Stories about Technology from March, 2008
Syria: I Blog, Therefore I am
Syrian Abu Fares explains why he blogs in this post. “I blog therefore I am,” he concludes.
Bulgaria: Against Internet “Bugging”
This year, the Bulgarian government has issued a decree, which, among other things, allows the security services to gather from each internet user the data about who they have written to, who is on their contact lists, what instant communication agents they are equipped with, when they used them and the precise manner of using them. The majority of internet users in Bulgaria interpreted it as an encroachment on their civil liberties. Yavor Mihaylov reports on Bulgarian bloggers' attempts to resist the government's initiative.
Trinidad & Tobago: The Laptop Incident
Trinidad and Tobago's Opposition Leader was recently suspended from Parliament for using his laptop without permission, but only a few bloggers seemed tuned in to the story...
Cuba: Can You Hear me Now?
News that Cubans will now be allowed to buy cell phones has been met with differing reactions by Cuban bloggers…El Cafe Cubano: “Cubans on average earn about $20 a month...
Japan: Why does Mario move from left to right?
Blogger lastline has drawn over 400 bookmarks on the Japanese bookmarking service Hatena for a detailed investigation of the question: Why does the video game character Mario run across the...
Israel: New Technology Will Improve Organ Transplants
Israeli biotech company Core Dynamics may have found a way to improve organ transplants. A new technique in cyropreservation will change the way organs are frozen and thawed, enhancing their...
Lebanon: Facebook Suicide
SLH shares this letter that he sent to his “facebook friends” explaining the reasons behind his decision to leave Facebook forever and to “rejoin real world interaction”.
Brazil: Blogs banned from the 2008 elections
Brazil is warming up for local elections later this year, but the Supreme Electoral Court has just passed regulations that have raised eye-brows throughout the blogosphere: only candidates' purpose-built web pages will be allowed. Blogs and 'social web' facilities have not been subjected to a more comprehensive legislation and as a result these are now left in limbo. Will the netizen be silenced?
Libya: Killing Time at Weddings
From Libya, Khadija Teri takes us along with her to a wedding in Tripoli – where she discovers a new way to kill time.
Qatar: Some Facebook Applications Banned
Ngourlay announces that Qatar Telecoms has blocked some of Facebook's applications. The blogger also lists five reasons the telecom provider censors sites: pornography, political criticism of Gulf countries and anti-Islamic...
Kuwait: Stop Demolishing Kuwait Facebook Group
Rampurple draws our attention to a new Facebook group named Stop Demolishing Kuwait's History.
Chile: Presidential Candidate Set to Back Children's Computer Campaign
Marcelo Trivelli, a pre-candidate for the Chilean presidency, has promised to promote the objectives of the campaign “One Computer Per Child,” [es] writes Luis Ramirez and will appear on TV...
Morocco: Growing Sense of Civic Activism
A Moro in America draws our attention to the “growing sense of civic activism in Morocco” as more people continue to videotape and expose corrupt officers and guards, who are...
Jordan: End of Pirates DVDs Era
“Will April 1st 2008 be doomsday for Jordan’s JD 1 DVD paradise?” asks Ahmed Humaid, from Jordan, who overhears people talking about the end of the era of cheap pirated...
Seychelles: A political party with a blog
A political party with a blog in Seychelles: “The SNP is the main opposition party in the Seychelles.”
Colombia: Contest brings forth multimedia citizen journalists
Contest open for anyone, regardless of nationality, to write, show and create content telling the world about a very special place in Colombia most people wouldn´t normally be aware of. Bloggers and vloggers are already responding, here are examples from the Chocó and Antioquia regions.
Cuba: Verifying Blocked Websites
Yoaní Sanchez of Generación Y [es] in Cuba details which blog and websites are currently being blocked within the island after verifying this fact at a local cybercafe.
Zimbabwe: Using Google Maps to show election rigging
Sokwanele uses Google Map to show election rigging in Zimbabwe: “The interactive map aims to give a visual impression of the scale and many ways in which the Zimbabwean government...
Nigeria: Website for Obama
David Ajao's comments about the launching of a website for Obama in Nigeria: I regularly glance through the leading Nigerian Internet-based discussion forum Nairaland, to keep an eye on the...
Seychelles: Embassy Blog
Official blog of the Seychelles embassy: “This is the official blog of the Seychelles Embassy accredited to the European Communities and institutions, and the Benelux countries with residence in Brussels.”
Kenya: SLUM-TV
African Loft has an article about SLUM-TV in Kenya: “Operating from Mathare, the biggest slum in Kenya, the SLUM-TV was created to document the lives of the people in the...
