Stories from 31 December 2009
Bangladesh: Celebrating New Year Twice
Saad Hammadi at Of Diaries And Experiences reminds that Bangladesh is reversing the clock by an hour to go back to Bangladesh’s geographic timing: “Thus, the 31st will last for 25 hours. For the party goers, how better could it be than celebrating the new year twice!”
Bhutan: Snowfall And Holiday
“Nobody seems to know when it started or how it started, but tradition dictates that Thimphu residents – especially public servants – avoid going to office on the day the city receives its first snowfall of the season,” informs Tshering Tobgay from Bhutan.
South Asia: Looking Back At 2009
The year 2009 is ending and its time to retrospect how the year has been for the South Asian region. In a two-part review we will look back at some of the major events which took place this year in the South Asian countries seen through the eyes of the citizen journalists.
Caribbean: 2009 Regional Roundup
As Global Voices celebrates its fifth anniversary, the occasion has given us all an opportunity to reflect on why we do what we do and how our work makes a difference. As my colleague Jillian York so succinctly put it, “We spread stories. We spread words.” We manage to do...
Zimbabwe: Politics of condemnation
Amanda blogs about the “politics of condemnation” in Zimbabwe: The Congress [Zanu PF] resolved that “the Party’s national strategic objective for the next five years shall be the checking, containment and ultimate defeat of the West’s neo-colonial regime change agenda.”
Ghana:Visiting Cape Coast Castle
Beautiful photos and a post about a tour to the Cape Coast Castle in Ghana: “We followed a guided tour into the slave dungeons. There were several African-Americans in the group. We were all quiet, reduced to silence by the ghosts and the sadness thick in the musty air.”
Ethiopia: Death penalty is meant to terrorise Ethiopians
Berhanu Nega, one of the men sentenced to death by an Ethiopian court says he is not suprised by death penalty.
Ethiopia: Mother of political activist appeals to Prime Minister
Arefe reports that the mother of the leader of the leader of Ethiopia’s biggest opposition party and political activist, Birtukan Mideksa has sent a letter sent to Prime Minster Meles Zenawi asking for her daughter’s release.
Dominica: OECS
Chris at Dominica Weekly shares his thoughts on the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States’ Economic Union.
Trinidad & Tobago: Do the Math
Jumbie's Watch does the math on Trinidad and Tobago's murder rate: “While the CoP was bleating in public about the 3.65% murder solve rate (for last year), he neglected to mention that for the ‘known’ 508 victims of this year, there is a further 904 still missing!!!”
Cuba: History & Hope
“Hopefully, 2010 will bring, finally, an end to this sad, torturous chapter of Cuban history”: Uncommon Sense remembers Cuba's past and expresses his hopes for its future.
Guyana: Of Prosperity & Rice
Diaspora blogger Signifyin’ Guyana is bringing back traditional “cook up rice” for the New Year.
Caucasus: 2009 Blog Review
If the Armenian and Georgian blogospheres attracted most interest during 2008 after one disputed presidential election in the former and an albeit short war with Russia in the latter, Azerbaijan was the undoubted focus in 2009. In particular, youth activists quickly embraced both new and social media to spread their message online.
Bangladesh: Knighthood For Fazle Hasan Abed
Unheard Voice informs that Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder and chairperson of the largest NGO of the world, BRAC, has been awarded with knighthood for his endeavors towards eradicating poverty and empowering the poor in Bangladesh and many countries of the world.
Armenia: Culture vulture
Ianyan interviews Anush Babajanyan, an Armenian photographer who particularly focuses on issues such as gender in Armenia and the homeless in the country's second largest city, Gyumri.
Caucasus: The color of pomegranates
Ianyan waxes lyrically about its love of pomegranates, a fruit synonymous with many countries in and around the South Caucasus such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey.
Azerbaijan: Business as usual
Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines comments on new charges made against imprisoned journalist Eynulla Fatullayev, 2009 recipient of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) International Press Freedom award. The blog says that some things don't change, but nonetheless encourages its readers to speak out in 2010.
Japan: 2009 Tokyo Art Scene
William Andrews at the Tokyo Art Beat blog reviews the Tokyo art scene for the past year: “It was a nervous year, with the world-wide economic crisis always lurking.”
Japan: Things just got worse
“Japanese OO got worse in 2009″. Umeten gives a list [ja] of all the things that got worse in Japan this year, from economy to music magazines to baseball … A link to other blogs or websites for each item.
Best South Asia Books of the 2000s
Amardeep at Sepia Mutiny lists the best of the South Asia related books published in the 2000s.
Russia, U.S.: Billy Joel in 1987
Siberian Light writes about Billy Joel, “who stumped up $2.5 million of his own cash, and became the first American rock star to tour the Soviet Union with a fully staged show” in 1987.
