One thought on “TBLPOD19oct2017”

1. The MEME this week is a poster from a UNM rally depicting Bidzina, Kvirikashvili, Kakhi Kaladze, some other guy, a bunch of brown stink bugs, and the phrase “political stinkbugs.” This comes after UNM’s Zaal Udumashvili called Bidzina “the main Parosana [stink bug], who has invaded Georgia and takes the country’s lands and territories,” so depending on who you ask the stinkbug may have arrived in Tbilisi before this week.
   Link to poster: http://bit.ly/2yQ6QlL, Link to Udumashvili: http://bit.ly/2yu2ZZV

   THINGS TO READ
   Civil.ge talked to 7 Tbilisi mayoral candidates about their plans for environmental protection. Otsneba’s Kakhi Kaladze listed a number of issues that need to be addressed, but did not say what his plans might be to address them. Udumashvili said that environmental issues present “a very complex problem and we will address all areas,” and also didn’t say anything about how he plans to address them. Independent candidate Aleko Elisashvili will to create a 20 year development plan for the city that includes reducing the number of cars in the city, increasing “electrical transit,” turning defunct industrial areas into green spaces, and increasing construction regulation. Democratic Movement – Free Georgia’s Kakha Kukava plans to end residential construction entirely, by halting any plans that have not yet begun construction and revoking permits, and instead build highways, parking lots, and green spaces.
   Link: http://bit.ly/2x00MCm

   Civil.ge also talked to mayoral candidates about their transport policies.
   Link: http://bit.ly/2hPEH3f

   Also related to elections, Transparency International Georgia has made a website to help Georgian citizens determine which mayoral candidate they should side with in the upcoming Tbilisi elections. By answering 20 public policy questions online, website users will be able to find out how their positions match the candidates that responded to TI’s questions. Link: http://www.chemikhma.ge

   TBLPOD’s former writer Joseph Larsen wrote about Georgia-China relations for Civic.ge. Georgian-Chinese economic relations have grown as a result of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, but the benefits could be more than strictly economic. Chinese involvement in Georgia could result in increased stability. If Russia were to act aggressively, China could use Russian economic dependence as a tool to protect Chinese investments in Georgia.
   Link: http://bit.ly/2xIWEpT

   OC Media published a first-hand account of the life of a Georgian economic migrant in Malta. The woman cleans houses for 9 to 11 hours a day, 6 days a week, for 5 or 6 euros an hour. Despite having been in Malta for two years, she has not yet had the time and energy to visit the sea.
   Link: http://bit.ly/2kTOolQ

   OC Media also wrote about the experiences of queer and trans people from Egypt, Azerbaijan, and Nigeria applying for asylum in Georgia. According to the Ministry of Refugees, about 20 people have applied for asylum in Georgia based on sexuality in the last 3 years. This is an interesting contrast to the more common narrative about LGBT people leaving the Caucasus to avoid discrimination and violence.
   Link: http://bit.ly/2giR4o1

   On 1 September, the Georgian government imposed tight restrictions on the use of drones. Before that, photographer Amos Chapple came and took a beautiful series of photographs of Georgia from above, and published them with the Guardian. Link: http://bit.ly/2yo3HsD

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