24 February 2011

Stories from 24 February 2011

Peru: Controversy Over Removal of Anonymity in Electoral Polls

  24 February 2011

A new policy preventing opinion polls from being conducted anonymously caused a storm in the press and on social networking sites. Finally, faced with a barrage of questions from the public and the press over its conduct, the National Jury of Elections was forced to retract the regulation.

Chile: Electronic Textbooks for Schoolchildren?

  24 February 2011

The school year is starting in Chile, and Enzo Abbagliati in Cadaunadas wonders, “why aren't textbooks in Chile digital?” after he spent almost $300 USD in textbooks for his son. He presents possible advantages to giving schoolchildren electronic textbooks they could read on a tablet or e-reader.

Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica: The Facts About Banton

  24 February 2011

Globewriter comments on the shocked reactions to the Banton verdict: “The fact is there is video of Buju Banton chatting with federal agents and tasting the cocaine…and he is now convicted. What is the problem?”

Trinidad & Tobago: What's After Carnival?

  24 February 2011

As controversy ensues over the behaviour of a “sore loser” at a Carnival music competition, Coffeewallah observes that the priorities of Trinbagonians may be skewed: “In two weeks this will all be over, the remnants of costumes swept up, the glitter packed away, the soca stars will go on to...

Cuba: Zapata Vive

  24 February 2011

“The fact that Zapata’s death came about through starvation is one more piece of the hunger we have endured for over half a century”: Crossing the Barbed Wire explains why Orlando Zapata Tamayo's death “was not in vain”.

India: A TV Channel As A Valentine's Day Gift

  24 February 2011

Sans Serif reports that the former Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has bought the struggling 24×7 Kannada news channel, Samaya, as a “gift” for his girlfriend, the former movie actress Radhika.

Pakistan: TEDx Events Proliferating

  24 February 2011

Sonya Rehman, who spoke at a TEDxKinnaird event in Lahore, comments: “In Pakistan these days, TEDx has become a big deal what with numerous colleges/universities putting together their very own independent TED Talks.

Bhutan: Tax Or No Tax For Development

  24 February 2011

The idea of citizens contributing towards this in the form of taxes is still a new/alien concept in Bhutan. The Bhutanese twitter-sphere broke the news of the verdict in favor of the Opposition who protested against the legality of imposing vehicle tax in the country.

Georgia: Sex & the EU

  24 February 2011

Social Science in the Caucasus examines the results of a 2008 survey aimed at comparing Georgian social attitudes to those in the EU. The survey, for example, found that 80 percent of Georgians with no family members in EU member states were against the idea of a woman having sex...

Libya: “The Point of No Return”

  24 February 2011

The last gasps of Muammar Al Gaddafi could be counted in hours. But after the Libyan leader recently threatened to kill protesters and members of the military defying his regime, the hours will be spent nervously. In areas of the country no longer under Gaddafi control, people are beginning to document human rights abuses.

Yemen: At the Boiling Point? (Video)

  24 February 2011

President Saleh of Yemen has begun offering concessions to opposition protesters, ordering security forces to protect demonstrators. But most people don't appear ready to take the ruler at his word. Meanwhile, large anti-government protests continue to take place. The government's goodwill could be tested in a planned pro-government march on the nation's capital on Friday.

Caucasus: Peace Village

  24 February 2011

Tamada Tales, a EurasiaNet blog, comments on plans by an Armenian peace activist to establish a peace building center in a village situated close to the intersection of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Noting that Armenians and Azerbaijanis are “implacable foes,” the blog notes that Georgia has often proven itself to...

Kenya: Top Earning Sports Personalities in Kenya in 2010

  24 February 2011

Top earning sports personalities in Kenya in 2010: “Sport in Kenya has slowly become bread and butter for people fully engaged in it professionally. Fondly referred to by its peers as a ‘sporting nation’, the fact of the matter though is that much of the earnings are lop-sided with the...

Tanzania/Tunisia: Common thread between Tanzania and Tunisia

  24 February 2011

Kate discusses similarities between Tanzania and Tunisia: “These two countries, relatively unknown for large scale unrest, are plagued by a hideous manifestation of totalitarianism, the use of state security organs, notably the police and the so called anti-riot units, to suppress what would be considered perfectly understandable responses to unemployment...