Stories about Development from August, 2011
Cambodia’s Sand Pirates
Residents in a Cambodian province complain against the negative impact of sand dredging in their area. Tons of sand from Cambodia are allegedly shipped to Singapore which are used to...
Egypt: Using Twitter to Help a Cairo Community
After seeing the huge impact of social media on the Egyptian revolution, Egyptian blogger, Mahmoud Salem (@SandMonkey) decided to collaborate with a non-profit organisation, Peace and Plenty, to help them raise funds for a community in Cairo in need of basic services.
Global Voices Partners with UNFPA on 7 Billion Actions
This year the world's population will exceed 7 billion people. To mark this milestone, Global Voices has been commissioned by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to write a series of posts that celebrate how one person or group can still make a difference in a world of 7 billion people.
Brazil: Mozambique Cedes Land to Brazilian Agribusiness
Mozambique is ceding 6 million hectares of land to Brazilian farmers. The idea is to draw on the Brazilian experience in the Cerrado, a biosphere similar to the African savanna, where industrial cattle grazing and soy plantations have already devastated 80% of the richest grasslands in the world.
China: The broken education system in the countryside
Tom, an American who works in education in rural China and blogs at Seeing Red in China, shares his first-hand teaching experience in the Guangxi province, and analyses some of...
China and Britain: how do they compare?
A British who has settled in China recounts his observations about the differences between the daily life in China and Britain, and how Britain has changed since he last visited...
Cambodia: Traffic jam in Phnom Penh
Vutha Tim writes about the worsening traffic jams in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The writer cites the rising population in the capital and the proposed solutions to address the problem.
Pakistan: Education, The Last Hope
As the socio-political crisis in Pakistan gets out of hand, emphasis on education is being stressed by civil society. This push mainly is due to the hope that maybe, just maybe, education might be the key to bringing stability amidst the unsettling internal civil war that Pakistanis face on a daily basis.
Ukraine: “Independence Day #20″
Odessablog wishes a happy Independence Day to Ukrainian readers: “Be assured that despite the wandering path taken thus far and all the mis-steps, Ukraine is doing OK. It is not...
Chile: #Paronacional (National Strike) vs. #Yonoparo (I Don't Strike)
The Workers' United Center of Chile has called for a national strike for the 24 and 25 of August 2011, as a form of protest against social and economic inequality in Chile. On Twitter, reactions for and against this protest have been echoed on the hashtags #paronacional (national strike) and #yonoparo (I don't strike).
Kenya: Meet Kenyan Female Social Innovator
Mworia blogs about Crystal Kigon, the founder of Voices of Africa: “Crystal’s organization in conjunction with Intersat Africa have been working on a project that aims to take the internet...
Africa: The Potential of Local Brain-Drain
What is the potential of local brain-drain in Africa? Read Idd Salim's post: “We all know African Tech Solutions. Ushahidi, Mpesa come to mind. Apps made by Africans for Africa....
Chile: Explaining the ‘Chilean Revolution’
Setty, a journalist living in Chile, explains ‘the Chilean revolution': “Chile is supposed to be the stodgy, conservative, institutionality-respecting corner of South America, where nothing ever happens. But this is...
Ethiopia: A Woman Dedicated to Serve Her People
EthioHealthCare writes about Liya Abera, Director of Bala Health Center in Ethiopia: “Basically ,what this health center focuses on prevention of diseases mostly on those which are pretty common in...
Brazil: Global Action Against Belo Monte Dam in Images
Protests against Brazil's Belo Monte hydroelectric power plant dam have gone global. In this post, we compile a selection of photos and videos featuring the worldwide demonstrations, from the streets of many Brazilian cities to the rest of the world.
Haiti: Grim Housing Situation
Haiti Grassroots Watch investigates whether “the 634,000 people still living in Haiti’s 1,001 camps, and the undoubtedly tens of thousands of others living in unsafe and even condemned structures [will]...
Cuba: Oh, the Horrors!
Rebeca Monzo blogs about what she calls Cuba's architectural and monumental horrors.
China-Africa Project Hope
China Media Project translated some local news about some doubts and questions about the 26-year-old chairperson, Lu Xingyu, of the China-Africa Project Hope, who defends herself against public criticism by...
Serbia: Belgrade's New Bridge
Bill's Blog and A Yankee-in-Belgrade write about and post pictures of the Serbian capital's recently completed new bridge across the Sava River.
Mexico: Following Javier Sicilia's Footsteps
Mexican bloggers write about activist Javier Sicilia's activism and his Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity. His activities and the organisation he runs generate contrary opinions, for which the only common denominator is the hope that the situation in Mexico may change for the good of all.
Guinea: Slow Blogging
After a year of blogging on blog platform Mondoblog, Sow shares [fr] how difficult it is to connect from his hometown in Guinea, located 500 km from the capital Conakry:...
