Stories from 5 November 2009
Ukraine: Ruslana and Science Fiction
Science Fiction Observer writes about a science fiction dimension of Ukrainian singer Ruslana's 2007 album.
Ukraine: New Documentary on Holodomor
Nash Holos writes about Yury Luhovy's new documentary on the Ukrainian famine of 1932-33.
CEE: “20 Years After the Fall of the Berlin Wall” – a Poll
Foreign Policy Association's Russia blog writes about the results of a Pew Research Center's poll on poverty, wealth and attitudes in Central and Eastern Europe “20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall.”
Russia, U.S.: Abramovich Pays $47,221 for Dinner
A discussion of Roman Abramovich's $47,221 dinner tab from a NYC restaurant – at Eternal Remont.
Russia: Drug Abuse and Alcoholism
OpenDemocracy.net writes about Russia's drug abuse problems. The NYTimes’ The Lede and Eternal Remont write about the Russian government's attempts to fight alcoholism.
Iran: Green Movement defies regime again
Iran's Green Movement opposition organized mass street protests on the 4th of November that were were met with a violent crackdown by security forces. As has come to be expected, Iranian citizen media didn't miss a beat, recording "history" on their mobile phones.
Somalia: Introducing a network of Somali journalists and bloggers
The Somali Media Centre is a forum of Somali journalists and bloggers living in Somalia and outside. The Centre distributes news content and publishes blogs written by journalists.
Trinidad & Tobago: Silicon Reality
Taran Rampersad debunks “the Myth of a T&T Silicon Valley.”
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Referendum Predictions
With 20 days to go to the Constitutional Referendum, Vincentian Life says: “It looks like Vincyland’s turned totally upside-down! A foreigner has predicted a tsunami, a local bishop has predicted heart attacks and I predict deeper divisions…”
Venezuela: Interacting with the Works of Artist Jesus Soto
The works of late Venezuelan artist Jesús Soto are meant to be experienced through touch and immersion. Some who have visited his works in museums have documented this firsthand experience.
Syria: Magazine Suspends Work in Protest of Censorship
Man of Paper reports [ar] on his blog that Shabablek, a Syrian magazine, has suspended all work indefinitely in protest of the pervasive censorship from the side of the Syrian Ministry of Information.
Morocco: Here Comes the Sun
Morocco has announced this week the launch of a solar energy project, with an estimated cost of $9 billion, aiming at raising the share of renewable sources in the country's energy production. Mostly supportive bloggers have been sharing their thoughts.
Trinidad & Tobago: Traffic Solutions
Alien in the Caribbean has a few suggestions to ease Trinidad's traffic woes.
Cuba: Blogging Prejudice
Late one night, a Cuban taxi driver stops for Yoani Sanchez because of the colour of her skin, but when he learns that she's a blogger, his unease reveals another kind of prejudice: “His spectrum of classification stigmatizes not only some shades of color, but also certain leanings of opinion…that...
Cuba: Gays Arrested
As six Cuban homosexuals are reportedly arrested, Uncommon Sense says: “their real ‘crime’ — like that committed by all Cubans, gay or straight, labeled as ‘pre-criminal social dangers’ — is that with their lifestyle, [they] have chosen to not conform with the ‘revolutionary ideal.'”
Africa: Africa's melting pot
Marvin writes about Afripot, an African-focused news site: “She is now introducing Africa’s melting pot – Afripot. I am already boiling in there and I hope to see you there too as conversations over there about Africa with Africans pick up and heat up. Who knows, it may generate enough...
Kenya: Are you Chikuyu or Ruo?
“Are you Chikuyu or Ruo?,” asks Proud Kikuyu Woman: “Lakini [lakini means “but” in Swahili] the one that initially used to surprise me is when I tell someone I’m Kenyan and they go , “Chikuyu or Ruo”. The letter K is often pronounced as ‘Ch’ in Luganda (and the G...
Africa: Catwalk for Africa 2009 is on
Ladybrille blogs about Catwalk for Africa 2009: “After the stunning success of the Miami edition, Catwalk for Africa 2009 is officially on. A bigger show, a spectacular venue, top-notch entertainment, live performances and world-class exhibits…”
Africa: An African tech list on twitter
Erik writes about a list he has created for African tech on twitter: “A lot of people are on Twitter these days. So many, it seems that you can be overwhelmed by the number of people and it’s hard to find the right people to follow. To help with that,...
Japan: Licolita-style activism
Martin J Frid from Kurashi blogs about an unique activism style in Akihabara, Tokyo. In those event, activists will dress as maid and perform in the street the idea of alternative lifestyle.
South Korea: Gender and visa statistics
matt from Gusts of popular feeling reads from the visa statistics and points out that multiculturalism in Korea is gendered to serve the need of patriarchal society.
