Stories from 12 October 2010
Venezuela: National Assembly Reforms Military Service Law, Removes Sanctions
Venezuelan Analysis reports that the National Assembly reformed the Military Conscription and Enlistment Law, eliminating sanctions for not registering in the Military Record.
El Salvador: Nothing to Celebrate on ‘Día de la Raza,’ Columbus Day
In the blog El Trompudo Carlos Molina argues [es] that there is nothing to celebrate on the “día de la raza” (Colombus Day): “It should be the saddest day of our lives, because it was the day that started the robbery and looting of everything our natives had built.”
Sri Lanka: Dance In Pictures
Minaali Haputantri posts some elegant photos of a dance performance by Channa Upuli, an world renowned Sri Lankan dance troop.
Maldives: No McDonald's
Mohamed Saeed points to the fact that there is no McDonald's outlet in Maldives and weighs the pros and cons of having them.
Chile: All Mapuche Prisoners End Hunger Strike
The general hunger strike carried out by Mapuche prisoners prosecuted under Chile's anti-terrorism law reached its final closure today. The end was reached after prisoners in the cities of Angol and Victoria, as well as a Mapuche youth held in youth detention center, ended their strike. Most Mapuche prisoners had ended the protest on October 2.
Serbia: Gay Pride Parade Used as Excuse for Riots
Gay Pride Parade held on October 10 2010 in Belgrade brought out the worst and the best elements of Serbian society in the open. The police had to suppress about 6000 rioters who, in a very organized manner, wrecked damage in the city center, while pro-democracy forces hailed the event as big advance for the freedoms of speech and association, guaranteed by law.
India: A View From Kashmir
Wasim Khalid, a Srinagar based journalist, shares at South Asia Wired how it is like to live under curfew in Jammu & Kashmir since June.
St. Maarten: Garden Isle
“Citizens of St. Maarten have been urged to mark their new political status…by taking practical steps to transform the new Dutch Caribbean nation into a ‘Garden Isle,’ with a view to protect the environment and to boost tourism”: Repeating Islands has the link.
Puerto Rico: Violence & Corruption
Repeating Islands draws attention to the issues surrounding “another violent weekend ended in Puerto Rico”, while Gil the Jenius maintains that “we can and have but will not survive as a society with widespread corruption.”
Cuba: Limits on Self-Employment
“According to the newspaper Granma, starting in October you can work for yourself in 178 activities” but, argues Laritza's Laws, the new regulations come hand in hand with some limitations which, “along with the stepped-up state supervision and inspection, will limit future possibilities for operating a small business.”
Jamaica: Storm's Perspective
Active Voice posts an interview with Storm Saulter, the director of Better Mus Come, Jamaica's latest feature film.
Guyana: Pursuit of Happiness
“Flip open we newspapers, almost everyday, bullets and blood bust out; Citizens and Opinionists throwing words like Hobbesian nightmare…screaming who fault it is…but no body ain’t saying, Let it start with me“: Guyana-Gyal wants to be happy in spite of it all.
Russia: Photos of Russian SWAT training
Blogger artemgorbachev posts photos from a training of the Russian Special Purpose Police Unit (OMON).
France: Magazine Tells Fairy Tales about Polygamy in Immigrant Families
Le Point, a French weekly news magazine, was the victim of a “militant” of the new kind that is rising up against the portrait being painted of residents of immigrant communities. By pretending to be a mother in a polygamous family, Abdel provoked quite a media firestorm
South Korea:Photos of the Hi Seoul Festival
Blogger MyCar 9960 uploaded photos[ko] of the 2010 Hi Seoul Festival, Seoul's seasonal cultural festival. A series of indoor and street performances, parades and exhibitions are held in several spots around Seoul until Sunday.
Russia: Music Battle Over the Khimki Forest
Masha Egupova writes about the Khimki Forest dispute and the role that some popular Russian musicians play in it.
Venezuela: Reactions to the Law of Military Service
At the beginning of October, the government declared that those not enrolled in the military record before October 21, 2010 would face penalties. The government's decision to "reactivate" the Military Conscription and Enlistment Law has generated an attitude of resistance from civil society, stronger than usual for orders coming from President Hugo Chávez.
Pakistan: The Role Of Political Islam
Feroz Khan at Pak Tea House discusses the importance of reducing the role of political Islam.
Russia: President Medvedev Welcomes Schwarzenegger Via Twitter
Right after landing in Russia, Arnold Schwarzenegger shared his picture in Moscow with his Twitter followers. Russian President Medvedev replied to the twit by writing: “Welcome to Russia!” The two extensively cover their interactions on Twitter (here and here).
China: Fujian villagers fight against forced demolition
The youtube video shows how villagers from Minhou county, Fujian province fight against forced demolition.
China: English translation of Liu Xiaobo's writings
ESWN has searched around the net and compiled a list of the English translation of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo's writings.
