Blog14_Earthquake in South Pacific triggers deadly Tsunami

A powerful 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck in the South Pacific between Samoa and American Samoa and triggered a tsunami that destroyed villages and killed and injured almost 100 people.

The earthquake took place on Tuesday (17:48 GMT) between the two island groups, generating waves of up to 15ft (4.5m).The exact number of casualty is still unknown but the Samoan authority believes that casualty will rise as more injured people arrive from coastal areas.

The Samoa islands consist of two separate entities – the nation of Samoa and American Samoa, a US territory, with a total population of about 250 000 people.

Eni Faleomavaega, who represents American Samoa in the US told BBC that the disaster had caused severe damage to property.

“Some of the areas here are only a few feet above sea level, so you can imagine the devastation.” he said. “The waves had literally wiped out all the low-lying areas in the Samoan islands.”

Similar to the disaster in 2004 that happened in Asia, this tsunami had hit the islands within a few minutes of the earthquake, leaving no time for effective warnings or escapes.

“It was very quick. The whole village has been wiped out,” New Zealander Graeme Ansell told the New Zealand National Radio from a hill near Samoa’s capital, Apia. “There’s not a building standing.” He said.

Among the dead, several of them are believed to be foreign tourists.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued an alert from American Samoa to numerous islands in the Pacific, including the Samoas, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, French Polynesia and Palmyra Island.

To watch an i-Reporter's video clip of the aftermath, click on the snapshot or here. For more pictures, click here

Blog 13: Germany after the Elections

The Spiegel published a story analyzing what they call the new Germany. Angela Merkel was able to get re-elected but her party, the Christian Democrats, has been weakened. In the European-style elections, parties can form coalitions to be able to pass legislation, since there are more than two parties.

Additionally, her position within her own party has also worsened and there is the possibility of the party looking for a new leader. Int eh words of the Spiegel:

"Angela Merkel will be waging a battle on two fronts: in a coalition where she will be fighting for influence with the FDP (Free Democratic Party) as junior coalition partner, and within her own party."

The article analyzes how the rest of the parties scored and what it means for the future of those parties in the battle for power in Germany

Blog 12: The International/Intercultural Family

In every country you'll find intercultural marriages, immigrant families, or a combination of both. Most likely, they try to assimilate and the details about their background are barely known to those that are not close friends. I decided to interview one of those families and, to my surprise, there were lots of details I didn't know about them either, even though I've known them for a while.

Blog 11: Indian girl refuses to get married

The decision of a 12 year old Indian girl to defy her parents and not get married has changed her life, and also the lives of may other girls in her village, who, empowered by her, made the same decision, as published by ABC News

I like to see how one individual's decision can change many lives. Apparently the Indian government does look the other side regarding child marriages, even though the law does not allow them.



Picture published by ABC news

I wish Rekha Kalindi the best for her future. She prefers going to school than getting married and thanks to UNICEF the chance to go to school instead of to work was possible.

Blog 10_Sydney disappeared in red dust

Sydneysiders woke up today to find their city wrapped around by a thick dust storm.

"I'm 72 years old and I've never seen that in my life before," a Sydney resident said.

Barry Hanstrum, Bureau of Meteorology regional director, also told The Sunday Morning Herald that
it is very usual to see a thick blanket covering such a large area of New South Wales.

"More than half the state at midday today is under this cloud and the dust is starting to spread north and east and is likely to affect parts of Queensland as well in the next 24 hours" Hanstrum said.

The dust blanket has been carried by powerful winds that snatched up tons of topsoil from the drought-ravaged west of the state. On Tuesday morning, Sydney's air pollution levels has been pushed up to 1500 times their normal levels and raised some health concerns. A surge in calls from people suffering from breathing problems was reported. Children and elderly are advised to stay home.

The dust storm has caused inconvenience to both local residents and tourists; traffic has been severely affected and Sydney's landmarks, including the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge have been completely obscured.

The BBC reports that it had been a difficult 24 hours for Australia as the country suffered from earthquakes in Victoria state, hail storms in parts of New South Wales and bushfire in northern Queensland, causing numerous damages.

Fortunately, the dust storm is estimated to disappear by the evening as the low pressure system over Sydney, which brought the dusty wins, moved out to the sea. Check out the video report for more details.

Blog 9: Politics affect Wildlife

Madagascar has a very unique wildlife and apparently, due to the unstable political situation after the coup, poachers are abusing the system and killing animals faster than they can reproduce, making the possibility of extintion a reality. The aye, aye, an animal that occurs only in Madagascar, might be an example, as the BBC reports here "last chance to see the aye-aye"



Image courtesy of BBC

The article has a short video of the aye aye, with some scientists just drooling over the cuteness of the animal. But even if it wasn't this cute, it will still deserve our attention.

Blog 8_Pride Parade cancelled after homophobic threats

A gay parade due to take place today in Belgrade, Serbia, was cancelled due to security concerns. Organisers called off the event after being urged by the police to move venues.

"We were told in the meeting with Prime Minister Cvetkovic that the gathering is impossible for security reasons and that we should choose another location," said Dragana Vuckovic, member of the Pride Parade organizing team.

"Taking the Pride Parade to another location is simply not acceptable," Vuckovic said. "Pride parades are traditionally organised in the main streets of big cities and the message is that groups kept on the fringes of a society need to be integrated".

In the past week, homophobic graffiti has been appearing across the capital city with alogans such as "Gay parade - we're waiting for you" and "Death to homosexuals". Threats from ultra-nationalist groups have vowed to prevent the parade at all cost. This has reminded many of the bloody event eight years ago, when Belgrade's first gay parade ended up with violent attacks of participants.

Majda Puaca, a gay pride organiser, is stil traumatised by the memory.

"2001 was really scary," Puaca told BBC in a special report. " A guy came and punched a girl in front of me. The policeman was standing just two metres away eating ice cream and not responding. I screamed at the guy 'why did you hit this girl?' and he replied 'she's not a girl, she's a lesbian'."

Like in many places around the globe, homosexuality in Serbia is far from accepted. One of the most outspoken movements protesting against homosexuality is Obraz, an Orthodox Christian Organisation.

"All those trying to promote homosexuality as normal or acceptable are the enemies of the Serbian nation." said Mladen Obradovic, Secretary General of Obraz. He added that supporters of homosexuality are the enemies of the country and its traditional values.

Serbia's national church also called the event a "shame parade, not a pride parade".

Serbian President, Boris Tadic, finally broke the silence. Without deliberately supporting the rally, Tadic issued a statement saying that the state would offer protection for all its citizens, regardless of their religious, sexual or political affiliation. Some criticise that politicians are too afraid to say anything that would cost them votes. Observers believe that as Serbia desires to join the EU, changes must happen.

Serbia is not the only place where homosexuals supporters are threatened. In some Islamic countries, being homosexual can be fatal. A special report by Der Spiegel reveals how homosexuals are being targeted in the Muslim World.

Blog 7_Danish tourism ad removed from YouTube for promiscuity

A tourism promotion video from Denmark was removed from YouTube after complaints of promiscuous elements.

The three-minute long video shows a blond, blue-eyed Danish woman, Karen, looking for her baby's father, a tourist to Denmark whom she had a one-night stand with 18 months ago.

"I am doing this video because I want to find August's father...I don't remember where you are from or even your name...we went back to my place and ended up having sex." the single mother told the story of their encounter in the video.

When the video was initially uploaded, many viewers thought it was authentic and described Karen as a young and responsible mother. The number of viewer increased to a million in four days.

However, it was later revealed that the video was, in fact, a product of the official tourism Web site of Denmark, VisitDenmark.com. After the video was showered with complaints, YouTube decided to to remove the clip.

The ad has created huge reactions in this small, liberal Scandinavian country. One reader commented on The Copenhagen Post and angrily suggested a slogan for the ad: "Visit Denmark, land of sluts".

Maja Christensen, a Danish exchange student at Washington State University, also talked about this incident on her radio show, Europe On Vocation, today.

"It was terrible." Christensen said, "And the government is paying."

VisitDenmark's manager, Dorte Kiilerich told TV2 News in Denmark that the video was the "most effective thing we have ever done to market Denmark". She argues that it is just a good, sweet and really harmless story about a grown-up woman who lives in a free society and accepts the consequences of her action.

Blog 6: Legends Come True in New Zealand

Image published by The Independent

The Independent published a story about how scientists have proven that a Maori legend about a man-eating bird is actually true.

"Scientists now think the stories handed down by word of mouth and depicted in rock drawings refer to Haast's eagle, a raptor that became extinct just 500 years ago, shows their study in The Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology."

The extinct bird was known to scientists, but they thought it was a scavenger. New studies show that it could attack people and big animals.

New Zealand is the place to go if you are interested in nature. The island was so isolated thousand of years ago, that birds that arrived there evolved in very different ways, because they did not have mammals predators. Just think kiwis, for example. (I watched a video with Sir Attenborough the other day, so I think I know what I am talking about). Unfortunately for the birds, mammals eventually arrived to the island, including us humans.

Blog 5_ Matchmaking for a 107-year-old, anyone?

To all the single ladies out there, it is never too late to wait for "the question" to pop up, or, in some cases, pop the question yourself.

Wook Kundor, a 107-year-old woman from Malaysia told reporters that she wants to get married again, for the 23rd time, because she is afraid that her current husband may leave her for a younger woman.

Mrs Wook, who lives in northern Kuala Terengganu, has been separated from her husband, Mohammad Noor Che Musa, after he has decided to check into a rehab centre in Kuala Lumpur in July.

The couple married four years ago and made it to the headlines due to the 70 years of age difference.

Mrs Wook's husband said that it was "God's will" that they fell in love. But now, love may not be in the air for the couple anymore.

"Lately there is a kind of insecurity in me," Mrs Wook told the Star newspaper. "My intention to remarry is to fill my forlornness and nothing more than that."

But it may not be an easy task to find Mrs Wook a suitor.

"I realise that I am an aged woman," she said. "I don't have the body, nor am I a young woman who can attract anyone."

However, there is still hope between the couple. Mrs Wook said she would consider staying together with her husband if the 37-year-old still has feelings for her.

Blog 4_Hitler: a new spokesman for AIDS-awareness campaign?

A controversial AIDS-awareness advertisement was released last Wednesday on German TV, featuring the face of the notorious German dictator, Adolf Hitler.

The 40-second long advertisement is a part of the AIDS-awareness campaign from a German AIDS lobby group, Rainbow. The provocative video features a couple having passionate sex in a room. Lastly the identity of the man was revealed and it was Adolf Hitler. The slogan of the campaign, "AIDS is a mass murderer", then emerges. The campaign also includes posters with images of Hitler, Stalin and Saddam Hussein. (See below)

The message of the ad is strong, but maybe too strong. The ad has sparked world-wide discussions, especially among AIDS organisations. YouTube has also removed the clip “due to terms of use violation”, without giving any more specific details.

In an interview with CNN, Jörg Litwinschuh, spokesman of Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe, calls the ad "sensationalist" and "counter-productive". Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe is one of the biggest AIDS organisations in Germany and an umbrella group for HIV counselling centres.

Many other AIDS organisations have also demanded the campaign to be pulled off because the ad suggests that victims of HIV/AIDS are perpetrators and are comparable to villains such as Hitler, Stalin or Saddam Hussein.

Mark Cloutier, CEO of the AIDS foundation in San Francisco, also believes that the ad is destructive and sends out the wrong message.

"We don't want to say that people who have HIV are mass murderers." Cloutier said in an CNN interview.

He also criticises the lack of preventive information in the ad. He suggests that positive messages, such as encouraging the use of condoms, should be applied instead.

CEO of Das Comitee, the agency responsible for the aired ad, Dirk Silz, confesses that the responses have been more overwhelming than the agency expected, with more than 40 000 messages received a day.

However, despite all the disapprovals, both Rainbow and Das Comitee insist that the message has to be put across.

"We want to give the virus a face, and it cannot be a beautiful face." Silz said.

Jan Schwertner, spokesman for Rainbow, tells TIME, that the ad deliberately wants to provoke people, especially young Germans, to remind them of the usage of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV.

But does the frenzy of "Hitler has sex" catch the attention of young Germans, as both Schwertner and Silz intended?

"I think the campaign is lovely, though rather childish." said Salomon Theinert, a 20-year-old international politics and history student from Constance, Germany. "If someone needs a face for AIDS, they should put the face of an AIDS-infected person breathing in his/her last minutes, that would be more effective."

Jakob Uecker, a 21-year-old German from Bremen, is also sceptical about the effectiveness of the ad. " I think people are generally aware that AIDS is dangerous and you should protect yourself [...] so I'm not sure what good that [the ad] will do."

The full and uncensored version of the ad can be found on the campaign's official Web site at www.aids-is-a-mass-murderer.com.

Blog 3: Norwegian Elections

The New York Times has a story about the Norwegian elections. I thought it was interesting to see how a country with "one of the world’s most advanced social welfare models, which has weathered the global financial crisis with nary a wobble" even has its own issues when going to the polls.

From the story:
"Many voters had already told pollsters that they were weary of the high taxes and open-door asylum policies they have associated with Mr. Stoltenberg’s so-called red-green government of laborites, socialists and agrarians."


"A right-leaning majority in Parliament, however, would not necessarily end the reign of Mr. Stoltenberg, whose Labor Party has set the agenda for Norwegian politics over the past six decades and whose current government has been in power since 2005. That is because the political right, with four main parties, is in chaos."

"Analysts said they had trouble pinpointing why Mr. Stoltenberg was struggling despite the relative buoyancy of Norway’s economy, with its stock market rising and its unemployment rate hovering at 3 percent, among the lowest in Europe. But in recent decades, voters here have consistently turned out sitting governments, whatever the state of the economy."

The pools close tonight, so we'll see the results soon, although I am not sure the US media will really follow up this particular election.

Blog 2_Hong Kong journalists arrested by police in Urumqi

Seven Hong Kong journalists have reported to be attacked and arrested by police in Urumqi while covering protests in the capital of Xinjiang last week.

On 4th September, Lam Tze-Ho, a senior reporter of the Hong Kong TVB Channel, two cameramen, Lau Wing-Chuen and Lam Chun-Wai, were tired up, handcuffed and beaten by police while filming the ongoing protests in Urumqi. They were released after three hours of detainment. One of the clips with the recording of the beating was confiscated.

“I believe they[the police officers] were not targeting anyone in particular,” Lam Tze-Ho said.

"But after they fired tear gas, they arrested people close by -- such as reporters. They used batons to beat us. My shoulder was struck and they also kicked my knee and leg," Lam told local media.

A video featuring the arrest was broadcasted on TV.


Hou Hanmin, director of the Xinjing Information Office, defended the police action by accusing the three journalists of inciting protesters and not having valid credentials. However, the Xinjing authority later corrected that it was just a misunderstanding; the police officers arrested the journalists because the authenticity of the press identifications was questionable.

Two days later, a similar incident took place -- five Hong Kong reporters were briefly detained as they tried to interview people who had been tear-gassed during the riot.

"We were detained on the ground that our presence would further provoke the restive crowd," Yeung, one of the detained reporter, said after his release. "They [police] pushed us around when they took us away."

This is not the first time that such attacks have been reported in recent years and many Chinese journalists fear for their safety while reporting in mainland China. Some Hong Kong journalists admit that they tend to avoid filming areas guarded by riot police.

The events provoked a lot of discussions in Hong Kong.

Donald Tsang Yam-Kuen, Chief Executive of the Special Administrative Region, told the local newspaper SCMP that he had "reflected the strong concerns" expressed by the Hong Kong media over the incident to the State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office and to the Xinjiang authorities.

But, many are not satisfied with Tsang's rather diplomatic speech. Lawmakers and politicians decided to take actions and express their concerns directly to the country's Vice President Xi Jinping and Premier Wen Jiabao. They demanded the central government to investigate on the incidents and to issue an official apology. The Hong Kong Journalists Association supported the action and may organise a demonstration to channel their concerns.

On the other hand, there are also pro-central government voices.

Former local delegate to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Tsang Hin-Chi said that the media in Hong Kong should not over dramatise the incident.

"I hope that the media in Hong Kong can be more understanding and act for the benefits of both Hong Kong and her motherland. China has achieved so much in sixty years. I think the media should tone down their coverage of it - no matter who is right or wrong." Tsang said.

Blog 1: Dancing around the world

I always find this video amusing, not only because Matt travels all around the world while having fun, but because, to me, it shows how universal some things are, like dancing and having a good time.

Here is the 2008 video in YouTube (he has more in his Web site):


Those who have traveled know that one of the main things you learn while traveling is that, despite our differences, we are all humans beings with the same needs, hopes and fears. Enjoy.

Here is the link to his homepage: http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/