World/Open Thread

7 Comments

1. 

   BooMan on July 1, 2006 at 4:30 pm

   New world/open thread.

2. 

   Man Eegee on July 14, 2006 at 1:19 am

   for the BooTrib group project: Ten Underreported Stories.

   The two topics are:  DR of Congo and South Asian Earthquake – details at the linkage above.  The diaries will begin on August 1st with a different issue highlighted each day.  Plenty of time to do research and write up a diary on the topics, even if you know nothing about them right now.  

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     Man Eegee on July 14, 2006 at 1:27 pm

     Thanks to BooTribber Poeschek for taking the South Asian Earthquake article.  There’s one topic left – the DR of Congo – who would like it?  Sign-up at the diary link above.

     This is a year like no other in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. After 45 years of dictatorship and intermittent wars that have claimed roughly 4 million victims in the last five years alone, the DRC is bravely preparing for its first multiparty poll, scheduled for July. Thanks, in part, to the efforts of MONUC, the UN Mission in the country, large swathes of the nation are now at peace, while the registration of 26 million Congolese voters has testified to their commitment to change and the hope they place in the elections.

     But while the country is on the verge of changing the course of its destiny, peace is fragile and the infrastructure is sorely inadequate, with many of the hospitals, schools, factories and railroads in a state of ruin. Today and every day, 1,200 people die from largely preventable causes — the equivalent of a tsunami toll every six months. Yet, the immense human suffering implicit in these numbers all too often remains outside the glare of sustained media attention. Funding for humanitarian aid in the DRC also falls short of the country’s staggering needs. Warning about the risks of neglecting this situation, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs points out recent UN funding appeals for the DRC have received only slightly more than half of the amount necessary to meet the most minimal requirements.

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       Man Eegee on July 14, 2006 at 1:55 pm

       thanks to BooTribber vieravisionary for taking on the DR of Congo diary.  We now have all ten slots full, look for a follow-up diary closer to the 1st of August when the daily topics begin.  Thanks to everyone for their collaboration to get these stories more visibility.

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     Man Eegee on July 27, 2006 at 4:54 pm

     Here’s the link – just a quick check in and update.  The daily diaries will begin on Tuesday and run through the 10th of August.  Paz

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     Man Eegee on August 1, 2006 at 3:22 pm

     for the Nepal’s Hidden Tragedy topic.  It is slated for this Friday, August 4th.  Here’s a snippet of the UN summary:

     With its recent political turmoil, Nepal, a poverty-stricken landlocked country known largely for tourism and mountaineering, has been once again thrust into the media spotlight as banner headlines and television images focus on the dramatic events in the streets of the capital city, Kathmandu. However, as was the case with previous coverage of the struggle between Maoist rebels against government forces, this explosion of interest has shone little light on a lesser-known problem – the plight of the nation’s children.

     Please let know via a comment in the Group Project Check-In Diary if you are willing to highlight this story.  paz

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       Man Eegee on August 3, 2006 at 12:34 pm

       The Nepal diary has been moved to Saturday, August 12th.  That gives more time for preparation if someone would like to volunteer.  Please drop a comment in the Check-In diary.  Thanks!   paz