Stories about Governance from January, 2010
Democracy And Pakistan
“Is Pakistan ready for democracy?” asks Bilal Qureshi at Pak Tea House.
Bhutan, China: Of Cyber And Border Wars
With quiet diplomacy and tact the tiny Himalayan state Bhutan took on giant China over encroachment and border issues recently. The Bhutanese officials and netizens are usually cautious to protest these issues with China, the powerful neighbor, but some netizens are voicing their dissent anonymously or under pseudonyms.
Haiti: “We’re all eight days old”
Bloggers and Twitter users on the ground in Haiti continue to provide news on efforts to recover from the disastrous earthquake of 12 January, and comment on "aid politics" — who gets helped by whom.
China: The Internet is freer than ever?
C. Custer criticized Shaun Rein’s recent column in Forbes about China internet freedom.
Japan: Differing viewpoints on the US base relocation issue
The southern Japanese island of Okinawa, the first colony of Japan in the 19th century and the site of one of the bloodiest battles in the WW2, has become in...
Egypt: America and Israel get to choose the new president
The chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the Egyptian Parliament, Dr Mostafa El Feki, in his article in Al Masry Al Youm Newspaper, stated that America and Israel have to...
Poland: Government Approves Proposal to Create Registry of Banned Websites and Services
Sylwia Presley posts an update on the Polish government's controversial decision to create a Registry of Banned Websites and Services, and on the Polish netizens' ongoing protests against Internet censorship.
Ukraine: Bloggers Discuss Presidential Election
Ukrainians went to the polls on Jan. 17 to choose their president from the 18 candidates running for the post this year. Opposition leader Victor Yanukovich received 35.32% of the vote; prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko is in second place, with 25.05%. As neither won 50% of the vote, they face a runoff vote on Feb. 7. Below are some of the reactions from the Ukrainian blogosphere.
Colombia: Hard to Tell the Good Guys from the Bad
Through citizen videos, different Colombian organizations share their unique perspectives on crime, violence and armed conflict, where it's hard to tell apart the good guys from the bad.
Announcing the Technology for Transparency Network
Rising Voices, the outreach and citizen media training initiative of Global Voices Online, has launched a new interactive website and global network of researchers to map online technology projects that aim to promote transparency, political accountability, and civic engagement.
D. R. of Congo: The hazards of neglect
Congoblog is a marvel. Every post deserves a mention, but here are some of the more arresting posts to have appeared so far in January 2010.
USA: Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 and became arguably the American Civil Rights Movement's most prominent advocate and speaker. In the United States, he is honored by a national holiday, observed the third Monday in January of each year. Today, many bloggers in the United States are honoring his memory with dedicated posts, linking his legacy of social justice with issues of today, demonstrating that 42 years after King's assassination, his words are just as relevant.
UK: Twitter joke led to Terror Act arrest
Sharpe's Opinion reacts sarcastically to the news of the first arrest in the United Kingdom over a Twitter joke: “Round of applause of the police there. Keeping us safe from...
Haiti: International clashes over humanitarian assistance
Five days after the terrible earthquake which has partly destroyed the capital city, Port-au-Prince and others like Leogane and Jacmel, it has been very difficult for rescuers, medical teams and humanitarian services to reach the population and help the survivors.
Haiti: Waiting for water
Nearly six days after the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, a severe shortage of drinking water in Port-au-Prince hampers relief efforts. Pleas for water issued via Twitter and other media highlight the severity of the situation.
Japan: For Haiti it may be too little, too late
In an odd twist of fate, the worst earthquake to hit Haiti in two hundred years has erupted within days of the 15th anniversary of Japan's worst earthquake since the second world war: the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. Given the timing of the catastrophe, one might have expected a strong Japanese presence in Haiti. To the frustration of many in Japan, the opposite was in fact the case.
Morocco: Why is Tzipi Livni Welcomed Here?
A Moroccan Voice questions why Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni is wanted in Britain but welcomed with open arms in Morocco.
Colombia: President Álvaro Uribe's Bid for Third Term
While Colombian President Álvaro Uribe has expressed an interest in running for a third consecutive term, changes in the Constitution are needed to allow this. A recent recommendation by the Inspector General gave his re-election bid a big boost.
Haiti: Renowned Haitians announced dead
Though communicating inside and outside Haiti has been a huge challenge and most people have not been able to have reliable -if any - information concerning their relatives and friends, news has come, interestingly enough, from bloggers outside of Haiti, about famous people missing or already declared dead.
Egypt: Bloggers arrested over Naga Hammady Visit
Egypt today arrested 20 bloggers who were visiting Naga Hammady in Upper Egypt to pass their respects to those killed in a sectarian outburst on January 7. Seven people were shot dead and several injured when an assailant gunned down Christian Copts leaving a church after the Christmas mass. The bloggers visit was to show a united front against sectarianism.
Bangladesh: Traffic Jam And The Prime Minister
Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh saw a huge traffic jam as many roads were closed because the Prime Minister was greeted by supporters as she returned from her India trip....
