Stories from 19 April 2010
Caucasus: Social Innovation Camp
Although Internet penetration remains low in the South Caucasus, all indications are that new and social media has an increasingly important role to play in the area of democratization and activism. With that in mind, the first Social Innovation Camp in the region took place in Tbilisi, Georgia on 8-10 April.
Trinidad & Tobago: Roffey Speaks
Pleasure blog posts an interview with Trinidad-born writer Monique Roffey.
Trinidad & Tobago: Discussing the Issues
“Someone, please, show me a platform and make the platform for a political party the center of discussion. Let us discuss issues. Let us discuss the future”: KnowTnT.com wants something to vote for.
Egypt: Hashish Crisis adds to Nation's Woes
Alongside bread, fuel and cooking gas, Hashish (cannabis) has been added to the list of things which Egyptians are starting to miss. Bloggers argue why this narcotic is the one which will me missed most as prices and poverty continue to rise.
India: Education In Mother-Tongue Is The Key
Kiran Rao Batni at Karnatique opines that innovation in mother-tongue education is the need of the hour in India and explains why.
India: Gay Blogs And Twitter Accounts
Deepti Lamba at Desicritics highlights some Indian gay blogs and twitter accounts.
Sri Lanka: Heading For An Internet Dark Age?
“Given the bent of the Defence Secretary, post-war Sri Lanka is set to head into an Internet dark age,” comments Sanjana Hattotuwa while discussing about the inclination of the Sri Lankan government on internet censorship.
Bangladesh: The Ordeals Of Buying Land
Kristin Boekhoff, an entrepreneur who is building an world class eco-resort in Western Bangladesh, writes about the ordeals of buying land in rural Bangladesh.
India: Television As Educator
MANA TV has been running five education channels in the Andhra Pradesh state in India for nine years. “Their popularity has proved that notwithstanding computers, television can grab eyeballs in the classroom”, says Jai Chandiram at The Hoot.
Uruguay: Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Verdún Shrine
Uruguayans participate annually in a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Verdún in the town of Minas, and 2010 marks 109 years since the faithful have been making the journey [es]. Estela of the blog Abre Cabezas [es] also posts photos and videos [es] of a previous visit.
Kyrgyzstan: The aftermath of public uprising
In the past week, the attention of Kyrgyzstani bloggers has been very firmly centred on political events in this small, mountainous Central Asian country. All over the country, memorials have been held for those people who died in clashes between government and opposition on April 7 and April 8. Sergei...
Kuwait: Vote Buying in Poetry Contest
Brian Whitaker reports on a vote buying scandal surrounding a poetry contest in Kuwait here.
GITChina
Girl in Tech China will be launched in May 8, 2010.
China and Japan: AV star Aoi Sola writes to China fans
Alice from DANWEI translated adult video star Aoi Sola's blog post to her China fans.
China and Japan: 2010 World Expo theme song
Chinese netizen from KDN found out that a 1997 Japanese song has plagiarized our 2010 World Expo theme song! – Translation via ChinaSMACK
China: “QQ Fetish Group” trial
Angry Chinese Blogger discusses about the case of a recent trial in Beijing concerning a QQ adult chat room host who facilitates sex party.
Chile: Controversial Use of Popular Song in TV Commercial
In Chile, a television advertisement for Almacenes Paris, a large department store chain, that uses a song by the popular folk-rock band Los Jaivas without their authorization, is stirring up controversy about intellectual property rights and the extent to which cultural forms of expression are compatible with consumerism.
India: Citizens debate government policy and the Maoist response
Dealing a severe blow to the Indian government’s ongoing offensive against the Naxalite-Maoist insurgency, 76 policemen were ambushed and killed by Maoist rebels in Dantewada, Chattisgarh on April 6, 2010. Indian bloggers discuss how to tackle the problem.
Russia: The ‘Little Blue Buckets’ Protest
The Little Blue Buckets mock protest, initiated (RUS) by LJ user cook, took place in Moscow Sunday, as drivers fitted their cars with blue plastic buckets (siniye vedyorki) to protest the impunity of state officials who routinely use blue flashing lights (migalki) on their vehicles to violate traffic rules and...
UK: Krakow Funeral Broadcast in London's Trafalgar Square
Rosie Walunas writes that London's Trafalgar Square “was nearly filled to capacity” on Sunday, as people gathered to watch TV Polonia's coverage of the funeral of late Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria in Krakow. Mark Grigorian (LJ user markgrigorian) posts more photos from the live broadcast and...
