Stories from 18 August 2011
Slovenia: Former PM Andrej Bajuk Dies
Sleeping With Pengovsky writes about Andrej Bajuk, Slovenia's former PM, who died at the age of 67 this past Monday.
Hungary: Economic Crisis
Hungarian Spectrum posts an update on the state of the Hungarian economy.
Libya: Anxiety and Hope as Revolutionaries Edge their Way to Tripoli
As Libya's revolutionaries edge their way towards the capital Tripoli, Libyans share their hopes and anxiety on Twitter. Here is part of the conversation being tweeted tonight.
Lebanon: Special Tribunal Unseals Indictment
“The first question that comes to mind is: is this it? After nearly six years of investigation, does the case truly rest solely on telecommunications data? What about witness testimony? Forensics? DNA analysis? Magnifying glasses and trench coats?” asks Qifa Nabki while summarizing the indictment and posting his first reaction...
Egypt: A Cultural Revolution
Ursula Lindsey, from the Arabist, notes the cultural revolution that has taken place in Egypt since Mubarak's ouster.
Algeria: Not Arab Revolutions
Algerian-American Kal, from The Moor Next Door, shares some thoughts on the Arab Spring. “This blog does not write about “Arab revolutions”; no such thing has taken place in the Arab countries from a results-oriented stand point. Important and substantive political change came to a number of Arab countries in...
Kuwait: Fined for Bad Breath
From Kuwait, Mark shares a news item about an Arab motorist who was fined by a policeman for “having bad breath.” “If they’re issuing tickets for bad breath then my previous joke about how sunglasses should be banned might actually happen,” he blogs.
Bahrain: The Plight of Unfairly Dismissed Employees
Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif sheds light on the plight of Bahrainis “unfairly” dismissed from their jobs due to the current unrest in the country.
Egypt: Assad's Massacres Continue in Ramadan
“How many massacres have been committed by El Assad regime so far in Syria since the start of the holy month of Ramadan alone !?” asks Egyptian blogger Zeinobia, in Egyptian Chronicles.
Egypt: Graffiti War Continues
From Egypt, Suzeeinthecity shares with us the story of how major brands have jumped on the graffiti bandwagon, competing with revolution art on Cairo's walls.
Chile: Indigenous People's Education and Chilean Law
Laura Seelau and Ryan Seelau of Indigenous News write about the “Indigenous peoples’ fight for education in Chile” at I Love Chile: “What many do not know […] is that Chilean law actually makes certain guarantees to indigenous peoples that do not exist for other portions of the population. Many...
Uruguay: The State's Role in Financing the National Football Team
Cristian Pérez Muñoz of Razones y personas: repensando Uruguay [es] (Reasons and people: rethinking Uruguay) discusses the role that the Government should play in financing the national football team. He argues that “the Uruguayan State should not use its money to finance the national football team's activities”.
Cuba: The Life of an Exile
Pablo Pacheco Avila blogs about “swim[ming] in the sad and difficult waters of the Cuban exile.”
Bermuda: BAD Call to Boycott
“Bermudians Against the Draft have launched a campaign to persuade young black men not to cast their ballot in the next general election [because] neither political party supports their position”: Respice Finem disagrees, on the grounds “that disengagement keeps the status quo in place and renders you voiceless.”
Cuba: From the Mouths of Las Damas
Pedazos de La Isla has an account of “physical blows, shoving, threats, deportations, and arrests” against members of the Ladies in White.
Belize: Breakfast Fare
Ever wondered what a typical Belizean breakfast is like? Diaspora blogger Rice and Beans shows us, here.
Chile: Live Streaming of August 18 March for Education Reform
You can follow today's march for education reform through live streaming via Ciudadano Inteligente and Sentidos Comunes. On Twitter netizens are using the hashtags #18deagosto, #marchadelosparaguas, #marchaestudiantil, and others, to tweet about today's protest.
Jamaica: Harmony with Nature
Labrish Jamaica refers to the theories of environmentalist Paul Shepard and psychiatrist Carl Jung to support “modern man’s ability to have a right relationship with the earth, even amongst the heaping evidence to the contrary.”
World: Write a blog post and win up to 3,000 Euros
Participate in YoBloCo Awards and win up to 3,000 Euros: “The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA), in collaboration with FARA, Yam-Pukri, CAFAN, AYF, ANAFE, SPC/PAFPNET is organizing the Youth in Agriculture Blog Competition (YoBloCo Awards).”
Russia: Alcohol Consumption Down
Russland in der Krise! notes [ger] that alcohol consumption in Russia has decreased from 18 to 15 litres of alcohol, and attributes the decrease to a change in consumer habits and less availability.
Iran: A blogger was beaten up in jail
Human rights activists say [fa] Hossein Maleki Ronaghi, a jailed blogger, was beaten up in prison, after writing a letter to Iran's judicary authorities, by a guard and sent to a hospital. This blogger has been sentenced to 15 years jail.
