Stories about Technology from October, 2010
Jamaica: Farewell to the “Cool Ruler”
Jamaican reggae icon Gregory Isaacs, popularly known as the “Cool Ruler”, died this morning at this home in London, after a long battle with cancer. Possessing one of the most soulful voices in the reggae genre, Isaacs was probably best known for his song “Night Nurse” (from the 1982 album of the same name). The Jamaican blogosphere has been active upon hearing news of his death, to the point where the late singer has become a trending topic on Twitter.
Tanzania: Where To Get Tanzania Election News
Where to find Tanzania election news online: “A few weeks ago we told you we started TZelect, an Ushahidi-based platform that aims to collect and discuss reports from East African youth about election events. Recently we were contacted by a few organizations who have put together a similar platform, Uchaguzi...
Tanzania: Mobile Phone in Zanzibar Elections
The Zanzibar Electoral Commission is going to run a service whereby, on the days running up to the election, people can find out exactly where the polling station they have been allocated to is, though the service costs TSh 300 (approximately 2 cents – which means that this service could...
Zimbabwe: Blackbook Launches a Shout Box
Zimbabwe blackbook has launched a shout box, a web page were people can say their opinions, debate, ask a question and say what they want in addition to make their views recognized.
Mozambique: regulations on text messaging services
Observatório do Direito à Comunicação [pt] reports on the regulations placed on text messaging services in Mozambique, after several protests were organised via SMS during September's ‘bread riots’.
Brazil: changes made to digital crimes bill
Jomar Silva, of blogging collective Trezentos [pt], speaks out against recent changes [pt] made to a controversial draft bill on cybercrimes in Brazil. The bill, which would require web users to provide identification for online transactions, such as setting up a blog or downloading files, may now see content service...
Uzbekistan: Facebook blocked
The authorities of Uzbekistan have banned Facebook, possibly in an attempt to block Uzbek users from the opportunity to read the content of the banned independent websites via the social network, Abulfazal reports.
Bhutan: Increase In Social Media Users
“There are more than 32,000 users of the social networking site in Bhutan,” informs Yasmin Lee Arpon.
Maldives: A New Twitter Directory
“#tunaeffect is a Maldivian twitter directory and a platform for Maldivian twitter users to come together as a community,” informs Rhipha.
UAE: Ban on Flickr Lifted
The United Arab Emirates has lifted a ban on photo sharing site Flickr, writes the UAE Community Blog. “According to a report in The National, the TRA has lifted the Flickr ban. Good news for UAE internet users and photographers. Apparently, it's been made possible by Yahoo utilising the same...
Mexico: Blog ‘Words of Resistance’ Publishes Stories of Teenagers from Oaxaca
The blog Words of Resistance is “a space for stories written by students from Zapotitlán’s middle school (grade 7-9) who are transforming their reality word by word.” The students live in the Mixtec area of the state of Oaxaca, “one of the areas of Mexico with the highest rate of...
Bangladesh: Qubee Or Banglalion?
CasCade at Youth Thinkers blog compiles the discussions in the forums and blogs about which Wimax broadband internet service is the best in Bangladesh.
Cote d'Ivoire: Reports of Violence as Elections Approach
West Africa researcher for Human Rights Watch Corinne Dufka says:”While politicians and foreign diplomats have wrangled over election preparations, residents in western Côte d'Ivoire are consumed by fear of violent robbery or of being pulled from a bus and raped.” NGO Akendewa has set up a citizen reporting platform to...
Africa: Africa Rural Connect 3.0
Lisa reports that African Rural Connect 3.0 is live: “After months of hard work, the National Peace Corps Association's Africa Rural Connect team has launched additional interactive tools and features in order to maximize the collaborative experience for members of Africa Rural Connect.”
Zimbabwe: Minister of Commerce and Industry Uses Twitter to Air Frustrations
The Zimbabwe Minister of Commerce and Industry and also the MDC Secretary General Professor Welshman Ncube uses Twitter to air his frustrations.
Africa: Linking African Securities Markets
Linking African securities markets: “Technology is the driver of securities exchanges around the world – currently there are big battles for supremacy in a range of markets and disclosure and clearing and settlement after the trade are also coming to the fore. Africa should be no different.”
Nepal: Texting During Dashain
XNepali blog informs that there was a huge surge in SMS greetings in Nepal during the Dashain festival.
Anguilla: End of a Blog
Corruption-free Anguilla decides to shut down its blog over threats of a lawsuit; Barbados Free Press comments: “Don Mitchell CBE QC learns why anti-corruption blogs in small countries must be anonymous.”
Tanzania: Be Part of a National Election Monitoring Exercise
Ben asks Tanzanians to be part of a national election monitoring exercise: “Ushahidi comes to Tanzania! It comes in the form of uchaguzi.or.tz, implemented by TACCEO, a group of 16 Tanzanian civil society organizations that have partnered for election monitoring, with assistance from Hivos.”
Cameroon: Transforming Piles of Scrap Into Finished Products
Bill Zimmerman writes about men in the outskirts of Maroua, the capital of the Extreme North of Cameroon who gather together to transform piles of scrap iron into finely finished tools, stoves, replacement parts and other useful implements for sale to the local population.
Tanzania: Follow #uchaguzitz on Twitter
Presidential and parliamentary elections will be held in Tanzania on 31 October 2010. Follow Tanzania election-related tweets here.