Stories about Protest from January, 2011
Egypt: Twitter Blocked as Demonstrations Continue
Egypt has just upped its war on the Internet, and cut access to mobile phone communications, in areas where thousands of protesters are reportedly gathering in today's Day of Revolution. The aim seems to be an attempt to control the flood of protesters and strangle the movement.
India: Government Official Burnt Alive by Miscreants
In a gruesome incident, an additional district collector was burnt alive today - allegedly by petrol and diesel mafia while investigating fuel related irregularities. As the news broke, netizens reacted with shock and outrage.
Egypt: Tweeting the Day of Revolution
From reports of small gatherings to those of thousands of demonstrators marching across different cities in Egypt, Twitter is ablaze with reactions. This nationwide "Day of Revolution" coincides with Police Day and brings together people from different walks of life and a wide political spectrum to protest against President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule.
Taiwan: Dacheng Wetland, not a wetland?
Citizen journalist Zhu Shu-juan(朱淑娟) reports that even though all reviewers from the Wetland Review Committee of the Ministry of Interior suggested Dacheng Wetland in Changhua County to be listed as national or even international wetland, due to resistance from local politicians and consortia who support petrochemical project to be built there,...
Chile: Citizens respond to natural gas crisis in Magallanes
The announcement to raise natural gas prices in the southern region of Magallanes in Chile generated an immediate reaction from citizens that forced the government to modify the measure. Protests, barricades, and mobilized citizenry were followed minute by minute on social networks in Chile.
Malaysia: Hindu Festival Celebrated Amid Protest
The Hindu festival of Thaipusam, a public holiday in Malaysia, was celebrated as devotees thronged the famous Batu Caves to fulfil their vows. This year's event became controversial after activists were arrested for protesting the inclusion of a "racist" novel in schools. The book depicts the Indians as the "pariah caste"
Taiwan: Greenpeace member arrested
Tipsuda Atichakaro, a Thai member of Greenpeace's flagship Rainbow Warrior, was arrested in the first protest in Taiwan during the ship's East Asia tour to protect the ocean. Taiwan environmental activist wobblies67 tweets that “…a member was arrested by the police and is now under investigation at District Prosecutors Office. Our lawyer friend says...
Egypt: What to Pack for the January 25 Demonstrations
Egyptian Alyaa Gad suggests what demonstrators should carry in their backpacks for demonstrations planned across Egypt tomorrow (Ar): “Your backpack: food and candy/clothes/a blanket/a phone and card/water/tissue/bandage/disinfectant/Aspirin/cotton/plastic gloves/paper and pencil/swimming goggles (against tear gas).”
Brazil: Salary increase for parliamentarians in discussion
As every end of the year, the Brazilian federal deputies legislated for themselves and approved another salary increase to approximately 52 times the minimum salary earned by most part of the population. In 2011, the expected ripple effect of wages has been confirmed causing a sparked discussion in the blogosphere.
Mauritania: Yacoub Ould Dahoud – A Hero
Mauritanian blogger Nasser Weddady writes about his country's own Bouazizi – Yacoub Ould Dahoud, who died yesterday after burning himself in front of the presidential palace in Nouakchott on January 17.
Tunisia: A Human Revolution
“By all Tunisian accounts, WikiLeaks had little–if anything–to do with the protests; rather, the protests were spurred by unemployment and economic woes,” blogs Jillian C York.
Tunisia: Change is Possible
Tunisian Ahmad (Ar) says the title of the next era in Tunisia is “Change is Possible.” “It is a mercy from God that our political parties were too weak to organise an uprising which is this strong and effective,” he adds.
Morocco: Social Protests Continue
Moroccan blog Alwandida (Ar) zooms in on ‘social’ protests in Morocco. Here, he posts a video showing a woman speaking out against housing problems.
Israel: Trouble in the Arab World
From Israel, YMedad takes note of trouble brewing across the Arab world and exclaims: “But this isn't my fault. The Arabs’ responsibility is all their own. And they've “earned” it.”
Jordan: Message to the Rulers
Jordanian Qwaider shares his thoughts on Tunisia in this post. “I'm puzzled and surprised of how happy “other” Arab citizens. From the Atlantic to the Arabian sea, the simple Arab citizen is rejoicing as if it was his mother who got liberated! I couldn't but wonder…Is this the message that...
Algeria: On the Mauritanian Self-Immolation
Algerian-American blogger Kal, from The Moor Next Door, comments on a self-immolation in Mauritania.
Egypt: Will January 25 be the Day of the Egyptian Intifada?
What is going to happen in Egypt on January 25? People are calling for demonstrations and sit-ins everywhere. Who is going to participate, and where? What are their demands? Isn't it possible that some people are against the whole thing? We just need to pay the Egyptian blogosphere a quick visit to find out answers for all our questions.
Pakistan: Lessons From Tunisia
Adnan Bashir at Pak Tea House writes what the meltdown in Tunisia means for Pakistan.
Brazil: Protest for quality transportation is a crime?
While Leonardo Sakamoto wonders [pt] if protesting for quality transportation is a crime, Conceição Lemes interviews [pt] one of the organizers of the demonstration against the price increase of bus tickets in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The student protester was brutally repressed [en] by police last week.
El Salvador: Court System Employees on Strike Demand Higher Salaries
Court system employees have been on strike demanding raises for five days. Tim explains that, “As a consequence, more than a thousand court hearings have been cancelled, bodies have gone unidentified in the forensic medicine office, and more than 87 prisoners have been released for failure to have an initial...
Taiwan: Product placement and the petrochemical industry
If a petrochemical company treats bloggers to a cushy on-site tour, do posts that follow count as corporate astroturfing? What, as some have alleged, if the excursion was funded by the government? And, what if the bloggers weren't shown the whole story?
