Stories from 12 August 2010
Hungary: Proposed Media Law Threatens Freedom of Expression
Hungarian Spectrum writes about the proposed new media law and wonders whether PM Viktor Orbán “doesn't understand democracy and has no idea of the meaning of the freedom of expression” – “or perhaps he understands them all too well and simply doesn't want them for Hungary.”
Saudi Arabia: Where Women are Dependents Forever and Ever
Did you know that Saudi Arabia has a service in place where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sends a text message to a male guardian every time a "dependent" leaves the country? Saudi blogger Eman Al Nafjan opens Pandora's Box when she questions the new development.
Hungary: The New President
Hungarian Spectrum writes about the inauguration of Hungary's new president, Pal Schmitt; about Albert Wass, a Transylvanian-Hungarian author whose work Schmitt quoted in his inaugural speech; and about Schmitt's first few days in office: “Since his inauguration the not too sympathetic Hungarian public has been watching Schmitt's every move.”
Brazil: New Forestry Code = The Right to Deforestation?
An area of the Amazon equivalent to the size of England and France put together could be destroyed if changes proposed to the Brazilian Forestry Code come into force. The blogosphere reacts.
Russia: Anothr Kemerovo Blogger Charged With Libel
A criminal case has been started against Alexander Sorokin (aka LJ user commentator40), Echo Moskvy reported [RUS]. He is charged with libel against Kemerovo governor Aman Tuleev [EN] for the post [RUS] in which he compares Russian regional governors to Latin American dictators. It is the second famous case [EN]...
Jordan: Honking Horns Mark School Result Announcement
Celebrations mark the announcement of secondary school results, known as Tawjihi in many Arab countries. Naseem Al Tarawnah tweets the scene from Amman: “11:20pm. Amman. Honking horns & kids, riding on car windows, screaming. Either Tawjihi results are out or #JO just put a man on the moon.”
Egypt: Know New Blogs
Know New Blogs is a new meme started by Moroccan Egyptian Basma Aal at In Between the Lines. “Know New Blogs is a way to explore new blogs that is about different topics from all over the world,” she writes. This month's meme focuses on Arab bloggers, and those writing...
Jordan: Leap in Twitter Users
On Arab Crunch, Gaith Saqer writes about the leap in Twitter users around the world.”The Middle-East Africa jumped 142 per cent to 5 million visitors” in the period from June 2009 to June 2010.
Afghan photo bloggers, beyond war and Wikileaks
By publishing photos of different aspects of their country, Afghan photo bloggers display an Afghanistan beyond war and Wikileaks, of beauty as well as poverty.
Global: Ramadan Memes
Every year, web-savvy Muslims around the world share images with each other to celebrate Ramadan. While most images of the sort are solemn, there is often plenty of humor to go around as well, writes Jillian C. York, who shares some of the fun.
South Korea: Lax Safety Control Lead to Bus Explosion
An ordinary bus in Seoul has exploded with a loud bang, injuring 17 people. The accident was due to overheated gas tanks but fear is growing among the people as the city is planning to replace every bus to this CNG model which exploded this week.
India: Perils Of Quota System For Minority Groups
Ram Bansal at India In Peril blog opines that the long practiced system of reservations of government posts in India to select minority groups is actually affecting “quality of persons in positions of authority and hence the governance of the country.”
Bhutan: Taxes On Cars And The Concept Of Equality
Dipika critically analyzes the recent increase of the customs duty and sales tax rates on motor vehicles in Bhutan and the concept of equality as a reason behind it.
India: The Khairlanji verdict
V. Venkatesan at Law and Other Things comments on a recent verdict of the Mumbai High Court on a brutal murder case: “the Khairlanji case has shaken the conscience of all right-thinking people, as the Judges refused to see any caste prejudice to the killing of Dalits by upper caste...
Sri Lanka: Lessons Learned for Peace and Reconciliation Commission
Going Global discusses about the proceedings and efficacy of the 8 members strong ‘Lessons Learned for Peace and Reconciliation Commission’ appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to get a report on the lessons to be learnt from the events in Sri Lanka during the period from February 2002 to May 2009.
Japan: Incense
Martin J Frid from Kurashi has written several articles on the culture and tradition of incense: where to buy incense? ten virtues of incense and Japanese literature on incense.
African Thinkers on the Origin and Relevance of Ethnic Identity
In a year loaded with elections in Africa, ethnic identity has always been lurking in most political conversations. Still, many African thinkers argue that ethnicity was never a prominent issue until colonization began. They also argue the current and future relevance of ethnic identity on the continent.
Japan: Vintage Tokyo subway manner posters
Pinktenctacle exhibits a collection of artistic manner posters [en] that “appeared in the Tokyo subways between 1976 and 1982.”
