Stories about Law from September, 2011
Trinidad & Tobago: Expenditure & Accountability
“Discussion is revolving around the country’s earnings from our energy resources and the likely size of the next year’s budget, expected to be delivered in early October”: Afra Raymond warns that “without proper control over expenditure, we will continue to lurch from crisis to crisis.”
Cuba: Inequitable Party
Generation Y compares the official distribution of “rental properties, cars, businesses [and] houses” to a pinata at a children's party, saying: “What is most worrying is [that] the…existence of such a mechanism will undoubtedly feed corruption, ‘socialism,’ and put into the hands of government sympathizers the fattest strings for when...
Brazil: Citizens Blame Governor for Police Charge on Teachers
Brazilian citizens used the hashtag #CidEspancaProfessores (Cid beats teachers) in solidarity with public school teachers who were beaten by the police on September 29. That day, a proposal of the governor Cid Gomes for changes in the career development of teachers was passed in the Legislative Assembly of Ceará. After...
Bahamas: Time to Take Action Against Crime
As a missing child is found dead, Weblog Bahamas says: “I would call on Prime Minister Ingraham to not wait until next Monday to make a statement to the nation on crime. The time to act is now… and we must act swiftly and prudently.”
Cuba: Jailed Activists
Uncommon Sense continues to keep a close eye on three members of the Damas de Blanco who were arrested recently, as well as political prisoner Sara Martha Fonseca, whose son was allegedly attacked after trying to obtain information about his jailed parents.
Mexico: Baja California Anti-Abortion Law Upheld by Supreme Court
The Mexican Supreme Court failed by one vote to overturn a Baja California law that declares that life begins at conception. Aguachile calls this “tragic news” and argues that in “In other states, PRI and PAN local legislators will feel emboldened by the Supreme Court decision to press similar legislation.”
Chile: Indigenous Leaders to Meet With Congress
In Indigenous News, Ryan Seelau reports that “on October 4th and 5th, Indigenous leaders from across Chile will meet with the Chilean Congress to discuss the implementation of ILO [International Labor Organization] Convention 169, and particularly, the right to consultation.”
Brazil: Blogging Carnival in Defense of Abortion
The Brazilian blog Blogueiras Feministas (Feminist Bloggers) has selected [pt] a series of posts about the women's right to abortion following a blogging carnival that took place on September 28.
Cuba: 14 on Trial for Girl's Death
“It seems that we’re destined to remain in the dark about yet another case that we’ve only found out about through foreign newspapers and independent bloggers”: Rosa Martinez, writing at Havana Times, doesn't understand the authorities’ silence on the death of a Cuban minor.
Cuba: Female Prisoner on Hunger Strike
Pedazos de La Isla uploads a video showing “what happened on Saturday, September 24th, to Sara Marta Fonseca Quevedo and other dissidents who were peacefully protesting”, while Uncommon Sense notes that Fonseca has since begun a hunger strike.
Cuba: More Arrests Post-March
More reports of activists being arrested in the wake of a peaceful protest march that took place this past Saturday.
Jamaica: Golding to Resign?
Jamaica and the World republishes a Wikileaks cable that sullies the image of the government, while Girl With a Purpose reports that “Prime Minister Bruce Golding dropped a bombshell on Jamaicans…announc[ing] his intention to resign as Party Leader of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).”
China: Secret Arrest to be Justified by Law Amendment
The Chinese government is in the process of completing an amendment to its Criminal Procedure Law (CPL). The draft, released for public consultation on 30 August, has sparked an intense debate among law professors and lawyers, as it has granted police legal justification for secret arrest and investigation.
Bangladesh: Does Anyone Care About The Urban Poor?
Unheard Voice breaks a news that authorities had started evicting the new settlements including the Jaago Foundation school for the underprivileged along the Gulshan lake in Dhaka city. When challenged they could not show any prior notice or proper authorization. The blogger questions: “does anyone really care about the urban...
Brazil: The Real Value of Half Price Tickets
Even though there is a federal law in Brazil for half price tickets to cultural shows - as the greatest portion of the public can only afford half of the total value - the events charge even higher amounts. Fernando Sapelli explains why.
Puerto Rico: Dealing with the Murder Rate
Dondequiera says of the country's rising murder rate: “Greed and apathy are Puerto Rico's sins, and the only way out of this nightmare is through our unity as humans.”
Cuba: “Damas” Targeted Again
The Ladies in White were once more targeted this weekend for their “planned march to a church to honor Our Lady of Charity on her feast day” – bloggers have a lot to say here, here, here, here and here.
Bahamas: Crime Fighting Issues
Bloggers discuss the challenges of crime fighting in the Bahamas.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: More Violence Against Women
The escalating violence against women in St. Vincent now has Abeni “officially scared.”
Jamaica: Gratitude to Garvey
In his ongoing effort to petition President Obama to exonerate Marcus Garvey, Geoffrey Philp says: “Marcus Garvey's cause was justice, plain and simple. And it is ironic that unjust methods were used to malign his good name and to bring about his eventual imprisonment on fraudulent charges.”
Zambia: Did Ex-President Implicate Himself in Farewell Speech?
Netizens have been dissecting the speech by Zambia’s outgoing president Rupiah Banda to find out whether he implicated himself in the plunder of national resources. Gershom Ndhlovu reports.
