Stories about Citizen Media from October, 2008
Blogger of the week: Rezwan
Global Voices new South Asia editor, Rezwan, from Bangladesh has been with Global Voices as a volunteer author since 2005. Memorable posts by Rezwan include a report on Twittering' an earthquake in Bangladesh, and a story of colorful but expensive Bangladeshi weddings. He replaces the illustrious Neha Viswanathan as South Asia editor.
Cameroonian Female Bloggers on the Go
"From education through health, fashion, art and culture to women’s empowerment, Cameroonian women are telling the stories of their lives on the web," writes our new author, the Dakar-based Cameroonian journalist George Esunge Fominyen.
Brazil: Impunity and forgetfulness over Carandiru Massacre
Sixteen years ago, Brazil was shocked by one of the biggest human rights violation in its history. The Carandiru Massacre saw the assassination of hundreds of unarmed inmates inside what was then South America's largest prison. See the few blog reactions available and a survivor's account of the unpunished crime, which seems to have been forgotten by many.
Nepal: The rebel Prime Minister
Minerva's Crossing is impressed by the speeches Nepali Prime Minister and former rebel leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) gave in New York and comments: “rebel movements can change, if they are willing to do so”.
China: Giving a hand to rescue U.S?
Now, the financial crisis originated from U.S is going to sweep the globe. As the closest trade partner of U.S, China is struggling over the question: should it give a hand to help America out of the abyss? Or are we able to? But some netizens are thinking even further.
Perú: Bloggers Adopting Congressional Representatives
Peruvian bloggers get together to prompt congressional representatives to be transparent regarding their operational expenses, and this action causes all sorts of reactions from bloggers and congresspeople themselves.
USA: Voices without Votes watch the Debate
You may not be able to see Russia from your backyard, but if you tune into Global Voices' U.S election website, Voices without Votes, you can learn about what the whole world has to say about tonight's debate between the U.S. vice presidential candidates, Sarah Palin and Joe Biden.
Jamaica: A Nation Mourns
Jamaica is in mourning as the headless body of a little girl believed to be 11-year-old Ananda Dean was discovered weeks after her abduction. This harrowing end to the search for Dean is made even more disturbing by the fact that more than fifty children have been murdered in Jamaica since the start of the year. Bloggers are as shocked as the rest of the population, and are making their voices heard in an effort to examine how such brutal acts against minors have become so widespread.
Japan: HubMedia
Blogger smashmedia introduces a Japanese online publishing site [ja] called HubMedia [ja] (ハブメディア), a project to showcase quality edited contents on the web, with revenue coming from advertisements and small-lot publication sales. HubMedia will focus on niche markets with high-quality contents and on realizing continuous communication between writers and readers....
Russia: Eid ul-Fitr in Moscow
Over 30,000 Muslims reportedly came to the Moscow Cathedral Mosque for a communal prayer on Sept. 30, the first day of Eid ul-Fitr, a Muslim holiday known in Russia as Uraza Bayram, which marks the end of the month of Ramadan. Russian bloggers' reactions ranged from hostile to positive, and below is a translation of some of them.
Brazil: Do deforestation and elections mix?
What is the link between recent deforestation rate increases in the Amazon and the upcoming Brazilian municipal elections in October 5?
Running Away from Marriage: A Story From Syria
American Fulbright scholar in Damascus Orientalista brings up the story of her Syrian friend Manar, a 22-year old female from the Druze minority in the country, who ran away from her house to escape a forced marriage.
Caribbean: Celebrating Eid
Eid Mubarak! Muslims across the world are today celebrating Eid ul-Fitr, the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting - and the Caribbean is no exception.
Korea: From Hero to Eccentric Man
In 2004 a student, Kang Ui-seok, was expelled from Daegwang High School for disobeying an order to attend chapel service at the school. He filed a petition with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea and went on a hunger strike that lasted 36 days to urge the school to...
