Stories from 18 January 2011
Education Policy For A Secular Bangladesh
J Rahman at Mukti opines that the new education policy of Bangladesh, which seeks to modernize the country’s madrassahs, can one day create a secular state in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh: Crisis In The Share Market
An Ordinary Citizen comments on the volatile share market of Bangladesh from an investor's perspective: “the market follows no logic. The matter seems to become a gamble and some powerful are stage-managing the whole show.”
Iran: 14 Lions Killed in Tehran Zoo
Environmental bloggers are angry and concerned about the killing of 14 lions in Tehran Zoo. Iranian media reported that the lions were put down because they were diagnosed with an infectious bacterial disease, glanders, which is more commonly found in horses, donkeys, and mules. Two weeks earlier, a Siberian tiger...
St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Haiti: On the Return of “Baby Doc”
Empath has a question about the return of Jean-Claude Duvalier to Haiti: “How is he able to do return and not Aristide?”
Ecuador: Photos of the Rainforest
Carla Badillo shares photos of her trip to the Ecuadorian rainforest.
Chile: Not Alone in Protesting Gas Price Hikes
Bloggings by Boz writes that the protests in southern Chile over gas prices are not unique to Chile.
China: Presidents Hu and Obama set to talk
Chinese President Hu Jintao arrives in Washington, DC today for face time with President Obama. How would you start off a dinner like that? And currency revaluation? One Chinese blogger suggests the renminbi is already worth more than you might think.
Argentina's Agricultural Sector on Strike: Economic or Political Impact?
In its ninth strike since 2008, the agricultural sector in Argentina is trying to generate a “political impact” rather than an “economic impact.” But Eliot Brockner from Latin American Thought argues that “The “political impact” is nothing compared to the billion-dollar economic impact the strikes have had over the past...
Guatemala: President Colom calls Rigoberta Menchu a “Fabrication” in Latest Wikileaks Cable
Mike reports that a new Wikileaks cable on Guatemala reveals that “[President] Colom called [Nobel Peace Laureate Rigoberta] Menchu a “fabrication” of Elizabeth Burgos, the French anthropologist and author of “I, Rigoberta Menchu.” (Colom has already responded that he respects Menchu even though he often disagrees with her and that...
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Political Women
And Still I Rise blogs about women and politics.
Russia: Bloggers on Lessons of Tunisian Revolution
The outcome of the Tunisian protests has provoked people worldwide to think about political change. One of the major questions discussed by Russian bloggers is whether the possibility of similar scenario in Russia exists.
Nigeria: Is this the death of Nigeria's monolithic north?
Is the elections in Nigeria this year the beginning of the end of Nigeria's monolithic north?: “Since 1960 when Nigeria gained independence, the North have dominated the political landscape, thus, the zone formed the first government at independence.”
Jamaica: So Long, Calabash
“Well, the news of the moment is that Jamaica’s beloved Calabash International Literary Festival is no more”: Active Voice and The Caribbean Review of Books bid a fond farewell.
D.R. of Congo: Are we prepared for elections?
Is the Democratic Republic of Congo prepared for elections this year?: “We have yet to see the new electoral commission (CENI) inaugurated, as legislators are still bickering about its composition. The revision of the electoral roll is ongoing in the provinces, but there have been many complaints about the lack...
Kenya: New constitution sets new standards for privacy and data protection
Michael Murungi says that Kenya's new constitution has set new standards for privacy and data protection: “Kenyan law on the subject remains sketchy and even with the improved level of the enjoyment of civil liberties and democratic governance that the country has experienced in the last three decades…”
Haiti: Duvalier Arrest Imminent?
From just before eleven o'clock this morning, Twitter has been rife with speculation that Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier, the banished former dictator who has been living in exile in France and who made a surprise return to his homeland on Sunday evening, may be in the process of being placed under arrest.
Kenya: I support the ICC process
Wambui has just signed The Kenyans In Support of the ICC Process petition: “I believe we as Kenyans need to start somewhere to stop this insanity that is our Government dragging our name across the realm of madness in their attempt to rule this our country.”
Sudan: Chronicles of Darfur
Lidwien reviews a new book by Jerome Tubiana, Chroniques du Darfour (Chronicles of Darfur): “This is a unique contribution to the growing field of Dar Fur studies, which brings to bear on the war in Dar Fur the unique strengths and achievements of its author.”
Ecuador: Crime as the Government's Main Challenge for 2011
One of the outstanding social responsibilities of the government of Rafael Correa is public safety. Ecuadorian bloggers share their experiences, analysis and opinions about the growing problem of crime.
Zambia: Barotseland becomes hotbed of contention
Long considered a non-issue because of backdoor political posturing that occurred through decades of one party rule in Zambia, the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 appears to finally have become a hotbed of contention.
Uganda: Does size matter?
Does size matter when talking about population?: “As a reference point for how big Uganda is, one frequent comparison is that it is about the same size as the State of Oregon in the U.S. The current population of Uganda is just over 33 million… It turns out that there...