Stories from 11 May 2009
Egypt: No Longer the Admin for the Queen Rania Facebook Fan Page
Egyptian blogger TripleM writes about his efforts to create a fan page for Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, which he can no longer access or manage. “I was surprised to find out that I’m no longer the admin of the Queen Rania’s fan page on Facebook. The page I...
Bahrain: MPs Vote for Alcohol Ban
“It's official. Bahrain is regressing – MPs voted for a blanket ban on the sale of alcohol anywhere & everywhere,” writes Sam Mahmood, on Twitter. The motion is yet to be approved or rejected by the government.
Bahrain: Activists Blogs and Sites Blocked
Bahraini activist Ghada Jamsheer, who blogs at Bahrain Eve [Ar], links to a statement from the Cairo-based Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), which reports that her blog is being blocked by the authorities in that country. The report says that the ANHRI site is also blocked there.
Bahrain: LGBT Blogs Blocked
From Bahrain, LGBT blogger Shams Alma7aba [Ar] lists a number of LGBT blogs which have been blocked in that country following a recent crackdown on the Internet.
Turkey: Female-designed Mosque Opens
Turkey's first mosque designed by a woman was opened in Istanbul, writes Emre Kızılkaya.
Egypt: New blog for human rights
Ramy Raouf started his new Egyptian blog for human rights (EBFHR) [Ar]. The blog monitors the development of human rights especially in Egypt, as well as the Arab world in general.
Brazil: When climate change meets cyber-activism
In another display of global climate change, Brazil has suffered an inversion of its usual weather for this time of the year. The traditionally dry North and Northeast regions of Brazil have been devastated by floods, whilst the usually wet south of the country is suffering a severe drought. People have gathered together in online social networks to cover the news and create an alliance to aid the populations hit by yet another natural disaster. It is cyber-activism at full speed.
Yemen: Touring Seiyoun
Yemeni Omar Barsawad takes us on this photo tour of Seiyoun, the largest urban centre and capital of Wadi Hadhramout. “It's famous for its splendid, intricately built mud bricked houses; and its palm trees and wonderful souqs in narrow streets, where: frankincense, myrrh, antique silver and authentic Hadhramy souvenirs are...
Iraq: Meeting Sarah Palin
Iraqi Raed Jarrar has concluded a speaking tour in Alaska, where he was welcomed by the “one and only” Sarah Palin. “And yes, her voice is as annoying in person,” he notes.
Sri Lanka: Helping The IDPs
Sarvodaya, the largest and most established NGO in Sri Lanka, has been at the forefront of helping the IDPs in the Sri Lanka's war ravaged north. Learn more about their efforts from their blog.
The Gurkhas: Long History Of Discrimination
The Gurkhas, young men from Nepal who serve in the British military, have served the Queen and the United Kingdom for almost two centuries. Unfortunately, the British government has been less than fair when it comes to honoring their service and sacrifice. The British press and blogopshere are buzzing about the new government proposal that is very unfair to the Gurkhas.
Iran: Roxana Saberi freed
Mohmmad Mostafai, an Iran based lawyer informs[fa] us in his blog that Roxana Saberi, Iranian-American journalist was freed on Monday in Iran.
Global: The polyglot internet and translation exchange
Global Voices has recently been awarded a grant by the Ford Foundation to support our work with Lingua, our translation project, and to research and develop a project to investigate how we might design and support an online translation exchange community. We began discussing the implications of the polyglot internet...
Bangladesh: Improving Customer Service
Shehzaad Shams at Bangladesh Corporate Blog points to the lack of culture among Bangladeshi companies for valuing customer feedback and opines that its high time they should “apply Mystery Shopping techniques to evaluate and improve their customer services standards”.
Global Voices is seeking a Project Manager for Translation Exchange
Global Voices is launching a new project! We're seeking a half-time project manager. The project: Global Voices is launching a project to research, design, and build a translation exchange to facilitate the flow of information globally, with an emphasis on developing world, citizen media, and ethnic media content. The project seeks...
India: Decision Time Approaches
As the results of the Indian elections become due by the end of this week, Sunday Posts reminds that: “the union of India will become a more untenable concept if the political class can not reinvent the idea of India yet again, and show the citizens value of their vote...
Cuba: Internet Access Restrictions
Generation Y visits a Cuban hotel to determine whether rumours of increased Internet access limitations for locals are true.
Trinidad & Tobago: Integrity Please
As the last remaining members of the Trinidad and Tobago Integrity Commission resign, This Beach Called Life cannot resist posting an imaginary conversation he had with the President, in which he is called upon to be the Commission's newest member.
Cuba: Swine Flu Reporting
Cuban diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense links to a story in which he learns that “the Cuban secret police was a wee bit hypersensitve last week when officers arrested Cuban photojournalist Sandra Guerra Pérez after she reported on swine flu outbreaks around the world and advised her neighbors on how they...
Barbados: More on CLICO
“The expected deal between CLICO Holdings Barbados Limited and Insurance Corporation of Barbados Limited seems to have gone off the boil”: Barbados Underground and Barbados Free Press closely follow the latest developments with the failed regional conglomerate.
Jamaica: The Road Most Traveled
“Universities are supposed to provide hope that at least the coming generation will be better and brighter than the one so corrupted now”: The Phoenix in a Gas House is disappointed that young academics “opted for the ignorant draconian approach” when faced with a burglary incident at Jamaica's Mona campus.
