Stories from 25 August 2010
Pakistan: Twitter Reactions On Flood Situation
The floods in Pakistan got the Twitter users all over the world talking as the devastation become clearer day by day. Let us look at the Twitter trends and what the Twitter users are taking about.
Uruguay: Journalist Álavaro Alfonso Sent to Prison for 24 Months
Qué Pasa Uruguay? [es] points out that local media have ignored the sentencing of journalist Álvaro Alfonso to two years in jail for libel, and the confiscation of his book “Secretos del Partido Comunista” (Secrets of the Communist Party). The blogger posts an article by the The Inter American Press...
Dominican Republic: Frequent Power Outages
Rull Fernández writes [es] about the frequent power outages he experiences at home. He says that as far back as he can remember, the problem of electricity and power outages is something that has always concerned the people of the Dominican Republic.
India: Celebrating Raksha Bandhan
Yesterday, on 24th August 2010, India celebrated Raksha Bandhan - a festival that celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. Netizens expressed their feelings about this age old ritual.
Iran: Blogger May Face Charge of ‘Waging War Against God’
There is a growing concern that Shiva Nazar Ahari, a jailed human rights activist and blogger may be charged with moharbeh (waging war against God/enmity against God) in an upcoming trial. In Iran, this can carry a death sentence.
India: The Security Of Electronic Voting Machines
South Asia Wired reports that Indian computer expert Hari Prasad's research into the potential security risks of electronic voting machines in India resulted in his arrest last weekend.
Pakistan: Field Notes From Doctors Of A Relief Team
“If there is anything the government should learn from this flood, it is to take education and women empowerment more seriously,” reports Dr. Syed Nabeel Zafar in a medical field note from Sukkur in Sindh province of Pakistan.
India: Deadly Journalism
Sans Serif reports that two journalists of an Indian TV channel in Ahmedabad instigated Kalpesh Mistry (29) to set himself on fire to protest his harassment by police so that they could film him. Kalpesh died in the hospital after suffering 90% burn.
Russia: Blog Posts on Hospital in Russian Town Lead to Debates on Russian Healthcare
A blogger from Israel with Russian roots was unfortunate enough to get sick while visiting her relatives in Russia. Her recollections and pictures of a hospital in the city of Voronezh [ENG] provoked heated debates on the state of Russian health care.
Sri Lanka: Protesting Animal Slaughter
Sri Lanka Animal Protection Association (SLAPA) is protesting the planned slaughter of 500 heads of chicken and goats at the Munneswaram in Kovil today.
India: Why Mumbai Is The Place To Live
Chip Huyen, a Vietnamese geek, blogger and a traveler is in Mumbai as a part of her travel around the world program. She explains why Mumbai is the place to be among other Indian cities.
Ghana: Is Mario Balotelli Italian or Ghanaian?
Is Mario Balotelli Ghanaian or Italian? That's the question that has created a heated debate online. Mario Barwuah Balotelli is a football striker playing for Manchester City and Italian national team. He was born to Ghanaian immigrants in Italy.
Mexico: What About the Dead Women of Juárez?
Ximena Vega says [es] Mexicans have forgotten about one of the most important problems the country is currently facing: femicides in Ciudad Juárez.
Paraguay: Day of the Guaraní Language
Juan Carlos Rodríguez writes [es] in his blog about the day of the Guaraní language. He says that on August 25, 1967, Guaraní was recognized as a national language. He also shares a short ebook on the “sacred book of the Guaraní”, Ayvu Rapyta.
Haiti: Shifting Focus
The Haitian Blogger suggests that the mainstream media is focusing on the wrong thing: “Attention should focus less on the distraction of WyClef Jean’s failed presidential bid…and more on the desperate humanitarian situation on the ground…”
Trinidad & Tobago: CoP
Plain Talk weighs in on the controversy surrounding the appointment of a non-national to the position of Commissioner of Police.
France: An Imaginary Dialogue between Sarkozy and Berlusconi
The Bienvenue chez les Rroms blog (“rroms” is the spelling of Roma in Romani language) imagines [Fr] a satirical conversation in which French President Nicolas Sarkozy seeks comfort and advice with his friend Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi, after being unexpectedly victimized of his own suggestion that some categories of offenders should...
Technology for Transparency: Five Lessons Learned
Rebekah Heacock and Renata Avila outline the learnings from the first round of Global Voices' Technology for Transparency Network collaborative research project, sharing links to several successful online initiatives.
Hungary: Skateboarding priest gets adepts
Videos of Catholic priests doing good don't usually go viral, but this one featuring a Hungarian priest has made it's way around the world. What is he doing different? He's skateboarding! Via neatorama.
Trinidad & Tobago: The Game
Underground Trini Artiste posts a video that has been all the rage on Facebook and YouTube, about “people who are stuck in a university for years and just can't leave the lifestyle of girls, parties and liming behind and go into the real world.”
Cuba: Additional Releases
Havana Times reports that another six political prisoners are scheduled to be released.
