Stories from 16 June 2009
Iran: More citizen video from protests
More than 100,000 people marched in Tehran on Monday in support of reformist presidential candidate, Mir Hussein Mousavi and his demands for an annulment of the election results that declared incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner of the election on June 12. The march ended in bloodshed. At least 7 people lost their lives.
Russia: U.S. Ambassador's Blog
Russian-language blog of John Beyrle, U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation: http://beyrle.livejournal.com/.
Europe: Schengen Visa Regime News
Belgraded explains why it would be a great thing if in 2010 Serbs, Macedonians and Montenegrins were allowed “to travel as tourists in European/Schengen area without visas.”
Bahrain: Bloggers Meet
Mahmood reports on a get-together of Bahraini bloggers, after a long break.
Bahrain: Equipped For Swine Flu?
Bahraini blogger Emoodz asks why a student returning from the US who was feeling unwell was sent home from the doctor with some painkillers – then was later discovered to have swine flu.
Morocco: Beacon of Freedom of Speech?
Moroccan blogger Badr Al'Hamry on Agora [Ar], expresses his solidarity with Idriss Shahtan, director of Al Mishaal weekly newspaper, and president of the Khenifra branch of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights [Ar] who will stand accused of publishing a dossier that is discourteous to a relative of the king...
Iran: Flowers for security forces
Persian Kiwi twittered that Mir Hussein Mousavi, Iranian opposition leader, asked his supporters to demonstrate in Haft Tir Square in Tehran and offer flowers to Basijis, a governmental paramilitary force.
Ecuador: Galapagos Islands Advance in 7 New Wonders Competition
Ecuador's Galapagos Islands have advanced to the next round in the online competition for the 7 New Wonders of the World. These islands boast some of the most diverse flora and fauna in the world and has attracted many tourists to the area, along with settlers to take part in this industry. As a result, problems such as overpopulation, excess waste, and the introduction of foreign plants and animals can be found. Ecuadorian bloggers are proud that their territory has made it this far, but hopes that this awareness will bring about better care for the land.
Nepal: What really happened in 2001?
Even after eight years of the Nepal Royal Massacre, Nepalis are still confused what happened on that dreadful day. Maya has more on this.
Brazil: Petrobras Blog Versus Mainstream Media
In the first week of June, Brazil's giant semi-public oil company Petrobras created a free blog on Wordpress. Among the posts publicised during the blog's first days were questions and answers of journalists that were going to be part of their respective newspaper headlines and stories throughout the week. This attitude has been seen as an act of transparency by some bloggers, a threat to journalism by some newspapers and led to heated debate on the power of media and blogging.
Armenia: Iranian student protest
Posting photos and videos on his Frontline Club blog, Global Voices Online's Caucasus editor reports from a demonstration staged outside the Iranian Embassy in Yerevan protesting Friday's disputed presidential election.
Bangladesh: Shahidul Alam Detained By Indian Border Security Forces
Media Helping Media informs that Shahidul Alam, internationally renowned photojournalist from Bangladesh, blogger and founder of the Drik picture network has been detained by the Indian border security while working on the Bangladesh side of the border. Updates on this news are being posted in Unheard Voice Blog.
India: rights of the linguistic minorities in Mizoram
Musings of a Chakma discusses the violations of the rights of the linguistic minorities in Mizoram by the state government.
China: Conversation with AMARC
Doubleaf explains how Chinese rural residents acquire and disseminate information during the past 20 years in his conversation with the Chair of AMARC, Steve Buckley.
Japan: ‘1Q84′, the new bestseller by Haruki Murakami
“In your sky how many moons are floating?”. This the catch phrase of 1Q84 [ja], Ichi Kew Hachi Yon, (Q in Japanese reads the same as 9), the new 2 volume work by the bestselling writer Haruki Murakami, that in less than two weeks has already sold more than 960.000...
China: Chinese netizen reactions to Iranian election
Allie Shi from Shanghaiist translated Chinese netizens’ comments on Iranian election.
Japan: Mobile social network
Serkan Toto from Asiajin blogs about a fastest growing (2 millions in three months) mobile social network in Japan.
South Korea: Citizen declaration
Cynthia Yoo from Ohmynews International reports on a citizen declaration petition against President Lee Myung-bak's government.
South Africa celebrates Youth Day and remembers the past
June 16, which is now referred to as Youth Day here in South Africa is day when we remember the past. On June 16, 1976 the Soweto uprising occurred sparked by laws that would force all education to be delivered in Afrikaans.
Bermuda, USA, UK: Fallout over Guantanamo
Bermudian bloggers still have not stopped talking about their government's agreement to have four detainees of Guantanamo Bay to resettle on the island. Most of their focus seems to be on the fallout that Premier Ewart Brown is facing following the controversial decision.
Cuba, U.S.A.: The Cuban Five
Cuban bloggers report on the latest developments with “The Cuban Five”.
