15 May 2009

Stories from 15 May 2009

Tunisia: Ammar 404 is Back and Censoring Blogs Again

After a short hiatus, the dreaded Ammar 404 has once again attacked the Tunisian blogosphere. Ammar is the nickname given by Tunisian bloggers to the censorship machine plaguing their access to the Internet and his victim this time is Zig Zag blog by 3amrouch. Tunisian bloggers show solidarity with their colleague by reprinting the material which blocked his blog in the first place.

15 May 2009

Guatemala: Rosenberg Video Causes Uncertainty and Speculation

A video was recently released by slain Guatemalan lawyer Rodrigo Rosenberg where he accused President Alvaro Colom, the First Lady and 2 close associates of being responsible for his murder. The reactions by the Guatemalan blogosphere and twittosphere has even led to the arrest of one for inciting financial panic. However, there is speculation that even more could be targeted for spreading information and opinions about the case, which has been prominent using the hashtag #escandalogt. As details emerge, it is certain that it will continue to be a highly discussed topic.

15 May 2009

Video: 48 Hour Young Lions YouTube Contest and others you can join

Tonight could be your chance to make it big in the online video field, almost anywhere you live. All it takes is 48 hours to make, upload and get as many votes on your video, and you could go to the Cannes Film Festival. If you can't make it on time, don't worry: following is a list of other contests open for participants from all around the world.

15 May 2009

Saudi Arabia: Will Swine Flu Threaten Hajj?

Every year millions of Muslims converge to Mecca to perform Hajj (pilgrimage), one of the five pillars of Islam. Is this year's Hajj season being threatened by the A/H1N1 or Swine Flu virus? Bloggers commenting on the region weigh in.

15 May 2009

Pakistan: Fighting Poverty Through Microfinance

Riaz Haq writes how Microfinancing, along with social entrepreneurship can help empower ordinary people in Pakistan and in other countries “to become self-reliant by lifting them out of poverty and...

15 May 2009

Dominica, Cuba: Bird Festival

“I just discovered—to my absolute delight—that the VII Festival of Caribbean Endemic Birds is being celebrated throughout the region”: Repeating Islands provides details.

15 May 2009

India: Perils Of An Unstable Government

On the day before the election results Blogs from Brain comments on the perils of an unstable government: “Once the results are out, the next thing is the stability of...

15 May 2009

India: Remembering The 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots

Sidhusaaheb at I, Me, Myself remembers the Operation Blue Star and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, India. The riots were triggered by the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi...

15 May 2009

Egypt: Court bans Porn Sites

Lawyer Nizar Ghorab (Ghorab translates to Crow in Arabic) filed a lawsuit calling for banning porn sites because they destroy the core values of the Egyptian society. The Administrative Court in Cairo ruled in his favor. Between anger and sarcasm, Egyptian bloggers react to the ruling.

15 May 2009

South Africa: “Cape Africa” Time

Koluki writes about the exhibition of contemporary African culture in Cape Town, South Africa, “Borrowing its title from the acclaimed novel by Capetonian author Alex La Guma, A Walk Into...

15 May 2009

China: Earthquake, one year later

Michele Scrimenti from Chinageek translate Chang Ping's article on the 1st anniversary of Sichuan earthquake: Earthquake, One Year Later: Today Should Not Be a Celebration.

15 May 2009

Kenya: Guns should be legal

Tom wants guns to be legal in Kenya: “The government through propaganda is failing to protect the security of the individual and property. Kenya is hence a state where life...

15 May 2009

Nigeria: Gas flaring to continue

Sokari writes about gas flaring in Nigeria, “The Nigerian government has once again extended the deadline to end gas flaring…Gas flaring is the burning of the natural gas that is...

15 May 2009