member secretary of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports on their recent protests against the lease of three offshore gas fields of Bangladesh to foreign companies.

Bhutan: Drug Abuse – Sign Of Changing Times

  15 September 2009

Dipika wonders why there is a boom in newspaper reports about drugs in Bhutan. “A change in attitude, perhaps, on how we look at drug abuse, or rather, how the young generation looks at drug abuse,” comments the blogger.

Pakistan: Shifting The Blame For Stampede Death

  15 September 2009

Kalsoom at CHUP: Changing Up Pakistan informs that yesterday at least 19 women were killed in a stampede while collecting food in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Karachi. “In the wake of this heart-breaking incident, it seems we are all trying to find a scapegoat,” comments the blogger as...

China: Here comes the Laowai

  15 September 2009

Uln from Chinayouren blogs about an experimental performance for testing people's reaction towards foreigners (Laowei) who wrote a T-shirt with big Chinese characters “laowai has come!” and “laowai has left!”

Egypt: A Marginalized Middle Class

  15 September 2009

Mohamed, from Traveller Within, analyzes the Egyptian Middle class, and acknowledges the presence of a parallel middle class that is being deliberately marginalized. In his post he stressed the importance of inter-class reconciliation in order not to lose such an influential societal category.

China: Verifying reports of Ai Weiwei's surgery

  15 September 2009

Joel Martinsen from DANWEI translated a blog post by Liu Xiaoyuan verifying the fact that Ai Weiwei, a prominent artist and activist in China, has been hospitalized for cranial surgery related to a scuffle with police in Chengdu a month ago. Ai Weiwei's blog has his latest photos taken from...

USA: Use of the Term “Illegal Immigrant”

  15 September 2009

Marisa Treviño of Latina Lista takes a look at President Obama's recent use of the term “illegal immigrant,” and his change from earlier usage of “undocumented immigrant,” and what the ramifications.

Panama: The Arepa Buzz

  15 September 2009

In Panama, Rob Rivera writes that the shop in Via España that sells arepas, a popular food in the country, is deserving of all the buzz that it has been receiving as of late.