Stories about Economics & Business from November, 2011
Peru: Conga Mining Project Suspended in Wake of Public Pressure
Protesting residents have managed to temporarily suspend operations of the Conga gold mining project, but protests continue all the same in support of the project's definitive cancellation. At the heart of the conflict is the defense of some 20 lagoons and their ecosystems, which would be seriously degraded by the execution of this mining project.
Cuba: Under “Survey-lance”
“As far as many Cubans here are concerned, it is not necessary to have survey results to verify the high levels of discontent and uncertainty we live under”: Without Evasion explains why she's sceptical of surveys.
Cuba: Mariela's Red Light Comment
Ernesto Morales Licea takes issue with Mariela Castro's now infamous statement to Radio Netherlands during her visit to Amsterdam's Red Light District.
China: Sina's Credibility Crisis
B.Bishop looks into Sina's credibility crisis with its investors and offers some suggestions to the company.
China: Economic News Roundup
The China Digital Times has a news roundup about potential economic risks in China.
Cuba: Entrepreneurship & Home Ownership
Generation Y wonders whether the country's new wave of entrepreneurs will survive, while Laritza's Laws is concerned that “the housing regulations, recently enacted by the government of Cuba…leave intact regulations that impede the full exercise of the right of ownership.”
Bangladesh: Corporate Social Responsibility – A Half Truth
Shahriar Amin opines that in implementing corporate social responsibility (CSR), the primary objective of any organization is not doing the welfare of community but to provide welfare of the brand. So CSR is really a kind of half truth.
Zambia: Cash Dug Out From Ex-Minister's Farm Shocks Nation
Zambia’s investigative units recently dug out nearly US$ 466,000, buried in the ground at a farm belonging to former minister, Austin Liato. Zambians on various social networking sites have reacted to these and other disclosures of suspected corrupt activities with a sense of shock and anger.
North Korea's Cellular Network Surpasses 800,000 3G Subscriptions
The North Korea Tech wrote about a surge of new sign-ups for Koryolink, North Korea’s nationwide 3G cellular network. It is believed 809,000 North Koreans have subscribed to Koryolink whose 75 percent of stake is owned by the Egyptian company, Orascom Telecom.
Russia: Siberian Light's This Week in Russia Blogs #1
Andy of Siberian Light presents This Week in Russia Blogs #1, a revamped version of Russia Blog Roundup weekly series. Anglophone posts highlighted in the current edition include A Good Treaty's take on the efficiency of the RuNet activism and Putinania‘s analysis of the United Russia’s prospects for the Dec....
Trinidad & Tobago: Anya's Section Launch
The rumour turns out to be true: Trinidad Carnival Diary says that designer Anya Ayoung-Chee's section in the Carnival band TRIBE's 2012 offering launches tonight.
Kenya: Mapping Mobile Money
Mapping mobile money in Kenya: “CrowdPesa is a Web and Mobile application with a mapping system that allows businesses to locate themselves in a map and facilitate users to find the location of the nearest financial service on their mobile phone.”
Barbados: CL Financial Back in 2007
Barbados Free Press republishes an article and photos from the Monaco Revue that highlight the presence of Lawrence Duprey and other CL Financial executives at the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix: “What was once an article about the elites having a good time in Monaco is now certain to be of...
Zambia: Should “Tujilijili” be Banned?
Zambian Economist asks his readers, “Should Tujilijili be banned?”: “Tujilijili is a strong alcohol sold in a sachet for about K1, 000 [Zambian Kwacha] per sachet. The alcoholic content is over 40 per cent, equivalent to whiskey and other known spirit brands like vodka and brandy.”
Ghana: Startup Weekend Accra
Mac-Jordan blogs about Startup Weekend Accra: “Startup Weekends are 54-hour events where developers, designers, marketeers and startup enthusiasts come together to share ideas, form teams, build products, and launch startups! Startup Weekends are weekend-long, hands-on experiences where entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs find out if their startup ideas are viable.”
South Korea: Video of Protests against Free Trade Deal with US
South Korea's ruling party rammed a contested free trade deal with the United States through parliament, evoking once again mass protests against the agreement. Citizen journalist Aya posted videos of protesters being hit by water cannon.
Brazil: Maximum Fine After Silence on Chevron's Oil Spill
On 7 November, an oil platform operated by Chevron-Texaco and located 350km off coast from Rio de Janeiro, began spilling crude oil. Two weeks after, the spill is believed to be under control and Chevron has been fined the maximum amount allowed by Brazilian environmental authorities. But not all is clear concerning the intricacies and coverage of the environmental disaster.
Bulgaria: New Protest Against Shale Gas Planned
A new protest is being planned for Nov. 26 in Sofia, part of a series of protests against Chevron's shale gas extraction in northeast Bulgaria. On Nov. 20, nearly 500 people attended a rally in the coastal city of Varna, which didn't receive adequate media coverage. Several Facebook groups have...
Trinidad & Tobago: The Colman Commission
“The Colman Commission was established about a year ago as a Public Enquiry into the failure of the CL Financial group”, explains Afra Raymond, adding: “The sole Commissioner, Sir Anthony Colman, has now made a statement which outlines his progress in this huge and complex matter…despite all the evidence about...
Barbados: Applauding Anya
Skip to Malou* admits she's “a bit behind on the Project Runway hype”, but says of the winning designer from Trinidad and Tobago: “[She] seems like a down to earth island girl with a big personality and serious determination and we all love to see a West Indian do well...
Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: Emergency Experience
Chronicles from a Caribbean Cubicle suggests that Trinidad and Tobago could learn a thing or two from Jamaica when it comes to getting into emergency mode.
