Stories from 16 September 2009
Egypt: Bloggers call for a fun-filled harassment-free Eid
As Eid Al Fitr approaches, women in Egypt are bracing themselves for even more sexual harassment than what has already become a disturbing norm. Bloggers and online activists are also joining forces to fight the phenomenon, calling for a fun-filled and harassment-free celebration.
Morocco: Activists Break Fast in Public, Receive Punishment
During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating or drinking from dawn to sunset. A group of Moroccan activists was reprimanded for breaking the fast in public, an action that is punishable under the Moroccan criminal code. A divided blogoma reacts to the incident.
Qatar: Country's woes not expat labor's fault
Comments ranged from scornful to incredulous upon the release of a government study blaming underskilled expat laborers for Qatar's falling productivity rate. Shabina Khatri taps into the discussion and brings us the latest buzz.
Brazil: Bloggers on why there is still racism in the country
Following the discussions on racism brought up a few weeks ago with the story of a black man accused of stealing his own luxury car, Diego Casaes highlights other cases and bloggers' takes on racial discrimination.
Paraguay: No Funds for Education, but Funds for Arms
Carlos Rodríguez of Rescatar [es] refers to complaints from the Paraguayan Ministry of Education who says that there are no funds to purchase school supplies, yet the country spends money...
Paraguay: Venting Sorrows on a Blog
In the group blog Somos Paraguayos [es] for Paraguayans abroad, David posts about a heartbreak story in Chile and writes, “I didn't know where to vent my sorrow until I...
Iran: More protests planned on “Quds Day”
The Iranian 'green' opposition protest movement is spreading the word through online and offline citizen media about more protests in Tehran and other cities on September 18, international Quds Day.
Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago: literary obituaries
Litblogger Geoffrey Philp posts short tributes to two Caribbean writers who have died within 24 hours of each other: Trinidadian Wayne Brown (1944-2009) and Jamaican Trevor Rhone (1940-2009).
Lebanon: “We’re Here, We’re Queer, We’re Online”
Bekhsoos is a newly relaunched online magazine "covering topics related to (homo)sexuality in the Arab world". It was founded by the Lebanese group Meem, a support community for lesbians, bisexuals, queers, questioning women, and transgender persons.
Barbados: tourism focus
Barbados Free Press asks if the country's tourism authorities are paying enough attention to potential visitors in the Americas. “We’re chasing after the Chinese market which is fine, but why...
Guyana: “many waters”?
What happens when drought hits the “land of many waters”? Guyana-Gyal wonders. “A rice-farmer living in my mother childhood village say that the water in the artesian well is running...
Anguilla: sailing life
Montague Kobbe posts a review of a new book about sailboat racing in Anguilla. “There is something innate, something intrinsic, that links Anguillans to seafaring and boat building – after...
Cambodia: Professional training for dentists
Details Are Sketchy criticizes a sub-decree by the Cambodian government which encourages dentists to undergo professional training but does not include a penalty for those who refuse to do so.
Kazakhstan: Right activist to continue his work in jail
Slavasay writes that Yevgenii Zhovtis, the famous Kazakhstani human rights activist, who is currently waiting to serve a four year prison sentence for a traffic violation that caused a man’s...
Turkmenistan: Cries from the Bedroom
Anasoltan reports that a domestic violence hotline has been launched in Turkmenistan with the support of the OSCE center in Ashgabat.
Myanmar: Heart-shaped Mountain in Sagaing Division
Nyi Lynn Seck had written an entry which shows a Google Earth image of a heart-shaped mountain in Sagaing Division, Myanmar.
Tajikistan: Free cheese and a mousetrap
Salimdjon reflects on the recent deterioration of political relationships between Tajikistan and Russia, saying that “formerly strategic partners are now haggling over the same piece of cheese”.
Cambodia: Population increase
Cambodia's 2008 Population Census has been released. The census shows the country's population increased from 11.4 million in 1988 to 13.4 million in 2008.
Singapore: Toothless education bill?
A Singapore blogger criticizes the Private Education Bill for its lack of provisions that would deter criminal behavior among private school owners.
Singapore: Independent press needed
Trapper's Swamp deplores the state of media in Singapore and renews the call for a strong and independent press.
Afghanistan: Riots in Ghazni, the Province Falls
Joshua Foust reports that the strategic province of Ghazni in Afghanistan is falling to the Taliban with increasing presence of its “Radio Shariat” in the area and violent anti-government riots...
