Women Sworn to Virginity, Living as Old Men in Albania


Women in Albania…living as men – Their number is diminishing but a good handful of elderly women several in their late 70s still live on in northern Albania. These ’sworn virgins’ each took a personal vow of celibacy in order to preserve their position as the head of household, maintaining the same level of control and power over their own households and communities as the next man. By taking the oath of virginity these women enjoy rights usually available only to men: the right to own a weapon, move about freely, even pray in the mosque alongside men.

Read this ‘International Herald Tribune’ article for a detailed article on the topic

Pashe Keqi recalls the day nearly sixty years ago when she decided to become a man. She chopped off her long black curls, traded in her dress for her father’s baggy trousers, armed herself with a hunting rifle and vowed to forsake marriage, children and sex.

Had she been born in Albania today, says the 78-year-old sworn virgin, who made an oath of celibacy in return for the right to live and rule her family as a man, she would choose womanhood. [Read More]

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July 10, 2008 | Filed Under Ethnography    739 views

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European Union backs New Sanctions on Iran


European Union (EU) nations decided on Monday to impose new sanctions on Iran for its failure to comply with demands to cease its nuclear program. The new sanctions will prevent people associated with the nuclear program from entering EU nations and will freeze the assets of Bank Melli, Iran’s largest bank.

With these tougher sanctions in place the EU along with the United States hope to force Iran into a situation where they pretty much have to compromise their nuclear program in order to preserve the health of Iran’s economy.

Read this Reuter’s article for more information:

“The economy of Iran will be more dependent on Chinese markets,” he added of a growing shift in Iran’s focus to Asia that has seen Europe’s share of the Islamic Republic’s trade dwindle to 25-30 percent from twice that five years ago. [read more]

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July 10, 2008 | Filed Under Current Events    651 views

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The Failed States Index for 2008 | Pakistan Rejoins the Top 10 & Impoverished African Nations Remain ‘Failed’


An interesting change in the Failed States Index (published by The Fund for Peace) is #9 Pakistan. Pakistan was at #13 in 2007, from a quick analysis of the index it is clear that a huge economic downturn is the main reason for Pakistan’s move to a premier position amongst the Top 10 failed states. There are no surprises in the top 10 for 2008 as they are the usual suspects…as a matter of fact the top 10 have remained pretty much the same since 2006…Haiti left the Top 10 in 2007 and Guinea got pushed out simply because of Pakistan’s horrible year.

Here’s the Top 10 (No surprises here!):

1. Somalia
2. Sudan
3. Zimbabwe
4. Chad
5. Iraq
6. D.R. Congo
7. Afghanistan
8. Cote d’Ivoire
9. Pakistan
10. Central African Republic

By the way…give it up for Scandinavia because Sweden, Finland, and Norway are the bottom three nations on the index, making them the ‘least failing’ nations in the world.

These are the twelve indicators The Fund for Peace uses to rank nations into the Failed States Index:

Check out The Fund for Peace ‘Failed States Index’ at their website here.

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July 10, 2008 | Filed Under Current Events    656 views

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keep looking »