Stories from 23 February 2011
Jamaica: Bloggers React to Banton Verdict
Despite bloggers' impassioned calls to “set the captive free”, the jury in the Buju Banton drug trial yesterday returned a guilty verdict on three of the four charges against him. The recent Grammy winner could be facing a sentence of as much as fifteen years behind bars. For many bloggers, the long-awaited verdict is an uncomfortable case of life imitating art - the critically acclaimed Before the Dawn, which won Banton the Grammy award for Best Reggae Album, includes “a song in which Banton proclaims he is wrongly convicted though God knows he is innocent.”
Africa: Gaddafi, Mandela and “African Mercenaries”
Woyingi reflects on Gaddafi, Mandela and “African mercenaries”: “Nelson Mandela was instrumental in helping Gaddafi resolve the Lockerbie Affair and regain easy relations with countries like Britain and the United States. Mandela shrugged off criticisms within South Africa and internationally, particularly from the United States, when he reached out to...
South Africa: JamiiX set to be the next Ushahidi
South Africa’s JamiiX looks set to be the next Ushahidi to emerge onto a global stage from the African continent. While Ushahidi uses social media and mobile communications very cleverly to collect information from the people at the scene of significant events, JamiiX uses the channels to share vital information...
Puerto Rico: Best Blogs 2010
The team of Esoez.com gave out the Esoez Awards to the best blogs [es] of Puerto Rico in 2010. The podcast En Profundo [es], the music blog Puerto Rico Indie [es], and the satire blog El ñame [es] are among the winners.
Jordan: Demands for Response to Libya Answered
Jordanians joined the rest of the world in condemning the heinous acts of Colonel Muammar Al Gaddafi against Libyans. On Twitter, their anger mounted as the government continued to remain silent. Their solidarity and calls for a reaction finally paid off, when Jordan issued a statement strongly condemning Libya's attacks on civilians.
China: Playing Revolution on Twitter
Two small protests on Sunday have been declared the beginning of China's own revolution, and yes, it all started on Twitter. Many felt leading up to the protests that they would prove to be little more than performance art, but now wonder if the heavy-handed response from authorities has created something bigger.
Puerto Rico: Conflictive One Day Walk-Out
In a general student assembly yesterday, a majority of students of the main campus of the University of Puerto Rico voted in favor of ending the strike for one month [es], but they declared a one day walk out today as part of their protest initiatives against the imposition of...
Tunisia: Sit-In Continues Against Interim Government
Following Tunisia's recent revolution the country's political situation remains fragile and critical, as a sit-in of protesters at Kasbah square near the main government building in capital Tunis, enters its fourth successive day. Demonstrators have shown no sign of backing down and are determined to carry on until all of their demands, which are mainly political, have been responded to.
Cuba: Psychiatric Hospital Trial Over
Laritza's Laws is still haunted by the trial for the deaths at the Psychiatric Hospital, describing the proceedings as “a bad theater set painted by the official press.”
Haiti: Can News Ever Be Impartial?
“We have to remember that news – that holy, sacred source of information – is biased”: Throwing Down the Water reminds us to ask a few pertinent questions – “Whose story is being told? Through which eyes? For whose benefit?” – when sifting through the news.
Cuba: The Memory of Zapata
“Sometimes the end of person cements his name in history forever”: Generation Y blogs about Orlando Zapata Tamayo on the first anniversary of his death.
China: Open letter from Jasmine organizers
Human Rights in China translated an open letter, first posted on Boxun's temporary website, from the organizers of the Chinese Jasmine rallies held on 20 February 2011. The letter calls for people to gather every Sunday to continue to push for political reforms in China.
Guyana: Journalist Sharief Khan Dies
Guyanese bloggers acknowledge the passing of veteran journalist, Sharief Khan.
Guinea: The First Blogcamp in Conakry
The first Guinean blogcamp took place February 2nd at the Press House in Coléah, a suburb of Conakry. In a nation striving for a national dialogue after tumultuous years of political strife, ICT might play an important role in building consensus.
Chad: Contested Parliamentary Elections, Protesters in the Streets
On February 16th 2011, Makaila published [Fr]: “many opposition militants gathered in multiple districts around the city of Moundou to protest against the results of the parliamentary elections [on February 13th].”
Bahrain: Jailed Blogger Ali Abdulemam Free
Jailed Bahraini blogger Ali Abdulemam is finally free. The news was welcomed by netizens from around the world, as tweeps posted pictures of a smiling Ali being greeted by family and friends.
Puerto Rico: A Student's Life Broadcast Through Youtube
Christian Ortega published the first episode of his regular web series "La Cabeza de Christian" back in the summer of 2009. Through LCC, as it is known for short, Christian generally speaks his mind about Puerto Rican politics, headline news, and his life on the island for seven to nine minutes at a time each week. Alfredo Richner interviews Christian about his online success, Puerto Rico's blogosphere, and the student strike at the University of Puerto Rico, among other topics.
Ukraine: “Undressing… With an Excuse”
Good Girl Gone Ukrainian explains her disappointment with what FEMEN, a Ukrainian “female protest group known for its provocative bare-breasted acts,” has evolved into over the years.
Ukraine: “Reasons For Not Believing Today's Authorities”
Foreign Notes provides a loose translation – here and here – of the “30 reasons why it is difficult to believe today's authorities,” which were published in the Feb. 11 issue of the Ukrainian weekly news magazine Korrespondent.
Ukraine: Trip to Bakhchisaray, Crimea
The Kalpak writes about his trip to Bakhchisaray – “the hub of Crimean Tatar culture.”
Europe: EU and Social Media
Kosmopolito writes on the ways in which the “EU institutions [should] engage with bloggers” and on the need to have a bigger “euroblogosphere.”
