Stories about History from October, 2011
France: Calls for Official Recognition of 1961 Paris Algerian Massacre
Fifty years after the bloody suppression of a peaceful demonstration by Algerians in Paris, French officials are still struggling to admit their responsibility. Calls for the official recognition of the 1961 massacre have been building in this anniversary year.
Puerto Rico: Remembering Luisa Capetillo
The digital news outlet Noticel published an article commemorating the birth 132 years ago of the pioneering Puerto Rican union leader, anarchist, and feminist Luisa Capetillo [es].
Colombia: Law 30 and “Operation Seventh Ballot” on Regional Election Day
Through the Facebook group “Operation Seventh Ballot” [es], citizens are inviting voters to deposit a paper in the ballot box with the words “NO TO THE REFORM OF LAW 30″ in reference to the education reform launched by the national government. This initiative, which will be carried out during the...
Iran: Virtual U.S Embassy
America decided to establish a virtual U.S embassy for Iran. In Khodnevis a cartoon says “Imam [Khomeyni]how can we climb up this embassy's wall”. The cartoon refers to Iran hostage crisis where 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981.
History of Medicine in Southeast Asia
A new website was created to gather research and more information about the history of medicine in the Southeast Asian region.
East Timor: Investing in Creativity and Culture
Barcelona artist David Palazón ended up in East Timor as a break from his career. Now he is coordinating a project to research Timorese culture in hopes of creating a school for the creative industries, to stimulate jobs in the non-oil economy, small businesses, and tourism.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: 32nd Independence
“I thought of our resilience and how despite all the adversity we have not given up”: Abeni wishes her country a Happy 32nd Independence Day.
Dominica: “Authentic Architecture”
Dominica Weekly explains why it thinks the Nature Island “should also be celebrated for its beautiful architecture and historic buildings.”
Cuba: Lessons from Libya
“Watching the fall of dictators, one after another, thousands of miles away, we can only reflect on the sequel such a process could generate on our own island”: Yoani Sanchez thinks that Qaddafi's death holds some lessons for Cuba.
Croatia: Alcatraz of Yugoslavia
Bill Kralovec of Bill's Blog recounts the story of the Adriatic prison island of Goli otok – the Alcatraz of Yugoslavia – where Yugoslavia held its political prisoners during the reign of Tito.
Cuba: “Exterior” & “Interior” Blockades
Generation Y and Havana Times blog about today's United Nations vote on the US-Cuba economic embargo.
Hungary: Live-Blogging Oct. 23 Opposition Protest in Budapest
The Contrarian Hungarian live-blogged Sunday's opposition rally in Budapest, which had been organized through Facebook (hu; en) and drew “many tens of thousands” of protesters.
Haiti: Enough of Occupation
The Haitian Blogger has had enough of the United Nations occupation of Haiti, saying: “All Haitian's [sic] will start respecting the U.S. and it's [sic] proxy the UN MINUSTAH military force when they begin to put a value on Haitian life.”
China: Goodbye Gadhafi and Tyranny
Prominent Chinese blogger, Yang Hengjun says farewell to Gadhafi’s rule and the remaining less than 10% autocratic rulers at China Media Project.
Cuba: Qaddafi's End
Two Cuban bloggers share their views on the death of Muammar Qaddafi.
France: Tunisian Diaspora Open “The Blue Finger Club”
The three-day anticipated vote for Tunisian living abroad is now over and has established a new "blue fingers club" on social media networks. Tunisian voters in France flaunt their ink-stained fingers - proof that they are part of the select club of early voters in the historical Tunisian constituent elections.
Iran: Be Scared, Dictator – Gaddafi is Dead
Several Iranian bloggers joined Libyans in celebration on Thursday, after longtime Libyan dictator Moammar Gaddafi was killed. Some bloggers longed for the end of dictatorship in Iran, as they shared in Libyan joy for a liberated country.
Cuba: Upcoming Census
Cuba will soon be having a new population census, but Generation Y wonders whether those who will be asking the questions are “census takers — or censors”, saying: “Tearing down the wall of distrust is not so easy, especially in a society where privacy in the home has been greatly...
France: Blue Fingers and Tears of Joy as Tunisian Diaspora Vote
Tunisians living in France went to the polls today, ahead of the October 23 election in their country. Voters are voting freely and democratically for the first time in 50 years - just nine months after the first of the Arab revolutions - and are showing off their inked-stained blue fingers with pride.
Commemorating Mozambique's Founding Father, Samora Machel
Mozambique commemorates on October 19, 2011, the 25th anniversary of the loss of its founding father and President Samora Machel, who was killed in a plane crash in Mbuzini, South Africa on October 19, 1986. The government declared 2011 the "Year of Samora Machel".
France: Towards an Admission of the 17 Octobre 1961 Suppression?
The blog Le Petit Blanquiste recounts [fr] the peaceful demonstration by Algerians in Paris, on 17 October 1961, which was suppressed in blood, and the media reactions of the time. After 50 years of near silence, there are emerging signs of an admission of fault.
