Stories about Weblog from September, 2011
Georgia: Virtual Facebook Parliamentary Speaker Election Game
Ahead of next year's parliamentary election in Georgia, the ruling party continues in its attempt to harness the power of social media to attract interest in the electoral process from social media users. Mirian Jugheli reports.
USA: The Real and Digital Unite for Latin American Literature
La Casa Azul - an online bookstore - has recently announced it is going to collaborate with a new bookstore located in Washington Heights, New York. Word Up (@wordupbooks) has two goals: to spread Latin American literature and independent bookstores.
Zambia: Starting Life Under a New Leader
Zambians have started life under newly elected president Michael Sata who was inaugurated on September 23, 2011, three days after the elections which ended 20 years of rule by the MMD government. Netizens on various social network platforms have expressed different views on the inauguration and the new presidency.
Protecting African Forests: Wangari Maathai's Legacy
Wangari Maathai, a prominent Kenyan environmental and political activist and 2004 Nobel prize winner passed away on September 25. She was the first African woman to be awarded the prize and is recognized worldwide in the fight to protect the environment on the African continent.
Zambia: Did Ex-President Implicate Himself in Farewell Speech?
Netizens have been dissecting the speech by Zambia’s outgoing president Rupiah Banda to find out whether he implicated himself in the plunder of national resources. Gershom Ndhlovu reports.
Indonesia: Suicide Bomb Blast at Protestant Church
A Protestant church in Solo, Central Java in Indonesia was hit by a suicide bomb blast on Sunday. Twitter users in Solo and elsewhere are extending their condolences and expressing their disappointment over this tragic event.
Philippines: Anti-Planking Bill Draws More Planks
A proposal in the Philippines to ban planking has drawn much criticism online and offline. Planking has been used by student activists as a creative form of protest, especially in last week's nationwide campus strikes against education budget cuts.
United States: “Occupy Wall Street” Takes the Heart of New York's Financial District
In New York, a peaceful protest has developed: "Occupy Wall Street." Inspired by the events in cities throughout Arab and European countries, demonstrators are protesting against the way in which the U.S. economy has been managed.
Bulgaria: Clashes Between Roma and Ethnic Bulgarians in Katunitsa
Violent clashes in the Bulgarian village of Katunitsa broke out Friday night, following the death of a 19-year-old ethnic Bulgarian, who had been run over by a vehicle driven by a man linked to the local Roma clan leader. Ruslan Trad reports on the Bulgarian netizens' reactions.
Syria: Official Websites Under Anonymous Attack
Official websites in every major Syrian city have been hacked, as part of hacktivist group Anonymous' Operation Syria. On Twitter, netizens are exchanging screen grabs and views under the hashtag #OpSyria.
Bahrain: Protests on Election Eve
Protesters in Bahrain tried returning to Pearl Square, the centre of massive protests against the regime in February, on the eve of election night. Over two days, the unarmed protesters were pushed back to villages, where security forces continued to battle them until the early hours of this morning.
Saudi Arabia: Women Allowed to Join Shura Council
Saudi women, who cannot drive in their own country, will be granted the right to become members in their country's 150-member consultative or Shura council, an advisory body which has limited powers in government and legislation. The decision was welcomed by netizens.
Algeria: Football Matches New Venue to Air Dissent
Algerians have discovered a novel way to make their voices heard. Spectators in football matches are using the opportunity to voice political views, in a country which has so far shielded itself from the revolutions of the so-called Arab Spring.
Colombia: Outrage at President of Congress Over Oil Subsidy
Last week, Juan Manuel Corzo, Senator and president of Colombia's Congress, caused outrage on social networks when he tried to justify a fuel subsidy for congresspeople. The issue became "personal" when Senator Corzo declared that Twitter users criticizing him were being "rude," adding: "I'd rather not steal from the State and that [others] pay for my gasoline."
China: If This is Neocolonialism, Bring It
The new US ambassador to China Gary Locke's public appearances since his appointment in July have shown him to be a man with class that Chinese government officials just can't compete with. Or so most Chinese netizens say. It's actually just an elaborate scheme aimed at making China lose face.
Yemen: Bloodbath in Sanaa as Saleh Returns
More than a 100 Yemenis have been killed and 700 injured as the government continues its war against protesters calling for a regime change. Yesterday saw the return of president Ali Abdulla Saleh, who spent three months recuperating in a Saudi hospital, following a failed assassination attempt.
Tunisia: Whistleblower Samir Feriani Set Free
A military court in Tunis temporarily released whistle blower Samir Feriani, who spent 117 days in detention after publishing articles criticising the Tunisian Interior Ministry, on September 22. On September 29, his trial will resume and a verdict will be issued on his case. Netizens react to the news.
Iran: Rage Over Video of Tortured Bear Cubs
A video shared by Iranian animal rights activists of a brown bear in Samirom being killed and her cubs tortured, has angered many Iranians and led to calls via blogs and Facebook for the "hunters" to be punished by authorities.
Update on Global Voices Mentorship: Meet the Activists
For over a month, ten Global Voices bloggers have been working with activists from ten different countries as mentors of members of the new Blogger Swarm initiative of Activista, the youth network of international development organization ActionAid.
Video: Water Bottle Lights and Other Eco-Friendly Inventions
Solar lights and hot water heaters from plastic water bottles, houses made from trash and a way to do without plastic bags are some of the projects making reducing, reusing and recycling not only fun and affordable but also vital in improving the quality of life of people all around the world.
Russia: Racial Propaganda in the State-Owned Media
Drawing on a rich tradition of "political technology" honed under both the Tsarist and Soviet police states, the Russian media are now rife with paid stories planted to advance specific agendas. Will Partlett examines what appears to be a recent example of this practice.
