· July, 2012

Stories about Governance from July, 2012

Portugal: Tugaleaks Bank Account Deemed as Terrorist and Closed

  23 July 2012

Website Tugaleaks, which aims to serve since December 2010 as Portugal's Wikileaks, had its bank account for donations arbitrarily closed on July 13 with no official communication [pt]. Tugaleaks contributors were finally told the account had been closed based on Act 25/2008 [pt] of money laundering and terrorist financing, which...

Russia: The Denver Cinema Shooting As A Case for Gun Rights in Russia

Anti-Kremlin blogger Vladislav Naganov responded to this week's shooting in a Denver, Colorado, movie theater by arguing [ru] that American gun violence proves the need for expanded gun rights in Russia, explaining that “gun-free zones,” such as “schools, college campuses, and large stores,” are left defenseless against armed madmen because citizens...

Hungary: Community News Site Takes On Neglected Fire Hydrants

Faulty and out-of-order fire hydrants made it difficult to control a fire that broke out in the Kutya mountain, close to the town of Nagykovácsi in Hungary. This inspired the founder of a community news site Nagykovácsi.net Dávid Fáber to launch a community-driven data gathering initiative to document all of the town's fire hydrants through his website's registered users.

Zambia: New Minimum Wage Pits Employers Against Government

  21 July 2012

The Statutory Instrument stipulating the minimum wage payable to domestic servants, shop workers and other general workers is arguably one of the most controversial policies of the 10 months old Patriotic Front (PF) government. This issue has divided Zambian netizens on citizen media and social network sites, those for and those against it, in equal measure.

Colombia: Locals Demand End to Cauca Conflict

  20 July 2012

For years, the indigenous people of the municipality of Toribio in Cauca have put up with hundreds of battles provoked by the guerrilla, paramilitary groups, and the military. The conflict has generated the displacement of thousands of indigenous people. Now, the indigenous people of the area have decided to intensify their struggle to expel these armed groups from their territory.

Mali: What is The ECOWAS Waiting for ?

  20 July 2012

Francis Laloupo wonders whether the ECOWAS has a clear  purpose in the resolution [fr] of the crisis in Northern Mali. Laloupo argues that while the ECOWAS has maintained for the past 4 months that they strive to re-establish the unity of the Malian territory,  they have yet to draw a coherent strategy to...

Russia: Yaroslavl Court Bans LiveJournal

Earlier this week, a Yaroslavl court responded to a request from local police and ordered Internet provider Netis Telekom to shut off access to a handful of websites, including Russia's most popular blogging platform, LiveJournal. As a result, roughly 6,000 subscribers have lost all LJ access.

Togo: Keeping an Eye on a Budding Political Crisis

  20 July 2012

Paul Martial warns that despite very little international coverage, the recent events in Togo suggest that profound changes are underway [fr].  Martial argues that the Eyadema administration is fragilized by both the emerging social crisis and internal tensions within the governing body. A new prime minister, Mr Ahoomey-Zunu, has been named today [fr].

Indonesia: “Jokowi vs Foke” in Jakarta Governor Election Run-Off

  20 July 2012

It's going to be a “Jokowi vs Foke” showdown in the Jakarta, Indonesia governor election run-off in September. Jokowi is a mayor of Solo City in Central Java while Foke is the incumbent governor of Jakarta. Netizens actively shared their views on issues that candidates must address in the campaign

Sri Lanka: The Disappearing Dogs Of Colombo City

  19 July 2012

Since 2010 the Colombo City Corporation has been removing stray dogs from the streets of Colombo and whereabouts of them are unknown. People are worried about the fate of the canines, reports Canging Perspectives blog.

Bulgaria: Security Services “Do Not Serve the Public”

Maya M of Maya's Corner comments on today's deadly bus explosion in the Bulgarian city of Burgas: “[…] While I understand that even the best intelligence can overlook the preparation of a terror act, I am angry, because our “services” are overstaffed and overfunded. They have generous subsidies even in...

El Salvador: President Funes Airs First Weekly Radio Program

  18 July 2012

“Conversando con el Presidente” (Talking with the President”) is a “weekly radio call in program to let citizens call and talk to their president,” as Tim's El Salvador Blog explains. Blogger Hunnapuh [es] gathers citizen reactions to the first show (aired Saturday, July 14, 2012), and shares his own opinion...

Colombia: “We are going to end with darkness in Congress”

  18 July 2012

On Facebook the Primary Constituent movement [es] is calling [es] for a gathering at Plaza de Bolívar (Bogotá's main public square) to protest corruption of politicians and demand that Emilio Otero is not reelected as secretary of the Colombian Congress. The gathering, called “We are going to end with darkness...

Africa: African Women on Fire

  18 July 2012

Rumbidzai Dube explains why 2012 is the year for African women: “2012 has been a progressive year for African women in global politics. In April Joyce Banda of Malawi became the first ever female president of Malawi and the Second Female president in Africa […]Just yesterday, Dr Nkosana Dhlamini-Zuma became...

Ukraine: “Opposition Talk” Vs. Reality

Taras of Ukrainiana posts a video of the roundtable discussion by the Ukrainian “united opposition” (which took place on July 17 and lasted 3 hours and 37 minutes) – as well as videos featuring “Dnipropetrovsk subway construction workers who have gone without pay for six months” and a Dnipropetrovsk woman...