Comments on: Letter from Armenia http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/01/05/letter-from-armenia/ Journalism and Photography from Armenia and the Surrounding Region Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:50:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Onnik http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/01/05/letter-from-armenia/#comment-3054 Fri, 05 Jan 2007 16:00:34 +0000 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/01/05/letter-from-armenia/#comment-3054 BTW: I forgot to mention that I met up with Observer over at Blogrel who in real life is quite active in civil society and he suggested an idea. That is, a month before the parliamentary elections we convene a meeting of bloggers who will be covering the elections. We'll also be trying to identify new local bloggers even though the main bodies supposedly interested in monitoring the elections appear to be against us. I've also spoke to another blogger here who is interested in supporting new bloggers, particularly in the regions, and who can assist with facilitating access to computers and the internet. I'd also be interested in finding some new bloggers for the elections on this site with the eventual aim of helping them establish their own as well. Blogs are a real example of citizen empowement and the idea of democracy, blogging and citizen journalism is really important. So, if you're a local Armenian and you're interested in this, please contact me at onewmphoto@yahoo.com. It doesn't matter if you're pro-government, pro-opposition, undecided or even apathetic. What matters is that you have something to say and you can argue your case well and can monitor proceedings well. In fact, a plurality of opinions and initiation discussion and debate is probably the only important thing for true democratization. BTW: I forgot to mention that I met up with Observer over at Blogrel who in real life is quite active in civil society and he suggested an idea. That is, a month before the parliamentary elections we convene a meeting of bloggers who will be covering the elections. We’ll also be trying to identify new local bloggers even though the main bodies supposedly interested in monitoring the elections appear to be against us.

I’ve also spoke to another blogger here who is interested in supporting new bloggers, particularly in the regions, and who can assist with facilitating access to computers and the internet. I’d also be interested in finding some new bloggers for the elections on this site with the eventual aim of helping them establish their own as well. Blogs are a real example of citizen empowement and the idea of democracy, blogging and citizen journalism is really important.

So, if you’re a local Armenian and you’re interested in this, please contact me at onewmphoto@yahoo.com. It doesn’t matter if you’re pro-government, pro-opposition, undecided or even apathetic. What matters is that you have something to say and you can argue your case well and can monitor proceedings well. In fact, a plurality of opinions and initiation discussion and debate is probably the only important thing for true democratization.

]]> by: Myrthe http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/01/05/letter-from-armenia/#comment-3052 Fri, 05 Jan 2007 12:36:07 +0000 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/01/05/letter-from-armenia/#comment-3052 I was surprised to find most foodshops near where I live open on Jan. 1, the ones that weren't, opened on the second, though they all close earlier than usual. As of yesterday only one was still closed. Last year it was a pain in the behind to find an open shop on Jan. 2, so something has changed. As for the grant not granted: What can I say? The president said in his New Year's address that free and fair elections should be a concern for everyone (though I am not so sure he meant that to include NGOs and int'l orgs. ;-) ) Should be, yes, but are they??? I was surprised to find most foodshops near where I live open on Jan. 1, the ones that weren’t, opened on the second, though they all close earlier than usual. As of yesterday only one was still closed. Last year it was a pain in the behind to find an open shop on Jan. 2, so something has changed.

As for the grant not granted: What can I say? The president said in his New Year’s address that free and fair elections should be a concern for everyone (though I am not so sure he meant that to include NGOs and int’l orgs. ;-) ) Should be, yes, but are they???

]]> by: nazarian http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/01/05/letter-from-armenia/#comment-3050 Fri, 05 Jan 2007 07:21:41 +0000 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2007/01/05/letter-from-armenia/#comment-3050 Onnik, there is an easy solution for the carbon monoxide fears. A "CO monitor". I am paranoid about CO as well, so I have two of them in our house. We have a gas fireplace that we use a few times during winters but still, I would rather be safe. I don't know if you can find these in Armenia but I am positive that you can get those in England. They start at $35 in the US. Onnik, there is an easy solution for the carbon monoxide fears. A “CO monitor”. I am paranoid about CO as well, so I have two of them in our house. We have a gas fireplace that we use a few times during winters but still, I would rather be safe.

I don’t know if you can find these in Armenia but I am positive that you can get those in England. They start at $35 in the US.

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