· April, 2012

Stories about Governance from April, 2012

Portugal: Eviction Prior to Freedom Day Awakens Squatting Movement

As the pent-up frustrations of citizens in Portugal keep growing a year since the international “bailout” of the country's public debt, the annual celebration of Freedom Day on April 25 marking the Carnation Revolution that ended a 41-year dictatorship in 1974, gained renewed momentum.

30 April 2012

Martinique: Where has Creole gone?

On Martinican collective blog Montray Kreyol, a recent post [Fr/Fr Cr] wonders why Martinique 1ère [Fr], which is the local relay of the French National Broadcast Network, Fance Television [En],...

30 April 2012

Ukraine: Netizens Discuss Dnipropetrovsk Bombings

There has been a great deal of speculation about the four bombings that rocked the city of Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, on Friday. The timing of the blasts is key to most of the popular theories emerging online, as Ukraine is undergoing a very eventful period right now.

29 April 2012

India: Protests Against the New IT Rules

In April 2011 the Indian government quietly issued amendments to the IT rules restricting web content that are designated as “disparaging,” “harassing,” “blasphemous” or “hateful.” The Indian netizens are campaigning against it online and are organizing street protests.

28 April 2012

Russia: Putin Proposes Contentious State Power Grab in Siberia

RuNet Echo

On April 20, 'Kommersant' revealed an ongoing legislative project to create a state company to oversee the economic development of Eastern Siberia and the Russian Far East. The schism at the heart of the RuNet's response to this issue reveals certain fundamental apprehensions that shape online Russian civil society.

27 April 2012

India: The Hand Drawn Rickshaws in Kolkata

Debolina Raja Gupta notes that although the West Bengal Government In India had decided to take the hand drawn rickshaws off by 2005-2006 they are still plying in Kolkata roads.

26 April 2012

Panama: New Law Establishes Ministry of Culture

On April 24, 2012, the National Assembly of Panama approved yesterday the "Law of Culture", which among other things elevates the National Institute of Culture to the Ministry of Culture. The main sponsor of the law, Deputy Jose Blandon announced it yesterday on Twitter, which became a reflection of the Panamanians that approved the bill.

26 April 2012

China: State Owned Enterprises

Ministry of Tofu translated an infographic comparing the status of state-owned enterprises with the private-owned enterprises in China.

25 April 2012

Accused of Molesting Children, Iranian Diplomat Leaves Brazil

An Iranian diplomat based in the capital of Brazil, Brasilia, was accused of molesting underage girls at a swimming pool on April 14, 2012. While Iran's embassy denied the allegations, and said they were the result of a "cultural misunderstanding", netizens both from Iran and Brazil didn't take long to react.

25 April 2012