As a documentary on racial discrimination in Cuba is released, Havana Times.org republishes a mainstream media article on the debate, while Babalu Blog says: “I guess this reporter figured out that the overwhelmingly white leadership and the overwhelmingly black prison population in Cuba was not just a coincidence after all.”
Maikulian posts a picture of “Plain of Jars” taken in Phonsavan, Laos. “Plain of Jars” refers to historic sites in Laos containing thousands of stone jars.
Lao Voices cites various historical, geographical and cultural facts which point out the similarities of Laos and The Netherlands.
Cambodia celebrates the 30th year of the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime. The theme for this year’s anniversary is “Victory over Genocide.” But Modern Progressive Khmer insists Cambodia was not liberated on this day in 1979 since Vietnam occupied the country.
Otto's Random Thoughts publishes a review of a documentary film on the fate of Mennonites in Stalin's Russia.
On the 50th Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, Jorge Ignacio of Segunda Naturaleza [es] reflects on the life of his housekeeper and nanny, Belén, who helped raise him, during the duration of the past half century.
As the first post for 2009, The Eastern Middle offers its opinion on recent moves to normalize relations between Armenia and Turkey. Now studying in the U.S., the blogger says that she did not realize the magnitude of problems between the two estranged neighbors until she left the country of her birth. However, she adds, it is time for the two nations to realize their similarities and to coexist.
January 1st 2009 marked the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. Bloggers from across the region took note of the occasion, with the voices of the Cuban diaspora being some of the most outspoken.
My big, fat, Cuban family remembers the experience of being forced to flee her country:
After the disasters they went through in 2008, Haitian people celebrated the start of 2009 more or less happily - in Haiti, January 1st marks not only New Year, but also the date when in 1804, the island got independence from France, becoming the first black democracy in the world.
Some French-speaking Haitian bloggers pay homage to the anniversary while readying themselves for the difficulties their country will have to face in the future:
The word goes that because of insularity, West Indians are not very much concerned with what is going on abroad and probably even less when it is not about Europe or the USA. However, the recent news coming from Gaza and the Middle East have had an impact on one Guadeloupe-based blogger: D.
In the last post of the year at Koluki blog [pt], we find a description of a national ritual of Swaziland, a country the Angolan blogger considers one of the most beautiful, friendly and warm in southern Africa. “The sacred Ncwala, or “first fruits ceremony” that is now underway in that country, takes place every year in late December/early January and aims to renew the strength for the King and the Swazi Nation for the following year.”
“Why aren’t you as an Arab lady writing about Gaza?”
“Where are your columns about Gaza?”
“Say the Israelis are wrong!”
The messages started to arrive soon after Israel’s bombardment of Gaza killed close to 300 Palestinians. Implicit was the pressure to toe the party line, Hamas is good, Israel is bad. Say it, say it! Or else you’re not Arab enough, you’re not Muslim enough, you’re not enough.
By the above paragraph, Mona El Tahawy, an Egyptian columnist who is based in New York, started her last article “Israel is the Opium of the People and Other Taboos”.
AfriClassical profles José Silvestre White, an Afro-Cuban violinist who became a composer and professor after graduating from the Paris Conservatory.
“It is an interesting note on which to end this year. Going back in order to go forward, knowing what went to know what comes next”: Trinidadian blogger Attillah Springer bids farewell to the Old Year and welcomes the new…
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