Stories from 20 October 2010
Russia: Photos of Kurdish Refugees and Homeless People
At PhotoPolygon, photos of ethnic Kurdish refugees from Uzbekistan living in the woods outside Novosibirsk (by user Bender13, via English Russia), and of the homeless people in Blagoveshchensk (by user anikina).
Russia: “Scary Fairy Tales”
War and Peace comments on Ludmilla Petrushevskaya's Scary Fairy Tales story collection.
Mexico: 20-year-old Woman is New Police Chief of Northern Mexican Town
Marisol Valles García is a married 20-year-old woman studying Criminology; she is also the new chief of police in Práxedis, Chihuahua, a town located around 100 kilometers (62 miles) away from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico's most violent city.
Kuwait: Police Brutality Caught on Video?
Police brutality has been caught on video around the world. Here's one from Kuwait which was posted on a popular blog and attracted a lot of comments - many attacking the blogger for posting it.
Colombia: Government to Return Land to Displaced Peasants
In Realidades Colombianas [es] Valentina Díaz Gómez says that the government's plan to return land to victims of displacement is “the best proposal that Colombians have had in the past 50 years as a republic.”
Mexico: Poster Child for Child Labor Still Working on the Street
Burro Hall posted a picture of Jesús, a boy that plays the accordion in the street, next to a newspaper article on child exploitation that shows a picture of him: “[he] is still sitting right outside the Governor's office playing the accordion for money rather than attending school so he...
Honduras: National Popular Resistance Front Rejects Invitation to Dialogue with President Lobo
Honduras News reports that, “The National Front for Popular Resistance (FNRP) [Frente Nacional de Resistencia Popular] decided yesterday not to accept the invitation for a dialogue proposed by President Porfirio Lobo Sosa.”
Guatemala: Revolution Day, ‘Día de la Revolución”
Antigua Daily Photo shares a photograph of the October 20 holiday in Guatemala, “Día de la Revolución” (Revolution Day). The blogger explains the history behind the holiday.
Puerto Rico: Once Upon a Time There was a Newspaper
Iván Chaar-López comments [ES] on the extremely precarious financial situation and the lack of institutional support that have caused the practical elimination of the University of Puerto Rico's monthly paper Diálogo.
Pakistan: Ethnic Violence In Karachi
“Karachi continues to be the target of alleged ethnic killings as death toll of such targeted killings has reached an alarming 75 in the past four days,” informs Guppu.com.
Evacuation of The Former “House of West African Students” in Paris
Ménilmuche writes on his blog [fr] about the evacuation of “La Maison des Étudiants de l’Ouest Africain” [fr]. In 1950 [Colonial period], French West Africa (AOF) purchased this building to house the elected West African representatives. The building became a student dormitory in the 1960's when the countries reached independence....
India: Mobile Phones & Security
In India, “nine out of ten women reported feeling safer due to their mobile phones”, informs Priyanka Matanhelia, who is researching on mobile phone usage amongst youth.
Sri Lanka: Why Women In Politics Always Matters
“The main obstacle to equal political representation of women in political institutions in Sri Lanka is political parties”, comments Chulani Kodikara in a recent interview with Groundviews.
Pakistan: The Case Of Missing Persons
CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan discuses about the Pakistan’s missing persons, “people who have disappeared under the government label of ‘terrorism suspects’ since the 9/11 attacks.”
Lebanon: Is Facebook being used to recruit spies?
From Lebanon, The Identity Chef Darine Sabbagh finds a link on her Facebook page asking for information on missing Israeli soldiers and notes: “Now honestly, things like these really make you think twice about your online activity and how your online information can be misused and how you can be...
Saudi Arabia: Online Impressions
From Saudi Arabia, The Eternal Philosopher Duha Husseini offers us an insight on “online impressions.” She adds: “I remember a time when 99% of Saudi internet users used aliases, including myself, for fear we might be judged based on what we share online. That has now changed.”
Saudi Arabia: Niqab and Freedom
Alternative Saudi Voices’ Ahmed Bagadoodoffers his perspective on the niqab (face cover worn by some Muslim women) and freedom.
Kuwait: A Gay Following
Desert Girl on Kuwait wants to know whether she has a gay following.
Jordan: Are You Spending Too Much Time on Twitter?
From Jordan, Rand lists 10 signs which show that you are spending too much time on Twitter.
Jordan: Rules for Elections
JanMania proposes five rules for the Jordanian parliamentary elections.
Africa: Ancient African Writing Systems
Did Africans use any writing systems before foreigners came to the continent?: “The truth of the matter is that ancient Africans were writing and there are several African writing systems even though most of them may be forgotten now…And we cannot forget the Ethiopian script, Ge’ez used in community that...
