· December, 2011

Stories about Breaking News from December, 2011

Chile: Netizens Report and React to Torres del Paine Wildfire

  30 December 2011

For days, a wildfire has been consuming thousands of hectares in national park Torres del Paine in Chile's Patagonia. Netizens are sharing reports and reacting to the news through #salvemostorresdelpaine [es] (let's save Torres del Paine) and ‘Torres del Paine’ [es] on Twitter.

South Korea: Respected Leader of Korean Democratic Movement Dies

  30 December 2011

Kim Geun-tae, a leading South Korean democracy activist, died December 30, 2011 at the age of 64 from a brain disease. More than three thousand net users have already paid their deep condolences in Daum Agora page [ko], the nation's most famous public forum. Kim was repeatedly tortured and jailed under authoritarian regimes.

China: Police border control servers got hacked

  30 December 2011

Feng37 from the Nanfang.com reports on the hacking of the Entry-Exit Department of the Guangdong Public Security Bureau (PSB) which has resulted in the leaking of 4.44 million pieces of information on the legal names, passport and ID numbers, dates of birth, home addresses and telephone numbers of those who...

Puerto Rico: Investigating Monsanto

  28 December 2011

The Center of Investigative Journalism published a three-part series on the little known operation in Puerto Rico of the multinational biotechnology corporation Monsanto, the principle producer of genetically engineered seeds.

Yemen: The Amazing Life March Arrives in Sanaa

  24 December 2011

Thousands of Yemenis just arrived in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, after marching from the city of Taiz in the south, to call for the trial of Yemeni president Ali Abdulla Saleh. The aim of the 264km march, which protesters undertook on foot, is to demand the that Saleh, who was granted immunity from prosecution for his involvement in an 11-month crackdown on protesters demanding democracy, gets punished for his crimes.

Russia: Opposition Faces Online Communication Problems

RuNet Echo  23 December 2011

The ability to broadcast the events of December 2011 in Russia live online, has made people around the world and in the country the spectators of a truly historical event – the December 22 gathering of some 100-150 opposition activists, who represented thousands of the netizens and millions of not-connected Russians.

South Korean President's Vocal Critic Sentenced to Jail Term

  22 December 2011

Jeong Bong-ju, a vocal critic of the President and a show host of the nation's most popular satirical podcast, Naggomsu, was sentenced a jail term for raising allegations of BBK stock price manipulation against the current President. Some citizens have posted this poster on a subway to show signs of support for Jeong.

Syria: A Christmas Massacre

  21 December 2011

More than 250 Syrians have been killed over the past two days, sending shock waves around the world. Reports of “horrific massacres” come from the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC), which has urged the Arab League to condemn the killings and the United Nations to take measures to protect civilians. Netizens react to the crimes being committed against Syrian civilians under the Twitter hash tag #ChristmasMassacre

Russia: Alexey Navalny Released From Jail

RuNet Echo  20 December 2011

“Everyone's waiting for Navalny ) 5 more minutes! pic.twitter.com/3BRHiuGa,” tweeted [ru] @varlamov a short while ago, posting a picture of the crowd waiting outside a Moscow prison for activist Alexey Navalny‘s release. @plushev tweeted [ru]: “Absolutely fantastic numbers. In the middle of the night, some 5,000 people are viewing [the...

Barbados: prime minister's quandary

  20 December 2011

Barbados Underground offers an analysis of the “headache” created for Prime Minister Freundel Stuart by a now notorious leaked letter allegedly demonstrating his party's doubts about the PM's leadership. “Whatever he does must positively feed public perception that he is in charge of his men. The question is: will it...

Barbados: debating “the letter”

  19 December 2011

Barbados Underground and Barbados Free Press comment on a controversial letter allegedly written to Prime Minister Freundel Stuart by members of his party, expressing a lack of confidence in his leadership, and subsequently leaked to the media.

South Korea: North Korean Dictator, Kim Jong Il Is Dead

  19 December 2011

Kim Jong Il, the North Korean dictator has died. Although the death of the world's one of the notorious dictator is something what people should welcome, most South Koreans have expressed worries on the instability his sudden death might bring to the Korean peninsula.

Syria: Blogger Razan Ghazzawi is FREE!

  18 December 2011

Syrian blogger Razan Ghazzawi was released tonight, after spending 15 days in a Syrian prison. Ghazzawi, who blogs under her real name from Syria, was arrested at the Syrian-Jordanian border, while on her way to attend a press freedom workshop in Amman. Her arrest was criticised by netizens around the world.

Philippines: Storm Leaves Hundreds Dead and Missing

  17 December 2011

Hundreds died in many parts of Mindanao Island in southern Philippines after tropical storm Sendong hit the country last Friday. The casualties could be worse and may even reach more than 600. It’s the worst flooding to hit the north part of Mindanao in many years. Netizens immediately used the web to report about the disaster and to call for support

Brazil-Bahrain: Tear Gas for Repression “Made in Brazil”

  17 December 2011

Brazilian cartoonist Carlos Latuff reveals on Twitter that the tear gas devices used for repressing the civilian population of Bahrain is manufactured [pt] in the city of Nova Iguaçu, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, and adds he feels ashamed [pt] for his country exporting such weapons.