· March, 2012

Stories about Iran from March, 2012

Iran: Earth Hour celebrated in Tehran

  31 March 2012

Iranians are going to celebrate the “Earth Hour” today Saturday 31st of March. Here in this Farsi-language website, Iranians are organizing the “Earth Hour” events, including turning-off lights for an hour ‘to protect the planet’. Parham, an Isfahan-based user, tweets: ‘They are going to turn off Si-o-se Pol (historical bridge)...

Iranians to Israelis: “We Are Your Friends”

  21 March 2012

An Israeli Facebook campaign to say to Iranians “We will never bomb your country. We love you.” has received an answer from Iranians in the form a corresponding Facebook initiative that says to Israelis, “We are your friends.”

Israel: “We Love Iranians”

  20 March 2012

Paul Mutter blogs about the newest permutations of a social media campaign started over the weekend by two Israeli graphics designers that is called “We Love Iranians,” aimed at raising public awareness against the steady march to war the Likud government has been taking Israel on towards Iran. The meme,...

A Love Letter From Israel to Iran

  18 March 2012

A message of love from Israelis to Iranians sounds stranger than fiction in these tense years where Iranian and Israeli governments threaten each other constantly. But we see examples of just this in a new Facebook campaign.

Iran: I repent that I voted for Ahmadinejad

  17 March 2012

Omid Hosseini, An Iranian blogger who has been actively supporting Mahmoud Ahmadienajd in 2009 presidential election and rejecting the post-election protests, writes [fa] in his blog: ‘I'm sorry that I voted for Ahmadinejad in last election. I repent for that. I'm sorry that I voted for him to justify his...

Iran: Authorities ‘worried’ about social networks

  17 March 2012

Hamid Shahriari, a member of newly-formed Iranian National Council of Cyberspace says [fa]: “Social networks have presented so many threats to the country and we are worried about some parts of these networks”. In recent weeks Iranian authorities have asked some users to ‘stop or reduce’ their online activities. In...

Iran: ‘The button’ in Ahmadinejad remarks

  17 March 2012

Iran's parliament questioned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over a list of accusations, including that he mismanaged the nation's economy and disobeyed the parliament's legislation. Ahmadienejad humiliated those members of the parliament who have signed this questions, saying that they ‘may have received their post-graduate degree just by pressing a button’. Iranian...

Iran: A Nowruz New Year Without Goldfish?

  16 March 2012

Goldfish have a special place in the Iranian New Year, Nowruz, celebrating the first day of Spring (March 20). But every year animal rights defenders and bloggers launch campaigns to encourage people not to buy them.

Iran: ‘May God bring bread to empty tables’

  13 March 2012

An Iranian blogger based in Tehran posted a Libyan cartoon on his official blog and briefly writes [fa]: ‘Coming new Iranian year, I wish God brings food to all the empty tables so no respectful father would be ashamed with his family’. The cartoon shows a father painting fruits on an...

Iran: The sanctions are resulting in inflation

  13 March 2012

A Persian blog focused on economics writes [fa]: Inflation is Iran is a result of sanctions against the country and high liquidity. The unknown writer of this blog believes: The market can not be reined without tuning down the international tensions and reducing the liquidity.

Iran: Wednesday Feast with crackers and fireworks

  13 March 2012

This evening Iranians are celebrating ChaharShanbeh-Suri (the Wednesday Feast) in Tehran and other cities, with fireworks and crackers which are called ‘pomegranates’ informally. The eve of last Tuesday of the Iranian year is marked by special customs and rituals, most notably jumping over fire. Some Iranian users are expressing their objection...

Iran: The 4th enemy of Internet

  13 March 2012

Reporters Without Borders considers Iran as the 4th ‘enemy of Internet’, after Burma, China and Cuba. The annual report of RSF on ‘World day against cyber-censorship’ says [en]: Iran has intensified online crackdowns and surveillance again this year. The regime has also continued to demonize the new media, accusing them...

Iran: Pro-regime websites protest against filtering

  12 March 2012

Some Iranian pro-regime cyber activists have objected recent blockage of their websites and weblogs like teribon.ir, due to ‘criticizing some political figures’. “The movement of demanding cyber activists’ rights” believes [fa] such restrictions for pro-regime web activists would ‘trouble the holy cyber war’.

Brazil: What Happens If There's Another Oil Crisis?

  12 March 2012

The rise in the price of oil caused by the impasse between the Western powers and Iran has been a cause for concern not just for the European and North American markets, but also for less vulnerable economies such as the Brazilian economy. On the other hand, opportunities are arising for a new chapter in Brazil's economic history.

Iran: Cartoonists Rage Against Khatami for Voting in Election

  9 March 2012

Mohammad Khatami, the former reformist president of Iran voted in parliamentary elections on Friday, March 2, 2012 going back on his word that he would refuse to vote until political prisoners were freed and the constitution was respected. His actions drew ire from reformists keen on boycotting elections.

Iran: Women Say No to the War Monster

  8 March 2012

The Iranian Islamic regime has ignored International Women's Day for more than three decades. It does not recognize March 8, and has even banned women organizations from celebrating the day. But each year Iranian women both in the real and virtual world stil celebrate.

Iran: Order for a ‘national cyber space council’

  7 March 2012

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,the Supreme Leader of Iran, has ordered [fa] a new supreme council to be formed on cyber space. In this order, the president of Iran, the head of judiciary, the parliament spokesman, the head of Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), the police commander in chief, the intelligence minister, and some...