Stories from 14 December 2010
Uruguay: Winners of Blog Competition “Your Ideas Matter” Announced
The winners of the schoolchildren blog competition, “Your Ideas Matter,” were recently announced [es]: three girls from the School Agraria de Raigón won first place in the innovative projects category; the school 93 of Maldonado [es] won first place in the school blog category; and students from Liceo 66 de...
Syria: Let It Snow!
It's been a whirlwind week of weird weather for much of the Levant, as relieving rains and surprise snows blanket the landscape. In the Syrian capital, the streets are covered with snow for the first time in years. Though the Damascus skies occasionally sprinkle snow, rarely does it stick to the ground.
Bhutan: Tobacco or Drinking Ban
Passu wonders why Bhutan banned tobacco instead of drinking.
India: Open Access Indian Law Database
Yale Law Library blog informs that The Legal Information Institute of India (LII of India), a non-profit access to 50 databases of Indian law, is now open for public access.
Bangladesh: Artificial Kidney – A Rare Feat
Unheard Voice blog informs that “Shuvo Roy, a Bangladeshi scientist at the University of California, San Francisco, has developed the world’s first artificial, implantable kidney.”
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Caucasus: Corruption
Social Science in the Caucasus comments on Transparency International's latest Global Corruption Barometer. While noting that corruption has increased in the world, it nonetheless notes that levels in Georgia are significantly lower than in neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Armenia: Facebook Storytelling
Writing for Ararat Magazine, Global Voices author Simon Maghakyan says that that one Facebook Group is attempting to use the popular social networking site to teach children Armenian history. The post wonders if this might turn out to be a revolutionary way to get them interested in such subject matters.
Armenia: Smoking the Pipe of Peace
Ararat Magazine features a post by Global Voices’ Caucasus editor on Calumet, an ethnic lounge bar in Yerevan, the Armenian capital. Offering a laid back environment for local civic activists, artists and musicians, as well as foreigners, to unwind in, it concludes that the recently opened venue is a breath...
China: Meaning of the word “love”
Maryannodonnell from Shenzhen Noted looks into the meaning of “I love you” in a cross cultural romantic relation in Shenzhen.
Mexico: The Pilgrimage to Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
“Political parties, narcos, economic policies are transitory events, blips in time that aren’t meaningful in the long run. What matters is what endures, and in Mexico, what endures is the pilgrimage to Guadalupe,” concludes Rich from The Mex Files in a post about the pilgrimage to the shrine of Our...
Peru: Red April, a Novel by Santiago Roncagliolo
In a short book review, Greg Weeks writes: “Santiago Roncagliolo's Red April: A Novel is a creepy yet engrossing mystery set in Peru in March-April 2000. It focuses on the fight against Sendero Luminoso in Ayacucho. […] From the perspective of plot, the book keeps you guessing until the end.”
Kenya: Kenya’s fastest rising Google Search words 2010
Kenya's fastest rising Google search words in 2010: “According to the Google Zeitgeist, Kenyans this year showed strong interest in social networking sites and virtual realities. “2go” topped the fastest rising list and “Makmende” came second.”
Chile: WikiLeaks Cable on Media Coverage of Mapuche Indigenous Group
Luis Ramirez [es] blogs about a US Embassy cable released by WikiLeaks, where the media coverage of the indigenous Mapuche is criticized as being exaggerated in showing more violence than is really taking place, adding that positive news about the indigenous communities are not usually reported.
Kenya: Ocampo's list of six
The only thing I’ve been waiting for more than the Kenya WikiLeaks is Ocampo’s list of government officials to be indicted with regards to the horrific 2007 Post-Election Violence.
Kenya: Bloggers React To WikiLeaks Cables
Kenyans celebrated their 47th year since becoming a Republic on Sunday December 12, 2010.The speeches by the leadership including the Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka of the coalition Government were marked by terse and scathing statements against the American Ambassador to Kenya Michael E.Ranneberger due to the latest rounds of WikiLeaks cables.
Africa: Photos of Urban Africa
African Digital Art has posted some fascinating photos of urban Africa from Urban Africa, a popular Flickr group that showcases growing urban life in various African cities.
Paraguay: Indigenous Youth Participate in Political and Social Leadership Seminar
The blog despierta…Paraguay!!! [es] reports on a recent seminar where more than 120 indigenous youth (15-30 years old) from 60 communities gathered to debate, learn and share experiences about “their current and historical context, interculturality and participation, human development and the strengthening of political and social leadership.”
Caucasus: Average Internet speeds and prices
The Yerevan-based Civilitas Foundation compares the average speed and cost of Internet connections in the South Caucasus. According to that data, Armenia is well behind its two neighbors in the region with by far the slowest and most expensive connections available. Meanwhile, Georgia has by far the cheapest and fastest.
Haiti: After Elections
“The situation here is like a volcano that has been building pressure for a very long time. The massive earthquake, the million homeless people and 300,000 dead, Hurricane Tomas, the Cholera epidemic…a biased election…all contribute to the people's frustration”: Pwoje Espwa provides updates on Haiti, along with photos, here, here...
Cuba: Human Rights Day Arrests
Iván's File Cabinet says that “more than 50 dissidents and activists were arrested on December 10 in Cuba…for attempting to mark the International Day of Human Rights.”
