26 November 2010

Stories from 26 November 2010

Bhutan: Books Or Bars

  26 November 2010

“Books printed in Bhutan are too expensive for an average income Bhutanese reading public,” informs Penstar and that explains why there are more bars than book shops in that country.

Bhutan: Tobacco Law And Village People

  26 November 2010

Passu is apprehensive about the impact of ban on tobacco in Bhutan. In almost every house of his village tobacco is still being used and they have to pay higher to get them.

India: Mumbai Moving Forward

  26 November 2010

“There is a form of kinetic energy that’s contagious in Mumbai. As if, someone has set the people of Mumbai free – and they are moving forward,” notices Zain Mahmood while visiting the city.

India: Fuzzy Memories

  26 November 2010

Dilip D'Souza at Kafila asks why are Indians obsessed with only remembering the act of terrorism on 26/11/08 and why not also 1/11/84 or 7/12/92?

Brazil: Bloggers react to wave of violence in Rio de Janeiro

  26 November 2010

A recent wave of violence has frightened residents of Rio de Janeiro and reignited a familiar public debate on security in the city. A great wave of panic, in part brought on by the mainstream media, also brings to the fore a new problem: the great proliferation of false rumors on the internet.

Ghana: Images from Ghana

  26 November 2010

Beautiful images from the Central Region in Ghana by Nana Acquah: “Yesterday, I photographed a kind, old man who is our President’s friend and he has photos and stories to prove it. Each day brings new, refreshing stories.”

Sierra Leone: CIVICUS supports government accountability

  26 November 2010

CIVICUS to support government accountability in Sierra Leone: “In Sierra Leone, a country that receives 70% of its money in overseas aid, civil society organisations are big business. Weak regulation and limited collaboration between CSOs have shaped a civil society sector marred by poor governance, minimal transparency and cases of...

Zimbabwe: Problems getting national ID

  26 November 2010

This is a podcast in which a man describes the difficulties he is having trying to get an Identity Card (ID in Zimbabwe. He needs this to be able to vote in the constitution referendum and the next general and presidential elections.

Ghana: What on earth is Nkrumahism?

  26 November 2010

Ato wants to know what exactly Nkrumahism is: “Hardly a week passes by without Ghanaians hearing about ‘Nkrumahism’ or the fact that the ‘Nkrumahist’ parties are fragmented…What on earth is Nkrumahism? I know it has something to do with Kwame Nkrumah but I don't know exactly what.”

Africa: Announcing a new knowledge resource for Africa

  26 November 2010

Oluniyi announces the launch of a new knowledge resource for Africa: “Today 25th November 2010 marks another milestone in the quest for putting African information online. A new website has launched. It is aptly named Africa Portal, and aims to be an authoritative knowledge resource for Africa”.

Haiti: Cholera & Elections

  26 November 2010

HAITI, Land of Freedom notes that several human rights groups have expressed concerns about the country's upcoming elections in the midst of the cholera epidemic.

Cuba: Reasons for Confiscation

  26 November 2010

Generation Y finds out that the reason copies of her book were confiscated, is because its contents “are against the general interests of the nation, since it argues that certain political and economic changes are required in Cuba so that its citizens may have more material benefits and achieve personal...

Puerto Rico: Bloggers Criticize Censorship Call of Calle 13 Song

  26 November 2010

The president of the Puerto Rico Telecommunications Regulatory Board described Calle 13's latest song as "obscene" and "lewd" and has invited the general public to send their complaints so she can forward them to the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The Puerto Rican blogosphere reacts.

Korea: Artillery Shots Heard From South Korean Island

  26 November 2010

Sounds of artillery shots were heard inland of North Korea this afternoon, audible from South Korea's YeonPyeong island. Although the firing was not directed at South Korea, it has successfully frightened many South Koreans. Some Twitters sarcastically commented [ko] as ‘North Korea is taking advantage of the unprecedentedly high level...

Brazil: President today, blogger tomorrow

  26 November 2010

Outgoing Brazilian president Luis Inácio Lula da Silva (Lula) was interviewed for the first time this week by a range of progressive bloggers, an event seen by many as a major step in the ongoing push for a more democratic media system in the country.

China: Hang the Liberal!

  26 November 2010

A website,Progressive Society, with a feature page called Hanging Slave of the West, has been set up by some extreme “leftists”. The website claims to record all the sins of Chinese political liberals. It also collects photos of famous political activists such as Nobel Peace Prize winner, Liu Xiaobo calling...

Fiji: Government explains deportation of Fiji Water boss

  26 November 2010

Fiji's government says David Roth, Fiji Water’s local representative, was kicked out of the country because he was interfering with internal affairs. Is this the real reason? What will the deportation mean for other foreign investors? And what about Fiji's bottom line?