Stories from 14 February 2008
Sri Lanka: Right to Shoot
groundviews talks of the right to ‘shoot’ – in the context of a leading Sri Lankan photojournalist being detained by the police for taking photographs near a well-known Colombo school.
Nepal: India's interventions
Nepal Monitor on why positive intervention by India is necessary to sort the issue of Madhesh in Nepal.
Bangladesh: Detained by the army
Unheard Voices on a report detailing a prominent journalist and blogger – Tasneem Khalil's experience as he was detained by the army.
Bangladesh: The cartoon. Again!
Inspirations and Creative Thoughts isn't pleased with newspapers republishing the Danish Muhammad cartoon.
France mute on detained opposition leaders in Chad
Le Pangolin writes about the extrajudiciary detention [Fr] of opposition politicians in Chad and France's conspicuous silence.
Iraq: Baghdad Round Up
Baghdad Dentist was in Baghdad and updates us with what he experienced here.
Iraqi Bloggers Losing Hope
Out of Iraq Bloggers Caucus rounds up the reactions of some Iraqi bloggers under the title: Iraqi Bloggers Losing Hope.
Kidnapping in Haiti
NoteDor writes about kidnapping in Haiti [Fr]: “Kidnapping has entered our morals and seems to be ingrained in them. The authorities are powerless, or rather indifferent; often it is they who organize [kidnappings]…Those who orchestrate these horrors must hate our country with all their heart…Love to them all, for they...
Egypt: Mughniyeh's Assassination
Zeinobia from Egypt sheds light on the assassination of Lebanese Hizbullah second in command Imad Mughniyeh in this post.
Fouad's Week: Fouad will not be forgotten!
The Free Fouad campaign has organized and carried out “Fouad’s Week”, during which bloggers were invited to republish one of Fouad’s posts on their blogs and to embrace “We Are All Fouads” as a slogan. This week-long event marked two months since the dean of the Saudi bloggers, Fouad Alfarhan, was arrested on December 10, 2007 and held in Jeddah’s Dahban prison without any charges brought against him.
Brazil: Posting together against paedophilia
At least 200 Brazilian bloggers so far have promised to make a post against paedophilia today and many blogs are already wearing a badge. Tânia [pt], a state prosecutor, has posted a real history whose end is not a happy one. The campaign has been organized by Luz de Luma...
Mozambique: People out of the bottle
Carlos Serra [pt] has discovered a new popular expression circulating among Mozambicans: ‘people are out of the bottle’. He provides interpretations in the face of protests against the cost of living that have taken place in the country: “It seems that the term refers to the won sense of freedom,...
Bahamas: Power Plant Problems?
“For all our concerns for our environment, no one seems to be perturbed about the potentially serious consequences of the proposed power plant by the Bahamas Electricity Corporation“: Dave Ralph at Bahama Pundit explains.
China: Taxi Driver Hunger Strike
Jesse Owen blogs about the blue truck taxi driver hunger strike in Ningbo, Zhejiang. The mainstream media has very little cover on the issue and Jesse has some first hand information and photos.
Bermuda: Tourism Feels the Love
“So, it’s time for the Love Festival, Dr. Brown’s annual Valentine’s bacchanal,” writes Vexed Bermoothes, blogging from Bermuda – then adds: “I am not damning the Department of Tourism for their big activities…we just need to look at our cost vs benefit a little more frequently, and using honest benchmarks.”
East Timor: Investigate Xanana first
A text by Leidar, a human rights activist based and Bidau, Dili, published on Timor Online casts suspition at Xanana's involvement at Monday's incidents. “Xanana’s Convoy was attacked almost one hour later after the attack at President Residence. How was the security information circulated at that time? Xanana’s Security guards...
Korea: Adjusting to college life
A Korean student recently wrote a lengthy post about her experiences adapting to college life. Her comments apparently struck a chord with many others, and responses flowed in. Her post and the reactions of other Koreans show how some netizens think about issues like fitting in and individuality in Korea...
Dominica: Going Green
“Stores must spend a small fortune on black plastic shopping bags (Dominica imported US$1.3 million of plastic products last year)” writes Steve's Dominica, but says: “All is not lost.”
Jamaica: “InI”
Through the music of Bob Marley, Jamaican Geoffrey Philp examines the roots of Rastafarianism.
East Timor: Please come forward and bring the truth
Malai Azul [pt] launches an appeal to those who may be involved in Monday's assassination attempts in East Timor to carefully give themselves up: “A piece of advice from us: come forward, at least the truth will be revealed.”
Macau: Cold death
Leocardo [pt] comments on the news that 44 people have died because of the ferocious cold weather in Macau. “It is absolutely inconceivable that a developed country or territory allow their citizens to die because of cold weather. More important than the GDP or the human development index, these are...