Stories from 14 June 2010
Greece: World Cup-Mania Provides Respite from Financial Crisis
Despite the dire financial crisis unfolding in Greece, many Greeks have taken to the 'social media World Cup' with gusto - perhaps hoping for a repeat of the amazing and uplifting victory in the Euro 2004 championship.
Algeria: Disappointment and Anger After the Defeat against Slovenia
After a 24 years long wait, Algerians have focused their attentions on the world cup, hoping to escape the grind of their daily lives. The disappointment was all the more profound after the defeat of their team against Slovenia.
Kyrgyzstan: Provocateurs seen behind ethnic clashes
Clashes between the ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbek population in the southern Kyrgyzstan have developed into large-scale violence. After three nights of shooting in the isolated conflict zone - the population still has limited access to telephony, electricity and food.
Pakistan: Budget Sans Public
Raza Rumi at Pak Tea House criticizes the lack of public consultation in the budgetary processes in Pakistan.
Trinidad & Tobago: Watchful Eye
This Beach Called Life is keeping a close eye on the weather.
India: EcoFestival 2010
Alexandra at India Climate Solutions writes about the EcoFestival 2010 which took place in New Delhi recently. The festival is aimed at “creating greater awareness, interest and actions to mitigate climate change”, informs Kriti, the organizer team.
Jamaica, Guyana: Passing on the Classics
“Any list of Caribbean classics ultimately has to be the responsibility of Caribbean people wherever we are. And we’re not only responsible for creating a canon, but also for passing it on…”: Guyanese diaspora Charmaine Valere weighs in on Geoffrey Philp's question as to what constitutes a Caribbean literary classic.
Haiti: Profiting from Disaster?
The Haitian Blogger suggests that “Haiti's calamity is a windfall for everyone, except Haitians living in Haiti in the camps.”
Russia: Authorities Anounce “Social Plan” for Internet Access
Igor Schegolev, Russian minister of Communications, announced [RUS] today that country's largest, state-controlled, access provider “Svyazinvest“ [ENG] will launch a subsidized Internet access plan. Users of the new “Social” plan will be able to access few “socially important” websites for lower price (at reduced speed, though). Few days earlier, “Social Plug“, a parallel...
Trinidad & Tobago: Budget of the People?
KnowTnT.com applauds the new Finance Minister's initiative “to design a ‘dialogue process’ for all stakeholders to voice their opinions on the Republic’s budget”, saying: “He leads a process (if genuine) of true participatory/contributory governance.”
Cuba: Letters to the Editor
Generation Y says that the Granma newspaper's “Letters to the Editor” section “has created the false impression that criticism is admissible and one can speak with ‘no holds barred’.”
Ghana: Bloggers celebrate Ghana's victory over Serbia
The Ghana national football team, the Black Stars, became the first African team on Sunday win a match at the 2010 FIFA World Cup after beating Serbia. Ghanaian bloggers are celebrating this historic win.
Brazil: Soccer Dream Team Murals for the World Cup
During the first day of the World Cup, a group of 12 urban artists painted a wall of 240 m2 in the city of Rio de Janeiro featuring what they believe to be the Brazilian soccer dream team. The result may be seen at the event's blog “Grafite Futebol Arte”...
Peru: Cyber-Activism in Chimbote
Chimbote is a city and fishing port located to the north of Lima, where the use of internet is expanding. Recently, internet has become a way to call for and participate in protests both virtually and in person. An example of this was seen recently when citizens of Chimbote decided to protest on the poor state of the roads.
Uruguay: Effect of European Crisis
The blog Visión Universitaria [es] looks at how the European crisis has affected Uruguay.
Bangladesh: Sweet And Savory Snacks
Bangladesh Unlocked posts a review of some sweet and savory snacks from across Bangladesh.
Philippines: Best and worst library schools
Here is a list of the best and worst library schools in the Philippines, based on the blog post of blogger Filipino librarian
Laos: Forced to buy bracelets?
To mark Vientiane's 450th anniversary this year, local authorities issued bracelets for distribution. But there are rumors that rural villagers are being forced to buy these bracelets.
Laos: Korean star visits schools
Korean actor Jang Dong-gun visited schools in Laos where he gave free meals and starred in an anti-poverty documentary by the UN World Food Program
Myanmar: No power shortage during World Cup broadcast
Myanmar football fans are happy to discover that power supply seems stable during the TV broadcast of World Cup games.
South Korea: Understanding the Oil Spill From Painful Experience
As the BP oil spill disaster in the United States is reported in South Korea, numerous Korean bloggers, for whom painful memories of the deadliest oil spill in Korean history in 2007 remains fresh, are expressing their worries and sympathy to the oil spill victims. In December 2007, 2.7 million...
