8 December 2010

Stories from 8 December 2010

Pakistan: No Protection Against Fatwa

  8 December 2010

A cleric in Peshawar has publicly offered a reward of Pakistani Rs500,000 to anyone who will kill Aasia Bibi, a Christian brick-kiln labourer,who was sentenced to death for blasphemy by a district court. Adil Najam is outraged by the inaction of the government.

India: No Muharram In Kashmir

  8 December 2010

Zafar Mehdi informs at Kafila that “The peaceful processions on 8 and 10 Muharram have been banned in Kashmir since the outbreak of insurgency in 1989.”

Burundi: One changed life

  8 December 2010

One changed life in Burundi: “Beginning with a loan of just $48, Adelaide Barutwanayo grew her clothing sales business in the markets of Gitega, Burundi, to a point where she could comfortably provide for her two children, ages 6 and 13.”

Africa: Living in compromise

  8 December 2010

Can you be an African woman, a feminist and an African feminist?: “I think many African women, like my mother and even myself have struggled, or are struggling with the notions of being an African woman, a feminist and an African Feminist. We struggle to translate an academic concept into...

Haiti: Election Run-Off

  8 December 2010

Haitian bloggers discuss news that “presidential elections will go to a second-round run-off between former First Lady Mirlande Manigat and government technocrat Jude Celestin, protegé of outgoing President Rene Preval.”

Africa: One brain drain phenomenon you haven't heard of

  8 December 2010

One brain drain phenomenon you haven’t heard of: “As it turns out, both in Kenya and Tanzania, flight controllers seem to be leaving the country for other regions and airlines. For various monetary reasons, the numbers of controllers have not been increased for quite a while.”

Trinidad & Tobago: FIFA Insult

  8 December 2010

B.C. Pires comments on the FIFA Vice-President's explanation as to why England did not win their World Cup bid: “It would have been nice if there was a journalist amongst the crowd of sycophants…who could have asked Jack if there was any insult at all involved in having lunch with...

Cuba: Marching for Human Rights

  8 December 2010

Diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense reports that this Friday, on International Human Rights Day, “Dr. Darsi Ferrer…will again lead a peaceful march in Havana to demand respect for human rights on the island.”

Bermuda: The Black Male Perspective

  8 December 2010

Breezeblog directs “anyone concerned about where Bermuda is headed amidst the spiralling gang violence, social dysfunctionality and hypocrisy” to an article written “from the perspective of a young black man”.

Jamaica: Commission of Enquiry

  8 December 2010

Jamaica and the World comments on the Commission of Enquiry set up to investigate matters relating to Christopher “Dudus” Coke's extradition: “What is particularly amusing (or annoying)…is that we are not supposed to need it. The Prime Minister has assured us on several occasions that he has already made a...

Ghana: BarCamp Ghana 2010 at Ashesi University

  8 December 2010

BarCamp Ghana 2010, an ad-hoc gathering where attendees meet for discussions, demos and networking, will take place on December 18 2010 at the Ashesi University campus in Accra. The theme is “Create dreams, work smart and shape the future”.

Portugal: Blogs Fight on Politics launches Competition

  8 December 2010

Combate de Blogs [Blogs Fight, pt], a Portuguese weekly TV show, has launched a competition for blogs on national and international politics. Meet the nominees in the three categories: Blog of the Year, Blogger of the Year and Revelation Blog of the Year.

Mexico, World: The Impact of COP16 for Those Not Attending

  8 December 2010

Richard Grabman from The Mex Files writes, “Forgotten in there is who is affected by climate change the most — It’s not as if an Amazonian fishermen can buy carbon credits […] He… as much as Korean farmers, French pensioners, gringo bloggers, you… need to eat and are going to...

Guatemala: The Burning of the Devil

  8 December 2010

From AntiguaDailyPhoto: “La quema del diablo (Burning of the Devil) used to be this tradition, little known out side of Guatemala. I say “used to be” since the Burning of the Devil is now all over the Internet.” Luis Figueroa [es] blogged about his experience “burning the devil” this year.

Uganda: Making sense of proposed media laws

  8 December 2010

Moses Sserwanga tries to make sense of proposed media laws in Uganda: “The government is proposing a new regime of laws in amendments to the existing media laws- that will add more restrictions to the already delicate media environment in Uganda.”

Rwanda: Sniffing glue to survive

  8 December 2010

Sniffing glue to survive in Kigali, Rwanda: “The glue that these street children sniff is mostly shoe repair glue, which is readily available, cheap, highly addictive, highly toxic, and extremely powerful because of the neurotoxin toluene.”