Nigeria Photo Contest Eighteenth Entry: Culture

Dear Readers,

This entry is from Jeff.

It was taken in Adamawa State in August of 2010. It is titled "Get In The Car!"

Hope you like it! COMMENT if you do!

Best,
Alena

Nigeria Photo Contest Seventeenth Entry: Other

Dear Readers,

This photo was submitted by Luca, and is of Bwari pottery near Abuja. The photo is treated in HDR, High Dynamic Range, a new digital technique.

If you like it, COMMENT! :)

Best,
Alena

Nigeria Photo Contest Sixteenth Entry: Other/People

Dear Readers,

This is the last day of the photo contest.

This submission is by Monica, an Abuja Expats member.

She wrote the following about the picture:

This is a picture of something like a storyteller from Minna. (november 2008). Every child was stunned looking at his old and broken dolls, and listening to his words in Hausa language.

“Go under the table”, someone told me when I was looking. And so I did. Then I discovered that under the table children not only could listen the stories, but also interact with dolls. I loved it, because that man was feeding the fantasy and imagination of many children that may not receive any doll this Christmas.

COMMENT on the photo if you like it!

Best,
Alena

Nigeria Photo Contest Fifteenth Entry: Other/People

Dear Readers,

This photograph was taken by Whitney in Warri, at a primary school. It was taken in July of this year (2010).

It's nice to get some entries from closer to where I am in the South-South!

COMMENT if you like it!

Best,
Alena

Nigeria Photo Contest Fourteenth Entry: Other

Dear all,

This photograph is titled "Pumpkin Pepper" and is by Fiona, a young Abuja Expat. She is now on her...3rd or 4th week here? Perhaps this pepper changed itself for Halloween?

This was taken in Abuja.

COMMENT if you like it!

Best,
Alena

Nigeria Photo Contest Thirteenth Entry: Landscape/Other

Dear Readers,

Hope you're still enjoying the Nigeria photograph competition. I will be a bit busy over the next few days. I hope I won't lag behind on posting, but I hope you'll see something you like and vote for it!


This photograph was taken by Herwig, flying into Abuja, sometime in September 2010.

I really liked the perspective in this picture.

COMMENT if you like it!

Best,

Alena

Nigeria Photo Contest Twelfth Entry: Landscape

Hi all,

I realized that I skipped a landscape, so I am posting that now.

This one is called "Fishermen in Lagos Harbor"

It's by Sam, who entered another photograph earlier in the competition.

Remember to COMMENT if you see a photo that you like!

Best,
Alena

Nigeria Photo Contest Eleventh Entry: People

Hey all,

Another Abuja Expat submission!

This is from Jeff and it is titled "Her Shadow" and was taken in Katsina city, January 2010.

Please COMMENT on the photographs that you like so that they can move closer to winning the prize of best picture in their category!!

Best,
Alena

Nigeria Photo Contest Tenth Entry: People

Dear all,

I'm doing this one a bit out of order (I've been doing 2 people, 2 landscape, 2 other then repeating) but I really like it.

Its called "On The Way!". It was taken by Irene and her 6 year old daughter Amelie, on the way to Gurara Waterfalls.

Remember to COMMENT on the pictures you like!

Best,
Alena

Nigeria Photo Contest Ninth Entry: Landscape

Dear Readers,

This is another entry by Simona, this time in the landscape category.

The photograph is called "Amazing Nature" and was photographed in Bauchi State.

Hope you like it! Remember to COMMENT on your favorite picture!

Best,
Alena

Nigeria Photo Contest Eighth Entry: People

Dear Readers,

This is from Sibo, a French photographer. It was taken in Abuja, and the photograph has no name.

What do you think it should be called?

Best,
Alena

Nigeria Photo Contest Seventh Entry: People

Dear Readers,

This photograph is from Anshul, who is a medical student.

He took it on the Buchi - Jos Road on the 18th October.

It was on a vacation, he came to visit his father in Abuja and decided to take a trip to the North.

Since the man is walking through storm and doesnt stop and continues walking, he wants to call it, "When there is a will,there is way''.

Enjoy!

Best,
Alena

Nigeria Photo Contest Sixth Entry: Other

Dear Readers,

Another photograph from the Abuja Expats Yahoo Group. This one is from Irene and her daughter Amelie who is 6 years old. Quite talented already!

This one is called "Popo" which the Nigerian pidgin word for papaya. I learned this the hard way myself when I asked my driver to find me some papaya and he came back and said no one in the market knew what I was talking about.

At that moment we drove past some papaya...and I pointed at it and said 'papaya'. My driver (Joseph) looked at me like I was a moron and said "POPO".

Now that I've told that story, I'm going to go cut myself one and eat it.

Best
Alena

Nigeria Photo Contest Fifth Entry: Other

Hi all,

This photograph is by Fiona, who is brand new to Nigeria! She's just been here a week or so!

I liked this one because of the brilliant colors.

It is titled 'beads' and came from one of the markets in Abuja.

Best,
Alena

Nigeria Photo Contest Fourth Entry: Landscape

Dear Readers,

This photo is by Katherine. She was born and raised in Lagos, and now resides in Abuja. Her family has been here in Nigeria since 1972. I'm sure she's seen some big chances!

Her photograph was taken sometime last year on the road going to Gwarinpa.

What a beautiful scene! Make sure to COMMENT on the photo if you like it!

Best,
Alena

Nigeria Photo Contest Third Entry: Landscape

Dear Readers,

Make sure to COMMENT on the pictures you like so that I can tally your responses.

This photograph is from Laine Strutton, taken taken on the banks of the Obuasi River
(name of the village unknown) in the Niger Delta.

This could technically also fall under the people category, but I'm putting it in landscape for now.

Hope you like this one!

Best,
Alena

Nigeria Photo Contest Second Entry: People

Dear Readers,

Make sure to COMMENT on the pictures you like so that I can tally your responses.

This next photograph is from Sam Rosemarin, who used to work in Abuja.

"Olive farmer" Taken outside of Jos in July, 2008. Category: People



Hope you like this one!

Best,
Alena

Nigeria Photo Contest First Entry: People

Dear all,

This photograph was submitted by Simona--an Italian who's lived in Nigeria for 15 years!

The Post that gets the MOST COMMENTS for that category will be considered to be the winner! So if you LIKE this photograph, comment a lot!

This photograph was taken in January 2010 on Bauchi Road.

This photograph is titled: "No Standing."

Hope you enjoy this and the many other photographs!
Best,
Alena

What is the future of China-Japan relations?

By Francis Asprec, currently working in Sichuan, China. He holds a MSc from New York University in Global Affairs.

Some Background:

In the past month, tensions between China and Japan have escalated to new heights. The latest incident involves a Chinese fisherman who was detained by Japanese authorities and released after much pressure from the Chinese government.

In early September, Captain Zhan Qixiong, a Chinese fisherman, encountered trouble in the East China Sea when his boat was seized by Japanese patrol vessels. He was detained by Japanese authorities, with the possibility of being prosecuted. His arrest in Japan sparked outrage throughout China. China’s leaders threatened retaliation and economic sanctions if Japan did not release Mr. Zhan.

Eventually, he was released. While China felt victorious in getting Mr. Zhan back home, the relations between these neighboring countries is far from healed. China is still demanding an apology.

The Real Problem: Territory.

Captain Zhan sailed near Diayou, an island that China claims. The Japanese call those islands Senkaku and claim them. This dispute has dragged on for many years and nothing has been resolved.
Eyes On The Ground:

I witnessed a demonstration of more than 200 people in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. This demonstration called for Chinese people to boycott Japanese stores in Chengdu. These people wanted to express their anger and outrage and demanded that Japan apologize to China for this mishap. The demonstrators’ message was loud and clear. Half of Chunxi Lu (Road), a commercial street filled with shops, restaurants, and socializing, was blocked off.

Questions:

How can each country work on improving their relations?

Will there ever be a resolution towards the territorial dispute?

What lessons can be learned so far about China-Japan relations?

How are the world’s second and third largest economies going to resolve their problems?

These questions will continue to be asked. At the moment, there are no clear answers, but I firmly believe that China and Japan will work out their differences.

What do you think?

Best,
Francis

Nigeria Photo Contest!

Dear Readers!

To balance out my usually less than positive comments about the country of Nigeria, I want to have a photo contest of Nigeria pictures. I'll post the pictures up here, and ask you to vote on them and tell me which ones you like.

Categories:

People

Landscape/Nature

Culture (probably similar to people, but this section is dedicated to cultural traditions)

Do you want to submit a photo? Send me a comment with a link to your photos or a message of interest and I'll do my best to post your photo.

You do NOT need to be a professional photographer. Also, there is no prize, other than winning the contest and getting some publicity on my blog. The real prize is reminding the world that Nigeria can also be a beautiful place.

I'll need your name, the place being photographed, date it was taken and any comment you would like on your picture.

Best,
Alena