Price hikes leaving people hungry from Jakarta to Memphis

Julien — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:08:00 +0200

The world's worsening food crisis has finally made the headlines and grim forecasts for the endemic problem are causing widespread panic. We asked our Observers in Cameroon, Indonesia, Haiti and the USA to tell us how they're affected by the crunch.

The return of the chastity belt

Julien — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:55:34 +0200

Photo: AFP (we didn't manage to find an amateur image of the trouser padlock)

A belt with lock and key is the newest accessory in some Indonesian massage parlours. But it’s not out of choice that the masseuses don these chastity belts.

Drummed up by the local authorities of Batu, a tourist resort to the east of Java, this stern measure was hoped to prevent prostitution and keep up local appearances. Despite strong criticism from Meutia Fardia Hatta Swasono, minister for women’s rights, the new measure could even be on its way to the capital. Indeed, according to the Jakarta post, the city’s tourism agency is now thinking of following’s in Batu’s footsteps.