Stories about Feature from November, 2011
Kenya: Life in Dadaab, the World's Largest Refugee Camp
Around 75 percent of all refugees are believed to reside in countries neighboring their own, and this is particularly true in Kenya, where approximately 450,000 people inhabit the world's largest refugee camp.
Russia: Digital Oppression Hits Web Forums as Election Approaches
As the Russian parliamentary election comes closer, dispersed attacks on regional discussion boards have turned into a massive wave of digital oppression. Alexey Sidorenko reports on several cases.
Egypt: The Revolution is Back!
Up to 100,000 people are said to be in Tahrir Square now, as police and the army continue to battle with protesters calling for an end to Egypt's military rule. Protesters have had running battles with the armed gunmen serving the Egyptian government since Friday.
The Netherlands: A Holiday Season of Festivities, Costumes… and Racism?
In recent years "Zwarte Piet" (Black Pete), the dark-skinned companion of Saint Nicholas during the winter holiday season in the The Netherlands, has become part of a recurring debate as some take offense at costumes including black painted faces.
Morocco: Online Debates Rage Days Ahead of Parliamentary Elections
Moroccan are using the Internet extensively to discuss the upcoming legislative elections. Part of the discussion is revolving around the electoral programs of the competing parties, the question of whether to boycott or participate in the poll and the role played by the pro-democracy youth movement, February 20.
Egypt: Battle for Tahrir Continues for Third Day
The battle for Tahrir Square, in downtown Cairo, continues to rage for the third day today. Netizens keep us abreast with the action from the frontlines.
China: United States Begins ‘Pacific Century’, Online Nationalism Follows
As the US quickly asserts its position in the Asia-Pacific region, nationalist sentiment has leapt at similar speed from somewhat marginalized online communities to the top of China's largest blog portals.
Egypt: Have Activists and Journalists Been Targeted in Tahrir Square Clearing?
Tear gas, rubber bullets and bird shots were used today, injuring scores of people, to clear Tahrir Square of protesters. Egyptians on Twitter were both sad and angry for what happened, accusing the new rulers of Egypt of targeting activists.
Egypt: Ultras Push Police Back as the Battle for Tahrir Continues
Police and protesters spent a day battling over Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the Egyptian revolution. A few minutes ago thousands of football fans, known as ultras, descended upon the square pushing back the police. Here are reactions from Twitter.
UAE: Female Twitter User Rowda Hamed Summoned for Interrogation
Female Twitter user Rowda Hamed, from the UAE, tweeted saying that she has been summoned for interrogation. She is one of the few Twitter users from the country who support five detained activists who recently went on hunger strike.
USA: Will Occupy Oakland Activist “Pancho” Be Deported?
Francisco "Pancho" Ramos-Stierle was arrested while meditating at the Oscar Grant Plaza during a raid on the Occupy Oakland, in California, encampment on November 14. After intense public pressure, all criminal charges have been dropped but he still faces deportation.
Kuwait: Protesters Storm the National Assembly
Thousands of angry Kuwaitis stormed the National Assembly building on Wednesday 16 November, after police and security forces clashed with protestors. Kuwait's political sphere has been extremely tense in the past few years, and with the Arab Spring earlier this year, the situation took a new turn.
Palestine: Freedom Riders Challenge Israeli Segregation
On November 15 a group of Palestinian activists were arrested while travelling on a bus carrying Israeli settlers. The activists called themselves the “Freedom Riders”, after the American civil rights campaigners of 1961.
United States: Unexpected Eviction of Occupy Wall Street Protest
On the morning of November 15, New Yorkers woke up to news that police forces had evicted Occupy Wall Street protesters from Zuccotti Park without prior notice. As usual, various opinions continue to circulate in the blogosphere and social networks.
Russia: Hidden Camera Reveals Illegal Electioneering in School
A scandal caused by a hidden camera recording at a school in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, has highlighted a serious problem in Russian schools: teachers campaigning for the ruling United Russia party.
Peru: Reflecting on Anti-Mining Protests
Peruvian bloggers reflect on recent protests and social conflicts related to environmental problems caused by mining, and the influence these problems might have on the future actions of the government of President Ollanta Humala.
Zambia: Porn Video Sparks Debate on Gender, Culture and Morality
A video clip of a young female student at one of Zambia’s expensive colleges having sex with her boyfriend has surfaced on a hardcore pornography website. The case has generated a lot of debate online about culture, morality and gender in the country.
China: Photo Captures Plight of 58 Million ‘Left Behind Children’
A photo showing a little girl caring for her baby brother in a classroom in rural China has caused an online stir. It reflects the country's long-standing social problem of children who are left behind by their parents going to work in the cities.
Russia: FC Anzhi Makhachkala and the Yeltsin Era Money
The January 2011 acquisition of a Russian Premier League soccer team, FC Anzhi Makhachkala, by Suleyman Kerimov, a billionaire politician native to the volatile region of Dagestan, is the most recent display of how the wealth accumulated in the Yeltsin era is being used. Donna Welles reports.
North Korea: Did Gaddafi's Execution Scare Kim Jong-il?
Joo Sung-ha is a North Korean defector-turned-journalist who also blogs. This post is his critique of numerous news reports suggesting Kim Jong-il, North Korean dictator was scared to hear of his fellow dictator, and rumoured friend, Gaddafi's fall.
Saudi Arabia: Outrage Over 10 Lashes for Female Driver
Shaima Jastaniya, a Saudi woman who was arrested after driving her car in Jeddah six months ago, has been sentenced to 10 lashes. The two female journalists who reported her punishment have been summoned to appear in court.
