20 November 2009

Stories from 20 November 2009

Poland: Online Campaigning for the Rights of Employees

  20 November 2009

Sylwia Presley writes about the plight of and online campaigning by a group Polish citizens who work for IKEA via another, smaller, company called Solid Security: they claim to be earning amounts below the national minimal wage, being assigned to work up to 16 hours daily and lacking the basic benefits.

Russia: Local Authorities Slow Broadband Development

RuNet Echo  20 November 2009

On November 10, activists held a rally calling for broadband Internet and protesting against Internet provider monopoly in the township of Kraskovo (Moscow region, 10 km from the Moscow beltroad). This is the first known case of a protest dedicated to the defense of the Internet rights in Russia. The event also raised the issue of the overregulatedness of the process of Internet providing in the country.

Malawi: Should there be a Sex Workers Bill

  20 November 2009

Marshal discusses Sex Workers Bill in Malawi: “Recent media reports pointing that the government intends to come up with a Sex Worker’s Bill with an aim of protecting sex workers in the country, shocked quite a few of us.”

Maldives: Tolerance

  20 November 2009

Jadulla Jameel at Madulu Blog comments: “In Maldivian society, as in rest of the world we need more tolerance and respect towards each other. Then and only then, we will be able coexist peacefully in the present and in future.”

Morocco: War on Press Continues

  20 November 2009

The Moroccan authorities are ratcheting up their attacks on independent journalists. A week rarely passes without the authorities hitting hard on the press for alleged infractions, cracking down on printed as well as online media. Bloggers have been reflecting on this state of affairs.

Bangladesh: Romanian Song In Bangla Tune

  20 November 2009

Call that fusion or copying, A Bengali in T.O. informs that the tune of a popular Bangla classic song (written by Radha Romon Dutta in the year 1870!) was used by Liviu Mititelu for a Romanian song.

India: Sachin Is Like A God

  20 November 2009

Greatbong at Random Thoughts Of A Demented Mind celebrates 20 years of outstanding contribution of Indian cricket celebrity Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin is much more than the most famous sportsman in India: “He is a cultural icon, someone who has his place booked in the history books. No not just cricketing...

Featured Author: Filip Stojanovski

  20 November 2009

Filip Stojanovski is a Global Voices author and translator based in Skopje, Macedonia. He is the Program Coordinator of Metamorphosis, a think tank which seeks the development of democracy and prosperity by promoting knowledge-based economy and information society.

Malaysia: Democracy and governance

  20 November 2009

Reacting to a statement made by Malaysia's former Prime Minister about the “mistake of being too democratic”, Art Harun asserts that “The real danger to the State is the leaders not understanding the limits of their powers.”

Vietnam: Taxi fare refund

  20 November 2009

RantingsbyMM shares a story on how she was able to get back her money from a taxi driver who overcharged her in Vietnam.

Indonesia: Some groups want to ban ‘2012’ movie

  20 November 2009

Several regional branches of the Indonesian Ulema Council want to ban the movie ‘2012’ claiming the film's content is “unsuitable to be viewed by Muslims because only Allah knew when the world would end, not heathens like the Mayans.”

Thailand: Extravagant temple toilets

  20 November 2009

Richard Burrow from Thailand reported that temple toilets at Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai in Samut Prakan have recently built a toilet which cost as much as 5 million baht.