Stories about International Relations from February, 2011
Turks & Caicos: Now Is The Time
The tcipost is calling on “every Turks and Caicos Islander with access to the Internet [to] please use all the social networks at our disposal to demand our right to self determination and bring awareness to our plight.”
Cuba: Reina Luisa Tamayo Arrested
Uncommon Sense re-posts a report of the arrest and alleged beating of the mother of the late prisoner of conscience, Orlando Zapata Tamayo, saying: “Wednesday…is [the] one-year anniversary of [his] death…already, Cuban police — spooked by the calendar and the possible spread of “Egyptian flu” — have launched a new...
Russia-Kyrgyzstan: Mount Putin on the map
Windows to Russia reports that Kyrgyzstan on 17 February decided to name a mountain peak after Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
Balkans: Ceca and Other “Unwelcome” Singers
Belgraded posts a list of Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian singers who are “unwelcome in former enemy countries.”
Turks & Caicos: Using Social Media for Democracy
The tcipost wants fellow islanders to “remember that the people of Egypt this month used the internet to strengthen their voices and share information”, suggesting that they can use the same tools to have their voices heard when it comes to the new constitution “that will dilute our vote as...
Cuba: Cyberwar? Video Sparks Debate, Anger, Skepticism
A video posted February 1st on Vimeo features a 52-minute presentation on new information technologies and a “ciberguerra” allegedly being waged on Cuba by the United States government and US-based NGOs. Initial reports called this a classified government video that had been leaked, but some bloggers (on and off the island) are questioning this assertion.
Caucasus: The Vagina Monologues
Georgia On My Mind provides its readers with a comprehensive review of The Vagina Monologues held earlier this week in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital. Controversial as it was bound to be in a region more renowned for its patriarchal values, the event, which included performances from women from Armenia, Azerbaijan,...
Cuba: Dissidents Arrested?
Babalu is concerned about two missing Cuban dissidents; Uncommon Sense re-posts the message, saying: “I'm afraid we will see a lot of this in coming days, with next week's one-year anniversary of the death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo and the Internet-based call for an Egypt-style uprising on the island.”
Hungary: A New Blog on EU Council Presidency
Via Kosmopolito, a link to Kovács and Kováts – a new blog that's “supposed to denote [the two authors’] weekly adventures while working for the Hungarian [EU Council] Presidency.”
China and Mongolia: Goliath and David?
At East Asia Forum, Justin Li discussed the Sinophobia in Mongolia caused by high dependence on China for trade and investment. In another article on the Forum, Julian Dierkes questioned Li's claims, and highlighted that significant shift in Mongolia's ‘third neighbour’ policy is possible. In a separate but related article...
Colombia: A “dry canal” to rival the Panama Canal?
Bloggings by boz reports: “Colombian President Santos told FT there is a ‘real proposal… quite advanced’ for a rail link connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through Colombia, serving as a “dry canal” to rival Panama's.” He adds: “For Colombia, it's a fantastic opportunity that comes only because it has...
Jamaica, Cuba, T&T: Egypt's Revolution
Regional bloggers rejoice over Egypt‘s “Revolution 2.0″
Cuba: What do the Cables from Havana Say? (Part II)
Speculation about the health of the former President of Cuba, Fidel Castro Ruz, was one of the main issues discussed in various cables revealed by WikiLeaks. In this second part of a series, our author Elaine Díaz analyzes the content of the controversial diplomatic cables.
Pakistan: Protests Against Impunity for US Diplomat Raymond Davis
Raymond Davis, an American diplomatic staff, is under investigation for the double murder of two Pakistani motorcyclists in Karachi, Pakistan. Following the US demand to release Davis, the protesters took to the streets in a country which already has increasing anti-US sentiments.
Cambodia, Thailand: Tweets about the border conflict
Tharum Bun gathers twitter reactions in Cambodia about the current border conflict involving Thailand and Cambodia.
Slovakia: Deaflympics 2011 Controversy
Slovakia may fail to hold a successful Deaflympics this month, due to problems with funding and unfinished facilities, which were known to exist as far back as last spring - and still remain today. Tibor Blazko reports on the Slovak netizens' frustration with the situation.
Trinidad & Tobago: “We are all Egyptian”
“We are all part of humanity, and thanks to social networking we can be part of events around the world”: Globewriter is glued to developments in Egypt, saying, “Right now we are all Egyptian.”
Cuba: What do the Cables from Havana Say? (Part I)
Around 506 diplomatic cables of the 250,000 released by WikiLeaks on November 28, 2010 proceed from the American Section with Interests in Havana. Until February 2011, only 34 messages had been declassified. Global Voices author Elaine Díaz analyzes their content in the first part of a series on the cables and Cuba.
India, Bangladesh: How Many Bangladeshis Live In India?
Diganta Sarkar at The New Horizon discusses about the immigration issues between India and Bangladesh.
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.”
D.R. of Congo/Rwanda: WikiLeaks paint unflattering picture of Congolese leaders
Congo Siasa blog will be publishing a series of articles over the coming weeks drawing on information from several thousand WikiLeaks cables from the Kigali and Kinshasa embassies.
