Stories about Governance from August, 2012
Benin: Fear and Loathing as State of Emergency is Declared
Justin Yarga reacts [fr] to the statement issued by the government of Benin on alleged large-scale terrorist plots and planned national strikes [fr] to destabilize the country. A state of emergency has been declared [fr] but many wonder whether such measures are justified.
Hong Kong: Campaigning Against Cattle Relocation Policy
Agriculture was vibrant just decades ago in Hong Kong in rural areas, and yellow cattle were a particular feature. Pressure from local government to relocate 8 cattle in Mui Wo Lantau Island has been met with fierce protest by animal rights activists and local residents.
Puerto Rico: Social Media's ‘No’ Campaign Wins Big in Referendum
"140 characters focused so hard on raising awareness among people that today they broke the machinery put together by money. The NO won!!!" - A netizen reacts to the campaign's success in a referendum to amend the country's constitution.
Ethiopia: Rage and Sorrow as Meles Zenawi's Death Confirmed
The official confirmation of the death of Meles Zenawi, Ethiopia’s prime minster, has stirred both rage and sorrow online. Zenawi disappeared from public view immediately after the G20 meeting in Mexico in June. He even failed to attend the 21st Ordinary Session of the African Union which was hosted in Addis Ababa in July, leaving Ethiopians at home and abroad asking, "Where is Meles Zenawi?"
Togo: Police Clashes with Thousand of Protesters in Lomé
Today (August 21), the association ” Sauvons le Togo” has posted photos on its twitter and Flickr account that illustrate clashes between police and thousand of protesters who demand reforms in the electoral process.
South Africa: ‘Apartheid Era’ Police Brutality at Mine Massacre
"16th of August 2012 will go down in South African history as the new Sharpeville. 45 dead because police and the South African government cannot handle an independent union movement." - Police used lethal force on mine workers who were striking at a Lonmin mine in Marikana.
Brazil: Land Dispute Between Slave Descendants and the Navy
An online petition [pt] demands the suspension of the order of eviction of Quilombo Rio dos Macacos, one of the oldest slave descendent communities in Brazil. A Technical Identification and Delimitation Report from the National Institute of Colonisation and Agrarian Reform (Incra) determined that the territory belongs to the quilombola...
United States: Significance of Paul Ryan for the Hispanic Population
From the day that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney chose Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate, there has been extensive media coverage in favor and against the decision. Little has been said, however, with respect to the effect that it will have on the Hispanic population in the United States.
Pakistan: Government Suspends Mobile Services in Major Cities on Eid
"So whats the guarantee terrorists won't strike tomorrow or the day after? Why not close cell phone services, like forever?" A Pakistani netizen reacts to the temporary cell phone ban, which the government says has been put in place to prevent terrorist attacks.
India: Uraniam Contamination in Jaduguda Kept Classified
Since 1967, the Jaduguda region in the Indian state of Jharkhand has been exploited for its uranium and its people and ecosystem were subjected to uranium poisoning. Anuj Wankhede informs that the locals had not sufficiently warned and rather the uranium contamination in Jaduguda has remained as India's one of...
India: Assam Riots – Truth Vs Hype
In July, clashes between indigenous Bodo tribes and Muslim settlers in the Indian State of Assam broke out which lead to riots, killings and mass displacement. After almost a month the situation is yet to calm down as politicians and organisations on both sides resorted to spread fear and exaggerated claims on the issue of illegal migration.
Puerto Rico: What's at Stake in the August 19 Referendum
Puerto Ricans have voted on a referendum to amend the Constitution. The are two proposed amendments: one to limit the right to bail and one that to reduce the number of legislators. The implications of limiting the right to bail and the campaign organized to oppose the referendum was marked by a heightened activity on social network sites.
Turkmenistan's ‘Nepotistic Cleptocracy’
On video blog bloggingheads.tv, Joshua Foust of Registan.net speaks to a Turkmen dissident living in exile about the political situation in Turkmenistan.
India: Government Bans Bulk SMS To Stop Rumors
Medianama reports that the Ministry of Home affairs of India has banned bulk SMS and MMS for a period of 15 days. This directive came after reports revealed that rumors are being spread following violence in Assam, leading to mass exodus of people from the North-East region, from several Indian...
Cameroon: Contesting Magazine's “Failed States” Report
Francois-Xavier from Cameroon wrote: “Foreign policy in collaboration with the Fund For Peace has issued the eight annual failed states index and a joint photo essay which they titled Postcards from Hell. The report has stirred much controversy and citizens mostly from the countries topping the report have reacted negatively to...
Guyana: Linden Protests Intensify
The protests in Linden, Guyana have intensified with the recent burning of buildings. Netizen commentary suggests that what began last month as a peaceful demonstration about increased electricity rates has broadened into political wrangling, while bringing to the fore serious questions about the power of the police and the military.
Colombia: Online Campaign Seeks to Reform Health System
In their YouTube [es] channel, the group Todo lo que hay [es] posts the story [es] of a Colombian cancer patient whose treatment has not been continuous due to various administrative procedures that are part of the health system in the country: “Jorge Mario's call is similar to that of...
Italy: Uncertain Future for Polluting Ilva Steel Plant – and its 12,000 Employees
Europe's biggest steel plant in Taranto, Italy, has been put under judicial seizure: the last chapter of a complex struggle involving high environmental risks and occupational issues. Along with street protests, a broader debate has ensued online.
Russia: Millions of Taxpayer Rubles Earmarked for Facebook “Likes”
Earlier this week, Aleksei Navalny took aim at a pending state tender for advertising services to aid the state-owned broadcasting company The Voice of Russia. The dispute surrounding VoR and its Facebook marketing strategy reveals much about how Russians understand online popularity, particularly their low faith in the very concept.
Iran, Israel: ‘Not Ready to Die in Your War’
From mainstream news headlines it seems Iran and Israel are on the edge of war. Israeli politicians continue to threaten attacking Iranian nuclear facilities and Iranian authorities recite their old slogans that Israel will 'disappear from the map.' But as the noise of war rises from both sides, so does activism for peace.
Iran: Disparity between conservative opinion blogs
A report in Storify shows the disparity between conservative bloggers in Iran, from Ramadan to murder of Muslims in Myanmar.
