Kosovo: The world’s newest country?

by Aaron Hotfelder on

Those of us who like to show off at parties with our knowledge of world capitals apparently have another city to commit to memory: Pristina, Kosovo.

Today, the speaker of Kosovo’s Parliament declared that “Kosovo is a republic– an independent, democratic, and sovereign state,” in a statement to a Parliament chamber that erupted in applause. According to an AP story, the sovereignty declaration provoked celebration throughout the capital: “[R]evelers danced in the streets, fired guns into the air and waved red and black Albanian flags in jubilation at the birth of the world’s newest country.”

The move is supported by the US and other Western powers, but vehemently opposed by Russia and Serbia, who lost control of Kosovo to the UN in 1999 after a civil war that killed more than 10,000 people.

About 90% of the 2 million people living in Kosovo are ethnic Albanians, and most are secular Muslims who are pro-Western, according to the LA Times. “Pristina has a main boulevard named for former President Clinton, who is revered here because he ordered the NATO airstrikes that drove out Serbian forces,” the story says.

So, congrats to Kosovo on its newly-declared independence. Now what was its capital again?

More here and here.

Donating blood: Your travel history says yes or no

by Jamie Rhein on

When I went to the library yesterday morning I wasn’t planning on donating blood, but there was a sweet older American Red Cross volunteer with lovely white hair that looks like spun sugar. She was so happy thinking that I had come to sign up when I walked towards her. I was actually on my way to meet with my writing group, but I didn’t want to disappoint her and promised I’d donate before I left. “Oh, you came back,” she said after I re-appeared to sign up on her sign-up sheet when my meeting was over.

Call me co-dependent, but there I was in the blood donation room running through the list of questions about my whereabouts to see if I could give blood or not. Sadly, I haven’t donated blood since I was in the Peace Corps. First, I couldn’t. After living in a country with malaria you’re supposed to wait for a few years. Now the wait is three years. Back when I was in the Peace Corps, I think it was longer. I kept trotting back to Africa each time my donation window appeared. With Mali, Senegal and The Gambia in my distant past, those weren’t a concern yesterday. Nigeria was a red flag.

Anyone who has lived in Nigeria since 1977 can’t donate blood. I have traveled there, but since it was only for 6 weeks I was given the all clear. (The other countries that have similar restrictions are: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Niger.) There is a form of HIV called Type O in these countries that blood screening can’t detect, thus the restriction.

Also on the list of concern are European countries. If you’ve been in European countries of a cumulative time of 5 months since January 1, 1980, you also can’t donate blood. There are more restrictions if you’ve lived or traveled in the United Kingdom. The restrictions are due to Mad Cow disease.

Looking at all the restrictions, it doesn’t take much for world travelers to get bumped off acceptable donor status. As more people travel, I wonder how much this will have an impact on blood supply? I’m glad I was able to add my pint since Asia, where I’ve lived and traveled the most, has an all clear. (See eligibility guidelines to see if you can donate.)

Activist polar bears invade Swedish aiport

by Anna Brones on

Waiting for your boarding call is often less than thrilling, which is why I am pretty sure that when about 20 adults dressed up as polar bears walked into Stockholm’s Bromma Airport on Friday afternoon, travelers were at least slightly amused. The polar bear activists were part of a Swedish environmental group Klimax, who also sent some protesting polar bears to the Malmö airport to speak out about climate change on Friday.

Along with handing out brochures that said “Flying leads to climate chaos,” the polar bear activists spread out on the floor while playing dead. “It is unacceptable that tax revenue is used to hold down flight prices when we know that air traffic causes a large part of greenhouse gases,” said Filip Laurits, a Klimax member.

Normally the LFV, Sweden’s airport and air navigation service, doesn’t allow demonstrations in airports, but the polar bears were so friendly that airport personnel gave them ice cream cones. How fitting.

WHS new “Tentative List”: Places to Love–Fatatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary

by Grant Martin on

For the Gadling series “World Heritage Site new “Tentative List”: Places to Love” we are covering the 14 sites that have been submitted for possible inclusion as an official World Heritage Site in the United States. The sites will not be posted in order of importance or in the order they appear on the list.

Number 11

Name of Site: Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Location: American Samoa, deep in the South Pacific, east of Australia

Reason for importance in a nutshell: With the world’s coral reefs shrinking at an astonishing rate, it’s no question that Fagatele Bay Sanctuary needs to be and broadcast and preserved. This small sanctuary is host to a wealth of marine wildlife, from humpback whales to butterfly fish to sea turtles.

Grant’s Take: American Samoa is one of those places that many have heard of a few times but that few have actually been to. It’s probably because the South Pacific is just so darned difficult to get to. It’s not like you can jump in the family station wagon, pack a cooler of sandwiches and root beer and be there by dinnertime — even after flying the many hours to get to into the Pacific you usually have to take some sort of small connecting aircraft to make the multi-hop to your island.

And it’s probably why most people haven’t heard of the Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary. But if you’ve seen any of the specials on the Great Barrier Reef on the Discovery or Travel Channel in the last five years, you know how endangered the world’s coral reefs are. Fagatele is no different. Climate change and over harvesting will affect this tiny preserve as well, and it’s important that we as humans see, learn about and preserve this sort of natural wonder. Add it to your itinerary if you’re ever in the neighborhood.

Spring roll strike in Israel

by Catherine Bodry on

If you were in Jerusalem yesterday and had a hankerin’ for some spring rolls, you may have found yourself searching to no avail. Workers went on a one-day spring roll strike to protest the Israeli government’s plans to purge the Jewish state of foreign chefs at Asian eateries. Although patrons didn’t have to cross a picket line to enjoy some chow mein or pad thai, all of Israel’s 300 Asian restaurants supported a one-day boycott of egg and spring rolls.

Reuters points out that “Israel attracts virtually no immigrants from Asia since anyone seeking citizenship here must prove they have Jewish family or links to the country.” Israeli officials aren’t concerned about the quality of their Asian food after a cleansing of non-Israeli chefs, claiming anyone can be trained: “Everyone can make Chinese food it’s not impossible to learn,” said Shoshana Strauss.

A sushi and noodle strike is planned for two weeks from now.