Stories from 19 March 2010
Russia: “Battle for Khimki Forest”
A detailed account of the ongoing “battle for Khimki Forest” – by Yevgeniya Chirikova at OpenDemocracy.net: “The plan to construct a section of the new Moscow-St.Petersburg motorway through the legally-protected Khimki Forest Park will destroy a rare eco-system. Dogged local resistance has turned this into a national, even international issue....
Ukraine: Crimean Tatar Leader Addresses European Parliament
Links related to the March 17 European Parliament hearing with Mustafa Dzhemilev, former Soviet dissident and Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People: Dzhemilev's speech (.pdf file); an overview at Window on Eurasia; an overview at Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO); a written address by MEP Heidi...
Russia: Andrei Loshak's Text on Corruption
Andrei Loshak's much-discussed text about corruption and “the normal functioning of an irrational system” in Russia has been translated into English by OpenDemocracy.net (the Russian-language original is at OpenSpace.ru).
Bosnia: Gay Dutch Soldiers
Kirk Johnson of Americans For Bosnia reacts to retired NATO commander John Sheehan's homophobic comment on the Dutch troops’ performance in Bosnia in 1995: “Regarding the Srebrenica Genocide; there are many things for which we can hold the Dutch military at fault, but allowing gay Dutch citizens to serve their...
Maldives: Extremist Blogger
Yaamyn talks about an extremist blogger who has issued death threats to a number of people including another blogger and the first lady of the Maldives.
Sri Lanka: Fonseka And UNP
Indrajit Samarajiva at Indi.ca reacts to the recent news that the Sri Lankan opposition alliance is abandoning their candidate Mr. Sarath Fonseka, because he is in jail now.
Bangladesh: Extra-judicial Killing
Jerome at Bangladesh, Canada And Beyond writes about the extrajudicial killings which are a blot on Bangladesh.
Armenia: Women
Emily Haas’ Armenian Experience, a blog by a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) in the former Soviet republic, post photographs and an insight into the lives of women in Armenia. The blog says that the project is to “show how hard the women in Armenia work and the important and overlooked...
Africa: How not to give money to charities in Africa
How not to give money to charities in Africa: “Do not watch TV images of Africa and feel only pity: starvation, war, HIV-AIDS etc…, Do not give money to Africa in an attempt to make yourself feel good, Do not give money to Africa because you feel guilty about colonialism…”
Malawi: Does Malawi need 4 mobile operators?
Clement wonders whether Malawi needs four mobile phone operators as the government launches an international tender for a fourth mobile phone operator.
Plural+ Video Festival for Youth under 25
Plural+ is once again calling for entries for their Youth Video Festival on Migrant issues, asking youth worldwide to send in their videos discussing identity, diversity, integration, human rights and inclusiveness among other topics. Entry deadline is June 30th and video submission is by sending in a DVD to the...
South Africa: We Want What's Ours
“We Want What’s Ours” is a documentary film in progress on the complications of land reform in South Africa.
Sudan: Conflicting views on Sudan from US officials
Gregory Simpkins discusses conflicting views on Sudan policy from the Obama Administration.
Africa: CAF 2010 Awards was an embarrassment
Thomas Kwenaite reviews the 2010 Confederation of African Football Awards: “Last week, I watched in utter embarrassment as none of the finalists in the Caf awards turned up for the event.”
Mali: Fabric weaves an economical and cultural support
Through videos, we see and learn about the cultural importance and economical boost that working with fabric is giving some people and organizations in Mali. Women's groups, artists and tourism all seem to be benefitting from the tradition of fabric dying and mudcloth painting.
Dominican Republic: Construction of University in Haiti
The government of the Dominican Republic announced that it will construct a university in neighboring Haiti for 10,000 students, writes Duarte 101 [es].
Guatemala: Adoption Bureaucracy
Luis Figueroa of the blog Carpe Diem [es] writes about the amount of bureaucracy involved to approve adoptions in Guatemala.
Cuba: Peace Prize Nominee
Uncommon Sense confirms that Cuban dissident leader Oswaldo Payá has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, saying, “There should be little doubt that if he were to be named this year's recipient, it would elevate his status and that of the entire dissident movement on the island. And it...
Barbados, Jamaica: Feeling the “Vybz”
Boyce Voice and B.C. Pires blog about the public outcry surrounding the appearance of Jamaican dancehall performers, Vybz Kartel and Mavado, in Barbados.
Guyana: I & I
Guyana-Gyal has a theory about “how tongues all over the world latch on to the I-Talk.”
Netherlands: Reaction to US general's gay theory of Srebrenica
Dutch foreign minister, Maxime Verhagen tweeted [nl] in reaction to a claim by a retired US general that “gay soldiers contributed to the Bosnian massacre” in Srebrenica in 1995: “Extremely weird statement about Srebrenica. I fear this has more to do with the discussion in the US about homosexuality in...
