Stories from 12 February 2011
Bahrain: Fighting Sectarian Bigotry Head On
Discussions on recent political and recent developments in Bahrain took a sectarian tone on Twitter. In a series of tweets, Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa takes a stance, and joins the crusade against sectarian bigotry.
Guatemala: Living Conditions in La Limonada
“Consider the comforts in your home. Carpet. Furniture. Microwaves. Insulation from the cold and heat. Water that won’t make you and your family sick. Privacy. Now imaging your life without these things. For some it seems impossible. This is how people live every single day in La Limonada,” concludes Kerry...
Egypt: Liberation Square on Liberation Day
Yesterday was a roller coaster of emotions for Egyptians. Tarek Amr shares his feelings and those of Egyptian bloggers who witnessed the fall of Mubarak - a man who ruled their country for 30 years and then had to resign because the people screamed in one voice: :Leave!
Puerto Rico: “I Support My Alma Mater”
“I stand behind my country’s public university and what it should be: an accessible institution that promotes the advancement of different types of knowledges, provides spaces to discuss and solve some of the most pressing issues facing Puerto Rico, and is not beholden to the whims and stratagems of politicians...
Egypt: Cleaning Tahrir
For the past few weeks, as Egyptians "cleaned" their country of a dictatorship, Tahrir Square was full of people, full of joy, and as a result, full of things to clean up. Today, Egyptians share the news that the square is fully cleaned, and better than when they found it.
Argentina: 26 Years Since the Death of Julio Cortázar
Today, February 12, 2011, marks 26 years since Argentine writer Julio Cortázar died of leukemia. Simon Kofoed writes about the author's life in argen-times.
Puerto Rico: UPR President Resigns
In the midst of a severe crisis, the president of the University of Puerto Rico, José Ramón de la Torre, resigned allegedly due to “personal reasons.” The student digital publication Desde Adentro/Rojo Gallito informs [es] that De la Torre resigned one day after sending the Police Superintendent, José Figueroa Sancha,...
Algeria: Protesters at #Feb12 March Arrested, Beaten
Protests have taken down two dictators in Tunisia and Egypt but the Algerian authorities have been successful so far in holding down protests that started soon after the Tunisian revolts in early January 2011. Online photos and videos show arrests and physical abuse of protesters.
Senegal: World Social Forum 2011: One Week of Activism in Dakar
Dakar, the capital of the West African nation of Senegal, has been bustling with activists and campaigners from across the globe, gathered under the banner of the World Social Forum to say another world is possible.
Gabon: The danger of ignoring Gabon's revolution
Ethan Zuckerman warns of the danger of ignoring Gabon's revolution: “The danger of ignoring Gabon’s revolution isn’t just that opposition forces will be arrested or worse. It’s that we fail to understand the profound shifts underway across the world that change the nature of popular revolution. The wave of protests...
D.R. of Congo: Empowering Congo's women as leaders
Sadia Hameed writes about the opening of City of Joy in the Democratic Republic of Congo: “City of Joy, built by Eve Ensler, head of well-known international women’s rights group V-day, in conjunction with UNICEF and the Panzi Foundation, marks a significant investment in Congo’s women as agents of change.”
Africa: African musicians on Twitter
Read the eleventh installment of African musicians on Twitter from the leading African music blog, Museke.
China and Hong Kong: Questioning Democracy
Zhongnanhai blogs about a debate on “The world needs less democracy, not more” organized by Asia Intelligence in Hong Kong.
China: Face to face with Chen Guangcheng
Don Weinland from China Digital Times has translated prominent blogger Zhai Minglei's report on the attack of human rights activist Chen Guangcheng upon the release of a video depicting his life under police surveillance.
Egypt: The Moment of Triumph
Citizen recorded videos have started cropping up showing the historical moment when Mubarak resigned to the Presidency of Egypt and how the people at Tahir Square reacted to the news.
