Stories about Governance from June, 2013
China's Undercover ‘Street Vender’ Sting Exposed
Urban management officers, also known as Chengguan, have been under much media scrutiny lately. A recent story of a Chengguan going undercover as a street vendor at night went viral online. The seeming PR campaign drew wide skepticism among netizens. Offbeat China explains.
China Announces Campaign to Weed Out Party Corruption
The Chinese Communist Party is launching a year-long campaign to clean up the party to do away with corrupt elements in its organization. But many Chinese netizens have expressed skepticism toward the campaign, arguing that democracy with the open participation of the people, and not a closed internal process, is the best way to get rid of corruption.
Thousands Are Joining Bosnia's ‘Babylution’
The death of a baby girl has people in Bosnia-Herzegovina crossing the country's deep ethnic divides by the thousands to protest together against the government's failure to remedy a lapse in the law that is preventing newborns from being given an identity number and, by extension, travel papers and healthcare.
Elections 2013: Challenges Ahead for Nepal
The Nepalese government has announced dates for the 2013 Constituent Assembly polls which will be in November this year. Siromani Dhungana at ‘United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal’ discusses the challenges and opportunities ahead for Nepal.
Ecuador Passes Controversial Communications Law
After almost four years of debate, the Ecuadorian National Assembly passed a controversial Law of Communications propelled by President Rafael Correa. While government authorities have celebrated the passage of the law, journalistic organizations and the opposition consider it a "gag" on freedom of expression in the country.
Caribbean: Is Somebody Watching?
The ongoing saga with U.S. Internet surveillance whistleblower Edward Snowden has captured the attention of the world. In two blog posts, one from Trinidad and Tobago and the other from Cuba, there is an interesting juxtaposition between high-tech spying and old-fashioned intelligence, even though they both pit the citizens against the state.
Rise in Gas Prices Revives Debate over Campaign Promise in Peru
President Humala had promised to set the price to 12 soles (around 4.39 U.S. dollars). But the problem with hydrocarbons is more complex on the international scene.
Iran: Dear Mr. President, Fix the Internet!
A group of bloggers and cyber activists wrote a letter to new President-elect Hassan Rouhani, asking him to increase Internet speed. They also complain about filtering and remind Rouhani that he used the Internet to promote his campaign.
Venezuelan Universities On Strike Demand Economic Improvements
Venezuelan universities have declared an indefinite strike to demand an improvement in professor wages. As such, with the controversies that have taken place in recent months between government representatives and public universities, another episode of a long conflict is being written.
India Stops 160-year-old Telegram Service
India's state-owned telecommunications company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has announced that it is discontinuing its telegram service beginning 15 July 2013 due to declining use of service and huge losses. Many social media users have reminisced over the rich history of the 160-year-old service.
India’s Dysfunctional Public Health System
Kushik Sanyal at Polity In India Blog tries to find out what ails India’s public health delivery system.
Islam and Authoritarianism
Why there is apparently a link between Islam and authoritarianism? - Asks Pakistani blogger Raza Habib Raja.
Orphaned in US, SOPA Finds Home in Russia
America’s controversial Stop Online Piracy Act is back—and it’s poised to become law in a matter of weeks. SOPA, however, isn’t coming to the US, where a wide coalition defeated the legislation in January 2012. A law that creates similarly harsh penalties for online copyright violations is on the cusp of finding a home in Russia.
Kazakh Minister Fired as Netizens Criticize Pension Plans
A Facebook-driven reaction to the government's attempt to ram through a pension reform without public discussion has given people approaching retirement age in Kazakhstan a rare voice. The republic's Social Affairs Minister was toppled after a gaffe at a public appearance made him an object of ridicule, while Kazakhstan's strongman president...
Iran's Presidential Candidates Armed With Social Media
Iranian presidential candidates are competing with each other in use of social media like Facebook and Twitter even though these sites are filtered and generally inaccessible to internet users.
Dengue Outbreak in Singapore
Singapore recorded 4,632 dengue cases in 2012. This year it went up to 9,847 already. This is a record high for Singapore which last experienced a dengue outbreak in 2005. The National Environment Agency has launched the ‘Do the Mozzie Wipeout’ campaign to promote awareness about dengue prevention
Iran: Viva Reforms
Hassan Rouhani's supporters in presidential election chanted “viva reforms” and Rouhani in Mashhad. Rouhani is supported by reformists for Iran's 14th of June presidential election.
China Quotes Foreign Press on Snowden
China tightened its media's use of information from foreign press in April, 2013, in a move to exert stronger control over domestic newspapers and TV broadcasts. Ironically, Chinese media in recent days have increased their quotations from foreign press as the Snowden story unfolds. China Media Project has the details.
Environment Impact of Mining in Indonesia
An article published at mongabay.com exposes the destructive environment impact of mining in remote Indonesian towns.Some scholars fear that “parts of Indonesia now have the highest levels of mercury contamination on earth.”
No Witnesses? No Rape, Says Pakistan's Islamic Council
A ruling by Pakistan's Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) dismissing DNA as primary evidence in rape cases has received much flak from activists in the country. The ruling has its fair share of supporters though, with some happy that there is a legitimate institution pondering religious issues in Pakistan.
PRISM Infects Russia with Cyberwar Scare
Since last week, when the world learned about PRISM, Russian state officials have expressed renewed concerns about foreign social networks posing a national security threat. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Rogozin recently told reporters that websites like Facebook and Twitter are elements of a larger American campaign against Russia.
