Stories about Politics from April, 2014
USA Makes Kremlin Propaganda Easy, Again
Simply imagine Russia remodeling schools near US Marine Corps fatalities on Okinawa.
How Dmitry Tymchuk Broke the Russian Blogosphere
Rather than acknowledge Moscow's role in promoting blogger Dmitry Tymchuk, some in Russia prefer to blame NATO. Life, after all, is simpler with your head in the sand.
Win Tin: Myanmar’s Longest-held Political Prisoner Dies at 85
Burmese journalist and activist Win Tin is one of the leaders of the pro-democracy movement.
‘Vote No’ Campaign Urges South Africans to Shun Big Political Parties
A group of politicians launched "Wake Up! We Are Fed up!" on April 15, 2014 ahead of elections in May.
Tweet Against García Márquez Generates Outrage in Colombia
A Colombian congresswoman's tweet referencing the recently deceased Gabriel Garcia Marquez stirred up commotion a few hours after the Colombian laureate passed away.
Guyana: The Walter Rodney Enquiry
Two different narratives are taking hold in Guyana when it comes to the Commission of Enquiry into the death of political activist Walter Rodney: Barbados Underground reports that the Guyana Trades Union Congress is looking after its interest in arriving at the truth, while propaganda press, which is not in...
Caribbean: The Writing & Politics of Gabriel García Márquez
The literary fraternity is only just starting to adjust to the idea of life without “Gabo” – the inimitable Colombian-born author who was beloved by the world – Gabriel García Márquez, who passed away last Thursday in Mexico City. Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982, García Márquez left...
#EPNvsInternet: Mass Campaign against Mexican Communications Bill
A joint mass action between civil organizations and activist is pushing to revert the Telecommunications Bill proposal sent by president Enrique Peña Nieto for Congress' approval.
So Long, Mr. Durov, and Thanks for All the Fish
After more than a year of rumors, the stockholders of Russia’s largest online social network, Vkontakte, have finally fired founder and CEO Pavel Durov.
French Economist Piketty Links Inequality to Instability of Democracies
French economist and Associate Chair at the Paris School of Economics, Thomas Piketty recently published a book called “Capital in the Twenty-First Century” that has generated quite a buzz among fellow economists and political leaders. Piketty's central thesis is that inequality is not an accident, but one of the consequences of the excess of capitalism. Piketty...
Egyptian Turns to YouTube to Object to Compulsory Service in Egyptian Army
An Egyptian activist has turned to YouTube to spell out his objection to the mandatory military service in the Egyptian army, compulsory for men aged between 18 and 30. In an email sent to Global Voices Online, Adam writes: I am Egyptian conscientious objector against serving in Egyptian Army because...
Syria: Life As It Was Before the Invention of the Light Bulb
With the power supply in whole swaths of the country cut off by government authorities, Syrians get used to treating electricity as both a luxury and metaphor for their struggle.
Cameroonian Bloggers ‘Are the Future, and We Are Writing That Future Now’
An interview with Florian Ngimbis, president of the Cameroonian Bloggers Association, about language, the country's poor Internet penetration and more.
Censorship by Litigation in Russia?
Earlier this month, VKontakte minority shareholder United Capital Partners (UCP), filed a complaint against Durov for breach of VKontakte fiduciary duty for creating the secure messenger Telegram.
The New Government of Prime Minister Roger Kolo Announced in Madagascar
Tananews in Madagascar has published the full list of the 31 members of the new Malagasy government [fr]. Mitsangana Madagascar notes that the list includes 6 women and that 7 ministers were already part [fr] of the previous transitional government. Former prime minister Beriziky wished the new government well on twitter :...
Voters Turn Out En Masse in Guinea-Bissau's First Post-Coup Elections
About 400 citizen observers monitored elections, which are expected to put an end to the crisis that began two years ago with a military coup in Guinea-Bissau.
Germany's Migration Commissioner Throws Her Support Behind Migrant Voting Rights in Municipal Elections
In Germany, however, foreigners from the EU can take part in municipal elections; only non-EU citizens are excluded.
Winners and Losers in the 2014 Indonesian Legislative Polls
The winning parties of the recently concluded legislative polls in Indonesia will participate in the July presidential election.
Is Valparaíso's Wildfire Result of Neglect by Municipal Government?
A report [es] from Chile's Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIPER) has stirred up a story of neglect and corruption about how, since 2012, local authorities have been aware of the danger posed by the extensive growth of underbrush in the hills and ravines around Valparaíso as well as the proliferation...
Facing Economic Challenges, China's Growth Slows
GDP grew 7.4 percent in the first quarter of 2014, the slowest rate since the third quarter of 2012.
Facebook Post Spells Legal Trouble for Russian Charity
Romanenko reported that no less than the governor of Vologodsk had filed a complaint against him with the local prosecutor's office because of the jocular post.
