Stories from Quick Reads from May, 2011
India: New Internet Rules – Unregulated Power To The Government
Law And Other Things debates the proposed new Internet Rules in India, which grants unregulated powers to the Government.
Nepal: So Rich And Yet So Poor
News Views And Reviews Of Nepal points out that although Nepal has a huge potential to generate hydropower up to 43,000 megawatts (MW), it is generating only 1.47% of its total capacity and further investments in this sector has stalled.
Thailand: 9 Film Festival
Wise Kwai reviews the 9 Film Festival in Thailand. The event features “nine short films, each nine minutes long and incorporating something about the No 9 in them.”
Thailand: Tourism woes
Khon Kaen advises the Tourism Authority of Thailand to learn from the aggressive tourism campaign of Laos to revitalize the country's tourism industry
Azerbaijan: Interview with released video blogging activist Emin Milli
TekVibes posts a video interview with Emin Milli, one of two video blogging youth activists conditionally released last year in Azerbaijan.
Vietnam: Ben Tre activists convicted
Seven land rights and non-violent democracy activists were found guilty of attempting to overthrow the government of Vietnam. The closed-door trial was held in Ben Tre, Vietnam. Supporters of the activists held a vigil in Saigon before the trial.
Russia: “My Perestroika”
Dina Fainberg of The Dustbin of History writes about My Perestroika – “a lovely documentary by an American film-maker [Robin Hessman] about how four classmates were affected by the changes in Russia from Brezhnev to Putin” – and the Q&A that followed the film's screening in London.
Russia: State Duma Whistleblower Intern's Case
Sublime Oblivion writes about the case of Evgeny Starshov, who was tweeting and blogging about his internship at the Russian State Duma until he got fired for it.
Abkhazia: Sergei Bagapsh Dies
In Moscow's Shadows and Foreign Policy Association's Russia blog write about the implications of the death of Sergei Bagapsh, the president of the Republic of Abkhazia, on May 29.
Poland: The Year of Anniversaries
Polandian posts a list of companies celebrating anniversaries of their presence in Poland in 2011.
Serbia: Mladic Arrest Update
Bill Kralovec of Bill's Blog and Kirk Johnson of Americans for Bosnia share thoughts on the arrest of Ratko Mladic; YakimaGulagLiteraryGazett is posting links to English-language media stories on the issue.
Mexico: ‘Información Cívica’ Summarizes Week in Civil Society
David Sasaki in Información Cívica explains they will “begin publishing weekly summaries of what Open Society Foundation partners in various countries around Latin America are sharing via their websites, blogs, and social media accounts.” Their first summary focuses on their partners in Mexico.
Uruguay Implements Argentinean Initiative ‘I read this book’
In Pires Mios [es], Macarena announces that the initiative ‘I read this book’ (in Spanish: “yo leí este libro”) that began in Argentina is now being implemented in Uruguay. On its official blog [es], the organizers explain how it works: you leave a book on the street (in a bench,...
Kenya: Catholic Church Should Cleanse Its House
The Catholic Church in Kenya should cleanse its house, argues Sue at Jamii Ya Kenya blog: “The recent accusation of a priest Renato Kizito of sexually abusing his secretary is shocking but not strange, because this is not the first time he is accused of sexual abuse. In 2009 he...
Russia: OBEY Giant Poster Wonders ‘Who Set Up Strauss-Kahn?’
LJ-user groupper posts [ru] pictures of an illegal poster with OBEY Giant and a question in French and Russian: “Who set up Strauss-Kahn?” The poster hanging in front of the French diplomatic mission building in Saint-Petersburg, raises a conspiracy theory question, wherever the #DSK scandal was a deliberate removal of...
Gambia: On Gambia's First President
Mathew K. Jallow discuses the legacy of Sir Dawda K Jawara, Gambia's first president: “As president, Sir Dawda Jawara was unlike most African leaders and politicians of his generation; leaders who took advantage of their positions to enrich themselves with the wealth of their people. If there was one negative...
Zimbabwe: On Journalism and Sexual Harassment
Beven Takunda blogs about journalism and sexual harassment in Zimbabwe: “A number of young female journalists coming from college have raised complaints that they are being asked to go out with some of the editors of these newly established newspapers if they want to get employed. This is vey sad...
Nigeria: Memories of attending a boarding school
Watch this YouTube video of Nigerians remembering their experience of attending a boarding secondary school.
Zimbabwe: Fined US$400 for killing a woman
A man is fined US$400 for killing a woman in Zimbabwe: “Fungai Tichawangana is widely admired and respected in Zimbabwe. Fungai’s wife was killed by a drunk driver. A man who was fined US$400 and had his license suspended for 6 months. Fungai pointed out to us that people who...
Togo: 8 digits phone numbers coming soon
“Starting August 7, 2011, at 00.00 GMT, a new 8 digits telephone dialing system will be implemented in Togo.” Louis Bararmna on African News details what this will change for users [Fr] when calling landlines and mobile phones in Togo.
France: #frenchrevolution in photos and videos
The Bundlr site presents a compilation [dead link] of photos, videos, links and tweets about the raising of the Place de la Bastille in Paris, to echo the protests in Spain and Greece.
