· September, 2012

Stories about International Relations from September, 2012

New Caledonia: Political Tension Grows Over Rights to Nickel Mines

  28 September 2012

Claudine WERY writes [fr] that political tension grows between independentist and non-indenpendentist political parties in New Caledonia over the exploitation of Nickel mines. Non-independentists accuse the other party to strike deals with China and South Korea that they are not authorized to pursue. A referendum on gaining independence from France is scheduled...

Russia: The Kostin Report & the Trojan Horse of American ICT

RuNet Echo  28 September 2012

Earlier this week, the media got a sneak peek at a new report on the foreign penetration of the RuNet and the potential manipulation of the country's future elections. The Internet's growing popularity is transforming it into a political weapon: a weapon that is increasingly guarded by American, albeit private, media firms.

DR of Congo: Rwanda is Helping the Rebellion, says Human Rights Watch

  24 September 2012

Human Rights Watch wrote [fr]: In addition to deploying reinforcements and recruits to support military operations, Rwandan military officials have been providing important military support to the M23 rebels, including weapons, ammunition, and training, Human Rights Watch said. This makes Rwanda a party to the conflict.”

Spain: Catalans Continue to Push for Independence

  24 September 2012

Since last Tuesday saw the largest pro-Catalan independence rally in the region's history, pro-independence activists have continued to pressure politicians to match rhetoric with swift action. Read an overview of the week's action here.

Philippines: TEDxDiliman Trends on Twitter

  23 September 2012

More than 100 attendees trooped to the University of Philippines campus in Diliman to witness TEDxDiliman 2012. Several recognizable personalities were invited as this year's speakers. Meanwhile, on the internet, netizens eagerly followed the event via livestream. The hashtag #tedxdiliman quickly became a local trending topic.

Armenia-Azerbaijan: Hatred in the Caucasus

  22 September 2012

Murad Gassanly, an activist in exile, comments on the case of Ramil Safarov, a soldier convicted of murder in Hungary and recently pardoned in Azerbaijan, by examining how and why ethnic hatred has come to define society in both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan: Political Forces United on Pardoned Axe Murderer

  22 September 2012

In Mutatione Fortitudo says that the two main opposition parties in Azerbaijan have united behind the government in its criticism of a European Parliament ruling condemning the 31 August pardon, release, and promotion of an Azerbaijani soldier who axed to death a sleeping Armenian counterpart on a NATO Partnership for...

India, Pakistan: Let People Meet

  21 September 2012

Visa restrictions prevent citizens of India and Pakistan from visiting families in the other country. There isn’t even a tourist visa protocol between these two biggest neighbours of South Asia. Journeys To Democracy promoted the Aman ki Asha Milne Do petition to change this.

Saint Lucia, St. Vincent: Going to Canada? Got to get a Visa!

  21 September 2012

Early last week, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) imposed visa requirements for entry on five countries, including two from the Caribbean - Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Bloggers were not entirely surprised, but they had a lot to say about it.

Madagascar: How a Tiny Island Can Explain the Root of the Crisis

  20 September 2012

Lalatiana Pitchboule published a two-part detailed investigative report [fr] on what is at stakes when it comes to the appropriation of the tiny island of Juan de Nova (4.4 km2) off the west coast of Madagascar in the Mozambique Channel. In short, The legal fight over the possession of  the Juan de Nova...

China: Writer said “I am a Traitor”

  20 September 2012

Sijia Song from Tea Leaf Nation has translated a Chinese prominent writer, Li Chengpeng's latest blogpost: “Confessions of a Traitor”. The post has received more than 200,000 views and 19,000 comments in less than two days on Sina Weibo.

China, US: Anti-Japan Protesters Stop Ambassador's Vehicle

  20 September 2012

A YouTube video uploaded by Weiwei Ai shows how a group of Chinese anti-Japan demonstrators stopped United States Ambassador Gary Locke's vehicle at the back of the US embassy to protest against America's foreign policy. Above is a screen capture of the moment.

Porn Star Appeals for China/Japan Friendship

  19 September 2012

Popular Japanese porn star Sola Aoi appealed for friendship between Chinese and Japanese early last week when the tension between China and Japan elevated. But her friendly gesture was not well received.