Stories from 27 December 2010
Comoros: Provisional Results of the Presidential Elections and Possible Fraud
Wongo's blog in Anjouan provides some provisional results (VP Ikililou Dhoinine projected with 65% of the votes) of the presidential elections currently taking place in Comoros (fr). Opposition claims that fraud has taken place in Anjouan though (fr).
Puerto Rico: Violent Clashes at the University of Puerto Rico
Students on strike at the main campus of the state-run University of Puerto Rico were beaten and arrested last Monday, December 20, after violent clashes with the Police. Students oppose an annual $800 tuition fee that will be imposed in January. Bloggers in Puerto Rico have analyzed and commented on this recent strike and the crucial moment the student movement confronts.
Mali: Tracklist from music shared by cellphone users
A tracklist of music shared between cell phones users in Mali: “This little cassette of music collected from cellphones has been in internet circulation lately…”
Kenya: Are citizens expected to contribute to special ‘Hague 6 defence fund’?
Moreen Majiwa asks, “To whose fund will you be contributing?”: We shall not discriminate…we will mobilise all resources and hire the best lawyers so that the suspects are fully represented at the Hague’ this was the statement made by Kiraitu Murungi, Minister for Energy on Tuesday this week.”
Nigeria: Bring our health data alive
Bring our health data in Nigeria alive: “For a long time, our leaders have taken Nigerians for a ride, quoting astronomical amounts of money for delivering nothing. One major reason for this is that we had no way of knowing more than they told us.”
Africa: Tech Success in Africa is Built on the Ordinary
Meeting the needs of ordinary people is key to success in tech industry in Africa: “In fact, you can take this one step further. Almost any meaningful success in Africa’s mobile or web space has been from companies focused on meeting the needs of ordinary people.”
Nigeria: Journey to nationhood
Solomon posts a documentary looking at Nigeria's history and particularly its’ colonial history. The footage belongs to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Political Buddhism In Sri Lanka
D.B.S. Jeyaraj highlights J.L. Devananda's take on political Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Devananda opines: “due to the influence of the Mahavamsa (scripture), a Buddhist Bikkhu (monk) is at liberty to engage in racist politics and promote Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinism and hatred.
Nigeria: Sotheby’s cancels sale of Benin’s stoles Mask
An update on the proposed sale of stolen masks from Nigeria: “Many thanks to all MyWeku readers and the 3000+ Members of the Connoisseurs of Contemporary African Art group who signed the online petition, tweeted and shared the planned sale of the “Queen of Idia” mask on various social media...
Sudan: President Announces North Will Be Ruled By Islamic Law If South Separates
As the referendum on whether or not Southern Sudan will separate approaches, a few Sudanese bloggers have been busy commenting on the future prospects of their country. Recent comments made by the Sudanese President, Omar Hassan Al-Bashir, about the implementation of Islamic Law in North Sudan if the South separates have sparked controversy
Armenia: Homosexuality & National Security?
Unzipped: Gay Armenia comments on a recent statement from the Secretary of Armenia's National Security Council, Artur Baghdasarian, labeling homosexuals as a ‘extremely dangerous.’ The blog says that such comments are not only homophobic and in violation of Armenia's human rights commitments, but is also totally at odds with a...
Pakistan: Speak Up, And Break The Silence
Jehan Ara at In The Line Of War informs that this year the “Take Back the Tech” Pakistan team participated in a street protest to speak up against domestic violence.
Bolivia: The “Gasolizano”: Government Increases Taxes on Fuel
Greg Weeks from Two Weeks Notice writes: “The Bolivian government drastically increased taxes on fuel, by over 70%. It did so for rational capitalist reasons, namely that higher prices in neighboring countries had fostered a thriving black market. However, the official reasoning leaves something to be desired”
Honduras: Media Ignores Recent Reports on 2009 Coup
Honduras Culture and Politics states: “[…] we find it extraordinary that the US media completely ignore even high profile international organizations that continue to call attention to the serious failures of Honduras to redress any of the circumstances that the coup d'etat of June 2009 set in motion.”
Russia: How Vladivostok Christmas Tree Craziness Made Me Laugh
People in Vladivostok never lose their sense of humor. Otherwise one would be in the perpetual state of depression. They laugh about everything from nerve-racking traffic jams and alarming snow situations to Christmas tree arrangements and new taxes on the imported Japanese cars.
Pakistan: Language Preferences
Amrita Yasin at Pak Tea House criticizes the negligent attitude of many Pakistanis towards their national and ethnic languages.
Bangladesh: Pitha-Pulis As Bengali Christmas Culinary Tradition
Bangladesh, Canada And Beyond shares pictures of the Bengali culinary tradition pitha pulis (rice powder cakes and pastries) which were adopted by the Christians in Bangladesh and West Bengal in India to celebrate Christmas.
China: Press conference held following suspicious death of rural activist
It has not been a peaceful week in the news, with a crossbow-shooting bomber-petitioner in Beijing, a city administration official killed with a screwdriver today in Fujian province, and the grisly death of village leader Qian Yunhui in Zhejiang province on Christmas day. [UPDATE: Roland Soong at EastSouthWestNorth has been...
South Korea Defined North Korea as ‘Enemy’ in Defense White Paper
South Korea Defense ministry has decided to label North Korea as its “enemy” from its newest defense white paper, reflecting the intensified military tension between two Koreas. Some of South Korean twitterers, such as @sohjiroll[ko] considered the decision as appropriate, but worried it may not be a smart move.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Social Media in peace building
Based on experience to date, my Caucasian Knot blog features a post on the use of online social networks to bring Armenians and Azerbaijanis together online as part of regional peace building and cross-border cooperation projects.
Azerbaijan: Let them eat even more cake…
After the account of one Azerbaijani blogger on how the country's second largest city marked the birthday of its president last year, another looks at how is was marked this week. Not surprisingly, if last year's 48th birthday saw a cake baked 48 meters long, this year saw it go...
