Stories about Feature from December, 2010
Caribbean: Defining Moments of 2010
Many landmark events happened in the Caribbean this year, prompting reactions from the regional blogosphere. Here's a look back at some of the most important stories of 2010...
Cyber Scout: Thailand’s internet police?
The government of Thailand is recruiting young people to join the ‘cyber scout’ program which is tasked to defend the royal institution in the internet. Is it an initiative to bridge the digital divide as the government claims or is it a censorship tool?
“In the beginning was the Word”: Blogs by Bible translators
This week Christians will celebrate the birth of Jesus. Christianity appears in many forms around the world and has around 2.2 billion adherents. In this post we take a look at the blogs of the people trying to make sure Christian scripture can be understood in as many languages as possible – Bible translators.
Iran: Subsidies Cutback Causes Drastic Rise in Prices
Severe cutbacks on subsidies that have kept prices on many goods artificially low are feared to cause problems for many middle class and poor citizens in Iran.
Christmas Recipes in Global Food Blogs
Christmas means ‘coming home’ to many people - but if this isn’t possible, preparing a magic meal can be a consolation. Bloggers of many continents have shared their favorite holiday recipes. With these you can dream yourself back home or even visit a place, you’ve never been to before. Where are you celebrating Christmas this year and what are you serving?
Tunisia: Unemployed Man's Suicide Attempt Sparks Riots
An unemployed Tunisian set himself on fire in protest against his joblessness, sparking a wave of riots on the ground and solidarity and support on social networking platforms. While the fate of Mohamed Bouazizi, aged 26, from Sidi Bouzid, in southern Tunisia, remains unclear, Tunisian netizens ceased the incident to complain about the lack of jobs, corruption and deteriorating human rights conditions in their country.
Michael Anti: Blogging the gap between China and Japan
GV Japan interviews Chinese journalist and activist Michael Anti.
Sudan: Happy holidays and a peaceful referendum
Here's a roundup of latest blog posts about Southern Sudan Independence Referendum 2011. According to the 2005 Naivasha Agreement between the central government in Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Southern Movement, South Sudan will hold a referendum on whether or not to remain part of Sudan on 9 January 2011.
China: Gold farming couple handed down heavy sentence
The verdict this month of a fine of USD 450,000 and several years in prison for one couple who ran a gold farm throughout 2007 has left those following the trial shocked, angered and wondering how something so common in China could suddenly be punished so heavily.
Lebanon in the eyes of an Iranian photo-blogger
Mohmmad Reza Hassani is an Iranian professional photographer and photo-blogger who has lived and worked since 2009 in Lebanon. His photo blog has become a source to discover Iran-related affairs in Lebanon, from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent visit, to the exhibitions and concerts of Iranian musicians.
Australia: Asylum Seeker Boat Tragedy Shocks Nation
A boat carrying up to 100 Iranian, Iraqi and Kurdish asylum seekers crashed into sharp cliffs off Christmas Island in Australia on December 15 killing at least 30 people. The tragedy throws back into light the hard-line policies of Australia's government towards asylum seekers in the past year.
2010 Chinese blogosphere: Peace and conflict
The top stories among Chinese communities in Northeast Asia in 2010 can be summarized in two words: Peace and Conflict.
COP16: Conclusions from Young Trackers
Young trackers from the Adopt a Negotiator Project blogged throughout COP16, United Nations Climate Change Conference that took place in Cancún, Mexico. These were some of their concluding statements and thoughts on what happened at COP16 from their country's perspective.
Côte d'Ivoire: Ivorian Internet Users Fear a New Era of Terror in Abidjan
The political crisis in Côte d'Ivoire is getting increasingly violent. According to the UN, 50 people were killed and 200 injured for the past three days. Traditional media were shunned from showing scenes of violence during some of the skirmishes but internet users managed to publish some video footage of the violence around the country.
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South/North Korea: Tensions Escalate in Midst of Live-Fire Drills
South Korean military exercises were underway today near the disputed waters with North Korea, who threatened Seoul to strike back, raising more tensions in the Korean peninsula. The Korean people, who have had one of the toughest days in recent weeks after the Yeonpyeong incident that killed four South Koreans, sighed with relief as the day came to a close without any conflict breaking out.
Africa: The Scandal of the “Ill-gotten Gains”
In the scandal of the wealth accumulated by some African politicians, the French Supreme Court of Appeals reversed the verdict pronounced by Paris Court of Appeals a year ago. The court of appeal deemed that the claim of embezzlement filed by Transparency International against the leaders of RDC, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea and their entourage was valid. Bloggers discuss the implications of this wealth accumulated by African leaders in contrast with the poverty of the rest of the population.
Belarus: Presidential Election Day Ends in Protests and Crackdown

December 19, the 2010 presidential election day in Belarus, ended in mass protests, arrests and violent clashes with the riot police in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. Below is a small selection of citizen media reports on what happened.
Brazil: Indigenous communities reflect on using the internet
For the first time ever, delegates of 16 indigenous communities from all over the country gathered together to discuss a subject of utmost importance: the Internet, and how to use it in favor of indigenous people. This is the first post authored by Chicoepab Surui, from the Paiter Surui people of the Amazon.
Malaysia: Anwar Ibrahim suspended from Parliament
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was suspended from the Parliament for six months for linking Prime Minister Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia concept to that of ‘One Israel’. Bloggers discuss the impact of the suspension on Malaysian politics
Ukraine: Blood in the Parliament
On Dec. 16, a fierce fight broke out in the Ukrainian Parliament, sending at least four lawmakers to the hospital with injuries of various degrees of severity. Tetyana Bohdanova reviews blog and Twitter reactions of the Ukrainian public and politicians.