Stories about Governance from July, 2011
Factory Closing in South China
Steve Dickinson from China Law Blog explains that the factory closing phenomena in South China is part of the government's plan to upgrade the manufacturing sector.
Armenia: Corruption
With Armenia ranking 123 out of 178 countries in a 2010 Transparency International report measuring corruption, Life in the Caucasus, a blog maintained by a Peace Corps volunteer in the country, notes that bribery take place at all levels of society and in every sphere of life.
Is Russia's Political “Black Hole” About to Reach Tipping Point?
In December 2011 Russian voters will elect a new parliament, and than in March 2012 a new (or perhaps, not so new) president. Analysts predict that the upcoming elections threaten a confrontation between the old political parties and their new, network-based, alternatives.
Portugal: “Junk” National Debt Rating Provokes Online Demonstrations
The “junk” rating given to Portugal’s ability to pay its public debts by independent American financial analysis corporation Moody's, has provoked numerous demonstrations of exacerbated nationalism on the social networks. It has also brought to the blogosphere further analysis on the economic crisis and the country's bailout.
Azerbaijan: Release Jabbar Savalan Campaign
Amnesty International has launched an online campaign calling for the release of Jabbar Savalan, a young activist in Azerbaijan who made calls on Facebook for pro-democracy protests in the oil-rich former Soviet republic. Those wishing to join the campaign can sign an online petition here.
Barbados: Legal Battle over Wetlands
Barbados Free Press recounts the falling out between a Canadian philanthropist and the government over the latter's alleged action of “dumping raw sewerage into the Graeme Hall wetlands and other violations of various treaties and agreements”, saying: “The truth is that Peter Allard has been a better friend to ordinary...
Malaysia: The Economist print edition censored
uppercaise reports that the latest print edition of The Economist was censored by Malaysian authorities. The government said it only ‘blackened’ the ‘false and misleading’ parts of the story on the Bersih protest.
Murdoch Hails Singapore Model But Local Netizens Disagree
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch has told British members of parliament that the Singapore model of paying high salaries to politicians should be emulated to curb corruption. Here is the reaction from Singapore netizens.
Singapore: How to elect a female president
Grace Ke of the Association of Women for Action and Research explains why it's almost impossible to elect a female president in Singapore.
Panama: Presidential Insults Online
Panamanian President, Ricardo Martinelli, sparked controversy on Twitter after allegedly insulting a user who criticized him in a rude manner. But the President denies that any insult was intended. Netizens discuss the furore.
Russia: Online Effort to Discredit Environmentalists Exposed
Suren Gazaryan, Russian environmentalist, publishes [ru] the scan of the document that describes the strategy of discrediting local environmentalist organizations protesting against the development of the Tuapse oil terminal. The “plan” includes prices for the paid posts in the blogs, forums, media outlets, as well as a list of possible...
Russia: President Medvedev's Gadgets Evaluated in a YouTube Video
YouTube user tebedam publishes a video [ru/en] entitled as “Medvedev is NOT corrupted,” that provides market prices for the gadgets president Medvedev had been spotted with on various photos, including Leica S2 camera (Price 22,995 US dollars), other top shelf Swiss watches, and a spacious Moscow flat. According to the...
Chile: Students Take Over Schools Demanding Education Reform
Students have taken over hundreds of schools throughout Chile, turning their classrooms into temporary homes while they demand free and higher quality education. They are sharing their movement online through video and blogs, giving us a glimpse of what it is like to be on the inside of a student-controlled school.
Twitter and Latin American Presidents: Does It Make Them Closer to Us?
Twitter use among the presidents of Latin America is gaining momentum. Whether used as a form of press release, to communicate with citizens or to cheer for a soccer team, Twitter has established itself as a new tool for heads of state to interact in both their public and private lives.
Indonesia: Demand to open torture trial
The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence and the Asian Human Rights Commission urge the Indonesian government to make transparent the torture trial involving members of the Indonesian army. The torture incident which led to the death of Charles Mali took place in East Nusa Tenggara.
Cambodia: Prison overcrowding
Licadho reports about the prison overcrowding in Cambodia. It added that Cambodia's prison system is among the 25 most overcrowded in the world.
Haiti: The Price of Work
Haiti Grassroots Watch, along with students from the Journalism Laboratory at the State University of Haiti’s Faculty of Human Sciences, investigates a “Cash for Work” program in the Ravine Pintade slum run by a US “non-profit” organization, and uncovers corruption, sexual abuse and social conflict.
Malawi: Arab Spring Spreading South of the Sahara?
It's winter in Africa, south of the Equator, but the temperature in Malawi feels more like Spring - particularly that of the recent Arab pedigree. The Malawian air is rife with tension and anxiety over what is expected to be a clash between civil society and the Malawi government on Wednesday July 20.
Russia: Women ‘Rip For Putin’ As Election Campaign War Begins
Russian 2012 presidential candidate Vladimir Putin is quickly catching up with his supposed rival Dmitry Medvedev in engaging guerrilla marketing techniques and new media to boost his campaign.
Bhutan: Tribute to the King
I Am Drukpa pays tribute to the Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (the Fourth Druk Gyalpo) on the occasion of the third anniversary of the enactment of the constitution.
Iran: Summer Heat Gives Way to Crackdowns on “Improper” Clothing
In many places, summer means sun, sea and holidays. In Iran, summer means at least one more thing: crackdowns on women wearing improper or “un-Islamic” clothing.
