Stories about Governance from July, 2012
Portugal: Tugaleaks Bank Account Deemed as Terrorist and Closed
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...
Malawi: Joyce Banda's 100 Days in Office Amidst Controversy
Malawian President Joyce Banda became Africa's second female head of state after Liberia's President following the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika. How has she performed after 100 days in office?
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,...
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.
Is Tunisia a Banana Republic?
Tunisian netizens react to a Tunisian MP's use of the term "President of the Banana Republic" to refer to interim President Moncef Marzouki, during a heated parliamentary debate.
Zambia: New Minimum Wage Pits Employers Against Government
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.
Moldova: Communism – Is It Really Over Now?
On June 12, Moldova’s parliament condemned the Soviet totalitarian communist regime and prohibited the use of the communist symbols, the hammer and sickle. Diana Lungu reports on the online reactions to this important yet belated decision.
Colombia: Locals Demand End to Cauca Conflict
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 ?
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...
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
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...
Indonesia: “Jokowi vs Foke” in Jakarta Governor Election Run-Off
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
Georgia: Elections Portal Goes Online Ahead Of Parliamentary Vote
Democracy and Freedom Watch reports on the launch of an online monitoring platform ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for October 2012. The site, Elections Portal, is available in Georgian and...
Sri Lanka: The Disappearing Dogs Of Colombo City
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...
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...
El Salvador: President Funes Airs First Weekly Radio Program
“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....
Colombia: “We are going to end with darkness in Congress”
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...
Africa: African Women on Fire
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...
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...
China: Draft Rule to Prohibit Citizens from Monitoring Air?
A draft rule on the management of environmental monitor [zh] may result in the prohibition of citizens and NGOs from monitoring the air quality in China. Charles Zhu from Tea...
China: State-run Media's English Forum
Beijing Cream looks into the “harmonious” interaction of a newly launched English Forum under State run media, Xinhua's website.
