Stories from 23 August 2010
Barbados: Paper Trail?
As a police raid in Trinidad and Tobago reveals alleged illegal activity at a deceased contractor's house, Barbados Free Press “want[s] to know…if the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau found any paperwork relating to Karamath’s connections to the Barbados politicians and officials who awarded him big government contracts here.”
Russia: More Bloggers Join Discussion on Russian Nationalism
Paul Goble mentions [EN] the article of Valery Solovey on nazdem.info that predicts [RUS] the rise of new type of Russian nationalism tied to democratic ideas. LJ user ammosov says [RUS] that “Russians should re-invent themselves,” which will result in forming several Russian nations in different parts of the country.
Armenia: LGBT blogger responds to radio station
Unzipped: Gay Armenia responds to an open letter published by a local radio station considered by many to be guilty of homophobia despite funding from international donors to spread European values in the country.
Thailand: Thai Youth Forum 2010
Brian Jungwiwattanaporn writes about the Thai Youth Forum 2010 which is set to take place at the end of the month to discuss issues of migration and trafficking.
Myanmar: Remembering the 1988 uprising
The Democratic Voice of Burma interviews three participants of the 1988 student uprising who are still fighting for democratic reforms in Myanmar.
Myanmar: Wanted: Election stories
Myanmar has announced that elections will push through on November. A Glimpse of My Life tries to gather blog comments about the elections and ends up frustrated: “I have been trying to find blog posts among Burmese bloggers about the elections. So far, in the 30 something bloggers I have...
Myanmar: Photo essay on Yangon
Jodi Ettenberg publishes a photo essay that provides a glimpse of life in Yangon, Myanmar
Thailand: Thaileaks website
A group called WikiCong has set-up the thaileaks website to allow Thai netizens to access materials from the Wikileaks website which has been blocked in Thailand.
Armenia: Suicide soldier
Following the recent suicide of an officer in the Armenian army who is believed to have suffered from victimization and intimidation from fellow soldiers, Unzipped posts a photograph of graffiti that has since appeared in Yerevan, the Armenian capital.
Azerbaijan: An impossible dream?
The Önər Blog [AZ] ponders the state of the economy and society in oil-rich Azerbaijan, considering that the government doesn't offer any real hope for the future. While many are quick to advise others, and often criticize the opposition without offering any alternatives, it says, nothing is actually done to...
Iran: International Protest against Stoning
Those condemned to be stoned in Iran now have a face in international media, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashitiani, a 43-year-old mother of two, who was sentenced to death by stoning for adultery.
South Korea: Civil Service Exams Removed, Years of Studies Wasted?
Many South Koreans are angry over a government's decision to replace the civil service exam with open recruitment. The exam has been praised for giving equal opportunities to applicants regardless of their education and family background. The online space is exploding with enraged bloggers' condemnations of the reform as a way of stalling the nation’s already flatlining social mobility.
Russia: Bloggers Defend Opposition Artist from Discreditation
LJ users _o_tets [RUS] and crazymozart [RUS] disprove the series of discrediting materials against famous opposition musician Yuri Shevchuk [EN]. After Shevchuk got engaged in the political debates at the beginning of 2010, a number of online publications [RUS] accused the musician of alcoholism and mental sickness.
South Korea: North Korea's Stealth War Manual Disclosed
South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo exclusively revealed a confidential field manual that shows North Korean military’s camouflage materials like stealth paint and fake facilities and equipment to cheat other sides’ satellites and aircraft.
Hong Kong: Transparency on filtering
Hong Kong Government Chief Information Officer, Jeremy Godfrey, has opened a twitter account @HKGCIO and he is discussing with @daaitoulaam regarding transparency on filtering.
China: Pambassadors
Elaine Chow from Shanghaiist blogs about the recruitment of six Panda Ambassadors in China. The Pambassadors will be working at the famous Woolong Giant Panda Protection and Research Center in the coming October.
China: Hype on university virginity rate
On August 16, a survey report on university female student virginity rate was posted around university forums. Since the report was published under the name of Li Yinhe, the most famous sexologist in China, the post quickly became the hottest topic online. Eventhough Professor Li denied her connection with the...
Cape Verde: Debates on Youth and Politics Happening in Portugal
There is a group of Cape Verdean citizens who occasionally organize meetings in Lisbon to discuss the relations between youth and politics, as Suzano Costa explains in a video [pt] republished by Amilcar Tavares. In their blog – Tertúlia Crioula [pt] – one can read the notes taken from “Cape Verde in...
