Stories from 9 February 2010
Mozambique: Have African people been ‘Cursed'?
Custódio Duma wonders whether Africans have been ‘cursed’, leading to servitude of black people worldwide. He mentions biblical perspectives and says [pt]: “It's from Africa that most resources that keep the capitalism machine working comes from. Yet, Africans almost do not profit from them. […] But who has cursed Africans?”
Peru: Cusco Bloggers Cover the Rain Disaster
After two weeks of heavy rain and non-stop rainfall, and following floods of Cusco, Puno and Apurímac, the citizen media has thoroughly covered the disaster in South Peru.
Sri Lanka: Another Blunder
A Voice In Colombo thinks that the victorious Mahinda Rajapaksa's government had “created another chance for opposition to gain public sympathy” by arresting general Sarath Fonseka.
India: The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival Blog
An interesting panel discussion on the delicious variety of ‘Food Writing’ took place at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in Mumbai, India. Read this and much more in The Kala Ghoda Gazette, the official blog of the festival.
Mongolia: “Khoomii doesn't belong to China”
On PetitionSpot, a new petition goes on to ask China officials to stop registering “Khoomii” or Mongolian throat singing in their Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in UNESCO.
Trinidad & Tobago: Parenting & Carnival
“Yes carnival is here, the greatest show on earth. The music, the [mas], the freedom and…babies at fetes”: Media Callaloo is appalled at the irresponsibility of some of the parents in Trinidad and Tobago.
Bahamas, Haiti: Birth Control
Sidney Sweeting at Weblog Bahamas shares his thoughts on birth control.
Trinidad & Tobago: Blood Test vs. Breathalyzer
KnowTnT.com takes issue with a point in the recent amendment to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act: “Nowhere does it state that someone accused of being drunk can volunteer to take a blood alcohol test. When you fail a blood test for alcohol, you're nailed. There's no way out...
Trinidad & Tobago: Kiddies Carnival
A Caribbean Garden posts an array of photos from 2010 Kiddies Carnival celebrations in Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad & Tobago: Working for the Tourist Dollar?
The Liming House is incensed by a campaign from Virgin Atlantic designed to “help the Caribbean”: “Both Virgin and the Travel Foundation appear to think that the only opportunities for ‘disadvantaged youth’ in the Caribbean are in ‘craft making, beekeeping and fishing.’ Gosh, development has just passed those backward-but-smiling natives...
France: International Students in Paris Blog on Cité Babel
The International City of Paris houses a community of international students living and learning at French universities. Their blog and journal "Cité Babel" addresses issues related to identity, cultural exchanges, language, and views of France and the world.
China: Let Feng Zhenghu come home, to jail time
After 92 days in Narita Airport, activist Feng Zhenghu has returned to Japan and is preparing for his ninth attempt to return home to China. Should he go? Illiberal members of Anti-CNN.com think jail time for leaders in China's exiled democracy movement could give it a fresh start.
Iran: “Eight Iranian arrested in Copenhagen Denmark”
Oonvar Donya, Iranian blogger, says [fa] eight Iranian got arrested in Copenhagen, Denmark after they threw green paint at Iranian embassy. Watch the photos here.
China: #Tanzuoren – to be human
Chinese activist Tan Zuoren was sentenced to 5 year imprisonment and 3 year deprivation of political rights this morning (Feb 9) under the charge of inciting subversion of state power. Tan was involved in the investigation of the relation between bean dregs school buildings and the death of school children...
Arab World: Should the New York Times Reassign Ethan Bronner?
Over the past couple of weeks, a much-discussed topic in the broader Arab blogosphere has been a news story that broken by a member of the blogosphere itself. On January 25, the Electronic Intifada (EI) reported that the son of Ethan Bronner, New York Times' Jerusalem bureau chief, had recently been inducted into the Israeli Defense Forces. Arab bloggers discuss the case.
Bangladesh: How To Minimize Risk In Stock Trading
Kabir Ahmed at Bangladesh Corporate Blog discusses how to minimize risk in investing in the stock market.
Taiwan: Dark Marketing on Facebook
Mr. Friday on mmdays.com discusses how some people create fraudulent facebook fan page using photos of beautiful girls or logos of famous companies like MSN and Google(zh). The amount of fans can thus be sold to other businesses for promotion and marketing purpose. Mr. Friday asks Facebook to look into...
[Podcast] Interview with Fabiano Angelico of Transparência Brasil
Fabiano Angelico of Transparência Brasil explains why transparency and accountability projects tend to focus on federal rather than state and local governments and points us to one innovative project in Brazil in which bloggers 'adopt' local politicians.
Costa Rica: Laura Chinchilla Elected First Woman President
Costa Ricans went to the polls on February 7th and elected Laura Chinchilla of the National Liberation Party, who will be the country's first woman president. Bloggers provide their opinions on the election results.
Venezuela: The Interrupted Hunger Strike of Franklin Brito
Venezuelan farmer Franklin Brito had been on a hunger strike, when he was taken to a military hospital against his will, while the government is questioning his mental state. His family is calling for his release and say that the label was placed on him because of his opposition to the government.
Sri Lanka: On Fonseka's Arrest
Libertad blog reacts to the hammering of “the final nail in the coffin of democracy” of Sri Lanka – the arrest of General Sarath Fonseka: “adieu Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka and welcome the Totalitarian State of Sri Lanka for now.”
