Sunday, September 23rd, 2007
Iraq: Repugnant Black Water
Salam Adil discusses the reactions (including a video of protests) of Iraqi bloggers to Black Water, a private security firm which has recently killed at least eight Iraqi civilians while driving American diplomats through the streets of Baghdad.
Korea: Blood Type and Personality
Beware fellow citizens of the earth with blood type B. New research from Korea reveals we are illogical, unstable, and lack leadership and consideration. Hyejin Kim translated the reactions of Korean bloggers to the controversial study.
Japan: Impatient patients
Now moving to Japan where harsh criticisms against healthcare workers are on the rise after a string of highly publicized cases of malpractice. But then, according to blogging doctors and medical workers, they too are having to endure an increase of abuse and insults by their increasingly demanding patients.
Who Owns the African Blogosphere?
Once again, this year’s Digital Citizen Indaba held at Rhodes University in South Africa provoked much discussion and some debate around issues of African blogging, identity, and development. Among the lessons learned: Western vs. African concepts of ownership and Africa’s historic experience with social media.
Syria: What’s on the Palate?
“Perhaps because it’s Ramadan, or because talking about the news is difficult, this week Syrian bloggers are focused on food,” writes Jillian York. “From the best recipes to those that make no sense at all, here’s a roundup of this week’s posts.”
Uzbekistan: A nation’s great loss
The Uzbek blogosphere has been united in mourning over the last two weeks after Mark Weil, the legendary artistic director of Ilkhom Theatre, was mugged to death. Also: the effects of rising prices in local markets.
Afghanistan: The Not-So-Obvious Problems
Joshua Foust combs the blogosphere in search of the latest developments from Afghanistan. He discovers the myth of peace and the worrying leadership in the northern part of the country, a serious ethnic conflict, and a debate over whether or not Canada’s soldiers should pull out.
Morocco: Morocco Welcomes New Prime Minister
Following the September 7 elections, Moroccan King Mohammed VI appointed a new prime minister, Abbas el-Fassi, to replace Driss Jettou, who had served in that position since 2002. Jillian York’s translations from French of Moroccan bloggers provide more context.
Brazil: Google Bombing the Senate
The president of Brazil’s Senate, Renan Calheiros, was recently absolved of accusations of graft in a 40-to-35 secret ballot vote in the Senate House. Feeling outraged that Calheiros got away, many bloggers around the country started to Google bomb the Senate and in less than 24h they achieved what they wanted. Paula Góes explains.
Roundups
The history of Japan’s anti-nuclear movement, satellite coverage in Africa, more protests in Myanmar … and lots more in today’s Global Roundups.