Stories about English from October, 2011
Greece: When the Crisis Hit the Fan
Freelance journalist Kostas Kallergis started a blog in English about the Greek crisis, documenting on a daily basis various “small things that usually go unreported in the international press,” from...
Macedonia: Lead Smelting Factory Problem in Veles
Jovan Petrov provides an overview of the problem with the lead and zync smelting factory in Veles, after the court rejected a suit against the state from the municipality and...
Taiwan: Photos from the LGBT Pride Parade 2011 in Taipei
On October 29, more than 50,000 people joined the annual Taiwan LGBT Pride parade in Taipei, which is the biggest in Asia. This year was the 9th parade since 2003. Here are some great photos from the day.
Pakistan: Say No To Plastic Bags
95% people use plastic bags in Pakistan and only 15% of these bags are properly disposed off, informs Rai Muhammad Azlan Shahid, while advocating for banning them.
China’s Stability Machine and the Detention of Chen Guangcheng
As waves of visits to fight for the release of China's blind activist Chen Guangcheng are turned back by the violence organized by the local government, Chinese bloggers explore the stability machine that is at play behind Chen's detention.
D. R. of Congo: DRC Elections Watch 2011
DRC Elections Watch 2011: “In the afternoon of Sunday, October 30, with his wife Olive Lembe by his side, Joseph Kabila formally launched his electoral campaign in Kindu, in the...
Tunisia: Let's Invade Social Networks!
A crazy wave of posts hit the world of social networks when Tunisian netizens decided to invade Facebook and Twitter with their comments. First came the official Facebook page of US President Barack Obama. Soon other world leaders got a taste of this spam-attack.
Tunisia: Elections Usher in a New Dawn
Tunisians have freely elected representatives who will form a national constituent assembly, which will draft the country's constitution for the first time in their history. While Sidi Bouzid rose in objection to the results in their town, many were happy with the outcome saying it ushered a new dawn for their country.
Mexico: Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt over Anonymous’ #OpCartel
Over recent days many media outlets have widely publicized news about a video by Anonymous Mexico threatening the Zetas cartel as a response to the kidnapping of one of the former's members. Inconsistencies in reports about the operation are however evident.
Cuba: Off-Colour Remark in Red Light District
babalu is appalled by a remark that Mariela Castro (director of Cuba's National Center for Sexual Education) makes in an interview with Radio Netherlands during a visit to the red...
Saudi Arabia: Poverty Video Vloggers Released
Around two weeks ago, Saudi Arabian authorities arrested three young video bloggers Firas Buqna, Hussam Al-Darwish and Khaled Al-Rasheed for producing an episode of their show Malub Alena about poverty in one of Riyadh's areas. They have just been released.
Cuba: Members of “Las Damas” Detained
Uncommon Sense learns that “ten members of the Laura Pollan Damas De Blanco…were among severa dissidents arrested in Santiago de Cuba as they tried to gather for Mass” yesterday morning.
Trinidad & Tobago: Role of the Telecommunications Authority
Plain Talk suggests that the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago is abdicating its responsibility in light of the recent national broadcast of the rape of a child and the...
Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: After Anya
“I was struck by her looks of course and her flagrantly innovative personal style but complementing these was her personality, the warm intelligence of someone totally comfortable in her skin”:...
France: Calls for Official Recognition of 1961 Paris Algerian Massacre
Fifty years after the bloody suppression of a peaceful demonstration by Algerians in Paris, French officials are still struggling to admit their responsibility. Calls for the official recognition of the 1961 massacre have been building in this anniversary year.
Honduran Police Suspected of Killing Two University Students
Two university students were killed on October 22; La Gringa's Blogcito reports that four police suspected of killing the students were taken into custody but later “escaped”. “Even in this...
China: Open letter to Relativity Media
C Custer wrote an open letter to Relativity Media, a Hollywood Film Producer, criticizing its plan to cooperate with the Linyi government to shoot a movie there. Linyi government has...
China: Woman activist beaten by local thugs and police officer
Tom Lasseter interviewed Wang Xuezhen, a woman activist beaten by local thugs when she tried to visit Chen Guangcheng. She was slapped by a police officers when she reported on...
Puerto Rico: Rita Indiana's New Video
The music blog Puerto Rico Indie comments on Dominican singer-songwriter Rita Indiana's most recent video production of her song “Da pa lo do.”
Puerto Rico: “Baleros” by Esoez
Th esoez.com team has posted two episodes of their video series “Baleros.” [es]
Russia: Retired Tennis Star Marat Safin to Run for Parliament

Russian tennis phenomenon, Marat Safin, has announced that he will run for the Russian State Duma in the December 4 elections. However, his public image, as illustrated by citizen media outlets, has until now not been focused on public service. Donna Welles reports.