Stories from 14 December 2008
Brunei: The ‘Ali Baba’ syndrome
Brunei has the potential to achieve economic diversity. However, development is hampered by little or lack of productivity. The Bruneian Malay culture may in fact be one of the reasons as to why progress is slow.
Politician bloggers in the Philippines
Filipino internet users are increasing every year. Majority of those who use the internet are reading blogs. It is not surprising that politicians and political parties in the Philippines are now bringing their campaigns in the internet.
Burkina Faso: 10th Anniversary of journalist Norbert Zongo's Murder
On the 10th anniversary of the murder of Burkinabé investigative journalist Norbert Zongo, a campain blog and a petition to reopen the case have been launched, while bloggers reflect on the anniversary.
Angola: A country with huge, untapped tourism potential
Angola boasts an amazing interior landscape, rich and varied fauna, bountiful wildlife, and an extensive national park system, offering something for every visitor. However, most of its potential is still untapped, and if well explored, could make Angola the biggest tourist destination in Africa.
Peru: Defense Team of Fujimori Completes Presentation of Documentation Evidence
The defense team of Alberto Fujimori has completed its presentation of document evidence in the trial of the former Peruvian president for human rights violations, writes Fujimori on Trial.
Taiwan: Support for Greece Student/Anarchist Movement
Em, a devoted Taiwanese female anarchist and civil media journalist expresses her support for Greece students. She remarks that Greece students are the most active and influential among global anarchists(zh).
Uruguay: MEC Center Allows User to Choose Between Software
The Education and Culture Ministry of Uruguay recently opened a Center in Montevideo, where residents can take workshops on the use of internet. Fernando da Rosa writes that users can choose between using Free Software or Private Software [es].
Brazil: Introducing the Offline Twitter
Lúcia Malla [pt] and a group of friends – all of whom have twitter accounts – show what happens when twitter addicts meet in a bar: they keep twiterring offline. See the pictures. “Experiment's general conclusion: the more difficult thing on the offline twitter is to design your avatar. ;) ...
Bolivia: National Electoral Court Under Exeni
Miguel Centellas of Pronto* examines the National Electoral Court under the leadership of José Luís Exeni, which”has become one of the most institutionalized instruments of the legal framework of Bolivia’s democracy.”
Paraguay: Community Radio Stations Operating Under Pirate Frequencies
Many community radio stations in Paraguay have to operate with pirate frequencies due to the unavailability of space writes Carlos Rodríguez of Rescatar [es].
Russia, China: Slang Dictionary
IZO links to LJ user du-jingli (RUS), who has scanned four pages from the 916-page Russian-Chinese Slang Dictionary and has so far received nearly 500 comments. (Warning: the post contains obscenities, in Russian and in Chinese.)
Furor Over Tunisian Blog Awards Censorship
The Tunisian blogosphere is up in arms over this year's annual Tunisian Blog Awards. They accuse organizers of soliciting the participation of corporate sponsors Topnet and l'ATB, at the price of free speech.
Bangladesh: Issues That Threaten The Election
Bdfacts compiles a list of things that could derail Bangladesh’s impending election.
India: The Terrorist's Last Victim
Sepia Mutiny analyzes the media reports on the family of the detained terrorist of the Mumbai terror attack and comments: “His own mother is often a terrorist’s last victim.”
Peru: Iron Maiden in Lima Set for March 2009
Now that the visit of British heavy metal band Iron Maiden has been confirmed for Lima on March 26, 2009, bloggers, who are big fans like Slayer_X [es] and Idioteca [es] are buzzing about it. Javier Lishner from Rock Around the Blog [es] rounds up a series of opinions of...
Japan: Controversy over Imperial Succession
On the 1st of December, the seventh birthday of Princess Aiko (official title: 敬宮愛子内親王殿下, Toshi no miya Aiko naishinnō denka) [en], while the mainstream media in Japan were busy reporting that the princess had a cold and could not attend a birthday party organized in her honour, some bloggers were...
DR Congo: Aid worker killed in Bukavu
Kakaluigi [Fr] reports that a Congolese aid worker with the NGO International Rescue Committee (IRC) was shot on Thursday night by his home in the center of Bukavu. It's the third person that has been murdered in a similar way in Bukavu in the last couple of weeks.
Zambia: Labia stretching is not mutilation
Manena discusses the Zambian tradition of elongating the labia minora, which is often classified as a type of female genital mutilation. She explains why she thinks this classification is wrong.
Japan: Dr. Shochi's trip around the world
Follow the adventures of Dr. Shochi Saburo (曻地三郎), a 102 year-old Japanese Doctor of Literature, Doctor of Medicine, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy and Poet who came up with the Parent and Child Toymaking Class [en], a program that “brings out children’s sensitivity and intelligence, improves communication and the bond between...
Gambia: Kankourang masquerade tradition
Emma of África en el mundo [Es] describes a masquerade dance called kankourang that is traditionally performed by the mandinka ethnic group in Gambia during the circumcision ritual. The post includes a video about the dance.
Madagascar: French Authorities Censor Play on Historic Independence Battle
A theater performance to commemorate a historical date in the battle for independence of Madagascar, March 29, 1947 has been banned without explanation in the Southern region of Africa the Indian Ocean by French regional authorities. Discussion of the play and its subject matter continues on the internet.
