Stories from 23 June 2009
Martinique, Guadeloupe: Sarkozy Visit
Repeating Islands notes that French President Nicolas Sarkozy is scheduled to make a trip to Martinique and Guadeloupe later this week “to address overseas ‘issues’ after the general strikes” that took place in the French Overseas Territories earlier this year.
Trinidad & Tobago: R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Trinidad and Tobago-based blogger Attillah Springer addresses the judge whose ruling caused construction on the proposed Alutrint aluminium smelter to come to a halt: “This victory is for denuded hills and depleted fish stocks. This victory is for every unsolved crime, every unkept campaign promise. What you have done has...
Breezeblog: Valuing a Free Press
As Breezeblog links to a story which reports that 24 journalists have been arrested in Iran, he reminds “all Bermudians to value their right and access to a free press more than ever.”
India: Queer Pride 2009
Sanjukta at This Is My Truth informs that “India prepares for a never before celebration of Queer Pride with events and pride marches being planned in all of the 5 metros.”
Russia-Germany: Common 20th century history book
Paul Goble of WindowonEurasia claims that Russian and German historians are coming to an agreement to write a common history book, documenting the countries tumultuous and violent relations during the 20th century.
United Kingdom: Court decides against a blogger's rights to anonymity
A new legal precedent has been set for UK bloggers. Last week, in the England and Wales High Court, Mr Justice Eady ruled that a police officer who previously wrote about his working life on his NightJack blog, did not have the right to remain anonymous.
Russia: Birthday interview with Khodorkovsky
Dziennik Rosyjski [POL] encourages people to pose questions, by way of Gazeta.ru, to Russian jailed energy tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky on his fifth birthday in incarceration.
Armenia: Opposition detainees released
Following a general amnesty agreed upon by the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on 19 June, several senior opposition figures on trial and in detention for over a year since the 1 March post-election unrest in the country were finally pardoned and released. Many observers believe the trials were politically motivated.
Russia: Centennial of colour photography
Eternal Remont turns attention to Sergey M. Prokudin-Gorsky, who in 1909 was commissioned by the Tsar to document the Russian empire on film. In the process, he developed and refined his special technique of colour photography.
China: The incomprehensible China and its difficult problems
ESWN translated Lipuman's blog post in response to FT's reader comment: Please try to understand China better. The blogger pointed out that it is difficult to comprehend China, even among Chinese.
Belarus: Signs of change?
A Fistful of Euros thinks that something may be stirring in Belarus, and even believes it to be signs of an improvement in the regime's relations with the West.
Japan: On How to Perceive the Japanese Web (Part One)
Reporter Yuka Okada from the Japanese tech news site ITmedia brandished her well-regarded interviewing skills for a one-on-one session with Mochio Umeda. The result was “The Japanese web is ‘disappointing': An interview with Mr. Mochio Umeda” Part One and Part Two [ja]. In reaction, the Japanese blogosphere had to give...
China: July 1 Operation: Jump the Great Fire Wall
Wenyunchao called for a joint operation to demonstrate against the Green Dam on July 1 via twitter: Operation July 1: Oppose Green Dam, unite and jump the Great FireWall (translated by goldkorn)
Malawi: Reactions to Madonna's adoption of Chifundo
For some who never knew Malawi, they have gotten to hear about the country in Africa purely because of Madonna whose full name is not known to many. It appears that the generally many Malawians are happy that Madonna is able to adopt needy children from Malawi in spite of the fears of what this trend may create.
Iran: Suffering in Iran
An Iranian blogger writes in Namnam blog, how he was arrested in Shiraz when he participated in a protest demonstration. The blogger says he was beaten up and humilated by security forces for more than one hour.
Kazakhstan: Bureaucracy, diplomacy and personality cult
Bloggers keep on commenting political situation in Kazakhstan. megakhuimyak reports that according to the new presidential decree, the Financial Police has got extra authority, informers against corrupt officials will be awarded, the civil servants’ property and income will be monitored [ru]: The bad thing is that now officials will stop...
Metropolis TV and Hivos: Independent People Videos
Metropolis TV is a Hivos and VPRO TV project based in the Netherlands, which brings together film-makers and civil video journalists from all over the world to record and transmit different aspects of life and culture in their homeland. Following, a few videos selected and played on the Netherlands TV station VPRO forWorld Humanist Day around a specific subject: to recognize individuals who live under the ideal of independence and being in control of their own lives.
Ecuador: Everything Ready for BarCamp in Guayaquil
Everything is ready for the next BarCamp in Guayaquil, Ecuador [es] that will take place on June 27. So far, there are more than 270 people registered for the event, writes Milton Ramírez.
Philippines: A(H1N1) panic continues to grow
Asia’s first A(H1N1)-related death is a Filipina from Metro Manila. This was confirmed by health authorities who also warned that 25 percent of the country’s 90 million population could be affected by the dreaded influenza virus. More schools have suspended their classes to protect the health and safety of their students.
Philippines, Hong Kong: Swine flu and racial profiling
After being tagged as superbug carriers, Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong are now accused of spreading A(H1N1) virus in the city. Kape’t Yosi believes this is racial profiling.
Russia: Assassination Attempt on Ingushetia's President
OpenDemocracy.net and Eternal Remont write about today's assassination attempt on Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, the president of Ingushetia.
