Stories from 2 March 2011
Chile: Taking Stock a Year After the Earthquake
Last weekend marked the first anniversary of the earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale which hit Chile in the early hours of February 27, 2010. Many were prompted to take stock on social networks.
Libya: “Breaking News: Gaddafi is Lying”
Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Al Gaddafi spoke for more than three hours on state television Wednesday March 2, 2011, denying that anti-government protesters and members of the military were mobilizing against his regime. Instead the dictator, who has been in power for four decades, blamed Islamic terror groups, foreign nations with colonial aspirations and the international media for creating stories about the Libya's descent into chaos.
Tunisia: Refugee Crisis at the Libya Border
The border between Tunisia and Libya has seen a massive influx of refugees since the uprising in Libya began. The initial journey is long and tough, and for most it doesn't end there. Huge crowds of thousands have been waiting for days in freezing cold weather to cross in to Tunisia.
Venezuela: 101 things to do in Caracas before you die
Mirelis Morales Tovar in Caracas Ciudad de la Furia [es] lists 101 things to do in the Venezuelan capital before you die. She also asks readers to add their own suggestions. Her list includes: admire the city from a cable car, ride a mototaxi, dance salsa at “El Maní es...
Peru: ComparaYA Informs Voters About Candidate's Proposals
Juan Arellano at Globalizado [es] writes about ComparaYA [es], an online initiative by the Civil Transparency Association [es] to inform voters on candidate's proposals and their stance on issues. Voters can follow ComparaYA on Facebook and Twitter.
South Korea: Mapping Burial Grounds
South Korean net users have created a Google map listing where the culled cattle were buried. South Korean government dumped about a quarter of its herd on numerous spots throughout the country to slow down its worst foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. And worries grow that the animal blood and carcasses have already started polluting nearby ground water.
Brazil: Outrage of Brazilian Woman Deported from Spain
The deportation from Spain of Brazilian holidaymaker Denise Severo, a 34-year-old university researcher, has once again raised the issue of immigration between the two countries. Severo has written an open letter about her experience which has been widely disseminated by various bloggers, and prompted many reactions to her treatment by Spanish immigration authorities.
Cameroon: The Will for Change, Interview with Kah Walla (Audio)
On February 23, 2011, Cameroonians organised an Egypt-inspired protest which saw the few brave participants badly beaten by police. Kah Walla, an organiser of the protest and herself a presidential candidate in upcoming elections, explains what she feels was accomplished by the demonstration.
Bolivia: More Ways to Help Victims of Massive Mudslide
Blogger Pablo Andrés Rivero [es] lists aid related information netizens can spread on social networks to help the victims of the massive mudslide that destroyed hundreds of homes in La Paz.
Mexico: ACTA Public Hearings Kick Off
The controversial Anti-Counterfeit Commercial Agreement --widely known as ACTA-- is currently under discussion in the Mexican Senate in response to opposition from civil society to the way the treaty's negotiation process is being conducted. Here is a summary of results and reactions to the public hearings held up to date.
Cuba: Independence or Authoritariansim?
Generation Y observes the preparations for a military parade, calling it “the choreography of authoritarianism.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Political Financing
Afra Raymond posts his third submission to the Commission of Enquiry into the CL Financial collapse, in which he questions political party financing.
Cuba: An Unnecessary Death
“It is not about ideology. It is a matter of humanity. The government of Cuba would gain credibility if, at one year after the death of Zapata, they would apologize publicly. Out of respect and decency they owe it to his mother, so shamefully harassed”: Iván's File Cabinet says that...
Cuba: Flamenco Dancing
Havana Times interviews Danny Villalonga, “one of the most applauded male figures of flamenco in Cuba.”
Russia: Photographer Complains About Illegal Activities in Moscow Metro
Photographer Alexei Vitvitskiy posted pictures of allegedly illegal activities in one of the central stations of Moscow metro “Komsomolskaya.” “Here they opened a market of illegal immigrants,” Vitvitskiy wrote. ” They sell drugs, fake documents (Russian passports are especially popular), diplomas, certificates, driver's licenses and offer courier services.”
Trinidad & Tobago: The Death Penalty Debate
“Rather than focus on trying to remove the perceived barriers to implementing the death penalty, the government should be focused on other things that don't need Opposition support for implementation”: KnowTnT.com blogs about the proposed re-institution of the death penalty.
Russia: New Crowd Sourcing Web Project Will Monitor Politician's Promises
Online activists from Yekaterinburg has launched DalSlovo.Ru (“Gave a Word .ru”), a new crowd sourcing portal that will report all promises made by politicians and check if these promises are fulfilled. So far, the service is available for federal and Yekaterinburg officials.
Russia: Social Network Initiative Draws Attention to Soldiers Killed in Army
New initiative of “The Right of Mother” foundation uses popular Russian social network Odnoklassniki.ru to feature the profiles of 30 young soldiers who were registered users of the network and who fell victims of hazing in Russian army, newspaper “Novaya Gazeta” reports [RUS].
Russia: Popular Social Platform Identified as Space for “Infringing Materials”
A recent report [ENG] by the Office of The U.S. Trade Representative identifies Vkontakte.ru, the most popular social platform in Russia, as facilitating “unauthorized access to allegedly infringing materials.”
China: A Deadly Train Trip
The Ministry of Tofu translated an online appeal letter written by the parent of a male student, Zhao Wei, who died in his train trip back home. His parent believed that he was beaten to death during the trip and threw down from a building Daqing, Heilongjiang Province.
Brazil: Communities in Rio Blame Olympics for Evictions
Communities in the West Zone (Zona Oeste) of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil have been earmarked for eviction and removal by the City Hall in preparation for the 2016 Olympics. Recently, at least two of them, 'Vila Harmonia' and 'Vila Autódromo', have witnessed the presence of tractors, government staff and police.
