Stories about Weblog from February, 2012
Colombia: Speaking Spanish is Hard and There is a Song About It
Song on the difficulties of speaking Spanish rings true with native speakers as well as those trying to learn the language. With humor, Colombian songwriters and performers Juan Andrés and Nicolás explain the confusions that come with the regional variations of the language.
Bahrain: #Hungry4BH Trends Worldwide
Bahraini netizens, backed by the international community, helped raise the voices of detained political activists on hunger strike, by making their plight a trending topic on Twitter. Mona Kareem reports on the efforts of activists online and on the ground in Bahrain.
Tunisia: McCain's Visit Stirs up Anti-US Feelings
Senator John McCain's visit to Tunisia on Thursday, February 23, left Tunisian Internet users angry over what they called Ennahda's 'double standards.' Hundreds of Facebook comments, dozens of tweets and many pictures filled social media platforms frequented by Tunisians after a controversial picture of Tunisian Prime Minister, Hamadi Jebali, hugging the Senator.
Yemen: Hadi President After 33 Years of Saleh
After 33 long years of Ali Abdullah Saleh's rule, Yemen finally inaugurated today a new President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi, for the transitional phase, following a whole year of protests. Hadi had assumed his position as president according to a GCC-brokered power deal which made him the sole consensus presidential candidate in the one man election, in which he won 99.8 per cent of the votes.
Iranian News Agency “Improves” Oscar Speech by Asghar Farhadi
Iranians are overjoyed with the news that Asghar Farhadi's film “A Separation” was awarded an Oscar for best foreign language film. Farhadi's acceptance speech attracted even more attention after Fars News, a semi-official news agency added their own words to the transcript.
Portugal: Web Users Debate Portuguese Private Copying Bill
Currently being debated in the Portuguese Parliament is a new bill (PL118) which proposes a tax on any equipment or software capable of recording, copying or storing analogue or digital content, in the name of author's rights. The online community has wasted no time in wading in on the debate, with the hashtag #PL118 duly trending on Twitter.
Singapore: Reactions to the Proposed 2012 Budget
Netizens react to the proposed 2012 budget of the Singapore government, which includes a commitment to lower the country’s dependence on foreign workforce, greater assistance to the elderly, the disabled and the lower-income families, and boosting the capacity of public transport and public hospitals.
Russia: The “Big White Circle” Protest in Moscow
On Sunday, Feb. 26, thousands of people gathered in central Moscow for the Big White Circle protest, forming a human chain along most of the length of the Russian capital's 15.6-kilometer/9.7-mile Garden Ring, protesting against corruption and demanding a fair presidential election, which is to take place in one week, on March 4.
Pakistan: Karachi's Third Literature Gala
The Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) gave an opportunity to authors and book lovers to join together and celebrate reading. Literature from Pakistan and elsewhere was discussed in the two day long event from 11-12 February, 2012.
Tunisia: Police Use Tear Gas and Batons to Disperse Labor Union Protest
Police used tear gas and batons to disperse protesters showing support to the Tunisian General Union for Labour (known by its French acronym UGTT), in the capital Tunis, yesterday (February 25).
China, Koreas: Netizens Express Humanitarian Concern Over North Korean Refugees
As the Chinese government continues to repatriate North Korean refugees who succeed in fleeing into China, views among the country's netizens are split but seem to show more sympathy than adherence to realpolitik
Bolivia: Disabled Protesters Demand More Welfare Support
For nearly 100 days, a group of physically disabled people held a march from the eastern lower lands of Bolivia to the seat of government in capital La Paz, located 3,600 metres above sea level, demanding a yearly subsidy of at least 3,000 Bolivianos (434 US dollars approximately).
Puerto Rico: 365 Photographs
José Rodrigo Madera's photos, part of his "365" project, were only visible to his friends on Facebook, until the magazine Revista Cruce published 20 of them for everyone to enjoy. Here is a selection of his beautiful photographs.
Italy: Historic ‘Guilty’ Verdict in the Eternit Asbestos Trial
It is a historic verdict: on February 13, 2012 in Turin, northern Italy, the two top senior executives of the multinational Eternit, a producer of asbestos, were sentenced to 16 years in prison after a criminal trial began in 2009. Here are the reactions of the associations and the families of asbestos victims in Italy and Europe.
Bangladesh: The Ethical Dilemma of Using Opportunities
In developing countries, where bureaucracy, corruption and misinformation thrive, people may create opportunities to cash in from those anomalies. Some consider this as creativity or simply a part of the livelihood and some question about the ethics in using those opportunities.
Mexico: Group Looks for Independent Citizens to Run for Congress
Amidst a presidential election year, a group of young people is driving a series of changes that would allow independent citizens to run for Congress. Currently, in Mexico you need to belong to a political party to be elected for a position in Congress.
Australia: Political Paralysis Before Leadership Vote
Australia’s governing party will decide between the leadership of the country's current Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the one she deposed in 2010, Kevin Rudd. After months of speculation, Australian Labor Party parliamentarians will vote after a very self-destructive confrontation this week. Twitter is aflutter.
Russia: Bloggers’ Photo Reports and Reflections on Pro-Putin Rally in Moscow
On Thursday, February 23, ten days before the March 4 presidential election, the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin addressed thousands of people at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. A number of Moscow-based bloggers attended the event, too. Below is a selection of their photo reports and observations, along with some of the remarks from their audiences.
Liberia: “Kill the Gays” Bill Spreading
Former Liberian first lady Jewel Howard Taylor has introduced a bill making homosexuality liable to a death sentence. Homosexuality is outlawed in 38 African countries.
Puerto Rico: Blogosphere Denounces Proposed Cybergag
The Puerto Rican blogosphere reacted to a measure undertaken by the mayor of the city of Mayagüez, José Guillermo Rodríguez, that would have been used to investigate and prosecute people who criticize his administration on social networks. Even though the Mayor has since decided not to enforce the resolution, he warned that more regulations will come soon.
Chile: Aysén Region and the Call for Decentralization
Protests, road blocks, and clashes between protesters and police continue as citizens of Chile's Aysén region demand change. For many, the conflict in Aysén boils down to one problem affecting the whole country: centralism. Chilean bloggers weigh in on the issue.
