The annual report of Amnesty was released today, giving a grim picture of the state of human rights.
Some media coverage here: Swedish radio, Al-Jazeera
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Recent Middle East books
To my great joy and surprise, I have in the last week found two different recently published books on the Middle East in bookstores here in Abu Dhabi.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Attempting to flee...
In one of the cisterns, signs (see the pile of gravel?) can be seen of a group trying to dig their way out of the inevitability of Paneriai. If I remember correctly, it was only partially successful, with maybe individual survivors.
The mechanisms of performing the massacres, techniques are only too familiar from other similar places around Europe.
The mechanisms of performing the massacres, techniques are only too familiar from other similar places around Europe.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Woods of Paneriai
The blurry dusky pictures of the woods in Paneriai can perhaps help you understand the ambience of the site.
Weekly reading suggestions
As usual, there is a lot of Middle East but also quite a lot of culture-oriented tips this week. And, as usual, I am deeply in debt to sharing links with friends - so thank you all who have contributed to my own reading.
The global situation of women and mothers is still dire - here the whistle-blowers are Sida's director-general and Saudi UN under-secretery general Thoraya Obaid in Aftonbladet.
Al Jazeera here has run a series of programmes on women's veiling.
Gordon Robison writes in Gulf News on the timing of American Middle East politics.
Time magazine has run a special on the Middle East looking at the divide between conflicts and future-oriented developments. Dagens Nyheter looks here at private individuals opportunities (in Sweden) to put their money into oil economies. Swedish court advisor Tarras-Wahlberg leaves Sweden for Qatar, as reported today (here in Dagens Nyheter).
Bitte Hammargren writes in Svenska Dagbladet on Lebanese reactions to this weeks deal brokered in Doha (a sign of the intertwinement of the 2 Middle Easts?). The National writes here on the same theme. BBC reports here of the other side of the entwinement?
Thomas Gür writes on Israel's unique democratic status for Svenska Dagbladets editorial page.
Fred Halliday writes here for Open democracy on Islamic finance mechanisms.
Gulf News writes on a new UAE anti-human trafficking report. The National writes here on the same report, including a link to the report itself.
Svenska Dagbladet interviews Kurdish-Syrian author Salim Barakat in his Swedish (Skogås) exile. His new novel is reviewed here.
Previous ambassador to Iraq Henrik Amneus writes in Svenska Dagbladet about welcoming next week's Iraq-conference in Stockholm. The National writes on rival claims to Kirkuk.
BBC has pictures from the West Saharan anniversary.
Human Rights Watch reports on Saudi-Arabia in 2 reports, one on violence against doemstic workers. Here the same organization requests a stop for trials for insulting Islam in the kingdom.
BBC writes here on what can be understood about Al-Qaeda's geographic agenda.
The row over the name of the Gulf took these effects the other day, reports Gulf News.
Swedish radio interviews a woman working against increasing sex-trade in impoverished Afghanistan.
Expressens new political editor Anna Dahlberg writes on the new intensity in Swedish Middle East relations.
Aftonbladet has a series of articles on honour violence, starting here with an interview with a young man who previously controlled his sisters behaviour closely.
Human Rights Watch reports here on homophobic violence in Turkey. BBC reports on the same topic here. The National sees EU demands on Turkey's handling of illegal migration.
Swedish radio reports on the evolving plans for a government-run imam-training.
Svenska Dagbladet writes on Serbia in the shadow of Eurovision Song Contest.
Svenska Dagbladet reviews a new book on erotic (pornographic?) art in ancient Rome.
Another Svenska Dagbladet book review this week is on a new book on previous Swedish prime minister Olof Palme.
The results of this study, presented in Dagens Nyheter by a large Swedish union, representing the academic middle class, touches me deeply. The labour market effects of family formation and the differences between men and women is about my life and the lives of most of my friends.
The global situation of women and mothers is still dire - here the whistle-blowers are Sida's director-general and Saudi UN under-secretery general Thoraya Obaid in Aftonbladet.
Al Jazeera here has run a series of programmes on women's veiling.
Gordon Robison writes in Gulf News on the timing of American Middle East politics.
Time magazine has run a special on the Middle East looking at the divide between conflicts and future-oriented developments. Dagens Nyheter looks here at private individuals opportunities (in Sweden) to put their money into oil economies. Swedish court advisor Tarras-Wahlberg leaves Sweden for Qatar, as reported today (here in Dagens Nyheter).
Bitte Hammargren writes in Svenska Dagbladet on Lebanese reactions to this weeks deal brokered in Doha (a sign of the intertwinement of the 2 Middle Easts?). The National writes here on the same theme. BBC reports here of the other side of the entwinement?
Thomas Gür writes on Israel's unique democratic status for Svenska Dagbladets editorial page.
Fred Halliday writes here for Open democracy on Islamic finance mechanisms.
Gulf News writes on a new UAE anti-human trafficking report. The National writes here on the same report, including a link to the report itself.
Svenska Dagbladet interviews Kurdish-Syrian author Salim Barakat in his Swedish (Skogås) exile. His new novel is reviewed here.
Previous ambassador to Iraq Henrik Amneus writes in Svenska Dagbladet about welcoming next week's Iraq-conference in Stockholm. The National writes on rival claims to Kirkuk.
BBC has pictures from the West Saharan anniversary.
Human Rights Watch reports on Saudi-Arabia in 2 reports, one on violence against doemstic workers. Here the same organization requests a stop for trials for insulting Islam in the kingdom.
BBC writes here on what can be understood about Al-Qaeda's geographic agenda.
The row over the name of the Gulf took these effects the other day, reports Gulf News.
Swedish radio interviews a woman working against increasing sex-trade in impoverished Afghanistan.
Expressens new political editor Anna Dahlberg writes on the new intensity in Swedish Middle East relations.
Aftonbladet has a series of articles on honour violence, starting here with an interview with a young man who previously controlled his sisters behaviour closely.
Human Rights Watch reports here on homophobic violence in Turkey. BBC reports on the same topic here. The National sees EU demands on Turkey's handling of illegal migration.
Swedish radio reports on the evolving plans for a government-run imam-training.
Svenska Dagbladet writes on Serbia in the shadow of Eurovision Song Contest.
Svenska Dagbladet reviews a new book on erotic (pornographic?) art in ancient Rome.
Another Svenska Dagbladet book review this week is on a new book on previous Swedish prime minister Olof Palme.
The results of this study, presented in Dagens Nyheter by a large Swedish union, representing the academic middle class, touches me deeply. The labour market effects of family formation and the differences between men and women is about my life and the lives of most of my friends.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Mother's day campaign
The Swedish Red Cross has a "Save the Mothers-campaign" uniquely fitted as a Mother's Day gift. Donations are received on the web or by sms or ordinary payments and will go to giving a refugee mother a chance to a new start for her family.
Sunday update: Aftonbladet features the campaign here.
Sunday update: Aftonbladet features the campaign here.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Paneriai
The evening dusk in Paneriai reflects the spooky sense of this haunted site. Here, the Jews of Vilnius were brought out and shot, mainly in 1941-42. The site is eerily rationally fitted for the gruesome task, with large cisterns and a nearby railway. Upwards 100 000 people lost their lives here, in the woods outside Vilnius.
"Utrikesdagen"
Meet Dagens Nyheter's foreign correspondents and other invited speakers in a specially organized programme on June 11th, "Utrikesdagen". I will unfortunately not be in Stockholm to attend (more about my plans later), but it is usually popular and well organized.
You can read the correspondents blogging too.
You can read the correspondents blogging too.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Congratulations, Bitte Hammargren!!!!
... who today receives a prestigious publicist's prize for her Middle East reporting!
Here is a webb-broadcast from tonight's award-ceremony.
Thanks to Pop the Casbah for the tip!.
Here is a webb-broadcast from tonight's award-ceremony.
Thanks to Pop the Casbah for the tip!.
Inside Trakai castle
Inside the castle, exhibitions of Lithuanian history were shown under magnificent vaults. The tapestry contains traces also of Swedish history, by the way... ;-) Sigismund was a Vasa king with a Polish-Lithuanian mother and for a time led a union of Poland/Lithuania and Sweden.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Lake views in Trakai
The sunlight over the early budding trees and the lake gave an ethereal quality.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Reading in May
Also this week, the 60 years of Arab-Israeli conflict dominates media and my selection (last week it even got a posting of it's own). Civilians are still being killed (article by Bitte Hammargren in Svenska Dagbladet).
But I'll start elsewhere in the region and with a review from last year of a Swedish book on Yemen. Gunnar Wetterberg wrote in Sydsvenska Dagbladet on Eva Sohlmans book on Arabia Felix.
This week, violence in Lebanon is in focus again. Dagens Nyheter here on Hizballah in Beirut. BBC shows a set of pictures here. ICG's latest report was published yesterday.
Bitte Hammargren interviewed an old man in Shatila, published here in Svenska Dagbladet. BBC has photos from Shatila here and interviews a family living there here.
LA Times published an op-ed by Benny Morris on Israel's unhappy birthday. BBC interviewed conductor Daniel Barenboim here. (Barenboim's webpage can be found here. His Israeli-Palestinian orchestra will play at the Stockholm Baltic Sea Festival in August.)
Dagens Nyheter published an op-ed by Joschka Fischer on the "new Middle East".
Björrn Kumm writes in Svenska Dagbladet on Swedish actions taken on the murder of Folke Bernadotte.
Dagens Nyheter reports here on plastic surgery as a social trend in Iran.
Svenska Dagbladet featured the Stockholm Jewish film festival which took place this week (festival web site here).
Dagens Nyheter reports on the trend of fair trade products.
In Sweden, defence politics are hotly debated. Svenska Dagbladet shows pictures of the so-called Nordic Battle Group here.
Gulf News highlights the Cityscape Abu Dhabi.
But I'll start elsewhere in the region and with a review from last year of a Swedish book on Yemen. Gunnar Wetterberg wrote in Sydsvenska Dagbladet on Eva Sohlmans book on Arabia Felix.
This week, violence in Lebanon is in focus again. Dagens Nyheter here on Hizballah in Beirut. BBC shows a set of pictures here. ICG's latest report was published yesterday.
Bitte Hammargren interviewed an old man in Shatila, published here in Svenska Dagbladet. BBC has photos from Shatila here and interviews a family living there here.
LA Times published an op-ed by Benny Morris on Israel's unhappy birthday. BBC interviewed conductor Daniel Barenboim here. (Barenboim's webpage can be found here. His Israeli-Palestinian orchestra will play at the Stockholm Baltic Sea Festival in August.)
Dagens Nyheter published an op-ed by Joschka Fischer on the "new Middle East".
Björrn Kumm writes in Svenska Dagbladet on Swedish actions taken on the murder of Folke Bernadotte.
Dagens Nyheter reports here on plastic surgery as a social trend in Iran.
Svenska Dagbladet featured the Stockholm Jewish film festival which took place this week (festival web site here).
Dagens Nyheter reports on the trend of fair trade products.
In Sweden, defence politics are hotly debated. Svenska Dagbladet shows pictures of the so-called Nordic Battle Group here.
Gulf News highlights the Cityscape Abu Dhabi.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Soviet kitsch extravaganza
After a while, even my most dedicated Soviet-kitschophiliac friend got a bit fed up and opted for lunch!
60 years
In the last week, much media attention has been given to the double anniversary of the independence of Israel and the Palestinian "nakba". 60 years is a long time.
Swedish radio and BBC both have theme feature pages. Al Jazeera theme page is to be found here. Several other media are represented below.
Dagens Nyheter also show some photos.
BBC gives a historical overview here, lists key events here and discusses the close proximity between sorrow and celebration here.
Dagens Nyheter writes here on rising public opinion for Hamas among students. Here, focus is on 60 years with Israel. Per Jönssons editorial is on lessons to be learned by the Arabs from Israeli integration of immigrants. Göran Rosenbergs column asks whether both events can be remembered in parallell or are they mutually exclusive?
Expressens Anna Dahlberg writes here from Gaza, on "Hamas-stan".
BBC features Jaffa, supported by Adam LeBor, author of City of Oranges.
Anita Goldman writes here for Aftonbladet reviewing a recent book on the settlements.
Centre for European reform published a report on "The EU, Israel and Hamas".
Swedish radio had several features, here Människor och tro. We also have Konflikt with almost a full hour of thematic discussion, mainly focussed on Arabs/Palestinians in Israel.
New York Times also writes on 1948.
Last but not least, Cordelia Edvardsson tells her own Israeli history, with photos, for Svenska Dagbladet where she was for many years Sweden's most prominent Middle East correspondent.
Swedish radio and BBC both have theme feature pages. Al Jazeera theme page is to be found here. Several other media are represented below.
Dagens Nyheter also show some photos.
BBC gives a historical overview here, lists key events here and discusses the close proximity between sorrow and celebration here.
Dagens Nyheter writes here on rising public opinion for Hamas among students. Here, focus is on 60 years with Israel. Per Jönssons editorial is on lessons to be learned by the Arabs from Israeli integration of immigrants. Göran Rosenbergs column asks whether both events can be remembered in parallell or are they mutually exclusive?
Expressens Anna Dahlberg writes here from Gaza, on "Hamas-stan".
BBC features Jaffa, supported by Adam LeBor, author of City of Oranges.
Anita Goldman writes here for Aftonbladet reviewing a recent book on the settlements.
Centre for European reform published a report on "The EU, Israel and Hamas".
Swedish radio had several features, here Människor och tro. We also have Konflikt with almost a full hour of thematic discussion, mainly focussed on Arabs/Palestinians in Israel.
New York Times also writes on 1948.
Last but not least, Cordelia Edvardsson tells her own Israeli history, with photos, for Svenska Dagbladet where she was for many years Sweden's most prominent Middle East correspondent.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Congratulations!!!!
My husband had a report published today (Tuesday May 6th), congratulations! It's on Russian democracy under Putin, basically. It's in Swedish, but some of you may find it interesting! FOI:s press release is here.
He blogs about it himself in English here.
Svenska Dagbladet also blogs about it.
A friend, Pop the casbah, blogs here about it.
Thursday morning (8 May) update: today Svenska Dagbladet runs a longer editorial piece.
Later Thursday update: Hudiksvall tidningar also commented.
Saturday morning (10 May) update: Blekinge Läns Tidning comments too.
He blogs about it himself in English here.
Svenska Dagbladet also blogs about it.
A friend, Pop the casbah, blogs here about it.
Thursday morning (8 May) update: today Svenska Dagbladet runs a longer editorial piece.
Later Thursday update: Hudiksvall tidningar also commented.
Saturday morning (10 May) update: Blekinge Läns Tidning comments too.
Friday, May 09, 2008
Reading this week
I'll start with a nostalgic look back, to the April tulip explosion in Istanbul, here pictured by Gulf news. A theme this week is art and culture, I guess, even if other more political issues will be shown too.
Svenska Dagbladet has some travel tips on Lithuania. I think you have seen photos here on this blog from several of the places...
The Guardian celebrates film festivals, touching also on Cairo.
LA Times reports on Dubai Creek Art Fair.
BBC also reports on the new Acropolis museum in Greece.
In Sweden the debate on runestone protection is heating up.
Dagens Nyheter reports on crosscultural understanding in retail and grocery shopping.
Arab web awards have been granted, also reported by Gulf news.
Gulf news also writes on political difficulties in Bahrain.
In Iran, women's activist and Palme award winne Parvin Ardalan is still in dire straits.
Dagens Nyheter reports on a large infrastructure project on the arabian peninsula, a bridge from Yemen to Djibouti, financed by the Bin Ladin group?
In Sweden, resending asylum seekers to home countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan is hotly debated. Here Svenska Dagbladet writes on christians from Iraq.
If you subscribe to the Middle East Journal, you can read this article on Iraqi ethno-sectarianism. Third World Quarterly is available the same way (and I recommend these even if I don't fully appreciate sharing links not available to all) and writes on Iraqi nationalism here.
Svenska Dagbladet also lists reasons behind the ongoing global crisis.
Swedish radio reports on the Turkish EU process and the difficulties ahead. Centre for European Reform writes on the constitutional crisis here.
An Expressen columnist writes on Swedish elite soldiers on foreign missions reportedly buy sex, and the political consequences of this.
The crisis in Lebanon unfolds. Dagens Nyheter reports here. BBC explains here.
Emirati National writes on the country's commitment to peacekeeping.
Svenska Dagbladet has some travel tips on Lithuania. I think you have seen photos here on this blog from several of the places...
The Guardian celebrates film festivals, touching also on Cairo.
LA Times reports on Dubai Creek Art Fair.
BBC also reports on the new Acropolis museum in Greece.
In Sweden the debate on runestone protection is heating up.
Dagens Nyheter reports on crosscultural understanding in retail and grocery shopping.
Arab web awards have been granted, also reported by Gulf news.
Gulf news also writes on political difficulties in Bahrain.
In Iran, women's activist and Palme award winne Parvin Ardalan is still in dire straits.
Dagens Nyheter reports on a large infrastructure project on the arabian peninsula, a bridge from Yemen to Djibouti, financed by the Bin Ladin group?
In Sweden, resending asylum seekers to home countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan is hotly debated. Here Svenska Dagbladet writes on christians from Iraq.
If you subscribe to the Middle East Journal, you can read this article on Iraqi ethno-sectarianism. Third World Quarterly is available the same way (and I recommend these even if I don't fully appreciate sharing links not available to all) and writes on Iraqi nationalism here.
Svenska Dagbladet also lists reasons behind the ongoing global crisis.
Swedish radio reports on the Turkish EU process and the difficulties ahead. Centre for European Reform writes on the constitutional crisis here.
An Expressen columnist writes on Swedish elite soldiers on foreign missions reportedly buy sex, and the political consequences of this.
The crisis in Lebanon unfolds. Dagens Nyheter reports here. BBC explains here.
Emirati National writes on the country's commitment to peacekeeping.
Frank Zappa
Vilnius actually features a statue of Frank Zappa. He, like any number of other famous people, are reported to have a Lithuanian grandmother.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Details of the double churches
Back by the churches, looking at the very special character of the two churches.
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