Latest posts by Jillian C. York from November, 2009
Morocco: Peace Corps Community Honors So Youn Kim
The Peace Corps bloggers are mourning the loss of a fellow volunteer, 23-year-old So Youn Kim, who had worked at a youth center in the southern Moroccan village of Tamegrout. Bloggers who knew her and those who didn't have memorialized Kim in a set of posts describing her ambition, her beauty, her incredible drive, and the important work she was doing in Morocco.
Morocco: Marrakesh Film Festival to Focus on Korea
The View from Fez reports that the Marrakesh Film Festival plans to screen a record 44 films from South Korea this year.
Palestine: Twitter Reports Say Israel Bombing Rafah & Khan Yunis
During Israel's attacks on Gaza in January 2009, bloggers and Twitter users took the place of the media, which had been banned from entering, reporting on each event well before mainstream publications. Today, a user raises the alarm saying Israel has just bombed Rafah and Khan Younis.
Western Sahara: Aminatou Haidar Deported
Aminatou Haidar is a leading activist for independence of the Western Sahara (from Morocco). On Friday, November 13 when, upon returning to Laayoune (a city in the Western Sahara region), she was arrested and subsequently deported. Jillian C. York rounds up the reactions of bloggers.
Egypt vs. Algeria: The Twitter Match
In much of the world, nothing is more unifying - or in some instances, more polarizing - than a football match. Egyptian and Algerian fans battled it off on Twitter as their national teams faced off for a place in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Morocco: Aicha Ech Chenna Wins Opus Prize
In Morocco, women who get pregnant out of wedlock are often shunned from their communities. Activist and social worker Aicha Ech Chenna has been working for almost 25 years to help such mothers and their children. Now, her efforts are being rewarded.
Morocco: Touring the Moroccan Foodscape
Ask anyone who's never been what they know about Morocco, and it's likely that one of the first words out of their mouth will be "couscous." The seminal Moroccan dish is famous the world over, and to many, is synonymous with the country itself. But Moroccan cuisine goes far beyond couscous, offering delectables both sweet and savory, meaty and vegetarian. And this week, bloggers are tempting us with all of it!
USA: Race and Gender Politics of Halloween
Racial stereotypes and oversexed depictions of women were not uncommon for Halloween costumes this season, as many US bloggers noted. One "illegal alien" costume sold in major stores, was even found offensive enough to provoke a campaign against it.
Palestine: A Cartoonist's Visit
American political cartoonist Daryl Cagle shares his recent visit to Palestine on his blog, also sharing the work of Palestinian cartoonists he met there.
Syria: The Best or the Worst Article Ever?
Syrian bloggers frequently decry travel writing about their country - often it's too stereotypical, sometimes downright false. And for a country considered long "isolated" at least from the United States, it can be particularly frustrating to see such writing promoted as accurate. In this post, we will examine reactions to a recent National Geographic article on the country.
