Stories about Politics from April, 2010
Russia: RT and Public Diplomacy
Lena Osipova of Global Chaos argues that RT, Russia's first all-digital English-language TV network, “not only does not promote Russia's credibility, but undercuts it further.”
India: Lack Of Election Debates
Sandeep Bansal at Desicritics questions a missing democratic practice: “When will election debates matter in India?”
Sudan: Election fraud caught on video?
A video showing election fraud during Sudan's election is being circulated online. Sudan's National Elections Commission has dismissed it as fake. The video shows election officials stuffing ballot boxes. Opposition groups claim that the video proves their claims of election rigging by the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).
Trinidad & Tobago: More UDeCOTT Lessons
“No time for distractions, in this election season”: Afra Raymond continues his quest to learn the lessons of Trinidad and Tobago's UDeCOTT fiasco.
Trinidad & Tobago: Parties Unite
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog continues to report on the lead-up to the country's general elections on May 24, saying: “History was created at Charlie King Junction in Fyzabad when...
Cuba: Reporting via Twitter
“It is true that we broadcast blindly and that we cannot read our readers’ replies or references, but at least we are reporting on the Island in 140 character fragments”:...
US, Russia: A Pro-Russian Lobby
Eugene Ivanov of The Ivanov Report believes that the US-Russian “‘reset’ needs a charger, and the pro-Russian lobby should play the role of this charger.”
Haiti: Part of History
The Haitian Blogger republishes an article by Melanie Newton which suggests that what happens in Haiti post-earthquake “is a question of world historical significance.”
Argentina: International Court Rules in Paper Mill Conflict with Uruguay
The International Court of Justice in the Hague ruled on the conflict between Argentina and Uruguay about the latter's construction of a paper mill on the Uruguay River shared by both countries. Bloggers and Twitter users in Argentina react to the court's ruling.
Colombia: Video remixing and Presidential Elections
Remixes: From Hitler, to Chris Crocker and Pinky and the Brain, Colombian fans show their Presidential candidates support by remixing videos to help their campaigns and mock the oposition's candidates.
Malawi: Wedding of Year, Flag Changes and Media Suppression
In what some describe as the wedding of the year, Malawi’s President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika wed his former cabinet minister Callista Chapola Chimombo Saturday April 17, 2010. The officiation took place at Civo Stadium, an open place contrary to Roman Catholic procedure. Over 20 heads of states and governments were among the 4,500 delegates to the ceremony.
Trinidad & Tobago: Making it Happen
“How dare you squander the resources by giving so much lip service and not doing much of anything…Shucks, did you think I was talking about the PNM/ UNC/COP?”: 5am at...
Cuba: Hunger Strikers
El Cafe Cubano links to a story which claims that imprisoned hunger striker Guillermo Fariñas is close to death, while Uncommon Sense reports that yet another Cuban political prisoner has...
Sudan: On buying and selling of votes
Hafiz discusses corruption in Sudan Elections 2010: “There is one very important issue which has not been raised by anyone, as I have listened to all reports from the election...
Uganda: Can the opposition defeat Museveni in 2011?
Can Uganda's opposition defeat Museveni in 2011?, asks Rosebell Kagumire: “As Uganda heads into general elections early next year, what can especially the opposition learn from one of the greatest...
Egypt: Let's Shoot those Protesters!
In a debate on recurrent demonstrations, Egyptian ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) members of Parliament lashed out during a verbal battle with Muslim Brotherhood MPs over protesters in the country and said Egyptian pro-democracy demonstrators “should be shot” by police. Bloggers react in this post by Marwa Rakha.
Trinidad & Tobago: Roffey Speaks
Pleasure blog posts an interview with Trinidad-born writer Monique Roffey.
Trinidad & Tobago: Discussing the Issues
“Someone, please, show me a platform and make the platform for a political party the center of discussion. Let us discuss issues. Let us discuss the future”: KnowTnT.com wants something...
Kyrgyzstan: The aftermath of public uprising
In the past week, the attention of Kyrgyzstani bloggers has been very firmly centred on political events in this small, mountainous Central Asian country. All over the country, memorials have...
India: Citizens debate government policy and the Maoist response
Dealing a severe blow to the Indian government’s ongoing offensive against the Naxalite-Maoist insurgency, 76 policemen were ambushed and killed by Maoist rebels in Dantewada, Chattisgarh on April 6, 2010. Indian bloggers discuss how to tackle the problem.
UK: Krakow Funeral Broadcast in London's Trafalgar Square
Rosie Walunas writes that London's Trafalgar Square “was nearly filled to capacity” on Sunday, as people gathered to watch TV Polonia's coverage of the funeral of late Polish President Lech...