Stories from 10 February 2009
Egypt: More activists and bloggers arrested
Two more Egyptian bloggers and activists have been detained by authorities, sparking calls and campaigns by bloggers and human rights activists for their release, in the latest series of arrests targeting online activists. Lasto Adri reports from Cairo.
Jordan: Clothes, Logos and Traffic Violators
In this round up of Jordnian blogs, Mohammad Azraq quotes bloggers discussing wearing colourful clothes, Amman's new logo and traffic violators.
Haiti: Fanmi Lavalas and the next elections
Last weekend, the Haitian blogosphere was buzzing about the exclusion of political parties from the April 2009 Senatorial elections by the Conseil Electoral Provisoire or Temporary Electoral Council - and on Friday January 6th, the CEP published a list of the candidates for the next democratic parliamentary elections in Haiti. Bloggers share their thoughts about the rejected candidates.
Uganda: Behind The Mirror
Sokari writes about the documentary Behind the Mirror, which investigates and advocates for responses to the many challenges faced by the LGBTI community in Uganda.
Eritrea: Ministry of Information: Explain Please!
Why does the Eritrean blogger, Sam B, demands an explanation from the Eritrean Ministry of Information? Follow his post at African Path.
Cote d'Ivoire: The Little Sack Dress
Emeka posts a video of Ms Camara from Ivory Coast discussing her dress making business.
Nigeria: Nigerians abroad have the right to vote
Akin discusses the ruling by a Nigerian court that Nigerian abroad be allowed to vote in Nigerian elections without the need to return home.
Nigeria: Why is Nigeria's Connectivity Scorecard very low?
Loy analyses the Connectivity Scorecard 2009, which shows that Nigeria has the lowest ICT penetration, usage, potential and accessiblity out of 50 countries of the world.
Trinidad & Tobago: Dead Dead Wine
“It has never before struck me how much wining was a thing of beauty until I am confronted with its recently acquired ugliness”: Attillah Springer is afraid that “the death of the wine is a dire and desperate indication of the weakness of our collective Trini backbone.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Love of Pan
“Today Carnival belongs to all Trinidadians – each year it expands and breathes a healing breath into the nation's pysche”: My Chutney Garden attends Panorama and offers a glimpse into the history of steel pan music.
Cuba: Human Rights
Diaspora blogger Child of the Revolution calls “shameless” the Cuban justice minister's suggestion that all is well when it comes to human rights, while Uncommon Sense links to the trailer of a new documentary about Cuban political prisoner Oscar Biscet.
Trinidad & Tobago: Be Advised
As five developed countries issue travel advisories for Trinidad and Tobago, This Beach Called Life says: “Government’s Vision is clear and that is what is so frightening.”
Bermuda: Show Me the Numbers
The 2008 Bermuda Tourism numbers are out – Vexed Bermoothes and FreshieBlog both have something to say about them.
Bahrain: A ban on pork?
Bahraini blogger Ammaro cannot believe some MPs have called for banning pork: “Banning something doesn't make people more religious…Oh, and this may shock you MPs, but the people who usually purchase pork AREN'T USUALLY MUSLIM.”
Battisti: The Italo-Brazilian Imbroglio over Shadows of the Past
Brazil vs. Italy friendly football match in London today was under threat amid the diplomatic row over Cesare Battisti's extradition process. Brazilian blogs delve deeper into the controversy.
Ecuador: Correa Stops in Loja
President of Ecuador Rafael Correa made a stop in the region of Loja as part of the traveling cabinet meeting. Voces Lojanas [es] wrote about the visit.
Colombia: The Latest Hostage Release and Opportunism
With the latest hostage release by the FARC in Colombia, Marsares of equinoXio writes that “opportunism also was present” and that each hostage “sought to be the centre of the attention and, of course, their own personal profits.”
Italy: In Defense of the “Right to die”
A legal battle over a young woman's 'right to die' after 17 years in a coma has spurred both vast online commentary and activism in Italy. Mostly in defense of "Eluana Englaro's choice", Italian netizens have signed petitions, organized protests, and made YouTube videos of their own 'living will' testimonies, in defiance of both prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and the Vatican.
Azerbaijan: Plouffe visit not on Obama's Behalf
Following the recent fallout from this week's visit to Azerbaijan by Obama campaign manager David Plouffe as well as news that his $50,000 speaker's fee will be donated to civil society groups in the region, the New York Times’ The Caucus blog says that the White House denies the controversial...
Armenia-Azerbaijan: LGBT roundup
With the traditional media in the South Caucasus rarely reporting on sexual or religious minority rights maturely, blogs have stepped in to fill the gap and Unzipped: Gay Armenia continues to post LGBT news from the region. Following recent homophobic remarks from local politicians and civil society activists as well as in articles in the local press, the blog says there is actually some good news for a change.
China: Can Paper Wrap the Fire?
Last night CCTV's new building's extension caught fire because of nearby fireworks celebrating the Chinese Lantern Festival (元宵). Blogger Anlei recorded the whole process with a series of photos. Even though the fire is an accident, the propaganda department still decided to harmonize / censor the news. A notice has...
