Stories from 6 February 2010
Macedonia: Protest Against “Skopje 2014″ Plan
Mite Kuzevski (@kuzevski) posted a video clip [MKD] and photos directly from the scene of the protest against the Skopje 2014 Plan. The protest, sparked by the unveiling of the government's “vision” for a massive rebuilding, took place on the main square of Macedonia's capital on Feb. 6.
Costa Rica: Thumbs Up or Down to Campaign Ads
With the Costa Rican presidential campaign winding down, many local bloggers have been providing their thoughts on the wide range of election ads by the various candidates.
India: The Death Of Bo Language
Madhu Baganiar, who belongs to the indigenous Oraon (Kurukh) community comments on the demise of Bo language with the death of Boa senior, the lone survivor of the Bo tribe: “tribal language(s) could be preserved and (could) prosper through known script only, as the pace of alienation of tribal language...
Pakistan: Karachi Under Attack
On February 5, 2010, twin suicidal blasts hit mourners of the Shia sect in Karachi. The attacks came 40 days after the Ashura bombing that killed over 40 people. Bloggers discuss the history of violence in Karachi and the inability of the authorities to gain control of the situation.
Ukraine: Notes on the Upcoming Election
Blair Sheridan of Eastern Approaches explains why he doesn't understand the “hysteria” about the last-minute changes to Ukraine's election law. Leigh Turner, UK Ambassador to Ukraine, writes: “Some people I respect are saying there's a fair chance of good quality elections on 7 February.”
Russia: Turgenev and the Viardots
St Petersblurb writes about the relationship of Ivan Turgenev, Pauline Viardot, and her husband.
Poland: Drainage
Scatts of Polandian posts “a short guide to Polish drainage” – or a saga on how “approximately five hours of [the blogger's] life last Saturday was devoted to trying to unblock the drain in [his] daughter’s bathroom.”
Hungary: Social Media and Politics
Remainder of Budapest writes about the social media aspect of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Hungary.
Russia: “The Sergei Mironov Episode”
At Jamestown Foundation Blog, Greg Shtraks explains the recent “Sergei Mironov episode.”
Macedonia: Online Rebellion Against “Skopje 2014″ Plan
After years of veiled announcements, media manipulation and bureaucratic dodging of requests for transparency, accountability and citizen participation, the government finally came out with a plan to litter the center of the Macedonian capital with a number of new monuments and buildings. Filip Stojanovski reviews the netizens' reactions.
Westerners need self-reflection before criticizing China
In an afterword to the 2006 edition of The End of History and the Last Man, Francis Fukuyama depicted a possible scenario of world politics: the victory of an authoritarian type of capitalism over liberal democratic capitalist states. While this is not his preferred destination, it is moving in that...
