Stories about Governance from May, 2006
China: Raising fuel prices, raising tempers
As China's economy continues to grow, so too do the kinds of complaints that come with modern life. And while gas prices are kept lower than can be found in many other countries, two prices hikes in the last year alone have left many of China's rapidly-growing middle class grumbling,...
East Timor reported by the Lusophone Blogosphere
Seven years after the end of Indonesian rule -- becoming the newest world nation in May 2002 -- and having gone through what was viewed as a successful nation building and independence process led by the UN, East Timor is once again facing deep unrest. The last weeks since the reported clashes of April 28th have shown escalating violence and by now the Lusophone blogosphere is starting to speculate about the real forces behind the recent events.
India: Women and Helplines
Smita has a positive experience with a helpline for women, as some fellow passengers in the bus seem to need more than just gentle nudging.
Belarus: Helsinki Committee Banned
Vilhelm Konnander reports on the ban of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee by Aleksandr Lukashenko's regime.
Estonia: Interview With Aili Jogi
Giustino of Itching for Eestimaa writes about Aili Jogi, who, at the age of 15, together with a friend, destroyed the first monument to the Soviet soldiers in Tallinn, the Estonian capital.
Hong Kong: Tiananmen massacre remembered
Photos, translation and analysis from EastSouthWestNorth blogger Roland Soong look at the declining attendance of Hong Kong's annual commemorations of the 1989 military crackdown in Beijing which saw many students, workers and Beijing locals shot dead on the streets.
Myanmar: Bad News Once More
Dathana is disappointed. He was looking forward to good news from Myanmar but the SPDF has once more let him (and other Myanmar citizens) down.
China: Wu Hao case
The desperation of imprisoned Beijing or Bust blogger Wu Hao's sister Nina can be felt on her MSN Spaces blog which hasn't been updated for nearly two weeks. The most recent post informs readers that her little brother has been denied access to a lawyer. “Unbelievable!” says one reader. “Nina,...
China: IP rights lacking
In ‘China Ponders Propaganda Role for Non-Red Parties,’ China Confidential‘s Confidential Reporter sees the combined 500,000 members of China's non-Communist political parties—contrasted by 70 million Communist Party members—more as propaganda tools than a sign of democratization, and observes a lack of commitment from the Chinese government in upholding intellectual property...
China: Destitution inspires art
Guangzhou-based Supernaut artist-blogger Frances D'Ath finds inspiration for her death-themed works in the killings and violence which have taken place over the past year in clashes between villagers and Communist authorities in several small villages around southern China's Guangdong province in her post ‘云浮, 汕尾, 太石 and other holiday places.’...
South Korea: Chinese labor unattractive
A post by James J. Na on The Korea Liberator blog looks at a decrease in Korean manufacturers doing business in China as labor conditions in the Communist state continue to improve, and costs rise. “They should do what the Chinese do already,” says Na: “go to Vietnam instead. And,...
China: June fourth buildup
Chinese authorities get a little anxious around this time every year, says Celia at China Activist Weekly, and this year is no different.
Dominica: The Nature of tourism
Both Titlayo and Francomenz write about their recent vacations in Dominica. Titlayo posts a beautiful photo of Trafalgar Falls, noting that they are “one of Dominica's main tourist attractions, especially for cruise ship visitors, who were there in abundance the day we went.” Francomenz cautions that “Dominicans have an awesome...
Barbados: The risky business of political blogging
Barbados Free Press reviews the Barbados Labour Party's newly launched blog and outlines the risks a political party faces in undertaking such a project: “the two main risks can be shortened to this. . . 1/ Risk of Public Failure – Successful Blogging Takes New Skills & Commitment . ....
Trinidad & Tobago: More smelter woes
Attending a five-hour public consultation where Trinidad & Tobago's Environmental Management Authority tries to convince the audience that the aluminium smelter to be constructed in southern Trinidad is no threat to the environment, only serves to fuel Attillah Springer's anger and skepticism about the project: “We'd be seriously fooling ourselves...
Senegal: Conversations on Drowned Migrants
Senegalese blogger Seckasysteme has been keeping a close eye on thousands of migrants from Senegal who have attempted to reach Europe on clandestine rafts since the beginning of the year. Last week the blogger explained that 23 migrant hopefuls had been intercepted by Senegalese authorities on their way to the...
Up close with Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
One of Africa's most powerful women
What Salvadoran bloggers are saying — violence and generals
The high levels of violence in the country continue without solutions. Much of the violence is tied to gang activity. Blogger Hunnapuh notes that pressured by the business sector, which fears that foreign investment will avoid a country with high levels of violence, president Tony Saca has finally recognized that...
Russia: Ethnic Uzbek in Moscow
Moscow-based LJ user gr_s (Grigoriy Sapov) hitched a cab and ended up having a conversation with the driver, an ethnic Uzbek (RUS): An Uzbek Driver Yesterday. The driver is elderly, respectable, speaks without an accent: *** The conversation began when we were getting out to the embankment through Neopalimovskie Lanes....
Public Schools students coordinate Strike by fotoblogs
More than 40,000 public school students (and now some private (ES) as well) have participated in mobilizations all over Chile in the last weeks. They are asking for free public transportation, free entrance exams, a revision of full time school classes, and the detraction of the Organic Law of Education....
Arabisc: Arabic Bloggers Ken
From Egypt… Malek who was scheduled to be free few days ago is now officially free. He just made his first post, titled: Free Morning. Malek writes: الحمدلله تم الافراج عني اليوم في حوالي الساعه الرابعه والنصف من قسم ترحيلات الخليفه لحد دلؤتي مقريتش حاجه اتكتبت عني بس بجد شكرا...
