Stories about North America from April, 2009
Barbados: The Danger of Hate Speech
Bajan Dream Diary makes a case for hate speech legislation in Barbados.
Cuba, U.S.A.: Remembering the Prisoners
“Cuban Americans may be about to flood the island with cash and visits,” says diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense, “but political prisoners in the Castro gulag are not likely to enjoy...
Brazil: Does the country play a new role in the world?
Brazilian blogs could not stop talking about the way President Barack Obama treated President Lula President in their third meeting at the G-20 Summit in London. Being called "the guy" by the US President, Lula shows the new status of the country and gives everyone a reason for pride, although some bloggers remind us that the main point of the meeting was how the worldwide leaders are going to tackle the economical downturn.
Americas: Eye on the Summit
As the much-anticipated opening of the Fifth Summit of the Americas - which will see 34 Western Hemisphere leaders coming together to discuss issues related to human prosperity, environmental sustainability and energy security, not to mention the global financial crisis - fast approaches, regional bloggers continue to closely monitor developments.
Cuba, U.S.A.: Play Ball
“The ball is in Cuba’s court after Obama threw it yesterday, as he announced new flexibility in his policies toward Cuba”: From Havana, Generation Y says: “The game would become...
Barbados: Reputation & Governance
Barbados has hired a Canadian company to transform the Barbados Stock Exchange into an international one, but in light of existing integrity and freedom of information laws, Barbados Free Press...
China: Chat with Anti-CNN.com
Rebecca MacKinnon, a former CNN reporter, chatted with the core members of Anti-CNN.com on Monday. She has written down a summary of the conversation in her blog.
Russia, U.S.: YouTube Orchestra's Gennady Krutikov's Visa Ordeal
Podstantsiya, a Russian podcasting portal, posts an interview (RUS) with Gennady Krutikov, member of the Russian National Orchestra and one of the three Russian participants of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra...
Cuba, U.S.A.: Extending an Olive Branch?
The Obama administration yesterday announced some key changes to U.S. policy designed to "reach out to the Cuban people in support of their desire to freely determine their country’s future." While the policy shift allows for a lift on travel and remittance restrictions and paves the way for greater telecommunications links with the island, some bloggers are concerned that the measure has not gone far enough...
Americas: The 5th Summit Gets Underway
The Fifth Summit of the Americas, to be held in Port of Spain, the capital city of the twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago, from April 17-20, 2009, is already capturing intense regional and international interest. Regional bloggers weigh in.
The World According to Mom
What do blogging mothers around the world think are the five best things about being a mom? Global Voices has teamed up with Catherine Connors a.k.a. Her Bad Mother in Canada to ask this question and encourage mom-bloggers around the world to reach out and link to one another. So far, more than 85 bloggers in 26 countries have responded. But we're still looking for more.
Palestine: Allowed No Passage
The saga of journalist and blogger Laila El-Haddad, who writes at Raising Yousuf and Noor: diary of a Palestinian mother, was covered in detail by Global Voices last week. However, as El-Haddad moved into her 36th hour at the airport and her tweeting and blogging ceased, fans, friends, and readers became concerned. Jillian York picks up from where we left off, and bring us up-to-date with El-Haddad's story, in her own words.
Russia: Thoughts on Stalinism
Vadim Nikitin writes about Stalinism at Foreign Policy Association's Russia blog: “Stalinism was thus the political equivalent of the Columbine massacre, on a national scale.”
U.S., Europe: Clinton's Message on Roma Day
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a video message in recognition of the International Roma Day: video and text – at U.S. Department of State Blog.
USA: Deploying a Pro-Immigration Web 2.0 Strategy
The Opportunity Agenda is holding an open online seminar (webinar) on April 16, 2009 (3pm EST) to advise activists on how to develop social media strategies for supporting pro-immigration reform...
Cuba, U.S.A.: “Economic Emigrants”
From Havana, Generation Y remembers “events such as the Mariel Boatlift”, adding: “Emigration happens more quietly now, in rocky coves where—in the early hours every morning—someone launches themselves into the...
USA: No More Columbus Day at Brown University
In response to protests from Native American and other students, the prestigious Brown University in the United States has changed the name of the national public holiday Columbus Day to "Fall Weekend" on its academic calendar. Bloggers are debating this modification of a holiday that honors the European explorer Christopher Columbus for “discovering” America.
Palestine: Gaza Mom Back in the US
The saga of Palestinian blogger and mother Laila El-Haddad and her two children has come to a complete circle - she is back in the US, where she started her long trek to Gaza, Palestine, three days earlier, after the Egyptian authorities denied her from reaching home. Her messages on Twitter helped draw attention to her plight as well as the drama many Palestinians face as they cross boundaries.
Japan: Chalk Drawing of Ichiro Suzuki
WBC afterglow? A video of a portrait of Ichiro Suzuki drawn with sidewalk chalk by artist Phil Hansen has recently been making the rounds in the Japanese blogosphere.
Palestine: Parallels with Native Americans
Samuel Nichols, an American who works with the Christian Peacemaker Teams in the West Bank, writes about the parallels he sees between the history of the Native Americans and the...
Palestine: Twittering Gazan Mom Stranded at Cairo Airport Deported after 36 Hours
Her tweets have gone silent and her last message spoke of a deportation to somewhere other than home. Home is Gaza in Palestine, which Laila El-Haddad and her two American-born children Yousuf and Noor can't travel to, to be reunited with their grandparents except through the Rafah Crossing on the Egyptian-Palestinian border - which is closed. Egypt won't let them through; and El-Haddad's visa to the US, where she has flown in from to the Cairo Airport where she was stranded for 36 hours, had expired. Where is the Twittering Palestinian mother and what has happened to her and her children?
