Stories about English from May, 2011
South Korea: Students Protest Over High University Tuition
Thousands of students took to streets in protest last weekend, demanding the lawmakers and universities to lower high tuition. South Korea's one of the most influential citizen journalists, Media Mongu posted photos. University fees in South Korea have more than doubled over the past ten years, prompting more students to...
Nepal: Constituent Assembly Term Extended For Three Months
Phanindra Dahal at United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal informs about the latest drama at the current Nepali parliament session where the Constituent Assembly was extended for three months.
Philippines: Digital Media Wiki
A wiki page provides a rich source of information on the state of digital media in the Philippines.
Philippines: Novelist Mired in Plagiarism Controversy
Alfred "Krip" Yuson, an award-winning Filipino novelist, achieved notoriety for allegedly plagiarizing an article by his subordinate in a mainstream news agency. Here are some reactions from the Philippine blogosphere
Southeast Asia Funk Music
Mr. Brown shares his collection of 60's and 70's Southeast Asia Funk music from Cambodia, Vietnam, and Singapore.
Philippines: Short films of Kidlat Tahimik
Francis Cruz reviews the notable short films made by Filipino filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik.
Indonesia: Tweeting a trial on religious violence
The twitter account @cikeusiktrial was created to monitor the trial of a mob attack against an Ahmadi congregation in Cikeusik Sub District in Indonesia. The attack was witnessed by 30 police officers who did nothing to prevent the religious violence.
Thailand: American blogger arrested for insulting royals
A Thai-born American citizen was arrested in Thailand for violation of Lese Majeste. How did he insult the King? He linked and translated some parts of a banned book in his blog in 2007.
Honduras: Former President Manuel Zelaya Returns
Ousted president Manuel Zelaya returned to Honduras from exile nearly two years after he was removed from office through a coup. Bloggers report on the atmosphere before and after his arrival, and analyze what his return means for the country.
Russia: Famous Sci-Fi Writer's Blog Removed for ‘Anti-Semitism’
Following President Medvedev's speech on extremism in the Russian Internet, security services began a campaign against online neo-Nazis and vocal nationalists. On May 28, 2011, the campaign against racial and religious extremism found an unusual enemy – Leonid Kaganov, one of Russia's oldest bloggers, a poet, and a science fiction writer.
Azerbaijan: Twitter as a tool for activism
Global Voices co-founder Ethan Zuckerman comments on the use of Twitter in last week's campaign by Amnesty International to call for the release of prisoner of conscience Eynulla Fatullayev. Although the imprisoned journalist was released, argues Zuckerman, several questions have been raised by the online action and not least in...
Japan: Photoreport of volunteering in Ishinomaki
Photographer Irwin Wong spent days in Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture to take part in relief support. Read his photo report: (Part One and Two).
Russia: Moscow Pride 2011
This year's Moscow Gay Pride event ended in clashes almost as soon as it began, at least 18 gay rights activists and 14 of their opponents are reported to have been arrested, and a journalist who had blogged about her reasons for attending the rally ended hospitalized with a concussion.
El Salvador: Problems After Change in Propane Gas Subsidy
El Salvador from the Inside explains the controversy over a change in the propane gas subsidy which was meant to help the poor. The subsidy is now “tied to your electric bill [and] given only to those who use less than a specific number of Kilowatts […] In theory, it...
Egypt: Religious Minorities after the Revolution
On Mideast Youth, Ahmed Zidan shares this podcast on religious minorities in Egypt after the January 25 revolution.
Kuwait: Protest Against the Prime Minister
Kuwaitis protested on Friday calling for Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah to leave the government. Mona Kareem summaries the reactions of Kuwaiti netizens on the continuing Friday of Anger protests in their country.
Uganda: It Began With Words, Songs and Music
The women of Northern Uganda have been banding together in groups to support each other: “The Voice Project is an attempt to support these incredible women and the peace movement in Uganda, and an effort to see how far a voice can carry.”
Uganda: Police Raid Newspaper Printing Press
Police raid newspaper printing press in Uganda: “The police have raided and searched premises of Prime General Supply limited a company which offers printing services to Ggwanga news paper, barely hours after the newspaper premises were raided. The Ntinda based company also prints for the Razor – a daily publication...
Egypt: Mubarak Fined for Internet Blackout during Revolution
An Egyptian court has fined ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and other officials 540 million Egyptian pounds ($90m) for disconnecting the Internet and mobile phone services during the revolution. Mubarak's regime first shut down access to Twitter when protests started, then Facebook, before turning off the Internet on January 28.
Sudan: An Abyei Timeline: The Long Road to Khartoum’s Military Invasion
Following Sudan's military invasion of Abyei, Eric Reeves provides a schematic chronicle of events from 1905 to demonstrate, “(1) just how fully the National Islamic Front/National Congress Party regime calculated and prepared for its military invasion; (2) when de facto military control of Abyei was achieved; (3) what served as...
Egypt: Opening of Rafah Crossing with Gaza
Egypt opened its Rafah order crossing with the Gaza Strip today, allowing people to cross freely into Egypt for the first time in four years. The border, which is Gaza's main gateway to the outside world, was opened sporadically during the reign of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. Following are some reactions from Twitter on this latest development.
