Stories about Elections from August, 2008
Chile: Campaign Propaganda Out of Season
Elections are fast approaching in Chile, and Marcelo Aliaga of Bloggeando La Vida [es] is noticing the ways that candidates are getting around the regulations for the dates in which campaign propaganda is allowed.
Angola: Electoral campaign fails to excite voters
After 16 years without the right to vote, Angolans have been savouring the taste of the election campaign for almost a month now. Contrary to expectations, there is a lukewarm atmosphere around the capital Luanda. Clara Onofre shows why electors are not impressed.
Kenya: Report on post-election violence
Kenyan Pundit posts the report on post-election violence in Kenya.
Egypt: Parliament on Fire
Egyptian bloggers are in a daze, after the country's iconic Parliament Building, went up in flames earlier today. And while an official reason has yet to be announced for the cause of the fire in the 19th century palace, which houses the lower parliament or Shura (consultative) council, bloggers are seething - though not lost for words.
Paraguay: Following Lugo's Inauguration on Flickr
Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo started the use of Flickr in January 2008 as a way to document his appearances during the campaign. After being sworn in as the new president of his country on August 15, he continues to use this citizen's media tool. Nearly 2,500 photos later and all licensed under Creative Commons, Lugo hopes to share his presidency with Paraguayans at home and abroad.
Fiji: Methodist Church forgives military regime
Methodist Church leaders have forgiven the military rulers of Fiji, as reported by Raw Fiji News. The military is asked to initiate a process that will restore democratic elections in Fiji.
Angola, Brazil: A culture shock divide
Angola and Brazil's special relationship means that business between the two former Portuguese colonies is booming - as well as migration both ways across the Atlantic. But, how are these two sibling peoples getting on? This post offers the perspectives of both an Angolan and a Brazilian blogger living in Luanda.
Ukraine: Tymoshenko Accused of Russian Backing
Foreign Notes writes about accusations levelled against Ukrainian Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, that she has secured Russian backing to win the next presidential elections – a matter questioning whether Tymoshenko's allegiance is greater to Russia than to Georgia.
South Asia: For Obama
Sepia Mutiny on a popular actor of South Asian origin – Kal Penn rooting for Obama.
Ecuador: The Use of Media During Constitutional Referendum Campaign
The media in Ecuador is frequent criticized for its content and its role in society. However, as the Referendum for the approval of the new Constitution fast approaches, the government is also a target of criticism for the amount of money spent for the campaign. The amount is at levels never seen in recent history.
Brazil: Olympics, war and elections
"I confess that I am the biggest fan of the Olympics and that I woke at 5 am on Saturday to see the Gymnastics competition. But every once in a while it is good to look further and see what is beyond an event as large as this", says a 16 year old blogger.
Brazil: Blogging the importance of voting
A new collective aims to educate Brazilian electors through blogging: “We ask your help to bring about the beginning of this change. Let's get together and scream so loudly that our voices can not be ignored and they will hear everywhere”. Everyone is invited to blog about the importance of...
Angola: Elections, building sites and road works
“Some dare to say, “these buildings, all this they have built, It's good. It's evolution.” Evolution? Who for? Who are all these luxury residential developments, with guards and high fences, for? Only for those who are already in good position of “evolution”, the rich.” A few days before the elections...
Georgia: Saakashvili Bad for Business
Copydude posts a critical comment on Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili from the vantage point of his rule and reelection prior to the ongoing Russian-Georgian conflict.
South Ossetia: US Presidential Candidats on Conflict
The 8th Circle publishes relevant excerpts of statements by US presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain, finding their positions basically the same.
Brazil: Debating the online regulation for the elections
Rodrigo Savazoni is organizing a series [pt] of posts in answer to a comment by judge Ricardo Hermann regarding his article on Brazil's online regulations for the elections. “I must thank him for explaining his views publicly. The Brazilian judiciary is not very accountable for its acts. So, I greatly...
Angola: Getting ready for the elections
Edmundo Galiza Matos [pt] reports that 12,000 voting offices workers have been trained in preparation for the legislative elections of September 05. “Up to 22nd of this month it is expected to reach 25,475 workers, fully trained in matters related to the electoral package, procedures for voting, and specific guidelines...
Bloggers react strongly to ‘Building a Better Fiji’
A government-appointed committee in Fiji introduced an 11-point framework to augment the Pacific island nation’s constitution and “rebuild Fiji into a nonracial, culturally vibrant and united, well-governed, truly democratic nation.”
Bolivia: Covering the Recall Referendum
Mario Durán writes about his day covering the Recall Referendum in El Alto, Bolivia [es] for his citizen's newspaper Al Minuto where he took photos in 3 voting places, “I moved around on foot, bicycle, automobile, tricycle, what an odyssey.”
South Ossetia: Georgia, Russia and the U.S. Presidential Election
With the massive deployment of Russian forces in Georgia, the small South Caucasus country's conflict with Moscow over the breakaway region of South Ossetia has obvious political ramifications thousands of miles away in the United States where presidential elections will be held on 4 November. With some alleging that the crisis reflects a struggle between the West and Russia, where the U.S. Presidential candidates stand on the matter is fast becoming a significant campaign issue.
Angola: Countdown to the long awaited elections
Angola's first parliamentary elections in 16 years will finally take place at the beginning of September. Clara Onofre reports on the local atmosphere during the countdown to the polls, direct from Luanda.
