Month: February 2011

To Live and Die in Cairo

BY DOTUN AKINTOYE With any revolution comes reaction, or to be more precise, the language of reaction. The counterrevolution in Egypt is couched in words like stability. A word which, if there remains any meaning in it, can only mean…

Israel Struggles to Absorb Africa Refugees

BY NICOLE SCHILIT Johannes (name has been changed) is a twenty five year old refugee from Eritrea who came to Israel four months ago through Sudan and then Egypt.  He lives not far from South Tel Aviv Bus Terminal, an…

Foreign Aid Sustains Fragile Afghan Media

BY ANNA KORDUNSKY Bashir Ahmad Gwakh, 28, a journalist from Afghanistan, credits the training he received in 2003 at a US-funded skill-building program with starting his career. Born in the village of Khwaizi in the Goshta district, Gwakh fled Afghanistan…

UAE Pressures War Allies for Economic Favors

BY KARA SUNDBY Canadians travelling to the United Arab Emirates will face substantially higher travel costs in 2011 following the Gulf nation’s decision to impose a costly visa on all Canadian citizens.   The visa requirement is the latest strike…

Tibet Economy Leaves Exiles Behind

BY KARA SUNDBY Sonam Choezom has never set foot in Lhasa’s bustling Barkhor Street market or turned the prayer wheels at its Jokhang Temple. She has never made the pilgrimage to Mount Kailash to join Hindus, Jains and other Buddhists…