Stories from 23 December 2009
Ecuador: Government Suspends Television Channel Teleamazonas
The Ecuadorian government took the television channel Teleamazonas off the air for 72 hours for spreading false information. Critics see this move as a threat to freedom of expression.
Peru: The History of the Airline AeroPerú
Arturo of the blog Crónicas del Basurero [es] takes a look back at the Pervuian state airline AeroPerú, which was in operation from 1973-1999 and which had been privatized during that period. He also writes about the recent rumors that a group of investors are planning to restart operations.
Bangladesh: Marine Debris
Bangladesh has the longest sandy beach in the world which is threatened with tourist debris: from cigarette butts to fast-food wrappers. Muntasir Mamun Imran writes about a program of activists to clean up the Cox’s Bazar beach.
After COP15 Copenhagen: Reactions from the African blogosphere
The 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen received broad media coverage. Many analysts have indicated that nations in Africa and the developing world stand to lose most heavily if global warming continues unchecked, yet the African blogosphere has been relatively quiet on the subject.
India: New Visa Regulation Limits Multiple Entry
Smallsquirrel at Desicritics warns international tourists of a recent change in the Indian visa regulations which limits multiple entries into India and requires an additional permission for re-entry.
Pakistan: An Eye For An Eye
Kalsoom at CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan criticizes a recent verdict at a Lahore court which ordered that two men will have their ears and noses cut off as punishment for doing the same to a woman who refused to marry one of them.
Lebanon: Don't Break the Egg!
The Beirut City Centre Dome, better known as "The Egg" has been threatened with demolition since 2006. Bloggers have been launching emotional appeals to save it from being destroyed. Katharine Ganly takes a look at the "Save the Egg" campaign.
Trinidad & Tobago, Caribbean: Sorrel
Learn about the one of the Caribbean's favourite Christmas drinks, here.
Trinidad & Tobago: Beginning of the End?
Diaspora blogger Jumbie's Watch wonders about Trinidad and Tobago's political future.
Puerto Rico: Tourism Enigma
“For me, nothing describes the enigma of Puerto Rico better than its sorted relationship with tourism”: Dondequiera explains.
Barbados: Economic Laurels?
“Entering 2010 the challenge for Barbados must be to build a roadmap and find the financial resources to rollout policies and projects which will reposition the economy of Barbados to grow GDP”: Barbados Underground wonders if the country is resting on its laurels.
Barbados: Customs & Christmas
Barbados’ Notes From A Small Rock cannot believe the trouble she is having with the Customs & Excise Department over two scooters she bought for her children for Christmas: “The rules provide an unbeatable combination of broad discretion coupled with a lack of transparency.”
Bangladesh: Inflation And The Rise Of Food Price
J. Rahman at Mukti talks about the recent inflation of Bangladesh and opines that the real cause of increase in the price of rice is because of the relationship between the Bangladeshi Taka – Indian Rupee exchange rate.
India: Gains From Copenhagen
The Acorn analyzes what India has achieved from the Copenhagen summit. The blogger opines that the “real gains were geopolitical—neither the United States nor China could have their way without India’s support”.
Russia: Blogger Calls For Open Technical Standards
LJ user bablaw wrote an open letter [Google translation – ENG] to the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev calling him to veto amendments to the Civil Code that would make technical standards [ENG] closed to the general public.
Uganda: President Says He Will Block Anti-Gay Bill
Uganda's proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009 still awaits a final decision by the country's Parliament, but the country's Daily Monitor newspaper reported Wednesday that President Yoweri Museveni has "assured the US State Department of his willingness to block the Bill."
Israel: Dreaming of a Utopic Middle East
An Italian born gentile living in Jerusalem, Shiksa's Laura Chiesa dreams of a utopic Middle East. “Call me naive, but I caught myself more than once daydreaming about the time were people (including me) will travel freely in the Middle East – how about an afternoon hibiscus tea in Damascus,...
Israel: Separate But Equal?
Promised Land's Noam Sheizaf provides a comprehensive breakdown of the history and potential future of a new amendment to Israel's Basic Law on Human Dignity and Freedom, that, he says, “might officially turn Israel into a democracy for Jews only.”
Israel: Reflections on Patience
Savta Dotty reflects on savlanut, the Hebrew word for “patience” and how her view of it changed over her lifetime.
Israel: Unwelcome Visitors in Jaffa's Ajami Mosque
Yudit of the Occupied blog questions why armed Israeli settlers would enter an Islamic mosque in Jaffa. “Was it to repectfully view the grave of Ibrahim Ajami? The ajami mosque, unlike some other beautiful Jaffa mosques, is not of great beauty. Not a place a tourist wold go out of...
Israel: Assessing Iran's Nuclear Capabilities & Intents
Amir Mizroch reacts to news about Iranian uranium enrichment: “They don’t need nuclear power for civilian energy (Iran holds the world’s third-largest proven oil reserves and the world’s second-largest natural gas reserves), they want the bomb, and they’ll stop at nothing to get it.”
