Stories from 3 March 2011
Peru: Facebook Campaign Against Journalist for Homophobic Comments
Jonathan Sánchez examines [es] how the media should face a viral campaign against them, in connection with a recent Facebook campaign [es] organized against Philip Butters, a journalist at Capital Radio who aired some statements that were considered homophobic during his radio program. Jonathan indicates that the radio's Facebook page...
Gathering to Celebrate Internet Access in Cambodia
A White Out Day in Phnom Penh, Cambodia is organized to celebrate internet access in Cambodia. Even if it is a non-political event, netizens are monitoring the reaction of the government which has been suspicious of activities organized through social networks.
Pakistan: Minority Affairs Minister Assassinated
Habib Sulemani at the Terrorland comments on the assassination of Pakistan's Federal Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti in Islamabad: “Besides other segments of the society, human rights groups are mysterious silent on the recent engineered wave of extremism, which has hit hard those people known as liberals.”
Costa Rica: Interview With Director of La Nación on Wikileaks
Blogger Cristian Cambronero from Fusil de Chispas [es] got an exclusive interview with the director of newspaper La Nación [es], Yanancy Noguera. The newspaper is starting to publish 827 cables released by Wikileaks related to Costa Rica. Cristian asks how the paper got involved with Wikileaks to obtain and release...
Caucasus: The Revolting Index
Aaron in Azerbaijan comments on attempts by some international media outlets to predict which country might be next after popular uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, and Libya. However, the blog says that such an index might be better considered as an indicator of where unrest could occur unless governments adopt...
Panama: Public Rejection of Mining Code Reforms
Laws reforming mining in Panama have created havoc and caused general repudiation. Panamanians have turned to the Internet to share videos of protests and reactions to the reform.
Puerto Rico: “You Will Not Silence Them…”
Illinois Congressman Luis Gutiérrez took the floor once again before the Congress of the United States to denounce human and civil rights abuses that are being committed in Puerto Rico and to the attempts to silence him. He referred to ACLU's report Human Rights Crisis in Puerto Rico: First Amendment...
Russia: Militsia out – politsia in
Stanislav of Mat Rodina addresses the problems of the Russian militsia (police) changing names to politsia and whether this is merely a cosmetic change or an honest attempt to reform Russian law enforcement.
South Korea: Tweet Petitions Filed to Defend Trade Unionist at Risk of Being Deported
The Amnesty International Korea bureau has filed tweet petitions against the Korean Justice department's decision to deport Michel Catuira, the president of the Seoul-Gyeonggi-Incheon Migrants’ Trade Union (MTU). (Read more in English) Amnesty Korea encouraged South Korean net users to sent a tweet petition[ko] to the Minister of Justice with...
Russia: A slap in the face of public taste
Putin Watcher writes about the avantgarde art group Voina and how its art happenings challenge the boundaries of public taste.
Latvia: Shortcomings of an Internet census
Juris Kaža of Telecoms in Latvia points to some major shortcomings in integrity for the Latvian national census, to be conducted by way of the Internet.
Hungary: Constitutional questionnaire
Eva Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum discusses a questionnaire sent out to Hungarian citizens asking them what they think should be included in a new Hungarian constitution.
Estonia: Elusive historical memory
Itching for Eestimaa reflects upon the elusiveness of historical memory departing from impressions of Estonian schoolchildren.
South Korea: Dating App Developer Convicted of Privacy Violation
The web developer of a controversial mobile application which tracks down the current location of one’s boy/girlfriend, has been indicted without detention by police in South Korea for violating the country's telecommunication law. South Korean net users have criticized the authorities and media of misunderstanding the application.
Serbia: Reactions to Gaddafi's Interview on Pink TV
Libyan president Muammar Al Gaddafi gave an 8-minute phone interview to Serbian TV Pink on February 28, 2011, describing Libya as “an absolutely peaceful” country. Serbian reactions online and in national media included many of total acceptance and support for Gaddafi's story.
South Africa: Body parts for cash
What about body parts for cash in South Africa?: “Ogilvy advertising agency has apologised “unreservedly” for a pamphlet and website offering money for body parts that was actually part of a campaign to advertise a South African horror movie.”
Zimbabwe: Solidarity messages for Gwisai and 44 others
Read solidarity messages for Munyaradzi Gwisai of the International Socialist Organisation (Zimbabwe) and the 44 others who have been charged with treason after organising a meeting to discuss uprising in Egypt.
Ghana: The other face of investigative journalism
George Abugri discusses Ghanaian investigative reporter Anas Amereyaw Anas and the other face of investigative journalism: “The case of Anas Amereyaw Anas, the award-winning investigative journalist who has made more news headlines himself than the scandal-prone subjects of his investigations, has played up a rather clouded concept of investigative journalism.”
What Happens Now to Zambia Telecom Owned by Libya?
Just over a year ago, the Zambian government sold the telecommunications parastatal, Zambia Telecommunication Company (Zamtel) to a Libyan LAPGreen for over US$270 million. The Zamtel deal has come back to haunt the Zambian government. Zambian netizens have seized on developments in Libya to question the future of the Libyan company.
Africa: Sub-Saharan Africa censors Mideast protests
Some African leaders do not want citizens to know what is happening in North Africa and Middle East: “As news of Middle Eastern and North African protests swirl around the globe, satellite television and the Internet prove vital sources of information for Africans as governments fearful of an informed citizenry...
China: In Memory of Post-80s Trash Poet, Xiao Zhao
On February 14, 2011, 25-year-old poet Xiao Zhao ended his life by jumping off a bridge near his home in Hunan province. While the urban post-80s generation blogging star Han Han has caught the world's attention and become one of "The World's 50 Most Influential Figures in 2010", Xiao Zhao's short life tells a completely different story of the same generation in China.
