Stories from 6 June 2010
Egypt: Protests and Policy Changes After Flotilla Raid
News of the flotilla raid in Gaza has sparked an uprising in Egypt. Thousands of Egyptians protested both Israel's actions and the stance of their own government earlier this week.
Iraq: Who's Going to be the Next Prime Minister?
Although the Iraqi parliamentary elections took place in the 7th of March, the two major blocs according to the poll results, are still not able to agree on a single candidate to be named as the new prime minister. Iraqi bloggers have their say on the deadlock in this post.
Algeria-Morocco: Online Initiative to Reopen Borders
A group of Moroccan and Algerian citizens have launched an online campaign for the reopening of the borders and rapprochement between their neighboring countries. Relations between Algeria and Morocco have been strained by their contention over Western Sahara and their borders have been closed since 1994.
USA: American student loses eye in West Bank protest
One of the many protests that erupted after Israel's deadly raid on the Turkish aid convoy ended in tragedy for a 21-year-old American student, Emily Henochowicz, who was protesting in the occupied West Bank, at the Qalandiya checkpoint on May 31.
Maghreb: Overwhelming Support for Flotilla Activists
The global outcry following the deadly Israeli attack on the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla has been reflected on streets across the world and throughout the Internet, on social networks and personal blogs. Hisham looks at reactions from the Maghreb in this post.
Peru: World Record for Planting Trees
Marcamasi [es] reports that in Peru more than 8,000 people managed to plant 27,166 trees in 5 minutes and 20 seconds, achieving a new Guinness record. This also marks the beginning of a national campaign called “Toward 180 million trees” (“Rumbo a los 180 millones de árboles”) with the theme “Let's...
Palestine: “I am afraid of the sea”
In reaction to the raid on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla on May 31, Gaza blogger Kawther Abu Hani has written a poetic post from the perspective of a child, entitled Sweets Don't Drown.
Japan: The PM has resigned, long live the PM!
Japan is set to have yet another new prime minister, the fifth in as many years. With the resignation of former-PM Yukio Hatoyama and Naoto Kan named his replacement, the talk is again about "change", but has there been too much of it? Bloggers discuss recent changes in the Japanese political landscape.
Tunisia: 33 Sarastic Tweets on the #Flotilla Attack
Tunisian blogger Sami ben Gharbia shares what he describes as the “33 most sarcastic tweets about the #flotilla” attack by Israel on a Gaza-bound ship.
Poland: Approaching presidential elections
Polandian sums up the candidates for the June 20 Polish presidential elections with a twist on the country's election system.
Bangladesh: Desiring a Shantiniketan
Can Bangladesh copy the vision of the great poet Rabindranath Tagore and set up a Shantiniketan in the country? Badrud Doza, on his blog An Ordinary Citizen, writes that instead of trying to do so, the government should focus its energies on the betterment of the existing universities of Bangladesh.
China: A traffic incident sparks fury against Japanese
The following post is making rounds in many Chinese forums and blogs. It concerns an accident between a Chinese couple and two Japanese in Beijing two weeks ago.
Israel: IDF Poetry Slam Between Druze, Bedouin Soldiers
Picture this: Druze and Bedouin Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers sitting in a room singing call and response poetry to each other in the ancient Arabic style of Zajal. The video and background information can be found at Nizo's Blog, subtitled “A Gay Palestinian Muses on the Missile East.”
Israel: Demonstrations Outside Prison Where Flotilla Passengers Held
Joseph Dana posts a video of demonstrators waving Turkish and Palestinian flags in front of the prison in Beer-Sheva, Israel, where the passengers of the flotilla were being housed until deportation. Video is in Arabic and Hebrew with no subtitles, but you can still get a sense of the action.
Israel: Protests and Counter-Protests in Flotilla's Wake
Alison Avigayil Ramer provides a detailed report on her blog, Your Virtual Community Organizer, of “Demonstrations for and against Israel, the IDF and Turkey in Tel Aviv [Israel] following Flotilla Incident.”
Israel/Turkey: Battle of the Bucks
Michael Horesh of Afternoon Tea in Jerusalem reflects on the economic war looming between Turkey and Israel: “Who will suffer in the end? Just the average citizen, on either side, as politicos continue to trade insults, replacing cooperation with distrust.”
India: An introduction to Indian Classical Music
Interested in learning about Indian Classical Music? Blogger Uttara on her blog Likhati has a series of posts offering detailed introduction to the same.
India: When a friend ‘comes out’
How does one handle the moment when a friend reveals that he/ she is gay? IdeaSmith at Desicritics shares some stories on handling such ‘coming out’ moments.
Saudi Arabia: Top 10 Most Beautiful Saudis
Saudiwoman’s Weblog published a list of the top 10 most beautiful intellectual Saudis.
Worldwide: Demonstrations for Palestine
Roba from Jordan published pictures from different demonstrations world wide against Israel's last attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, in Holland, Greece, Egypt, United Kingdom, Lebanon, Pakistan, Malaysia, Sweden, France, Turkey, India, Italy, Canada, Spain, Belgium, United States, Bulgaria and Austria.
Sri Lanka: Old lessons from a new commission
The Sri Lankan President has set up yet another commission ‘Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission’ to inquire into the root causes of the armed conflict that ended in 2009. Kalana Senaratne at Groundviews examines the new commission's objectives and wonders if any new lessons will indeed be learned.
