Stories about Governance from December, 2009
Bangladesh: Celebrating New Year Twice
Saad Hammadi at Of Diaries And Experiences reminds that Bangladesh is reversing the clock by an hour to go back to Bangladesh’s geographic timing: “Thus, the 31st will last for 25 hours. For the party goers, how better could it be than celebrating the new year twice!”
South Asia: Looking Back At 2009
The year 2009 is ending and its time to retrospect how the year has been for the South Asian region. In a two-part review we will look back at some of the major events which took place this year in the South Asian countries seen through the eyes of the citizen journalists.
Caribbean: 2009 Regional Roundup
As Global Voices celebrates its fifth anniversary, the occasion has given us all an opportunity to reflect on why we do what we do and how our work makes a difference. As my colleague Jillian York so succinctly put it, “We spread stories. We spread words.” We manage to do...
Trinidad & Tobago: Do the Math
Jumbie's Watch does the math on Trinidad and Tobago's murder rate: “While the CoP was bleating in public about the 3.65% murder solve rate (for last year), he neglected to mention that for the ‘known’ 508 victims of this year, there is a further 904 still missing!!!”
The Balkans: Sarajevo-Belgrade Train
Balkanology Blog reports on the recent launch of a direct Sarajevo-Belgrade train, the first one “in almost two decades.” CAFÉ TURCO recalls Serbia's recent history in a post titled “Serbia through the eyes of a train traveller (me).”
Puerto Rico: On the Trail
When it comes to corruption, Puerto Rico's Gil the Jenius follows the “more subtle ‘influence trail'” rather than the money trail.
Trinidad & Tobago: Partly Solved?
Jumbie's Watch is not impressed with the solve rate for murders in Trinidad and Tobago.
Ukraine: Election and Freedom of Speech
Foreign Notes writes about the upcoming presidential election in Ukraine and the impact that its outcome may have on the freedom of speech: “It must be dispiriting for journalists to know how little impact is made by their revelations of Ukraine's leaders’ systematic abuse of power, and a worry to...
Russia: Kaliningrad's “Contraband Industry”
St Petersblurb writes about Kaliningrad authorities’ failure to deal with the region's flourishing “contraband industry.”
Poland, China: Lack of Response to Akmal Shaikh's Case
Polandian writes about Poland's lack of response to the execution of Akmal Shaikh in China: “[…] Akmal spent quite some time in Poland, was married to a Pole and is survived by two Polish children. The question was therefore raised as to why Poland did not join in the call...
Belarus: New Internet Censorship Regulations Planned
Belarus Digest writes about the alleged plans of the government to introduce “additional measures to regulate Internet in Belarus.”
The Year that Was in Madagascar: Part I
In part one of a three-part summary of the year in citizen media in Madagascar, Lova Rakotomalala recalls the turmoil that seized the country in the first four months of 2009.
China: Cui Weiping tweets elite views on Liu Xiaobo
Many Chinese public intellectuals take flack for keeping quiet on major social issues. Beijing Film Academy professor Cui Weiping has sought to change that by tweeting her peers' views on the recent sentencing of China's most prominent democrat.
Trinidad & Tobago: 500
Trinidadian bloggers comment on the country's record murder rate – Jumbie's Watch: “The message is clear. We’re screwed.” B.C. Pires: “Not even when Mr Manning and Mr Panday achieve Trinidad's most vulgar historic event – the creation of an executive presidency by back-room trickery – will Trinidadians put their feet...
Cambodia: Police begins to fine motorists in the evening
Vutha observes that traffic cops in Cambodia have started to apprehend and fine motorists who violate traffic laws in the evening.
Myanmar bans western instruments in local orchestras
According to The Irrawaddy, Myanmar's Ministry of Culture has ordered the country's traditional orchestras not to use western musical instruments.
India: Perils Of Making Democracy Accessible
Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor was caught up in another controversy as he tweeted to his approx. 542,000 Twitter followers a personal opinion on the recent change in Indian visa rules. Smoke Signals has the details.
Uruguay: Too Many Governmental Employees
There are too many governmental employees in Uruguay, which only adds to the overall budget writes the blogger at Qué Pasa Uruguay? [es], adding, “Who will pay for all this? We will as usual.”
Russia: “Criminalisation of Tourists”
St Petersblurb describes a recent misadventure at the Russian-Polish border and explains that “the criminalisation of tourists is just another huge nail in the coffin of Russia’s tourist industry.”
Iran: When Rage Overcomes Fear
Iranian protesters poured into Tehran and several major cities in defiance of the Iranian government on Sunday, as large crowds gathered for Ashura, a major religious observance.
Is Vietnam blocking Facebook?
Viet Tan publishes an article which provides a background to the problems encountered by Facebook users in Vietnam.
