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With a slight twist today, it’s today’s news instead of tomorrow, because there’s a few things I wanted to make sure to log…

First, in Somalia a suicide bombing killed 19 including three government ministers. The attack came during a graduation celebration for graduating Benadir University students who are hoping to be the next generation of doctors, much needed in the war torn country.

Troubling and confusing news of more unrest from Guinea via BBC News and Al Jazeera. Military leader Capt Moussa Dadis Camara, who’s been in power for a year since a successful coup, is said to be “doing well” and “out of danger” after being fired on and wounded by his own troops. The incident comes amidst calls by Human Rights Watch for Camara to release activist Mouctar Diallo.

Also, social media means connecting to anyone, anywhere – and sometimes, not in the way you expected. The Wall Street Journal describes how Iran is experimenting with new ways of using Facebook in Iranian Crackdown Goes Global. They say you never know who’s reading what you put online…

Finally, this New Zealand Herald article, Vanuatu: Lava’s in the air reminded me of this October post, also featuring Vanuatu. John McCrystal introduces us to Yasur, the volcanic “lighthouse of the Mediterranean,” on a daylong excursion

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the Good: Harbour Bridge goes green for a day

Did you know there’s an official website for going green? I didn’t. It has Al Gore.

Anyway, whether they checked the website or not, Sydney is on the green ball with what may become an annual event – in case bridge climbing isn’t exciting enough already.

(In other news, despite my initial excitement, this Nathan Rees is not the Premier of New South Wales, and this Nathan Reese does not seem to have Twitter…).

the Bad: Karadzic hoping to call the shots as he defends himself

As the BBC explains, war crimes first became an international legal issue after WWII with the Nuremberg trials, so named the city where they were held. Now international trials are held at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Karadzic is actually being tried by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), also in The Hagu. A similar tribunal set up for the 1994 genocide, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). It’s worth noting that all three websites are available in both English and French (the original language of diplomacy), and the ICTR is also available in Kinyarwanda with contact addresses listed in Kigali, Rwanda, and Arusha, Tanzania as well as The Hague.

Both courts are pursuing open investigations as well as trials; the ICTY is still trying to locate Ratko Mladic for trial and Idelphonse Nizeyimana was just apprehended and extradited for trial by the ICTR. Recent reports on the aftermath of war crimes appear from time to time, often on anniversaries of important dates, proving that these events have long lasting effects.

the Ugly: Botched facelift puts pyramid’s world heritage status at risk

World Heritage sites all over the world are monitored by UNESCO, and unfortunately they’re reconsidering how to handle a site in the Bolivian Andes after repairs were attempted on the pyramid there. Only two other sites – Oman’s Arabian Oryx sanctuary & Dresden’s Elbe Valley- have ever been removed from UNESCO’s registry, both because of man made changes. As UNESCO decides, Bolivia Web may be a good forum for seeing what people are saying.

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Thanks to one of these, and because I’ve a longer, better post planned for this evening too but can’t resist a dateline, this is the quick and dirty version of a TNT…

pacific region

Aussie soldier killed in live-fire exercise
Armed robber busted by blood-sucking leech
NZ doctor appeals for return of helicopter
Record September for tourists to NZ

global

Suicide bombers attack Islamic university
Freed Irish aid worker tells of mock assassinations
Genocide of an ancient Amazon tribe
Shoe-thrower helps out
Man wanted by Interpol found at US prison – as guard (Opps…)

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NZ Herald writes up Jessica Watson

NZ Herald writes up Jessica Watson


Teen sailor to leave Sydney next week

These stories come up from time to time, and I know what I used to think – I know, I know – nice, cute feature piece. Dedicated kid, but fluffy coverage. Good for her… but moving on, right?

Three things about this article caught my attention.

First of all, there’s this idea – going around the world. Think about it for a second – going around the world. That’s a huge idea. And it’s a recurring one. From the camp to the romantic, it comes up again and again in the media, and also in the news. Forget the record setting – talk about the ultimate idea of travel!

To go around the world – to see everything?

Well, everything may not be possible – but imagine how much you WOULD see…

Secondly, in good brand creating fashion, Watson has a webpage and a blog which both seem to be well updated. I haven’t had time to read all the way back, but the entries I have read make me want to (and that’s always a good sign, right?).

Another teen going the distance, Jasmine Jordan, also has a website and got her cross-country covered Arizona press earlier this fall.

JasmineJordan

This stands out to a girl going through media bootcamp. This is a great way to combine self expression (especially for Watson) with a little media savy – I can almost hear a certain professor’s critique of their efforts, made in certain sports related terms.

And that brings me to the third point – who’s taking the journey. It’s not “the” experts or leaders or well known public figures, at least not yet. Their journeys might make them into something, but at the very beginning, these are individuals who want to go somewhere. Watson and Jordan travel for different reasons, but they’re both on the move. Jordon could have held a sale or done interviews or protested or written letters to bring attention to her friend. She choose to run. Watson could have stayed on lakes or in harbors. For that matter, Amelia Earhart could have stayed on the ground, or at least in Kansas. I can’t help thinking that each is responding to something inside, as well as all those outside voices of reason and encouragement.

These are not simple journeys, either. Anyone who’s ever run cross country or just done a morning jog knows that Jordon’s run will be intensely physically demanding. Watson’s course takes her through waters that experience everything from tsunamis to pirates (oh, yes, I’ll address pirates here someday, but that’s another story). Earhart did not complete her last flight.

The world is a big place. Don’t let a feature article gloss the complexities too much, even if character is a teenage girl. I think, especially if the character is a teenage girl. Especially if she’s going somewhere.

‘Course, I’m biased. I want to go somewhere someday too.

Still – hopefully I’m not the only one who doesn’t think these are just fluff pieces anymore – I prefer to think of them as first chapters, ones with lots of back story to be included as the story unfolds. I hope that as the months roll on and the miles rack up, there are a few more of these from time to time, so we can all see where Watson and Jordon are going. Hey, maybe if we’re lucky, some of us are will be reading these updates from the road ourselves.

JW 27 Aug 03

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Two die at sweat lodge resort – Arizona in the news
On a strange related side note, Twitter is suddenly in the spotlight: 2 People Died In A Sweat Lodge Last Night. And Deleted Tweets Have Surfaced.
(and in other web security news: Girl, 15, in web scare)

Obama vows support to gays in army – President Obama makes a definitive statement on “don’t ask, don’t tell”

Honduras imposes media restrictions – As a political crises continues, Honduran media faces restrictions

Honduras

Honduras

Brazil police arrest wanted TV host – Maybe there is such a thing as going too far for your job

Deaths as UN plane crashes in Haiti – The UN has been in Haiti since 2004

And ending with a feature:
Ecuador: City in the sky – From the Travel Section, includes a photo gallery

Ecuador

Ecuador

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China

China

China had been the People’s Republic of China for 60 years now since the Communist Party came to power, and they celebrated October 1 with massive parades and displays.

The parades and events are amazing, and this video is stunningly shot, a great example of multimedia event coverage: Timelapse of in Tiananmen Square. This video of a re-enactment is from the same photographer – Re-enacting the making of Mao’s China – and here is background information on the techniques used – Here.

Photo links: Slideshow from Life
Links to coverage at The Gaurdian, ABC News, and Reuters:

The Gaurdian 60th Anniversary parade Reuters Aerial

Coverage from China Post (self-described as Taiwan’s leading English-language newspaper in daily readership and editorial content): China’s 60th anniversary stirs pride, also unease

BBC Coverage:
Communist China marks 60th year
North Korea’s Kim Jong-il and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao watch the parades: Celebrations Mark China Visit
Art & Politics in China: Audio Slideshow
Great facts and statistics on Chinese demography including categories on population, wealth, military, and food: China: 60 years in facts and figures
Looking forward: a great survey page of individual Chinese and their thoughts on the future – Where will China be in 60 years?

For an introduction to the changes going on in China’s economy, I recommend Ted Koppel’s Discovery documentary (behind-the-scenes slideshow here and LA Times coverage of the series here).

Communist China Map Folio (1967)

Communist China Map Folio (1967)


Mongol Dominions, 1300-1405

Mongol Dominions, 1300-1405

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Uganda

Uganda

I realized almost the moment I started this post that I could get in over my head pretty quickly. There is so much going on and so much needing coverage. So I’m going to keep this post pretty narrow, but I can assure you there will be future posts on issues in this region. If I leave stuff out, if you have questions about anything I’m not explaining well or leaving out, please, please talk to me know in the comments section – I’ll look up what I don’t know and go from there. OK. Diving in.

The Lord’s Resistance Army, or LRA, is a rebel movement known for using brutal tactics and child soldiers during a long running conflict in Uganda. – Behind the LRA’s terror tactics

Children in Uganda are especially vulnerable, and often become “night commuters” to seek safety. – & Gulu Walk & Invisible Children

But as the conflict in Uganda ebbs and flows, the LRA often crosses the border into neighboring countries including DR Congo and Central African Republic, and bring their brutality with them. This month, disturbing new reports of LRA violence in CAR. – Rebel terror spreads to CAR

Violence in DR Congo has also been severe, as cited in these BBC reports from last year (which coincided with General Laurent Nkunda’s offensive near Goma, further south).
Congo terror after LRA rebel raids
BBC Slideshow on Congolese refugees

My awareness of the situation really deepened thanks to a classmate whose blog, Jackfruity, I just got added to my blog roll.

Ways to help kids in Uganda: The Invisible Children Campaign

And for kids in the United States: INVISIBLE CHILDREN: Kids at Risk Action (KARA) – Children’s Rights Advocacy Network

Next post: barring breaking news, will be a bit lighter after natural disasters and regional conflicts. But thanks for sticking with me so far. I like to think it’ll be worth it. Below, Uganda is in red, just to the east of DR Congo.

Central African Republic (CAR)

Central African Republic (CAR)

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More action via my correspondent in NZ…:

“Sent at 4:02 PM (GMT-12:00). Current time there: 11:59 AM
Subject: Another big earthquake in South Pacific
near Vanuatu
Waiting to hear about tsunami threat….quoting from news on radio…..stay off beaches in NZ
The quake was 7.9, 3 minutes after 11 NZ time, dept 33 km, all of NZ under tsunami warning. All of South Pacific under tsunami warning.
We of course are not under any threat in the center of the island”

Your news:
Powerful 7.8 quake off Vanuatu, tsunami alert
Tsunami warning after 7.8 quake off Vanuatu
Latest updates: Vanuatu quake, tsunami warning
Pacific quake sparks tsunami alert

Your instructions:
What to do in a Tsunami

Your fast facts:
Vanuatu – CIA World Factbook
Vanuatu – National Geographic

And your map:

Vanuatu

Vanuatu

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An interesting lesson today about finding good English language news sources for Mexico… Anyway, here is what I scrambled…

Mexico

Mexico

Alternatives to drug war championed at conference (Sept 28)
$22 million loan will help with Tijuana water and sewage (Sept 29)
Immigrant deaths near US-Mexico border in 2009 expected to surpass previous year’s total (Oct 2)
Immigrant deaths near the US-Mexico border at a glance (Oct 2)
Mexican Consulate marks Binational Health Week (Oct 2)
City, Baja California officials working on tourist-friendly police force (Oct 6)

This site requires registration for a free 1 day pass, so I’m including a teaser…
History via cell phone (Oct 2) President Felipe Calderon last weekend announced the start of the project “Mexico is my museum,” designed to bring the history of the Revolution and Independence in touching distance of the 76 million Mexicans that own cellphones.

The Disturnell map of 1847

The Disturnell map of 1847

For more background (& more maps):
Perry-Castañeda Library
Map Collection – Atlas of Mexico

Why all the Mexico posts? ‘Cause I’m headed their for my first visit one week from today… Yes, I plan to post pictures…

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This is the first “Tomorrow’s News Today,” which is basically me staying up too late reading the New Zealand Herald (or, if I’m REALLY up too late, the BBC website) and wanting to share…

Background on this one… way back in summer of 2005, I found myself on the doorstep of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) where, among other things, I bought a nifty t-shirt and got caught up on issues of nuclear proliferation. This was kind of early in round one between IAEA and Mr. Ahmadinejad, and there was a lot to figure out, and our truly awesome IAEA hosts gave us continues to serve me well.

Iran sets date for inspection

Also, history class says democracy started here, and what’s not up for argument is beautiful landscapes and my eternal personal gratitude for introducing the world to gyros, so a little recognition never goes astray.

Heads of opposing dynasties trade places

Both potential fodder for future discussion, but for now, I’ve got an alarm set and want to get some sleep beforehand, so I’d better stop before I get started. Staying up too late is a long-term issue for me, so look for much more TNT coming up.

G’night!

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