Blacknell.net

Politics, open government, and safe streets. And the constant incursion of cycling.

Tag: Iran

TehranLive.org

By

On June 13, 2009

In Politics, Society

It’s hard enough getting the straight news in your own language and culture.  So when you spin the globe and move beyond your familiar languages, it can feel nearly impossible.  There are, however, some universals.  Check out TehranLive.org for photos of what’s happening in Iran right now.  It’s not necessarily true that you can believe your own lyin’ eyes, but it’s probably more information than you’re going to get from your usual sources.

Update: As noted below, the photographer responsible for the image below (as well as the TehranLive.org site) has gone missing. Some info (and lots of speculation) in the last comment thread at his site.

image

Adult Talk About Iran and Nuclear Weapons

By

On June 2, 2009

In Policy

The Armchair Generalist and his Very Serious Commenters tell us everything we need to know.

NoRuz Greetings / Happy New Year

By

On March 20, 2009

In Personal, Society

Today is the beginning of NoRuz.  What’s that?  Here’s a short cut and paste:

[NoRuz] is the traditional Iranian new year holiday celebrated by Iranian peoples, having its roots in Ancient Iran. Apart from the Iranian cultural continent (Greater Iran), the celebration has spread in many other parts of the world, including parts of Central Asia, South Asia, Northwestern China, the Crimea, and some ethnic groups in Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo and the Republic of Macedonia.

Nowruz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the Iranian year and is a secular holiday. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, which usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed. As well as being a Zoroastrian holiday and having significance amongst the Zoroastrian ancestors of modern Iranians. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the Jewish festival of Purim, is probably adopted from the Persian New Year.  It is also a holy day for Ismailis, Alawites, Alevis, and adherents of the Bahá’í Faith.

Now, I’m not one for holidays (religious or otherwise), but I can really appreciate a celebration of the Spring Equinox.

(Something tells me that I’ll be getting corrections, shortly . . . )

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén