Stories about Governance from September, 2014
Building Sustainable Peace in The Central African Republic
As the UN launchs its peace keeping mission with the arrival of 1,500 troops in the Central African Republic (CAR), a few observers were wondering why it took so long given the extent of the casualties. Les Cercles nationaux de Réflexion sur la Jeunesse (CNRJ) is an NGO in Bangui, CAR that...
Sri Lanka's Slow LLRC Implementation
The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) was a commission of inquiry mandated to investigate the facts and circumstances which led to the bloody civil war in Sri Lanka. After an 18-month inquiry, the commission submitted its report to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa almost three years ago, on 15...
China's New Regulations on Instant Messaging Tools Explained
Hu Yong, associate professor at Peking University’s School of Journalism and Communication, explained the issue at stake regarding China's latest regulations on instant messaging tools on Chinafile. The regulations forbidden public account holders, except from registered media organizations accounts, to republish articles on current events. The result is a highly...
Less Than 10% of Rural Sub-Saharan Africans Have Access to Electricity. What's Being Done to Change That?
Fifteen percent of the world's population lives in Africa, yet they represent only 3 percent of global electricity consumption. Organizations are carrying out various electrification projects to wire the continent.
Trinidad & Tobago's Parliament Passes Constitutional Reform, But Opponents Vow to Continue to Fight
"The Senate debates the Constitution Amendment Bill tomorrow and from tonight we’re going to be outside the Parliament keeping watch over what is left of our democracy."
Trinidad & Tobago Needs to Pass the Public Procurement Bill
Trinidad and Tobago's Finance Minister yesterday delivered what many are calling a “welfare budget”, but prior to its unveiling in Parliament, blogger Afra Raymond had hoped that “a more restrained approach might be taken.” In examining the country's national budgets since 2005, Raymond found it telling that “many of the...
Debating the Nature of Macedonia's Failing Political System
Political analysts, but also bloggers and social media users, have been debating Macedonia's backslide from democracy.
Pussy Riot's Dynamic Duo Launches a New Media Portal
"A view from behind bars gives the best view of how the government process works,” says a new website from Pussy Riot's best known members, Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova.
Indians Publish Cries for Help and Calls for Donations on Twitter as Deadly Flooding Hits Jammu and Kashmir
"It's raining hell in Kashmir. Roads and rivers inundated. People being evacuated to safer places."
For Russian Soldiers in Ukraine, the Mobile Phone May Be as Mighty as the Sword
The heyday of social media scoops from inside the Russian war machine may be over. Or maybe not. Some soldiers will always manage to sneak in phones.
What If 75% of All Cities Were Deprived of Electricity by Design?
There are about 105 cities listed in all of Madagascar. The Minister of Energy Fienena Richard recently announced that 80 cities of Madagascar are curently deprived of electricity because JIRAMA, the public company in charge of providing electricity across the territory is running short on fuel. As a result, JIRAMA...
Iran Holds Persian ICT Week
Iran held the first annual Persian ICT week conference in Tehran's Ijlas center between August 30-31, 2014. The two day conference was a cooperative effort between Iran's ICT Guild Organization and the Arab ICT Organization. The theme of the conference was entitled, “Internet for Economic Growth,” and panels were held...
Pakistan's 1 Million Internal Refugees Might Have to March to Islamabad to Get the Nation's Attention
Authorities in Pakistan's displaced communities are growing impatient with the government's relief efforts. One tribal leader even threatens to march to Islamabad, if that's what it takes to be noticed.
Looking to Get Away? Do It Patriotically, With Russia's Upcoming Booking.com Clone.
As Russia turns inward, the country has sought national alternatives to goods and services that are generally Western-dominated. Moving ahead, Russia faces the dangers of breaking this dependence too quickly.
Despite Violent Pushback, Anti-Government Protesters in Pakistan Refuse to Budge Until Prime Minister Sharif Steps Down
Pakistan capital Islamabad turned into a battle-zone after police used tear gas and rubber bullets to fight back massive crowds of anti-government protesters trying to storm the Prime Minister's secretariat.
An Election Film Week in Lebanon to Say #NoToExtension of Parliament Term
What better than the seventh art to mobilize? In another effort to push for Elections in Lebanon and prevent an extension of the Parliamentary term #NoToExtension, Lebanese NGO Nahwa Al Muwatiniya (meaning Towards Citizenship) held an “Election Film Week”. Six works from Chile, Iran, China, Ghana and the US, varying between documentaries...
From Liberia to South Korea, West Africa's Ebola Outbreak Is Met With Ignorance and Paranoia
A pub in South Korea posted a notice turning away Africans "due to Ebola virus," and a Nigerian millionaire preacher is offering to cure Ebola patients with his special water.