Stories from 15 March 2010
Justice for Timor. A 2010 point of view.
Timorese activist and accomplished photographer Zésopol Caminha interviews Australian academic Dr. Clinton Fernandes on the prospects for justice for crimes against humanity committed between 1975 and 1999 during Indonesia's occupation of Timor-Leste.
East Timor: Portuguese Language Under Attack
In what is a dramatic reversal of official position Timor Hau Nia Doben reports that the President of the National Parliament agrees with recent statements by General Taur Matan Ruak that Portuguese language should be removed from Timor-Leste. [Addendum 16 March: a reader very correctly point out an error, Ruak...
Timor Police Ninja Operation
There has been much ado about "ninjas" in Timor-Leste recently. The police ordered a crackdown against these criminal "ninja" groups but some suggest that the matter is being overblown and is a political game.
Jordan: Truck Loads of Creativity
“If you are in the creativity business, look no further than Jordan to find your fix of Inspiration. It comes in the truck loads here,” writes Jordanian blogger Qwaider.
Palestine: Bashing Islam Vs Criticizing Israel
“Bashing Islam is Freedom of Speech, Criticizing Israel is a Hate Crime,” is the title of a post by Mohamed Khodr at Palestinian blog Sabbah Report.
Saudi Arabia: Mating Dates
Dates are a major agricultural export crop in Saudi Arabia. Crossroads Arabia explains how dates are mated.
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Women, Foreign Husbands
“Saudi Arabia makes it complicated for a Saudi male to marry a foreign woman. It’s even harder for a Saudi woman to marry a foreign man,” writes John Burgess at Crossroads Arabia.
Qatar: Paper Apology
‘The local paper, The Peninsula, has just had to issue an apology for a news headline last week which referred to people with Down Syndrome and other genetic disorders as “the ‘lesser people'”‘ writes Marjorie in Qatar.
Qatar: Tent needed for Animal Shelter
The Qatar Animal Welfare Society (QAWS) is in urgent need of a tent. “As the temperature is rising daily we are in desperate need to get some kind of structure up over the runs to provide the animals with air conditioning,” writes Chelsea on Qatar Living.
Saudi Arabia: Journalist Leaves to be with Canadian Husband
From Saudi Arabia, Tara Umm Omar shares the story of a Saudi female reporter who has decided to leave her country to be with her Canadian husband. “Hassna'a will go to Canada where she is not oppressed in regards to her marriage. Isn't it such a shame that a Muslim...
Saudi Arabia: Introducing Saudi Life
Tara Umm Omar, from Future Husbands and Wives of Saudis, introduces us to Saudi Life – a web portal for Saudi expats and those interested in learning about Saudi Arabia.
Costa Rica: Bicycles, Birthdays and Teachers
Julio Cordoba on his birthday post brings us a glimpse of everyday life: he recalls his triumphant feeling when his dad taught him how to ride a bicycle when he was 12. Years later, he discovered his father was a better teacher than he had thought: his father had never...
Costa Rica: New Traffic Law Takes Effect
The new Traffic Law in Costa Rica recently went into effect, which raised the amount of fines and allowed for a higher blood-alcohol level for drunk drivers, of which Costa Rican bloggers express their opinions.
Trinidad & Tobago: New vs. Traditional Media
“Without newspapers, local blogs would be dead in the water. Try as I might to disagree, a poll of Trinidad and Tobago blogs reveals that this is fairly true”: KnowTnT.com examines the relationship between social and mainstream media.
Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: Water Shortage
Water issues continue to plague the Caribbean region.
Trinidad & Tobago: More on Hart
Trinidad and Tobago bloggers weigh in on the Calder Hart scandal.
Jamaica: Extradition Issue
Jamaican bloggers take on the issue of the United States’ extradition request regarding Christopher “Dudus” Coke.
France: Blogtrotters video blog sheds light on global issues
French collaborative video-blog (Fr) Blogtrotters travels to conflict zones, dictatorships and other hot spots around the world, from Sub-Saharan Africa to Central and Eastern Asia to the Pacific Ocean, and its climate refugees. (English version here). Coming soon, a report on Burma. The blog was co-founded by Tristan Mendès-France, the...
Egypt: Will Skype be Blocked!?
There are rumours that the Egyptian government is going to block Skype. Bloggers react to the unconfirmed news in this post.
Kazakhstan: Flood Kills 47, Leaves Hundreds Homeless
Thousands of people were moved out of threatened areas after two dams burst in Kazakhstan on Thursday and Friday. The tragedy has taken place in the Aksuisky district north of the country's business capital, Almaty.
Kyrgyzstan: Filtering of independent web-sites
Kyrgyz blogger writes that internet users in Kyrgyzstan have been deprived of access to Ferghana.Ru, the popular independent web-site that is critical of Central Asian governments.
