Stories about Governance from December, 2009
Global: Tweeting for #Gaza
In honor of the one-year anniversary of Israel's attacks on Gaza in December 2008, a number of activists have planned a targeted "tweet for Gaza" campaign on Twitter. Jillian C. York has more.
Iran: Demonstration in Tehran
Here is a video showing protesters in Manzarieh and Nyavaran in Tehran chanting slogans against Islamic Regime on Saturday.
Pakistan Was Meant To Be A Secular State
Haji Adeel of ANP party has stated that Pakistan was meant to be a secular state and it should now become a republic. This message has sent ripples in the Pakistan politics arena, informs Yasser Latif Hamdani at Pak Tea House.
Malaysia: Press Freedom Advocate Sues Blogger
A veteran journalist-blogger is being sued for libel by a politician who is known for espousing press freedom in Malaysia. Check out the reactions of Malaysian bloggers.
Iran: Demonstration in Tehran
Here is a video film showing Iranian protesters demonstrated agianst Islamic regime in “Toopkhane” square in Tehran on 24th December.
Serbia: EU Membership Application
Eternal Remont draws attention to some dubious math in Serbia's president's EU membership application speech.
Moldova: Public Menorah Crushed in Chisinau
Eternal Remont writes about the destruction of a public menorah in the capital of Moldova and cites a response issued by the Russian Orthodox Church: “We believe that this unpleasant incident could have been avoided if the menorah had been placed near a memorial for victims of the Holocaust.”
Belarus: Santa & Snow Maidens Protest in Minsk
Belarus Digest reports on a protest rally against “restrictions on the public activities of unregistered organizations” that was held in Minsk on Dec. 22 by “one Santa, 14 Snow Maidens, and 5 New Year’s Bunnies.” Andrei Khrapavitski posts a few pictures from a Belarusian village on the eve of the...
Israel: National Policy Needed for Foreign Workers
Amir Mizroch advocates for a national policy to protect foreign workers in Israel. “You could see the migrant worker story as an inevitable cultural and economic phenomenon with huge potential benefits to Israel. Fields get tilled and houses get built. We enjoy their culture and they enjoy ours. Call it...
India: Energy Policy
Shadow Warrior lists some points regarding energy, which India should have kept in mind during its participation in the recently concluded Copenhagen Summit.
Bangladesh: Turning Back The Clock
To alleviate the nation's energy crisis Bangladesh adopted daylight saving time last June. The government has decided today to turn back the clock on the 31st December midnight. Omi Azad at Micro Reality Bites asks when exactly Bangladeshis will be celebrating the new year then?
Nepal: The Power Struggle
“(The) Maoists fought for ‘freedom’ from age old monarchy, but someone else has replaced the monarch now and is ruling Nepal,” comments Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal while discussing the recent power struggle between the Maoists and the ruling coalition.
Tajikistan: The price tag of truth
The Tajik government has recently instituted fees for information requests from journalists and the general public. Botur examines how putting a price tag on information will hurt freedom.
Turkmenistan: TB is a serious problem
Annasoltan writes that drug resistant tuberculosis is a serious problem in Turkmenistan. Yet, the government is doing little to find the solution – even more so, its actions often aggravate the situation.
Kazakhstan: War on Corruption and Political Interests
Alexander_Visotzky reviews the developments in Kazakhstan's uranium industry after arrest of the head of the national nuclear company on charges of embezzlement, and concludes that fight against corruption in Kazakhstan, is more of a political game than it is an attempt to root out corruption.
Romania: Hungarian Minority Politics
Hungarian Spectrum writes about the Hungarian minority politics of the recent presidential election in Romania.
Trinidad & Tobago: Beginning of the End?
Diaspora blogger Jumbie's Watch wonders about Trinidad and Tobago's political future.
Barbados: Customs & Christmas
Barbados’ Notes From A Small Rock cannot believe the trouble she is having with the Customs & Excise Department over two scooters she bought for her children for Christmas: “The rules provide an unbeatable combination of broad discretion coupled with a lack of transparency.”
India: Gains From Copenhagen
The Acorn analyzes what India has achieved from the Copenhagen summit. The blogger opines that the “real gains were geopolitical—neither the United States nor China could have their way without India’s support”.
Russia: Blogger Calls For Open Technical Standards
LJ user bablaw wrote an open letter [Google translation – ENG] to the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev calling him to veto amendments to the Civil Code that would make technical standards [ENG] closed to the general public.
Israel: Separate But Equal?
Promised Land's Noam Sheizaf provides a comprehensive breakdown of the history and potential future of a new amendment to Israel's Basic Law on Human Dignity and Freedom, that, he says, “might officially turn Israel into a democracy for Jews only.”
