Stories from 17 January 2011
Sudan: Peaceful referendum comes to a close
Peaceful referendum in Southern Sudan comes to a close: “On the closing day of the elections the lines had all but vanished, wind whipped up dust that blew past the...
D.R. of Congo: Remembering Patrice Lumumba
Dave Donelson remembers Patrice Lumumba: “Lumumba's death just months after his choice as the Democratic Republic of Congo's first freely-elected leader was akin to strangling the infant nation in its...
Zimbabwe: Call for Submissions: “Remembering Marechera”
A call for Submissions for a new anthology titled “Remembering Marechera”: “To celebrate Dambudzo Marechera’s posthumous 59th birthday this year I will be putting together an ebook anthology entitled “Remembering...
Zambia: Restless Western Province Erupts Over Independence Agreement
The Western Province administrative capital, Mongu, on Friday erupted when Lozi tribal loyalists who want to secede from the rest of Zambia fought running battles with police on the day they “declared independence.” Two people were shot dead by the police, a number of people were injured and over 200 arrested and are likely to be charged with treason. Zambian netizens share their opinions on the subject online.
Japan: 16th Anniversary of Great Hanshin Earthquake
Today is the 16th anniversary of the Great Hanshin earthquake, and many prayed for lives lost. Blogger nikisuke quietly reflected on the passing of the years and quotes a Tweet...
Tunisia:Animation for the martyrs of freedom
Fahem Med Ali has created a short animation to honour the martyrs of freedom in Tunisia.
North Korea: Drugs Rampant, Even Among Teens
North Korean insiders and defectors have testified that drugs are widespread in North Korea. Most recent reports told that drugs are popular gifts among teens and even ordinary middle-class citizens are frequently abusing them.
El Salvador: President Funes Prohibits Campaigning by Government Officials
Taking into consideration that 2011 will be a pre-electoral year and that during 2012 El Salvador will be in full presidential campaign mode, President Mauricio Funes has said he will not allow his officials to campaign. This has caused diverse reactions in the Salvadoran blogosphere.
Taiwan: Foxconn nominated for the public eye award
A Hong Kong based NGO Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour has nominated Apple subcontractor, FoxConn for the 2011 public eye award. There are at least 18 workers committed suicide...
Cameroon: Inventors, Makers and Creators
Creativity, ingenuity and entrepreneurship are vibrant in Cameroon as we see in the following videos showing blacksmiths at work, bamboo cellphone and laptop cases and home made egg incubators.
China: Farmer hangs himself against land seizure
Jing Gao from Ministry of Tofu translates a news story and netizen comments about a farmer from Jiangsu province hanging himself against the CCP village committee's seizure of his fish...
China: No more award and prize!
It is clear that the Chinese government is not happy about the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. However, it is beyond normal people's imagination that the propaganda machine would turn its resentment into the censorship of the terms "award" and "prize".
Venezuela: Reactions to Comments by OAS Regarding Enabling Law
Venezuelan Twitter users and bloggers have reacted to the Enabling Law that concedes President Hugo Chávez the power to rule by decree on certain matters for the next 18 months; they have also given their opinion about declarations regarding the Enabling Law given by the Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza.
Bulgaria: Bloggers Discuss the Soviet Army Monument in Sofia
The Soviet Army Monument in Sofia was built in 1954, in honor of the victory over the Nazis in World War II. Today, this monument is the subject of dispute between left- and right-wing political groups. Recently, a group of right-wing activists started a discussion in the Bulgarian society whether the Monument should be demolished or not.
