Stories from 4 March 2011
Barbados: politician pushes social media
Former opposition leader Mia Mottley is encouraging citizens to use social media “to bring about change,” reports Barbados Underground, who reads between the lines to analyse her political reasons.
Suriname: Mickey Mouse art
Artist Wouter Klein Velderman, on a residency in the town of Moengo in Suriname, shares images of his current work in progress: a monumental Mickey Mouse sculpture made of wood,...
Trinidad and Tobago: Carnival traditions
With Trinidad's annual Carnival celebrations approaching, photographer Wendell Reyes posts images of some traditional masqueraders on the street.
Trinidad and Tobago: advertising anthropology
“The culture of a country is not only found in the country’s song, dance and shark and bake but also in the full-page ads in the newspapers,” writes This Beach...
Jordan: Creative Signs for Change at Amman Protest
Another Friday protest calling for reforms in Jordan took place in downtown Amman today (March 4, 2011). After a week of generally disappointed reactions at the newly appointed prime minister's speech, and negative, provocative statements from ex-ministers and members of parliament, some Jordanian citizens responded creatively in an ongoing call for reform and inclusive change.
Russia: Online Ecosystem Case Study of Perm Region
Alexey Sidorenko shares his observations of the digital activism scene in the city of Perm.
Uganda: Save The Uganda Museum
The Uganda Museum founded in 1908 in Kampala, Uganda, displays and exhibits historical and traditional collections of the country's cultural heritage. With its site recently earmarked by the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry for the construction of a 60-storey building, a group of Ugandan cyberactivists have decided to run a Facebook campaign to save the building.
South Sudan: Abandoning Abyei
Will Sudanese leaders abandon Abyei again?: “I am reminded of a 2008 Human Rights Watch report which detailed the violations by the Sudanese Armed Forces and their allied militias when...
Kazakhstan: Little Enthusiasm for No Choice Elections
The recent announcement of an early presidential election in Kazakhstan has brought little excitement - the opposition will boycott the vote, other candidates are weak, and the incumbent president is sure to secure another term after more than 20 years in office.
Nigeria: Jesus Film in Hausa
The “Jesus film”, a 2 hour docudrama on the life of Jesus Christ based on the Gospel of Luke is now available in Hausa.
Kenya: Meet Kenyans on Twitter
Tech Mtaa discusses KenyansOnTwitter: “They are also a very creative bunch. You will see from the many trending topics like #ActualExperts, #MuliroGardens, #KhalwalesNewCareer, #tonyMOGexcuses, #kcpe2010 , #rutosplaylist, to many others...
Libya: Death Toll Rises to 6,000, US Mulls Intervention
Human rights groups have put the latest death toll in the Libyan crisis to over 6000, as pro-Gaddafi forces continue to pound opposition-held cities with air strikes. Libyan bloggers and tweeps share their side of the story in this post by Antoun Issa.
China: Google SSL interfered by GFW
Several sources from Twitter confirm that Google SSL has been interfered by the Great Fire Wall in China. Access to Gmail, GTalk and Google Reader becomes extremely slow. Google's server...
China's Twelfth Five Year Plan
Dan from China Law Blog posts Steve Dickinson‘s speech outline on 10 major challenges of China's Twelfth Five Year Plan.
Singapore: Netizens Discuss Election Issues
As Singapore prepares for the General Elections 2011, netizens are actively commenting on various election issues. Will PAP, the ruling party for more than four decades, remain dominant? What are the demands of voters?
Libya: High Hopes for the Friday of Liberation
It's already Friday in Libya, and emotions are running high, as more protests are planned after Friday prayers in the capital Tripoli to oust dictator Muammar Al Gaddafi. Libyans are calling Friday's protests as the Friday of Liberation, in the hope that it will see the end of Gaddafi's regime. Both Tunisia's Zein El Abideen Ben Ali and Egypt's Hosni Mubarak's reigns ended on Fridays, after popular uprisings.
Panama: Law Modifying Mining Code to be Repealed
On March 3, President Ricardo Martinelli promised to repeal a law that modified Panama's mining code. The news were received with joy among Panamanians who saw the reforms as an attack on the environment. Reactions immediately appeared on social networks.
Egypt: A TV Show that Ended a Prime Minister's Career
Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik stepped down today (March 3), following a television show which bared him in front of Egyptian viewers. Protests asking for Shafik's resignation have continued since the day former President Hosni Mubarak stepped down on February 11, yet the show seemed to be the last nail in his political coffin.
