Stories about Governance from October, 2012
Barbados: “Modest” Proposals for Political Reform
Instead of adopting policies merely to “keep up” with the rest of the world, we need to adopt a system which enables for maximum prioritization in preemptive motioning for our country’s long term future. “Brudah Bim” offers some proposals to reform Barbados’ political system.
Costa Rica Advances in Legislation for Wildlife Protection
Costa Rica is advancing in legislation to protect wildlife. On October 10, President Laura Chinchilla signed a decree that strengthens the controls on shark finning in Costa Rican waters. Furthermore, on October 2, the Legislative Assembly approved the first reading of a reform for the Wildlife Conservation Law, which proposes the elimination of hunting sports in the country.
Angola: Elinga Theatre, from Glory to Oblivion
For 24 years the Elinga Theatre kept its doors open to promote and develop theatre and the imagination in Angola. Like other historical buildings in Luanda, the Elinga is also under threat of demolition to give way to modernisation, which has given rise to negative reactions on the Internet.
China: Cross-province News Censorship
Jing Gao from Ministry of Tofu explains how the Fujian government extended its black hand to Yunnan to stop the publication of a news story that exposes the corruption of a Fujian government official.
Bhutan: The Art of Politics
Tshering Tobgay, a leader of opposition party, explains the art of politics in Bhutan.
Maldives: The Assassination of A Lawmaker
Buggee posts a photo story on the death of Dr Afraasheem Ali, a lawmaker of the Maldives Government qualition, who was stabbed to death outside his home.
Ghana: Obstacles to the Advancement of Women
Betty Mould Iddrisu, jurist and Minister of Justice of Ghana, writes [fr] on pambazuka.org: To reach the upper level is rare, and once you have arrived there, you still have to face hostility and doubts about your abilities, because you are a woman. A woman at the top works harder...
Spain: Government Insults Judge for Exonerating Protestors
Judge Pedraz's writ, which closes the case against eight people detained at the 25-S protests, has not gone down at all well in government circles. The Congress spokesperson, Rafael Hernando, has described the decision as "indecent and unacceptable" and labelled the judge a "posh anarchist."
São Tomé & Príncipe: Deforestation Threatens Biodiversity
São Tomé and Príncipe, like other islands in the Gulf of Guinea, is one of the countries on the West African coast that stands out when the issue at hand is biodiversity. However, large areas of its unique forests are disappearing to make way for monocultures for the production of biofuel.
Czech Republic: Přednádraží Forced Eviction Struggle Continues
The movement against forced evictions of Roma families at Přednádraží has suffered several severe blows over the last month, but as the pressure keeps rising, alliances also continue to grow. Daniela Kantorova reports.
Indonesia: Anti-Corruption Agency Gets Online Support
The power of social media was once again affirmed in Indonesia when internet users collectively expressed their support to corruption investigators who are being harassed by the police and some politicians.
Guatemala: Petition Demands Justice for Totonicapán Victims
The Guatemala Human Rights Commission has released a petition [en, es] to “demand justice for the massacre in Totonicapán, Guatemala,” where 8 were killed and more than 35 injured when combined armed forces violently removed indigenous demonstrators from Cuatro Caminos, a well-known road intersection in Guatemala. With the pain of...
DR of Congo: Tension Between Kinshasa and Paris as Summit Commences
Le Potentiel writes that [fr] French president Hollande's assessment of Human Rights violations in DR of Congo were not taken lightly by the Congolese government as the Francophone Summit is set to take place in Kinshasa, DRC. The two governments seem to be at odds on the death of Human right activist...
Political Exile On Board the Eritrean Presidential Jet
The blog “les Erythréens” has this report [fr]: Yesterday morning (October 3rd) two Eritrean pilots defected—in their Eritrean Air Force jet—to Saudi Arabia, requesting political exile upon landing at the airport in Jizan.
Costa Rica: Students Protest Veto of ‘Photocopying Law’
Thousands of students participated in a march in San José on Tuesday, October 9, 2012, protesting for their right to photocopy textbooks for educational purposes. The unrest was caused by President Chinchilla vetoing Bill 17342 (known as the ‘Photocopying Law’) on the grounds that it removes protection of the work and intellectual property in the artistic, literary and technological areas.
United States: The Road to Peace According to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, emblematic figure of the Burmese opposition and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, recieved the Vaclav Havel for Creative Dissent award given by the Human Rights Foundation during the San Francisco Freedom Forum. Her participation was part of a 15-day tour throughout the United States.
The Venezuelan Elections, From Panama
The Venezuelan presidential elections were followed with interest in Panama, both by the Venezuelan community in the country and by Panamanians interested in what would happen in the neighboring country.
Trinidad & Tobago: Privatizing Healthcare
An ad in the newspaper has Trinidad & Tobago blogger, The Eternal Pantomime, wondering whether the government plans to privatize the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex at Mount Hope.
Saint Lucia's New Value Added Tax Jumps at Citizens
Beginning October 1, 2012 the government of Saint Lucia imposed a Value Added Tax (VAT) on good and services. In doing so, Saint Lucia became the last member of the Caribbean Community to adopt VAT. In the months and weeks leading up to the deadline, various stakeholders expressed doubts about the country's readiness.
Lesotho: Defence Force Top Brass Facing Court Charge
Commenting a post on lestimes.com about the the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) top brass facing a court charge after they allegedly ignored a High Court order to accept a junior soldier’s sick leave application, KOTOPE writes: The answer to all this mess is very simple, LESOTHO DOES NOT NEED ARMED...
Slovakia: Comparing the Income of Roma and Non-Roma Neighbors
Tibor Blazko translates netizens' comments on some of the issues brought up in a recent World Bank report: unemployment, safety nets and the gap in income between Roma and non-Roma families in Slovakia.
