Stories about Economics & Business from January, 2013
Nigeria 2012: Great Challenges and Even Greater Victories
Nigeria is as large as her talents, people, hope and challenges. These are some of stories from Nigeria in 2012, a year that was a curious mix of tensions, anguish and hope for Nigeria.
Fighting “Blatant Criminal Dictatorship” in Ukraine's Coal Mining Region
Blogger Stanislav Kmet documents activities in Severnyi, a decaying coal-mining village in eastern Ukraine, after local residents emailed him asking for help in drawing attention to the illegal mining that threatens to ruin their homes.
Macedonian Activists Collect 10,000 Signatures for Legislative Change
Activists of the civic initiative AMAN [mk] continue to fight for a better energy legislation [mg, fr, mk, es], despite pressure and infiltrations. In November, “unknown persons” prevented them from talking to PM Gruevski [mk] at an “open meeting with citizens.” Currently, there's an ongoing signature-gathering campaign for the change...
Brazil's World Cup Construction Threatens Indigenous “Living Museum”
About six years ago, the abandoned building of the First Museum of the Indian, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil turned into a “living museum” and became home to several different indigenous communities. On the morning of January 12, 2013, the military police arrived ready to evict the community. Activists soon arrived on the scene.
Přednádraží Still Stands: Czech Roma Community Resists Evictions
In August 2012, the Ostrava City Hall issued a 24-hour eviction order to the owner of the 11 buildings at Přednádraží. Approximately 100 families of the local residents refused to move out. Many simply did not have anywhere else to go. Five months later, twelve families still remain at Přednádraží, including six children. Daniela Kantorova reports.
Protesters Trap QMM Staff in Madagascar over Land Dispute
Bill at Madagascar Tribune reports that protesters held Rio Tinto QMM Staff hostages [fr] on January 11 in Southern Madagascar. After armed forces disrupted the protests with tear gas and freed the staff, police proceed to arrest a dozen of protesters [fr] today. Rio Tinto executives threatened to exit the country after the...
The Outsourcing Revolution In Bangladesh
Asif Anwar suggests that getting more and more people into freelancing & outsourcing industry can make Bangladesh a medium earning country sooner than expected.
North Korea Broadcasts Google Exec Schmidt's Visit
North Korea Leadership Watch wrote a post (with several screengrabs) on how North Korean state media covered Google’s executive chairman, Eric Schmidt's visit to the country. Members of delegations toured the Korea Computer Center in Pyongyang and learned about North Korea’s internet technology.
Jamaica: Debt Storm Coming?
The Jamaican blogosphere has been a bit prickly ever since the Chicago Tribune, in an editorial on January 8, 2013, compared Jamaica’s financial condition to that of Greece, considered by some to be the most precariously perched country in the global economy.
2012: A Year of Revolt and Social Change in Francophone Countries: Part 1 of 2
The year 2012 was marked by armed conflicts in Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. There were elections in Senegal, Quebec and France, while demonstrations for change took place in Chad, Madagascar and Togo. Debates raged on issues such as immigration, the economic crisis and equality in marriage laws. This is the first part of a review of the year 2012 in Francophone countries.
Rethinking Public Service: Portuguese Bloggers Translate IMF Report
Whether you agree with its content or not, it is unacceptable that the only available version is in English. The author of the Portuguese blog Aventar refers [pt] to a recent report released by the IMF, ‘Rethinking the State – Selected Expenditure Reform Options’, which “may be the basis for...
Infographic: What does China think?
What do Chinese citizens think about China's economic situation and the world's leaders?TeaLeafNation and ChinaFile has produced an infographic with detailed analysis based on the Chinese piece on CNpolitics[zh].
Misconceptions about the Economic Situation in Iceland
BECAUSE I’M TIRED OF PEOPLE SPREADING UNTRUTHS Baldur Bjarnason writes a blogpost on how the crisis in Iceland is actually unfolding on Studio Tendra. He details the cozy relationship between the Iceland government and the IMF, decrypts the banks going bankrupt and especially denounced the plight of a growing number of...
Turkmenistan: What Do Tourists Want?
Tourists coming to Turkmenistan do not seek five-star hotels and casinos; they do not travel to exotic countries for something which they can easily find close to home. They are interested in the local [customs and traditions], antiquities, and the Silk Road.
Brazil Debates Human Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation – Part II
While European politics has made a favorable move to abolish prostitution as a legalized profession in the old continent, recently in France a couple was convicted to three years in prison for organizing a prostitution scheme of young Brazilians. In Brazil, the government and the media are trying to raise awareness on human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
Pakistan: CNG Withdrawal Hits Energy Sector
In Pakistan in 2012, the federal government announced plans to gradually phase out CNG due to gas shortages. Last week as supply to many CNG stations remained suspended, people queued in long lines to buy petrol for their vehicles. Teeth Maestro has more.
Vietnam Tech News Websites Need to Cover Local Updates
It’s not easy for the layman to get news about new technology companies, new products, or cutting edge trends in Vietnam… Everybody knows about the latest iPhone, nobody knows about Setech Viet. Anh-Minh Do explains why most Vietnamese tech news websites provide more coverage to global technology news updates.
Ecuador: President Refuses to Inaugurate Wind Farm
Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa preferred not to unveil the Villonaco wind farm, which he considered unfinished. Alison Martínez has local reactions from Loja.
Italy: #iostoconmarco, hunger strike against inhuman jail conditions
Marco Pannella, long-standing Radical Party leader, went on hunger-and-thirst strike demanding better living conditions in Italian jails -- with great support and lively discussion on social media. Now the hope is to see these topics included in political parties' programs leading up to February 2013 general elections.
Row over 3rd Generation Contraceptive Pills in France
The “new” pills are not without risks. The risk of phlebitis or pulmonary embolism is increased two fold, from 2 to 4 accidents per 10,000 users. This increase might seem low in terms of public health but it is significant at the individual level considering the fact that other satisfactory alternatives are...
Secret Money, Hacks, and Politics of Russian Web
While suspicions about money and sponsorship plague all Russian politics, the RuNet is a particularly contentious battleground. The rift between the oppositionist and pro-government camps is a hotbed of accusations about illicit funding, with each side desperately professing its own honesty and insisting on the other's deception.
