Stories about Migration & Immigration from February, 2011
Cuba: Damas de Blanco Attacked
Bloggers discuss the latest crackdown on Cuban dissidents.
Cuba: Watching from Within
“There has not [been] enough coverage or information to even begin to address the complexity of these events and the numberless perspectives interpreting them”: Graham Sowa blogs at Havana Times about watching the Middle East protests from Cuba.
Ukraine: Choosing to Leave
With Ukraine hit hard by the economic crisis and most citizens disappointed with the overall economic and political situation, more and more discussions about emigration alternatives have been appearing online. Tetyana Bohdanova translates some of the netizens' views on the issue.
France: Demonstration in Paris Against Gabon Dictatorship
Around 7,000 people gathered in the streets of French capital Paris to demonstrate against African dictators and the French government's alleged collusion with African dictatorial regimes on Saturday 26 February, 2011. Protestors chanted slogans outside Gabon President Ali Bongo's 140 million Euro mansion.
Armenia: Rapping the Revolution of Reform
Even if the use of social media ahead of an opposition rally scheduled to mark the 3rd anniversary of bloody post-presidential clashes which left 10 dead remains low, some activists are at least using the new online tools at their disposal. In particular, those behind a Facebook page to increase...
Trinidad & Tobago: Political Developments
Jumbie's Watch mulls over a few political developments, saying: “The more things change, the more they remain the same, not so?”
Cuba: Marking Zapata's Anniversary
Diaspora blogger El Cafe Cubano posts photos from a march in honour of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, while Uncommon Sense reports that “Cuban independent journalist and activist Guillermo Fariñas…said the government's crackdown this week has only elevated Zapata's status in Cuba”; Havana Times says that the first anniversary of his death...
Azerbaijan: Diaspora & Patriotism
Scary Azeri takes a look at the Azerbaijani Diaspora in the United Kingdom and notes some peculiarities as it pertains to notions of “patriotism.”
Cuba: Masses for Tamayo
Uncommon Sense reports that “State Security agents this week have been warning parishes in Havana to not celebrate Masses to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo.”
Azerbaijan: Assimilation Disorder
Known for its caustic humor and sarcastic insight, London-based Azerbaijani blogger Scary Azeri touches upon the sensitive issue of cultural (in)compatibility noting how a traditional mindset of her countrymen may seem out of place when living in a foreign country especially as they often find it hard, or refuse, to...
Jamaica: On “Buju Watch”
“Once again the Jamaican nation is on Buju watch”: Active Voice highlights the posts of some fellow bloggers to underscore her point that “Jamaicans are taking this very personally, it is as if the nation itself is on trial.”
Cuba: Generación Y and Voces Cubanas Unblocked in Cuba
For nearly three years, Yoani Sánchez has called herself a “blind blogger.” Her blog, Generación Y, has been blocked in Cuba since March of 2008. But on February 8, the site was unblocked in Cuba.
Sri Lanka: The Future of the Tamil Struggle
Nirmanusan Balasundaram at Groundviews writes about the present state of the Tamil diaspora and how they will shape up the future of the Tamil struggle.
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...
Cuba: Journalist's Home Attacked
Babalu and Uncommon Sense blog about Sara Martha Fonseca, whose “home was attacked last night…in reaction to the mass protest in Cuba scheduled for February 23, 2011, in commemoration of the murder of prisoner of conscience Orlando Zapata Tamayo.”
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.
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.”
Gabon: Leaderless Opposition?
Gabon is entering its third week of political tension, as its two presidents - official and unofficial - both claim leadership. But as developments continue in this small West African nation, critics denounce a lack of leadership in the burgeoning opposition movement.
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.
Egypt: Freedom Party Continues (Videos)
Since the news came out that Hosni Mubarak has decided to step down as president of Egypt, celebrations were carried out across the country. Throughout the world, people are celebrating in solidarity with the Egyptian people and their newly recovered freedom. More and more videos are uploaded on social networks and video sharing websites. Millions of people filmed different angles of a globally celebrated moment. Here's a tiny sample of the videos posted online.
Cuba: Calls to Demonstrate
Uncommon Sense and Antunez blog about two different calls to demonstrate in Cuba – one “to demand the freedom and democracy that have been taken from us” and the other to mark the “one year anniversary of the assassination of political prisoner Orlando Zapata.”
