Stories from 17 November 2009
Bhutan: Shangri-La or Ethnic Cleanser?
What is Bhutan? One camp glorifies Bhutan as the last Shangri-la and the other claims that it is practicing ethnic cleansing. Sonam Ongmo breaks some stereotypes.
Denmark: The Climate Debt Agents are Coming
The Climate Debt Agents are group of men and women from Denmark and Africa who are taking on the challenge of getting developed countries to pay their climate debt to the developing world.
Colombia: Video interview of 12 year old drug dealer
Giovanni Lopera interviews Jorman, a 12 year old in a Colombian working class neighborhood who tells how he deals drugs to help at home with money, giving half his earnings (6 USD for 6 hours) to his mother. He was kicked out of school when they discovered his illicit activities...
Nicaragua: Farmers express thoughts on Rural Development through video
The Alzar las Voces (Raise the Voices) project in Nicaragua brings farmers in rural communities the possibility to speak out through video telling of their concerns, their projects, their wishes and ideas.
Taiwan: Introducing Best English Blogs
David on Formosa publishes a series of posts introducing some of the best Taiwan blogs in English(bridge bloggers).
Egypt: What do women want?
What do women in Egypt want? The Arabist takes a closer look.
Bahrain: Three Kingfishers
From Bahrain, bird watcher Howard King shares his find: three kingfishers.
Pakistan: Perils Of Wider Provincial Autonomy
Reacting on the news of a possible amendment of the constitution of Pakistan, which will give wider provincial autonomy, Khan Zia opines that this may result in breaking up of the country in a very short space of time.
Italy: Online activism fires up “No Berlusconi Day”
A group of bloggers-citizens has launched an International protest movement to demand the resignation of Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi due to scandals and corruption trials. More than 280,000 people have pledged to participate in the December 5 rallies.
Sri Lanka: The Mighty Multinationals
Serendipity from Minneriya, Sri Lanka believes that a level playing field is essential to protect the local industry from the mighty multinationals who have competitive advantage and “it is the duty of the Government to level it”.
Japan: Magazine for People Living wjith Facial Scars
Lisa Katayama at Tokyo Mango brings our attention to a new Japanese magazine for people living with facial scars, called “My Face”: “The magazine will include interviews, medical information, and advice on how to fight discrimination at work and at school for the estimated one million people in Japan who...
Japan: Top 60 Expressions of 2009
Pink Tentacle has translated into English all of the “Top 60 Japanese words/phrases of 2009″, released by publisher Jiyu Kokuminsha: Included are plenty of references to Japan’s recent political shake-up, the ailing economy, and the blurring of traditional gender roles.
Japan: Deer wrangling and antler-cutting in Nara
Nestled in the heart of the Kansai region of Japan, Nara City exudes a subdued atmosphere unique from its neighboring Osaka and Kyoto. If there is a particular symbol of Nara recognized nationwide, it is either the Buddha of Todai-ji (東大寺) or the deer of Nara Park. Over the long...
Cameroon: Southern Cameroon vs. La Republique du Cameroun
Cameroonian blogger Dibussi Tande discusses the ruling of the African Commission on Human Rights in Southern Cameroons vs. La Republique du Cameroun.
Cameroon: On Catholicism, abortion and homosexuality
Rosemary Ekosso discusses the politics of abortion and homosexuality in Cameroon: “As a woman, I have learnt by trial and error (mostly error) not to believe automatically what large groups of men tell me. When the group is as large and exclusive of females (don’t give me that guff about...
Kenya: Who will pay for Kenya's new constitution?
Opalo wonders who will pay for Kenya's new constitution: “290 members of parliament. 100 Senators. Several regions and more than 70 counties. These are among the new burdens that will be added onto the load currently weighing down the Kenyan taxpayer.”
Mali: My Mali visa experience
Dino's visa experience at Mali embassy: “My Mali experience made me think about the visa experiences both with South -South travels, and South-North travels. I also thought of what it meant to be a North-South traveller. South-South Travels were clearly much easier than South-North travels. Just recently, there has been...
Suriname: Welcome to the Jungle
For Paramaribo SPAN, Christopher Cozier visits artist Daniel Djojoatmo, whose work “discuss[es] the predicament of certain narratives of development which are, at their inception, ill-fated and at the disposal of the jungle.”
Dominica: Billboards Galore
“There are rules. Unfortunately the guardians of those rules are afraid of their paymasters, and the other service providers have no respect for them”: Caribbean Man takes issue with illegal billboards in Dominica.
Trinidad & Tobago: Banned from Parliament?
A journalist may be banned from Parliament, prompting Nicholas Laughlin to post a statement by the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago and Edmund Gall at KnowTnT.com to post his perspective.
Barbados: Another Downgrade
“Barbados’ debt may be headed for the dread ‘junk’ status if it is downgraded another notch,” says Living in Barbados, adding: “To change things needs more than a shift in confidence. It needs policies that attack rapidly the size of the debt.”
