Stories from 1 June 2010
Bulgaria: Protest Against the Gaza Blockade
On June 1, the Association of Palestinians in Bulgaria held a rally in Sofia, protesting against the Gaza blockade. Ruslan Trad has posted photos from the rally on his Facebook page. Among other things, the protesters demanded the release of two Bulgarian journalists who had been on one of the...
Azerbaijan: Eurovision reflections
Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines reflects on the weekend's final of the Eurovision Song Contest and says that despite the politics it enjoyed the international music competition more so than in other years. Moreover, the blog notes, there was no major conflict this year between Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia and Georgia.
Japan: More Visitors to Twitter than Mixi
On the news [ja] that the number of visitors to Twitter in Japan for April have surpassed visitors to Mixi, the largest Japanese SNS, Toru Saito [ja] and Netaful [ja] ask, “Has Twitter crossed the chasm?”
Mexico: 6 Million Illiterate Adults
Responding to an article from CNN México [es], Ximena Vega [es] on the blog Vivir México [es] says the problem with the staggering figures of illiteracy among Mexican adults (6 million) and the other educational problems the country is facing all stem from one root cause: poverty.
Brazil: Freedom Flotilla, Human Rights and Cartoon
Conceição Oliveira writes [pt] at Maria Frô blog about the Freedom Flotilla attacks. Her commentary analyzes the declarations from UN High Comissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay and is ilustrated by a Carlos Latuff's cartoon.
Trinidad & Tobago: Stepping Out of the Mold?
“Manning has one more chance at posterity: he can decide whether Trinidad AM (After Manning) goes backward (with Keith Rowley) or forward (with Penny Beckles)”: Trinidad Media Arts & Culture blogs about his impression of the country's former Prime Minister.
Jamaica: Ripple Effect
Islandista says that “the ‘terror in Tivoli’ has inflicted wounds not just on the hundreds injured and scores killed, but on Jamaica’s economy and Kingston’s vibrant entertainment scene.”
Jamaica: Art & Violence
“Jamaica's widening gap between rich and poor and our historical reliance on an underground economy related to drugs has created tensions and led to violence of which artists are all too aware”: Petrine Archer notes that several local artists “are engaging with these issues and the social dislocation that has...
Bermuda: On Media & Madness?
Vexed Bermoothes reports that the Bermudian media is all set to establish a self-regulatory council; he also joins other bloggers in questioning the government's plans to proceed with the construction of “a new ‘iconic’ airport and ferry terminal which will cost an estimated $300-$400 million to build.
Jamaica: Crunching the Numbers
“Most people I’ve talked to seem to think that the ends justify the means: that if getting the bad guys means detaining some of the good guys as well, then it’s worth depriving some people of their basic human right to be free”: Jamaican blogger Chez Hsia remains unconvinced.
Argentina: Massive March Against Gay Marriage
The blog El Artillero [es] posted a story from Perfil.com [es] about a massive march organized by various evangelical churches protesting against gay marriage. The post explains the Argentinean Congress today began debating a law to modify the Civil Code to allow same-sex marriage. Reactions from Argentinean bloggers on the issue is something to...
Peru: Reactions to Release of Convicted Terrorist Lori Berenson
The recent release under probation of the U.S citizen sentenced for terrorism, Lori Berenson, generated mixed reactions from the media and citizens, and began a series of debates about the pertinence of this measure and above all, of the rights of a person to reinsert themselves into society.
Rwanda: List of media outlets and blogs focusing on Rwanda
Graham Holliday has prepared a list of media outlets, blogs, twitter users focusing on Rwanda posted at Kigali Wire.
Rwanda: Signs of hope
A Kiva Fellow in Rwanda, Claude Mansell, sees signs of hope in Rwanda.
Burundi: Parties fight over poll results
This Is Africa discusses controversy over poll results in Burundi: “They [the opposition] alleged widespread intimidation and fraud, as well as a number of irregularities surrounding the ballot boxes.”
Rwanda: On the arrest of an American lawyer
Out of Rwanda comments on the arrest of an American lawyer by the Rwandan government. He went to Rwanda to defend the opposition candidate Victoire Ingabire.
Angola: A Foreign Look by Afonso Loureiro
Living in Angola, Portuguese citizen Afonso Loureiro has been threatened because of his blog. In this interview, he talks about that episode, the country that hosts him and about self censorship and freedom of expression.
Rwanda: Open Letter to the President
A Citizen’s Weekly Open Letter to the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame: “I recently found out that Rwanda is not alone in jailing female opposition candidates who may have a chance of winning free and fair elections against the incumbent candidate.”
Uganda: Blog exposes genocide in Uganda
The Uganda Genocide Info is a blog, which focuses on the genocide against the Acholi people of Uganda.
Taiwan: Chiayi Sound Project
“Chiayi Sound Project initiated from 2008. It mainly focuses on field recording in southern Taiwan – Chiayi, the recording topics include oral history, nature environment, folk music, industry, religion and local events.” Check the project's latest recording of Mayasvi, one of the two most important rituals of Tsou indigenous people.
Palestine: “Gaza wanted to greet you as victors”
People throughout the Middle East - and around the world - have been shocked and outraged at the news of the deaths on board the Freedom Flotilla early on Monday. Palestinian bloggers reacted immediately to the news of Israel's raid on the Gaza-bound aid ships.
