Stories about Ideas from February, 2011
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Dear Heart
Abeni writes a letter to her heart on Valentine's Day.
China: Farewell to all Mubaraks!
"Illegitimate regimes," writes Chinese novelist Yang Hengjun of Hosni Mubarak, "end up illegitimate, no matter how many impressive reasons you put forward, no matter how smooth-tongued you are, no matter how big your army is."
Tunisia: What Follows the Revolution?
President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia more than three weeks ago, but clashes with police and protests by people demanding jobs or better wages are still taking place in Tunisia. In this post we hear from Tunisian bloggers on the current situation, some voicing frustration at the lack of order, even as the overall tone is hopeful that everything will work out in the end.
Trinidad & Tobago: Economic Parallels
“It is an epic failure in that the world’s strongest and most diversified financial system was brought, literally, to its knees by a tidal wave of greed”: Afra Raymond says that “If any of this sounds familiar, yes, you are right; it is almost the same as our own crisis.”
Jamaica, U.S.A.: Virtual Reality
“I wonder if people are somehow lulling themselves into a belief that the digital world is not real or somehow divorced from the real world”: Grasshopper Eyes The Potomac says everything is connected.
Jamaica: Watching Egypt Make History
“Social media play a role in the way popular discontent with government is communicated”: Pray, laugh grow! realises that “Egypt is at a crucial point in its history.”
Taiwan: Women's role in free and open source software movement
WoFOSS (Women in Free and Open Source Software in Taiwan) is a community of females in free and open software development and movement. Traditionally, in the field of information/engineering, men are always in charge, however, for many years, women have been stepping in from various directions, including developers, promoters, or...
Cuba: The Reality of Revolution
1Click2Cuba wonders whether Cuba will be the next Egypt, but Iván's File Cabinet reminds us that the Cuban reality is different.
Cuba: Who Does The Law Protect?
Laritza's Laws says that “the fact that justice depends on politics “assures them [leaders] political immunity, both for themselves and their clique.”
Jamaica: Social Media is the Message
“How messages of revolution are transmitted is crucial…this is why…powerbrokers have always tried to control the media, whether these were the drums of the enslaved signaling revolt on Caribbean plantations or more contemporary forms of broadcasting which now include Twitter and Facebook”: Annie Paul thinks Malcolm Gladwell is wrong about...
Jamaica: Lessons from Marley
“One of the most striking aspects of Marley’s songwriting is his authenticity”: Diaspora litblogger Geoffrey Philp wonders if bloggers can learn a few lessons from the late reggae great.
Egypt: Tahrir Square's Mini Utopia
There is another side to the ongoing revolution in Egypt, which is the daily life of those people sitting in on Tahrir Square. For the past 12 days, they have remained on the square, eating, drinking, chanting, cheering - simply living there day and night. Life here has its own rhythm now, and the spirit on diplay is of a mini Utopia.
Jordan: Proud to be an Arab
Jordanian blogger, Roba Al-Assi, wrote a list with photos of 10 things that happened during the Egyptian and Tunisian uprisings that made her proud to be an Arab.
Cambodia: Review of Tedx Phnom Penh
Tedx Phnom Penh conducted its first event in Cambodia last February 5 with the theme “Building the Future”. Here are some blog and twitter reviews of the event
Global: Thoughts on interfaith harmony and world peace
In this, the first, World Interfaith Harmony Week, people from all faiths have been getting together to forget about differences and promote religious tolerance and dialogue based on the mantras "Love of God and love of one's neighbour" or "love of the good and love of one's neighbour". Worldwide bloggers share views on why this dialogue is so important – and why it is not impossible to achieve it.
China: The coming of age of Political Confucianism?
The unveiling of the Confucius statue in Tiananmen Square last month has renewed the debate about Political Confucianism as the state ideology of China.
A Visual Glance At the Gov. Censorship Around the World
Jone Pavlus posted on the Fast Company’s Co. Design site a stark set of infographics visualizing the governments censorship on the internet around the world. (Click here to see its interactive version)
Cuba: Pacheco Blogs From Exile
“Cubans, undeniably, have to find a path. We must keep one thing very present: only love can save us from human misery”: Pablo Pacheco, one of the prisoners of Cuba’s Black Spring, blogs about some of his experiences while in confinement.
China: Internet service as a social contract
What do Chinese netizens think is more likely to spark a new political movement in China: Facebook, a Joe Lieberman-style Internet kill switch, or widespread corruption, inflation and human rights abuses? Find out below.
Cuba: More Questions About Mazorra
Laritza's Laws notes the decision of the Havana Provincial Court in the case of the deaths, by starvation and cold, of 26 psychiatric patients in January 2010, saying: “So the trial ended. Sentences were handed out, but many questions remain.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Watching Egypt
Globewriter is “gripped” by the unfolding situation in Egypt, saying: “It is analogous to numerous other struggles going on within countries by groups of people who demand the right to be heard”, while Antilles reaches for the poems of Martin Carter: “Their ferocity seems recharged by the images and stories...