Stories about International Relations from February, 2012
Bangladesh: Boycotting Indian Products to Protest Brutality at Border
Indian Border Security Forces have killed more than 1,000 Bangladeshis in the last ten years. Some bloggers have started a campaign to boycott Indian products and services on March 1, 2012, to protest.
Brazil: Dispute Over the Falklands Opens Debate on Economic Perspectives
The 30th anniversary of the start of the Falklands War and the recent public statements by Argentine President Cristina Kirchner cause us to evaluate those events from new perspectives, including their current implications for Brazil as the largest economy of Mercosur.
Armenia: Sumgait Pogrom Anniversary
The Armenian Observer posts the harrowing details of at least 26 ethnic Armenian victims of the Sumgait pogrom which took place on 27 February 1988 and which seriously escalated the...
Azerbaijan: Khojaly Massacre Anniversary
As Azerbaijanis worldwide, as well as Turks in Istanbul, commemorated the 20th Anniversary of the Khojaly massacre, the most serious during the fighting with Armenia in Nagorno Karabakh during the...
Cuba, USA: Blogger Perspectives on the Embargo's 50th Anniversary (Part 1)
The United States' economic embargo against Cuba has been in existence for 50 years. To mark the occasion, Global Voices interviews two bloggers about the blockade and what it has (or hasn't) accomplished. This is Part 1, in which Cuban diaspora blogger Alberto de la Cruz shares his views.
Haiti: Joining the African Union
Mackendie Toupuissant writes [fr]: “The news went almost unnoticed. Until now, Haiti was a mere “observer” in the African Union. Since early February, the first black republic in history became a” full associate...
Tunisia: McCain's Visit Stirs up Anti-US Feelings
Senator John McCain's visit to Tunisia on Thursday, February 23, left Tunisian Internet users angry over what they called Ennahda's 'double standards.' Hundreds of Facebook comments, dozens of tweets and many pictures filled social media platforms frequented by Tunisians after a controversial picture of Tunisian Prime Minister, Hamadi Jebali, hugging the Senator.
China, Koreas: Netizens Express Humanitarian Concern Over North Korean Refugees
As the Chinese government continues to repatriate North Korean refugees who succeed in fleeing into China, views among the country's netizens are split but seem to show more sympathy than adherence to realpolitik
North Korea's Radio Jamming Fails Temporarily
North Korea Tech reports a temporary failure of North Korea’s external radio services and its powerful jamming operation that blocks foreign broadcasts.
Georgia: Online Campaign Targets Russian President's Facebook Page
With Russian soldiers stations in Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, hundreds of Georgians called for their withdrawal on the Russian president's Facebook page.
Sahel: Islamic Fundamentalist Organisations Tighten Their Grip
For a few months now, two religious Islamic fundamentalist organisations, Boko Haram and AQIM (Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb), have intensified their war against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the surrounding nations. The regional blogosphere has quickly reacted, showing concern and providing thorough analyses.
Brazil: Global Act “We Are All Pinheirinho”
A global act in solidarity with the population expelled from their homes at the Pinheirinho community has been called on Facebook for Thursday, February 23. The idea is to demonstrate in...
China, U.S.A: Reading between the lines of Xi Jinping's U.S. visit
China Media Project has translated prominent blogger Yang Hengjun's recent analysis of three statements made by China's future president, Xi Jinping, in his visit to the U.S.A.
Angola: Anti-Corruption Initiative Urges CNN to Refuse Advertising Deal
Maka, a website that monitors corruption in Angola, launched an online campaign petitioning CNN International to stop accepting advertisement from the government of President Dos Santos. The presidential budget for...
Global: Vigils in Solidarity with Tibetans
Since February 2009, 23 Tibetans have self-immolated to protest for a free Tibet and the return of the Dalai Lama. In the month of the Tibetan New Year, activists from all over the world are showing their support for Tibetans through protests and prayers.
Haiti: Online Reaction to the Duvalier Decision
The investigative magistrate looking into human rights charges against Haiti's ousted dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier, recently came to the decision that “the statute of limitations had run out” on those human rights abuses - but apparently not on Duvalier's misappropriation of public funds.
Russia: Dmitry Rybolovlev, the Quintessential ‘New Russian’
Billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev serves as an example of the quintessential 'New Russian' through his controversial activities during the Yeltsin era, his modern business practices, and his extravagant international spending - he has just purchased the most expensive New York City apartment to date.
The “Brazilebanese”, or Brazilians from Lebanon
The return of Lebanese immigrants and their Brazilian families to Lebanon has resulted in the creation of an important community of "Brazilebanese". This community has been making efforts to keep ties with Brazil through the Portuguese language, which has more speakers than Arabic in some villages.
Curacao, Haiti: Media Mandate?
In light of prime minister Schotte's recent welcome of Haitian president Michel Martelly “(who repeatedly suggested a pardon or amnesty of Duvalier) [and] who publicly is seen with…ex dictator Baby...
Martinique, USA, France: Jesse Jackson's message to Serge Letchimy
B.World Connection posts a letter [En/Fr] with the heading of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition whose leader is Reverend Jesse Jackson: apparently, the Reverend would support the reaction of MP Serge...
France, Equitorial Guinea: The Search for “Ill-Gotten Gains” of an African Head of State
The blogger Menilmuche reports [fr] that a massive search began on February 14th at the home of Teoforo Obiang, the son of the president of Equatorial Guinea, in his Parisian...
