Stories about Governance from February, 2009
Serbia: Update on Miladin Kovacevic
Belgraded posts an update on the Miladin Kovacevic’s story.
Poland: Economic Situation
The beatroot writes about the economic situation in Poland.
Czech Republic: Prague Filming Fees
The Czech Daily Word writes that “Budapest, Vienna and other cities” are likely to replace Prague as “a favorite spot for American filmmakers” – due to newly-introduced filming fees.
Latvia: Government Resignation
Edward Hugh writes about Latvian government's resignation at A Fistful of Euros.
Saudi Arabia: Moving to a modern society?
“Is Saudi Arabia moving closer to a modern society?,” asks Sabria S. Jawhar in her new blog post.
Maghreb: UN Western Sahara Envoy Holds Talks with Polisario
Yesterday, Christopher Ross, the UN Special Envoy to the disputed Western Sahara, arrived in Algeria to hold talks with the Polisario Front, according to AFP. Jillian York rounds up blogger reactions from the Maghreb region on this latest development.
Chile: NGO for Victims of Delinquency Brings Together Citizens
The NGO Víctimas de la Delincuencia [es] (Victims of Delinquency) was created in Chile's capital city of Santiago in 2006 to protect, guide and inform the victims of violence in this city. On their website, citizens have been marking episodes of violence (muggings, assault, robbery, rape and abuse) on a map, uploading videos and testimony of when and how they were victimized. The organization's goal is enable the changing of laws in Chile, which so far, according to Víctimas de la Delincuencia, tend to benefit delinquents instead of their victims.
Iran: Pro Khatami web sites were filtered
According to news sites and blogs, Iranian authorities have filtered two web sites, Yaari News and Yaari, promoting the presidential bid of Mohammed Khatami, former reformist president.
DRC: When it rains in Kinshasa
Cedric Kalonji describes Kinshasa after a heavy rain [FR]. The roads turn into lakes, but “high up in their 4x4s, the authorities are untouched by the problem, the result being that there is almost no support for making storm sewers or gutters.”
Martinique: On independence and French “paternalism”
As the workers' movement in Martinique and Guadeloupe continues, bloggers in Martinique consider what it might mean for the overseas departments to become independent. le blog de [moi] finds the idea Martinique couldn't make it on its own offensive and paternalistic. Her readers think that one reality of being a small island country is that you are always under someone else's shadow.
Iraq: The Irony in Al Zaidi's Shoe Throwing
Iraqi Pundit discusses the case of Muntadhar Al Zaidi, the journalist who threw a shoe at President George W Bush, during his visit to Iraq late last year. “I have said before that I understand that he released the frustration of countless Iraqis, and I get why Iraqis and non-Iraqis...
China: Eluding the Cat Investigation, Netizen's Power or Government PR?
In response to the netizens’ talks and comments about the “eluding cat” incident, the Yunnan provincial Publicity Department's Press and Publication Administration decided to form an investigative committee on Feb 20. Moreover, the department had invited netizens to form a investigative committee. In a few hours, 510 netizens registered to...
Martinique: President Sarkozy
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has finally met with elected representatives of French Guiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe and Réunion, regarding the crisis which has been shaking the French West Indies for the last month. Martinican bloggers Imaniyé and blogde[moi] are dissatisfied and note that his TV address raised two questions: Why was...
Guadeloupe, Corsica: Same situation? Same claims?
Martinican blogde[moi] ponders on the possible extension of the French West Indian conflict to the French island of Corsica, following the analysis of a Corsican blogger.
China: Riding on Chairman Mao's head
On Feb19，a set of pictures that shows a girl riding on the head of Chairman Mao was circulated around the internet. Of course, what she rides is just a statue erected on the plaza in Hunan, Mao's hometown. However, the story with the pictures immediately secured the headline position in...
Clinton visits Indonesia
Aside from meeting the leaders of Indonesia, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton found the time to visit a slum community in Jakarta. She also appeared in a teen-oriented TV show. What are the reactions of bloggers?
Fiji: Bloggers react to police commissioner's ‘crusade’
Bloggers in Fiji are commenting on the police commissioner’s recent outburst recorded by television cameras at a meeting with Indo-Fijian officers warning them with termination if they continue to air their complaints directly to the media
Kenya: Much Ado About an Atlas?
Kenyan bloggers are talking about UNEP. First, regarding news of an Atlas that shows Kenya's changing environment, and secondly, the hypocrisy of driving into a UNEP meeting in a gas guzzler. Global Voices environment has covered the reaction of bloggers to UN's use of SUV's, please see this post on...
Pakistan: Water Pollution
Owais Mughal at All Things Pakistan writes about the water pollution in Phuleli canal in Hyderabad and wants to “raise awareness about pollution in canals taken out from lower Indus i.e. Kotri Barrage.”
Caribbean, USA: Where in the World is Allen Stanford?
It's one thing for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to lay fraud charges against Texas billionaire-cum-Caribbean cricket magnate Allen Stanford - but first, authorities have to find him. As panicky investors flock to Stanford-owned banks from Antigua to South America to try and withdraw their funds, speculation is rife as to where Mr. Stanford might be.
Bangladesh: Media vs. Parliament
An Ordinary Citizen points to an important aspect of the media coverage of the proceedings of Bangladesh parliament: “Media is to convey the news of the parliament as expected. Now, media is producing news of itself of matters which should have been discussed in the parliament.” Read the post for...
