Stories about Politics from March, 2011
Nigeria: What Are Nigerian Bloggers Saying About the 2011 Elections?
As the 2011 Elections in Nigeria draws near, Nigeria bloggers are busy talking about the elections and the future of their country but is anyone listening?
Cuba: More on Carter
Cuban bloggers continue to comment on former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's visit.
Honduras: Teacher Protests Continue
Hemispheric Brief reports: “Teacher protests continued in Honduras Monday, despite a threat from President Pepe Lobo that his government would begin suspending, without pay, those who did not return to their classrooms this week. […] The protests, triggered by six months of unpaid wages to Honduran teachers, are now entering...
Côte d'Ivoire: Where is Gbagbo's General, Philippe Magou?
Monday March 14, 2011, was a busy day in Côte d'Ivoire. After violence this past weekend in the Abobo district of southerly economic capital Abidjan, Ivorians in the city were woken up by Kalashnikovs and heavy artillery. For a few days now, the rumors in Abidjan have been growing as to Ivorian army General Philippe Mangou's responsibility in this crisis.
Syria: Complexity Behind the Protests
Unrest in Syria enters its second week, as anti-government protests continue in their bid to oust President Bashar al-Assad. Whilst it may seem that the unrest in Syria is a natural progression of the Arab revolution spreading throughout the region, there are unique dynamics in Syria that distinguish it from other Arab states.
Afghanistan: Leaked Photos Unveil “Repugnancies” Committed by US Army
On March 21, 2011, the German weekly news magazine Der Spiegel released three horrific photos of Afghan civilians killed by a group of United States soldiers. Bloggers have reacted to the photos with shock and indignation.
Poland, Lithuania: “The End of the Romance”
Polandian offers “a quick review” of the Polish-Lithuanian relationship over the centuries and notes on the recent changes.
Ukraine: “A War of Monuments”
Back in February, Uilleam Blacker of Memory at War: Blog wrote about “a war of monuments” in Ukraine.
Colombia: Controversy Over Photos of Minors Published by Adult Magazine
An article, titled "Let the children come to me" (referencing Mark 10:14), which includes photos from an exhibition by photographer Mauricio Vélez depicting staged scenes of nude underage boys (or models pretending to be minors) being watched by actors dressed as Catholic priests has caused controversy both offline and online.
Syria: Free Muhammed Radwan
Egyptian Chronicles comments on the arrest of Egyptian-American Muhammed Radwan in Syria under espionage charges here. His cousins Nora and Tarek Shalaby also share their thoughts.
Cuba: Carter's Visit
Cuban bloggers weigh in on former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's visit to the island.
Jamaica: Passing the Buck
“To date, the Enquiry has been fascinating and compelling TV”: Jamaica and the World reports on the latest developments in the Manatt Dudus Enquiry, which “involved politicians placing the blame on public servants/civil service employees.”
Cuba: Is the Internet an Equalizer?
Havana Times examines the Internet in the context of socialism.
Bermuda: Development vs. Conservation
“Can we please stop pretending that that the Tucker’s Point SDO is about saving tourism? It’s about developing real estate”: Vexed Bermoothes says that “there has been a drought of information to justify abandoning the various conservation protections on the land.”
Swaziland: Anger at revolution snub
The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) has criticized the reporting of the proposed ‘uprising’ against the government on 12 April 2011 by the Times of Swaziland: “In particular, it takes issue with comments attributed to Dr Judy Smith Hohn of the Institute for Security Studies, in South Africa.”
Peru: 2 Weeks Before the General Election
Carlos A. Quiroz in Peruanista writes a thorough post on the political climate in Peru two weeks before the general elections. He includes a short review of the use of social media during the campaign.
El Salvador: Online and Street Protests During Obama's Visit
Tim in Tim's El Salvador Blog reports that, “not everyone was happy to see Barack Obama on Salvadoran soil. Protesters in the streets of San Salvador and in cyberspace raised their voices against a variety of aspects of US policy impacting this tiny country in Central America.”
Cuba: Implications of the Alan Gross trial
In half-wired, blogger Ellery Biddle analyzes the Alan Gross case and the potential of ICT's in Cuba: “First, who decides what constitutes a crime? While Cuban courts say that Gross committed “acts against the independence or territorial integrity of the state,” Hillary Clinton, Phillip Crowley and other State Department officials say that...
Panama: Saying Goodbye to Guillermo Ford
Politician and businessman Guillermo "Billy" Ford died on March 19. Panamanians said goodbye with respect, remembering his role in the search for democracy during the eighties. This was an opportunity to reflect on the current state of values in the country and the legacy we leave behind.
Egypt: Football Before and After the Revolution
In the past years, football (soccer) used to be the main source for joy for the Egyptian people. However it seems that the recent revolution that took place in Egypt has revolutionized all this. The loss of Egypt's national team to South Africa was even cheered by some.
Madagascar: Reactions to the New Members of the Government
Blogger Thierry Andriamirado listed the names of all the members of the newly formed government in Madagascar [fr] as it was announced on national radio. Political blogger Ndimby provides an analysis of the composition of this alleged government of national unity and the potential acceptation of the Malagasy administration by the international community[fr].