Stories from 22 August 2010
France: Discrimination Against Roma People, Labeled as “Thieves”
While the expulsions of Roma people are in full throttle with the silent approbation of the majority of the public opinion, some doubts start to creep in about the fairness of the measures. Some bloggers express their outrage at the measures that target the most vulnerable and the libel of an entire community as "thieves".
Russia: Mass Manifestations In Defense of the Khimki Forest Park

Photobloggers nl [RUS], bb-mos [RUS], zyalt [RUS] share pictures of today's concert in defense of the Khimki Forest Park. The concert, that gathered from 1,000 to 5,000 people in the...
Japan: Photos by Astronaut Soichi Noguchi
The Slick blog is thrilled [ja] that a selection of photos by astronaut Soichi Noguchi will be published as an iPhone/iPad application. As @Astro_Soichi, Noguchi posted more than 600 photos...
Japan: Hikikomori as a global issue
News that the Japanese word hikikomori was included in the newest edition of the Oxford Dictionary of English prompted some bloggers to think of English equivalents of the word. Perhaps...
Africa: Ukash: ideal online payment solution for Africa
Ukash is the ideal online payment solution for Africa, argues Malawian blogger Nyirenda: “As some African geeks are trying to come up with their own solutions, it is interesting to...
Angola: Why the Warthog is so ugly
African folklore: why the warthog is so ugly: “God created the warthog to be a fine-looking pig. He was so good-looking that he became vain and rude to all the...
Tanzania: Solar Hope in Tanzania
E.B writes about the work of the non-profit organization Solar Hope in Tanzanian schools: “Nine OIT students and two faculty members have landed in Tanzania and are currently installing the...
Tanzania: Zanzibar wants independence
AfricanPress links to a story about Zanzibar renewing its bid for independence. Zanzibar and Tanganyika joined to form Tanzania in 1964.
Angola: The biggest open-air market in Africa
Mark and Jana writes about the the biggest open-air market in Africa, the Roque Santeiro Market in Angola:”…is known for being the biggest open-air market in Africa, for transacting thousands...
Tanzania: Tanzania Odyssey Photo Competition
Tanzania Odyssey Blog announces photo Tanzania Odyssey Photo Competition: “We are delighted to launch our new photo competition. This is in response to the vast number of amazing photos that...
Bolivia: State of Emergency Due to Wildfires
Bolivia is in a state of fire emergency, with 25,000 blazes affecting 1.5 million hectares. Pablo Andrés Rivero writes [es] about the lack of resources to put out the fires;...
Benin: President Boni Yayi In Impeachment Row as MPs Switch Strategy
Le Blog Visage du Benin writes that The head of Benin's parliament has rejected a request by 48 MPs to impeach President Boni Yayi on charges of fraud [fr]. It...