Stories from 22 April 2009
Sri Lanka: Internet Strengthens Democracy
ICT for Peacebuilding (ICT4Peace) comments: “the Internet and web can and will be used for democracy and human progress and that more, not less, information in the hands of citizens strengthens democratic governance.”
Pakistan: Why Talibans are Getting Support in Swat?
Pakistani blogger Ambreen Kazmi at Chowrangi blog answers the question “Why people of Swat support Taliban”?
Egypt/Morocco: New Technical blogs in Arabic
Recently the Arab blogsphere witnessed the launch of two unique Arabic blogs – One by Moroccan blogger Mohamed S. Hjiouij, which focuses on professional blogging; and Techno-Media by Egyptian blogger Mohamed El Gohary, who's also a Global Voices Online Arabic lingua contributor, which specializes in explaining Web2.0 technologies and linking...
Egypt: “I heart Egypt”
Despite Jordanian blogger The Observer description of how he believes Egypt has become cruel to its citizens – after he went for a quick visit to Alexandria, Egyptian blogger fattractive wrote her interesting reasons why she loves her Egypt.
Egypt: Bringing authors and bloggers together
“If you would have known that I would be reading your review, would you have written it differently?” Mahmoud Osman, author of Thawret 2053 Elbedaya, asked Egyptian blogger Gjoez after stumbling on her review of his book by chance.
India: Election Cartoons
Election Cartoons 2009 is a blog by Kerala Cartoon Academy which posts published and unpublished cartoons on the ongoing elections in India.
MENA: Reflections on Durban II
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech, and the way European Union representatives reacted to it at the United Nations Conference on Racism in Geneva (Durban II), has stirred debates among bloggers across the Middle East. Eman AbdElRahman sums up reactions in this post.
India: More Slumdog Millionaire Drama
Runa at Über Desi reports about the dramatic events in the life of Rubina, one of the main child stars (who originates from a Mumbai slum) from the Oscar winning movie Slumdog Millionaire.
Bangladesh: To Protect Nesting Sparrows
Bangladeshi blogger Shahnaz, who blogs at Dhaka Dweller, shares a tragic story and suggests: “if you have nesting sparrows in your home, please protect them while they are raising their brood.”
Brazil: Judicial decisions, a growing threat to online freedom
When it comes to freedom on the Internet, Brazil is a free country according to recent report. However, bloggers face a growing threat from judicial decisions leading to content censorship and the risk of prosecution for libel and defamation. News of blogs being closed down, bloggers having to delete posts or receiving threats abound, appearing on a near monthly basis.
Morocco: Faces from Yemen
Morocco-based blogger Maryam, of My Marrakesh, visits Yemen and posts pictures of people she met there in this post.
Egypt: Excuse for Syrian ban of Facebook “Stupid”
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia is not convinced with a Syrian Minister's excuse for the banning of Facebook – that it was banned to protect Syrians. She writes: “I do not know how she invented this stupid answer that shows a complete ignorance with the internet and the facebook not to mention...
Morocco: Media on Trial
‘The Committee to Protect Journalists is reporting that Ali Anouzla and Jamal Boudouma, managing editor and publishing director of the Moroccan newspaper Al-Jarida Al-Oula, have received suspended jail sentences and large fines for “defamation” and “insulting the judiciary,”’ reports Moroccan blogger Laila Lalami.
UAE: Why are Iraqi Gays being Killed?
Arab Lady, who blogs from the UAE, is angered with stories coming out of Iraq on the torture and murder of gays. “I’m not here to defend gays but I’m writing this post to express my disgust of those who appoint them selves as Gods on Earth to spread morality...
Kuwait: The Fanatics of this World
Kwtia, from Kuwait, lashes out at fanatics in this post: “Fear, paranoia and sexual obsessions are unfortunately the calling cards of these fanatics who want the world in little tiny simplistic boxes that are too small and too weak to hold in the crazily gorgeous multiplicity of possibilities offered up...
Saudi Arabia: Temporary Marriages or Prostitution?
“Saudi's temporary marriages are prostitution,” charges American blogger Sand Gets in my Eyes, who lives in Saudi Arabia. Click the above link, for more on the debate.
Bahrain: Submissions for Bitfilm Open
Mideast Youth has been named a partner in the Bitfilm Festival for Digital Film and New Media, which will be Hamburg and Tel Aviv, writes the site's Bahraini founder Esra'a. The deadline for submissions is July 1.
Saudi Arabia: First Women-only Fashion Show Held
Writing at Mideast Youth, Ahmad Ghashmary reports on Saudi Arabia's first fashion show, which was held for women only – and where cameras were not allowed.
Liberia: 5th person takes US$10,000
2tango writes about 10 thousand dollar walk in Liberia: Like many Liberians, making ends meet daily is like moon walking with out the popper equipment, but for some, the GSM Company (cellcom) has made moon walking look like drinking coco-cola, and now the 5th person Williams Blamo had taken the...
Liberia: What is the truth about arms discovery?
Natlyn discusses the “arms discovery” saga in Liberia: What seems to be a very serious lack of coordination among government ministries continues to hang dark cloud rather than clarity over Wednesday’s discovery of arms (or shells) in the suburb of Jacob’s Town in Paynesville as evidenced by two different versions...
Ethiopia: What exactly is “Cadre Cola”?
What exactly is “Cadre Cola” in Ethiopia?: Cadre Cola is what cadres consume. It is bottled by and for an exclusive clientele of government and quasi-government aid bureaucrats as well as third world dictators and their cronies. The taxpayers who finance it and the oppressed in whose name it is...
