Stories from 2 February 2009
India: Outrage at attacks on women by Hindu vigilantes
On the afternoon of January 24, a group of young women in Mangalore in the southern state of Karnataka were attacked by Hindu vigilantes in a pub (bar). Dozens of activists from the little-known Sri Rama Sene (Lord Ram's Army) assaulted the women (and men, according to some reports) in...
Nicaragua: The Perfect Opportunity for Open-Source Software
Due to the economic crisis in the country, Juan Ortega states that this is the “perfect opportunity for open-source software in Nicaragua [es].” Saving the budget funds from the payment of licenses can be used on other technological needs.
Paraguay: Jasy Jatere in Guaraní Mythology
In Paraguay, Jasy Jatere is an important figure in Guaraní mythology. Muna Annahas explains how adults would “scare us about the Jasy Jatere to make sure that we will stay home and not go out by ourselves while adults took their nap.”
Americas: Guest Blog Post on New Clinton Foundation Initiative
Carlos Fernández, the new CEO of a new Clinton Foundation initiative, writes a guest blog post on Latina Lista explaining how he and his team will work towards reversing inequality in Latin America.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Environment a Mutual Concern for Young Bloggers
With most of the blogs created as part of a new online project to “create socially conscious media that will impact communities across the U.S. and the Caucasus” now up and running, participants from Armenia and Azerbaijan were asked to highlight an issue of concern in their own communities. While other problems were mentioned, the environment topped the list.
Egypt: Local Reflections on “Going Local”
Nermeen Edrees of Global Voices Online wrote about Egypt's Going Local Campaign. Today Blogger Juka celebrates the launch of the initiative's Facebook group, Ahmed Al Sabbagh reacts to Facebook itself going local while another two bloggers dictate their terms to switch to local Egyptian products.
Ethiopia: The Boy Without Arms
The Boy Without Arms is a fundraising drive to help the Ethiopian boy, Aschelew. Here is Aschelew's story: Several years ago Aschelew was depressed over his parents' AIDS, and his family chained him up to keep him from killing himself. The chains cut off the blood to his arms and he ended up losing both of them. Now his parents have died and Aschelew and his brother are alone. And the town is eager to see how to help them, and other orphans, sustainably.
Iran:A woman activist was jailed
Campaign for equality writes that Nafiseh Azad, a woman activist who was arrested in the mountains in the north of Tehran on Friday January 30, 2009 along with two others while collecting signatures in support of the “One Million Signature Campaign“’s petition.[update:Nafiseh Azad was released after 6 days].
Cuba, U.S.A.: The Cuban Five
As U.S. Supreme Court Justices debate whether to hear the case of The Cuban Five on appeal, Circles Robinson says: “The hypocrisy of such an action became even more evident when the Bush administration began its war on terrorism after 9/11″, while Uncommon Sense has a “suggested counter-offer to the...
Haiti: The Right Words
HaitiAnalysis.com wonders: “What kinds of words do the Haitian people need to hear from President René Préval during these hard times? ”
Cuba: Gorki Arrested Again
Uncommon Sense reports on two recent incidents of Cuban punk rocker Gorki being arrested and then released.
Barbados: Cuba to Fund Library Restoration?
Barbados Free Press says: “It boggles the mind that the Barbados Government would be looking to Cuba for possible funding in restoring the Barbados Public Library.”
Caribbean: WI Cricket Website
West Indies Cricket Blog thinks that “the official website of the West Indies Cricket Board…is now a waste of space on the world wide web. An embarrassment and a disgrace…”
Lebanon: Extra Virgin Olive Oil
“…it still can't be considered ‘extra virgin’ until a professional taster deems it as such,” writes Jane Rubio about the steps it takes to produce ‘extra virgin olive oil,’ – a lesson she learned at one restaurant/bar in Gemayze – Beirut.
Lebanon: “Being Black in Lebanon means…”
“Being black in Lebanon means you’re a servant. It means that if you’re sitting on the bus, people will solicit you to come to their house and clean for the going rate of 7,000 L.L./hour,” writes Jane Rubio on what a black person may experience when in Lebanon.
Bahamas: Day of Absence
“Until we invest and believe in our art, and until we respect our artists, our country will never even be”: Nicolette Bethel calls “for a Day of Absence in honour of all cultural workers in The Bahamas and around the world.”
Jamaica: 50 Years of Reggae
“No matter the label attached to it, Reggae continues to uphold its tradition of speaking on social, political, religious, and sexual issues…”: Life, Unscripted, on the Rock is celebrating Jamaica's “reggaelution”.
Russia, Georgia: Chreba and Akua
IZO sums up a post by LJ user rigello (RUS): “One of the upshots of the South Ossetian war has been the degeorgianification, in the Russian media, of the place-names Tskhinvali and Sukhumi. These have been russified to Tskhinval and Sukhum. But this seems a little ridiculous when you know...
China: Shanzhai Spring Festival Gala Blocked
Shanzhai Spring Festival Gala, an alternative to CCTVcelebration of the spring festival online casting, has become a sensitive term and blocked. (more via Joel Martinsen from DANWEI)
Japan and U.S: Totoro Forest Project
Martin J Frid from Kurashi introduces an exhibition on Totoro in San Francisco, which is part of the Totoro Forest project for preserving the Sayama Forest in Tokyo.
South Korea: Protest Against Police Violence at Yongsan
CINA posts photos of a protest against police violence at Yongsan. The police action in the redevelopment zone on 20 of January had resulted in the death of 5 residents who were protesting against a forced eviction.
