Stories from 21 January 2007
Martinique: Homophobia and Segolene Royal's Socialist Party
The French Socialist Party's presidential candidate Segolene Royal. Photo by Manuel MC. Le Blog de [Moi], the blog of an out Martiniquan lesbian, tackled a budding controversy in local Martiniquan politics last week. Martinique, though in the Americas, is a French Overseas Department (what the French call a D.O.M.) and...
South Korea: more on textbook
Jacky's post about Chinese BBS's discussion of Korean textbook has some follow up discussion at Marmot's Hole by R. Elgin. There is a long comment thread with some more background about the issue.
Hong Kong: warning against homosexual program
The Television and Entertainment licensing authority issued a warning to Radio and Television Broadcast Hong Kong regarding a TV program on homosexual love and marriage. The chief of Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau immediately demanded to meet with the head of RTHK. Many citizens and netizens, including Mo at inmediahk.net...
Hong Kong: doraemons fans’ websites forced to closed down
Animation International issued legal document and demanded the closed down of non-profitable cartoon fans’ website in Hong Kong. All of them are run by Japanese cartoon figure doraemons’ fans: doraemons.dorafans.com, search.dorafans.com, keithyuen.dorafans.com, news.dorafans.com, www.dorafans.com
South Africa: African Digerati
White Africa interviews Neville Newey, the man behind Muti, a South African Digg like site, “Neville Newey is the second in the African Digerati series of interviews. What he wouldn’t say here, because he is too humble, is that he takes his own initiative to create change. Anyone who has...
Kenya: the Dalai Lama not welcome in Kenya
Gathara's World responds to the news that the Dalai Lama has once again being denied Kenyan visa: The Dalai Lama doesn't need to come to the Maasai Mara to see Kenyan animals. Just watching the antics of the government over the his proposed visit should suffice. Moody Awori's monkey business...
Nigeria: falling in love with makossa and soukous
Nigerian blogger, Olawunmi, on why he loves makossa/soukous, “i love makossa. i just do. i think its one of the most beautiful forms of musical expression out there. on one hand, it can be so extravagant and colourful, showcasing everything that's beautiful about the people of sub-saharan africa, and on...
Nigeria/UK: wishing Big Brother was about racism
“I wish Big Brother was about racism,” writes Akin, “I have convinced myself that I do need to wade into this Big Brother saga because I have not seen much that addresses the fundamental problem that has been blanketed by racism and in doing so absolved us from identifying what...
Malawi/USA: legacies of peace and justice
afrika-aphukira reflects on the legacies of peace and justice through the works of John Chilembwe and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., ” In Malawi, January 15th is celebrated as Chilembwe Day, in honor of the Reverend John Chilembwe who in 1915 led the first ever uprising against white racism and...
Kenya: another torch is possible
Kikuyumoja's Realm writes about an environmental-friendly torch in Kenya, “Instead of informing the public about a proper waste management, I can only repeat my usual prayers: what we need are eco-effective products. But until then, let’s start using more environment-friendly products such as this dynamo torch that just eliminates the...
China: Independent directors funded
With the news of Chinese broadcasting regulation body SARFT‘s decision to heavily invest in future films from sixteen of China's hottest young independent directors, one might jump to the conclusion that official regulators are just as tired of the same few big-name directors as many Chinese netizens are. LiLiang, for...
Zimbabwe: Questioning the judiciary and the abortive opposition
Morgan Tsvangirai, and not Robert Mugabe, has become the most poignant effigy symbolizing the tragedy that is Zimbabwe. Much like the young nation that stood replete with promise and seemingly unlimited potential in the early 90's, Tsvangirai emerged as the most potent threat to Mugabe's tyranny at the turn of...
Kenya: the revolution will not be televised
Black Looks writes from Nairobi, Kenya where she is attending the World Social Forum, “Maybe individual issues can be dealt with country by country and networking across the globe is positive – but another world – as Gil Scot Heron Said “The Revolution will not be televised” in this case...
Uganda: bloggers meetup
Jackfruity writes about the Ugandan Bloggers Happy Hour, “The topics of conversation at Thursday night's Inaugural Uganda Bloggers Happy Hour ranged from cell phones to Alice Lakwena to the transvestitical possibilities of Philip Seymour Hoffman. The Jabberwocky was recited, blogging addictions were confessed, heaven was declared to be just like...
Turkey is Typing…the Death of Hrant Dink
While normally this column focuses on what only Turkish bloggers are saying, sometimes events happen that warrant the voices of not only Turkish points-of-views but others as well. The Death of Hrant Dink is one of those moments. As a bit of background- Hrant Dink was a Turkish-Armenian journalist and...
