Stories about Governance from September, 2011
Bhutan: Promoting The National Language
Penstar stresses the need to simplify and promote use of the Bhutanese national language Dzongkha decreasing dominance of English language.
Trinidad & Tobago: Expenditure & Accountability
“Discussion is revolving around the country’s earnings from our energy resources and the likely size of the next year’s budget, expected to be delivered in early October”: Afra Raymond warns...
Cuba: Inequitable Party
Generation Y compares the official distribution of “rental properties, cars, businesses [and] houses” to a pinata at a children's party, saying: “What is most worrying is [that] the…existence of such...
Colombia: Incarceration of Bogota’s Former Mayor Stirs Debate
Aside from the uproar that Congressman Juan Manuel Corzo sparked over his “fuel subsidy,” now Samuel Moreno Rojas, the former mayor of Bogotá, has been sent to prison while facing accusations of embellishment, fraud and extortion.
Mexico: #ReformaPoliticaYA (‘Political Reform Now’), Reactions on Twitter
It has been several months since citizen organizations and activists tried to attain the approval of a political reform that includes, among other points, reelection for mayors and legislators. The reform has caused passionate reactions on Twitter and revived fears from the past.
Brazil: Citizens Blame Governor for Police Charge on Teachers
Brazilian citizens used the hashtag #CidEspancaProfessores (Cid beats teachers) in solidarity with public school teachers who were beaten by the police on September 29. That day, a proposal of the...
Laos According to WikiLeaks
WikiLeaks has released a set of Laos files that confirmed the country’s underdevelopment, endemic corruption in the bureaucracy, and the fragile state of its environment. Here are some online reactions and excerpts of the Laos cables.
Afghanistan: Donor dependence
Nick Fielding writes that the US and other donors have provided 90 per cent of Afghanistan's public expenditures in 2006-2010. With the 2014 target date for the withdrawal of US...
Why don’t South Asians talk to each other?
South Asians consist of one fifth of the planet’s population and they have similar cultures. And yet some kind of loose confederation between South Asian countries looks like an unattainable...
Global: Key Quotes and Tweets from the Internet Governance Forum
As the Internet Governance Forum is a truly epic event both online and offline, it's hard to do justice to the complexity of the discussions and debates that are currently taking place in Nairobi, Kenya. Discover with Global Voices some key tweets and quotes from participants, accompanied by short commentaries.
Cameroon: Calm Before the Storm?
Cameroon's presidential election will take place on October 9, but the lack of stake in the outcome felt by the general population is leading to a lack of interest. The threat of post-election violence and ethnic tension is also hanging over the country.
Vietnam: Cash Transfer Programs
Stoney Chenal reviews the experience of Vietnam in implementing Cash Transfer programs.
Wikileaks Cables on Laos
Wikileaks has released a set of cables that involve Laos. Blogger Lao Bumpkin identifies the relevant topics in the uploaded files.
Zambia: Netizens Start Countdown to 90 Day Change Promise
Zambia’s new President, Michael Sata, has promised to transform the nation in 90 days including putting more money into people’s pockets. Expectant netizens have started the countdown; a group called the '90 Day Agenda' has opened a Facebook page to push for it.
East Timor: Tasi Mane Petroleum Infrastructure Project
A local Non-Government Organization, La'o Hamutuk, has set-up a special website page to gather information, monitor project updates, and document the resistance of a community to East Timor’s Tasi Mane Petroleum Infrastructure Project.
China: A rejected entry permit to Hong Kong
Annie Lee from ChinaHush translated a blog post by a mainland Chinese Su Gengsheng, who expressed her frustration over the application of entry permit to Hong Kong.
China: Why do rumors explode in China?
China Media Project has translated the editorial of China Daily discussing the spread of rumors in China.
Russia: A New Online Game Might Change Offline Moscow

A graduate of Strelka Institute Andrey Goncharov gave an interview about his final project an online game “Crowdsourced Moscow 2012″. According to the interview the game can contibute to real...
Jamaica: Golding to Resign?
Jamaica and the World republishes a Wikileaks cable that sullies the image of the government, while Girl With a Purpose reports that “Prime Minister Bruce Golding dropped a bombshell on...
Chile: Students Protest Mayor's Decision
Erwin at The Latin Americanist updates readers on the student movement: “Last week Cristian Labbe, mayor of Providencia, ordered the suspension of the school year and permitted police to remove...
India: To Be Poor In India
Project Why exposes that there is a serious flaw in determining who is poor in India and who will get social welfare benefit from the government. The blogger asks: “what...