Stories from Quick Reads from April, 2008
Nigeria: British Airways must apologise
The British Airways must apologise for mistreating Nigerians: “yes, I think its time for the Nigerian government to take seriously the issue of how Nigerians are treated in the international scene. They should take it so seriously to the extent that the next Nigerian seen at any airport will receive...
Kenya: ICT and democratic processes
ICT, democratic processes and empowerment in Kenya: “There were varied topics and speakers, but I was very impressed by the presentations of two Kenyan women who are at the forefront of impacting ICT policy and enhancing innovative ways of using the Internet for networking. They are Alice Munyua and Ory...
South Africa: Be a guest blogger on SA Rocks
Do you want to be a guest blogger on South Africa Rocks?: “I am looking for someone to take control of the theme for SA Rocks for a week. I’ll need you to motivate why you want to blog on SA Rocks. What posts you might have in mind, lined...
D.R. of Congo: Penis Theft
Penis theft in the Democratic Republic of Congo: “It's pretty amazing that nobody commented on Penis Theft in Kinshasa, but despite the lack of popularity of this topic, I have more to say about it…”
Cuba: Passing Sentence
Child of the Revolution, Uncommon Sense and Ninety miles away…in another country all comment on Raul Castro's decision “to commute most death sentences to 30 years to life in prison.”
Bahamas: Abuse of Power
In the Bahamas, Womanish Words blogs about an environmental fundraiser gone awry: “The Royal Bahamian Police Force needs to know that we the new and awakened public doesn’t sit by silently anymore when bad cops are allowed to run rampant, to violate our human rights in raids like this one.”
Nigeria: Mobile TV
Yomi writes about Mobile TV in Nigeria: “Subscribers on the MTN Nigeria network can now watch up to 10 DSTV television channels on mobile phones. The channels include: SuperSport, Channel O, Africa Magic, and Cartoon Network, among others.”
D.R. of Congo: Kinshasa Soundtrack
A musical gift from the Democratic Republic of Congo: “To celebrate a couple of years in the Congo, here’s a mixtape just for Extra Extra readers. (Songs should stream when clicked. If they don’t, please let me know and I’ll scratch my head and bleat a bit.)”
Zimbabwe: 16 flavours of mutilation
Bev Clark's 16 flavours of mutilation in Zimbabwe: “So if independent monitors and Mugabe’s allies agree that neither candidate got over 50% then announce the results already! On the up-side we have Tsvangirai and Mutambara joining forces; Zimbabwe’s version of the dream ticket? We have had numerous SMS’ and emails...
Jamaica: Bob Goes Home
Montego Bay Day by Day reports that a controversial statue of reggae icon Bob Marley has finally found a home in Ocho Rios, but insists: “I have looked at this piece of ‘art’ several times from many different angles and I still do not like this statue…not even a little...
Barbados: False Pride?
“Tourism has become the life blood of most of the Caribbean countries and it needs to be re-energized”: Living in Barbados wonders whether the region can be proud of its tourism offering.
Uganda: Ten Things I want Explained
Ten Things Ugandan Imsoniac wants explanation: “Why Andrew Mwenda is arrested and it makes international headlines and yet when 13 journalists in radio stations around the country were (between January and March this year) arrested for doing their jobs, publicly threatened by politicians and sacked for speaking the truth it...
Jamaica: Elections – Take 2?
As dual citizenship laws dictate that certain ruling party Ministers are ineligible to sit in Parliament, Jamaica and the World wonders whether the Prime Minister can avoid calling another general election…
Zimbabwe: “Free Zim” graffiti in South Africa
Graffiti for Zimbabwe in South Africa: “This was sent to us today. The picture was taken this morning, in Cape Town, South Africa.”
Uganda: Ugandans spend $18 million on Internet access
Scarlett Lion discusses the cost of Internet access in Uganda: “Internet in Uganda is prohibitively expensive. At a fast internet cafe, it will cost about Ush 3,000 per hour ($1.70). It may cost less per hour somewhere else, but the speed of the connection may be so slow that the...
Brazil: Orkut vs Facebook
Raquel Recuero [pt] has a long post explaining why Brazilians love Orkut so much that they have paid no attention whatsoever to facebook – at least so far.
Mozambique: On unemployment and the government responsibility
Basilio Muhate [pt] expatiates on the high unemployment rates in Mozambique and the role government play in it. “Bureaucracy also causes many problems in the labor market, mainly because of decisions that are not consistent with reality and real economy, where public spending (government spending) is often determined by political...
Kazakhstan: Kyrgyz Protest against Concessions to Kazakhstan
Adam reports that hundreds of people marched in Kyrgyzstan to protest against a government decision approving the handover of four Soviet-era tourist complexes on Lake Issyk Kul to Kazakhstan.
Uzbekistan: UK for sanctions suspension
Nick reports that UK is going to back the suspension of EU sanctions against Uzbekistan.
Kazakhstan: Kids at Banks
Adam tells that numbers of children of high-ranking officials among Kazakhstan’s bankers have grown.
Armenia: Revolutionary Youth Movement
Unzipped reports on what appears to be an offshoot of the Sksela youth movement. Faced with some internal criticism on its pro-radical opposition leanings, the Now (Hima) movement has been established. The blog posts video of its first action staged in support of what some consider to be political prisoners...
