Stories from 6 January 2010
Cambodia: Bloggers promote Khmer Literature
The Khmer Youth Writers group in Cambodia was initiated by award-winning young authors who want to promote and improve Khmer literature. Members use their blogs to highlight Khmer writing.
Azerbaijan: Chess victory
Thoughts on the Road says that while there might be a military stalemate between Armenia and Azerbaijan still locked into a state of war over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh, chess teams from the two countries this week met to compete against each other in the World Chess Championship...
Bolivia: Bicentennial Mural in La Paz
Blogsasa [es] writes about the unveiling of a mural in La Paz, Bolivia to commemorate the city's bicentennial. There are pictures of the mural that includes 187 historical figures represented, but there is some controversy about who was chosen to be included.
Brazil: 2009 Green Retrospective and COP15
Almost one month since the United Nations Climate Change Conference, bloggers discuss still; as well as criticizing its outcome, year-end-blog-retrospectives mention the event as one of the most important of 2009.
Caucasus: Unity in Diversity
With three unresolved conflicts and a local media that often self-censors, blogs comment on an online project hoping to break stereotypes by reporting on examples of ethnic groups otherwise in conflict in the South Caucasus co-existing peacefully together.
India: On Racism In Australia
Madhavi at The Trajectory comments on the Government of India’s advisory for ethnic Indians in Australia and questions – who is over-reacting on the racism issue: India or Australia?
South Africa: A glowing tribute to Dennis Brutus
The News of the death of Dennis Brutus came as a rude shock to many, not just in South Africa but to the world at large who knew him for his poetry and activism against the Apartheid system in South Africa in the 1960s and his fight for social justice throughout his life.
Pakistan: Stop Attacks On Asif Ali Zardari
Bilal Qureshi at Pakistan Foreign Policy Blog urges Pakistanis to stop the vicious and vitriolic campaign against President Asif Ali Zardari to keep the country united.
Bnagladesh: Secularism And Constitution
Bangladesh has proceeded to annul the fifth amendment to the constitution, which will lead to the ban of religion-based politics in the country. Indus Asia Online Journal (iaoj) commented that Pakistan should follow the same to save the country from the misuse and abuse of religion.
India: University Portal Offers Free E-education
Think Change India informs that “the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has launched a portal called Flexi-Learn in an effort to offer education over internet free of cost.”
Colombia: FARC's controversial online presence
Although most of the reactions visible on twitter to a trailer for a documentary made to support the FARC armed forces of Colombia in international venues were skeptical, the existence of dozens of online videos supporting the FARC makes it look like the support or rejection of these so called terrorist groups is not a black or white issue.
Bolivia: International Poetry Festival in La Paz and Oruro
The International Poetry Festival is scheduled for February 8-13, 2010 in the Bolivian cities of La Paz and Oruro, writes Claudia Michel of Estante Boliviano [es].
Georgia: Tragedy ushers in the New Year
As citizens of Georgia waited in anticipation of the New Year, two high profile scandals were instead set to dampen the holiday spirit. As part of plans to decentralize government, a Soviet-era statue to thise who died during World War II was set to demolished in Georgia's second largest city to make room for the construction of a new parliament building. A mother and her child were tragically killed.
Barbados: Let it Snow!
Snow in the Caribbean? Check out My Rustic Bajan Garden.
Jamaica: Police Power
“Just in case we thought that the Jamaican police were unique in their brand of brutality we are reminded that police forces anywhere can be equal opportunity purveyors of brutality and state terror”: Annie Paul republishes a disturbing email from India.
Mozambique: Demise of a massive biofuels project
In late December, the Council of Ministers of Mozambique made a significant announcement. A 30,000ha land concession to biofuels firm Procana had been revoked. The case of the Procana project, on a massive area bordering on the cross-border Limpopo National Park, was polemic from the beginning in 2007.
Lebanon: Bloggers Participated in “Kolena Laila”
"Kolena Laila"(We are all Laila) is an online initiative that aims to spread awareness about the Arab women in the Middle East and North Africa. In its fourth year, "Laila" got to be Lebanese. Here are some of the Lebanese bloggers' contributions.
Egypt: “Have a Voice” Campaign
As Egypt gears up for its 2011 presidential elections, a group of bloggers have launched a new campaign to make people believe that they can usher in change and make their voices heard through voting. Eman AbdElRahman rounds up reactions from the Egyptian blogosphere in this post.
Jordan: Teaching Jordanians To Laugh At Themselves?
The second Amman Stand-Up Comedy Festival was held in December, with comics mostly from North America. The New York Times published an article about the festival entitled "Jordanians Can Take a Joke, Comics Find" – but some bloggers did not appreciate its tone.
Taiwan: Hakka blue shirts in Meinong
Wandering Taiwan describes how the Hakka tradition of blue shirts is maintained in Meinong, Kaohsiung County.
