Stories from 2 September 2010
Russia: “Six Years Without the Children”
Two more posts from Beslan – here and here (RUS) – by Marina Litvinovich (LJ user abstract2001): “Six years without the children… Six years without the truth…”
Philippines: “Merry Christmas” is top twitter topic
On September 1, “Merry Christmas” became the top twitter trending topic. Many around around the world are wondering about the early Twitter Christmas greetings. Filipino tweeps are partly to blame since September in the Philippines is the start of the world's longest Christmas.
Chile: Police Reportedly Use Rubber Bullets in Student Protest
Natalia Muñoz reports [es] that during a peaceful student protest in the University of Chile, police used tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets. Students from the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism have been on strike since last Thursday, protesting against “the privatization agenda of the Ministry of Education.”
Does Fiji's media decree affect organization websites?
At the end of July, blogger Jonathan from Oceanic: User experiences from the South Pacific, discovered that bloggers and website administrators are effected by Fiji's new media laws compelling media outlets to register with the government.
Restoring Fiji's mangroves
The blog Fiji Shark Diving explains how the group created the project Mangroves for Fiji, which will offset their carbon footprint and help restore the country's disappearing mangroves, protecting land from soil erosion, serving as fish nurseries and creating a great carbon sink.
Costa Rica: Promoting Tourism Through Social Media
In the blog Fusil de Chispas, Cristian Cambronero writes [es] about the use of social media by the Costa Rica Tourism Board. The board is using Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to promote the brand “Visit Costa Rica” and increase tourism in the country.
Venezuela: Ten Commandments for Caracas
Caracas, Ciudad de la Furia (Caracas, City of Fury) is a blog dedicated to the city of Caracas. Its blogger, Mirelis Morales Tovar, recently came up [es] with ten commandments for Caracas.
Russia: Bloggers Help to De-anonymize Violent Policemen
Active campaign raised by the bloggers outraged by a brutal policemen who assaulted a protester [RUS] led to the results. First, bloggers found out policeman's identity, then the criminal case had been started. Finally the policeman came by himself to the Prosecutor's office to witness on the case, corrupcia.net reported [RUS].
Russia: Blogger Exposes Putin's Numerous Law Violations
Blogger ibigdan mentions [RUS] at least 4 public law violations conducted by Vladimir Putin within 2 months, including his famous putting out the fire while co-piloting a plane [EN], and Lada Kalina [EN] trip.
Iran: Opposition leader under attack
Basij forces and pro government elements attacked Mehdi Karroubi‘s house in last two days. Karroubi,a reformist leader, has been a critical voice against Iranian government. Watch the film here.
Peru: Celebrating 20 years of ‘Nubeluz’
Peruvian bloggers reacted to the 20th Anniversary of the children's TV show Nubeluz; a show from the early 1990s which became an escape for both young and old from the hard times facing the country during those years.
Iran: Internet connection was interrupted
Several bloggers such as Andishe Sabz and news sites reported [fa] that the internet connection in Iran was interrupted on Thursday as Iranian regime fears the demonstration in “Quds Day”. Iranina bloggers also reported that access to Gmail and Yahoo messanger became very difficult.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Time for peaceful coexistence
In another guest post on The Caucasian Knot, youth activist and student Marine Ejuryan reflects on the negative stereotypes in play between Armenia and Azerbaijan because of the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. However, she notes, positive examples of peaceful coexistence are rarely if ever mentioned in the media and...
Sri Lanka: Mass Animal Slaughter Shows Cruelty On Animals In Public
Natalie Soysa at In the Lost Queen's Eyes reports that the slaughter of 300 goats and a countless number of chickens as a sacrifice to Hindu Goddess Kali was carried out in Chilaw, Sri Lanka, amidst protest from animal rights activists. The activists bore witness to the cruel method of...
Nepal: Media Advocating For Monarchy?
Pradeep Kumar Singh questions whether the Nepali Media is trying to restore monarchy in the country.
Pakistan: Another Attack On The Shiites
Hina Safdar at Chowrangi reports that “yesterday evening just after iftar three blasts ripped through the Yaum-e-Ali (RA) procession in Lahore.” Around 30 people died and 200 were wounded.
Botswana: White Baboons of Botswana
A photo of white baboons of Botswana: “Where I use to work in Botswana, down south in the Tuli Block, we did some work monitoring the baboons troops that roosted in the area. One baboon was bright white, with a dark face, hands, feet and tail. We appropriately named him...
Mozambique: When people don't have bread to eat
Following reports of riots and burning tyres and looting shops in protest of the rising bread price in Mozambique, Administrator of Development Talks blog says: “If people do not have bread to eat, something is seriously wrong in a country.”
South Africa: Secrecy legislation is sickening
Reactions to the proposed media tribunal bill in South Africa: “The government’s proposed secrecy legislation was a “sickening” throwback to the apartheid era, writer André Brink said on Tuesday 31 August 2010.”
Africa: Preparing Africa For New Media
Africa should prepare for new media revolution: “Ultimately, considering the growth taking place in Africa, Kabushenga points out that Africans are at an advantage: digital media will eventually gain a prominent foothold in Africa, but we can learn from the developed world’s mistakes.”