Stories from 11 March 2011
Puerto Rico: Violence in the University
The Puerto Rican Association of University Professors of Puerto Rico (APPU) condemned the physical attacks [es] a group of students perpetrated against the Provost of the Río Piedras campus, Ana Guadalupe. The University of Puerto Rico has been in turmoil due to budget cuts and tuition hikes.
Russia: Sochi Mascots, Politics, and Some Twitter
In an unprecedented move, the Sochi 2014 Olympic Committee was going to let the Russian people participate in the choice of the mascots, from their creation to the very selection. However, it all got mired by political controversy, "Russian style."
Libya: Sub-Saharan Africans in Serious Danger
The crisis in Libya since the uprisings against Colonel Mouammar Gaddafi has not only had dramatic consequences for Libyans, but also for Sub-Saharan African citizens residing in Libya. Thousands of refugees are exposed to terrible conditions on journeys to the nearest borders, and numerous black Africans currently do not dare to leave their homes.
Azerbaijan: Youth Protest in Baku
Inspired by pro-democracy protests in Egypt and Tunisia, youth activists in Azerbaijan took to the streets in actions encouraged and coordinated by social media in what was their largest action staged in two years.
Brazil: Where Violence Has an Age and Skin Color
On February 23, 2011, Brazil's Justice Department published the 'Violence Map 2011 - The Brazilian Youth', a study aimed at following trends in youth (15 to 24 years of age) mortality from violent causes. The conclusions are frightening.
Nigeria: Nigeria Votes 2011
Myweku.com speaks with Bayo Lambo about his new site, NigeriaVotes2011: “It’s a website and platform where potential voters and the curious alike can visit to view, research and indeed review all the candidates running for office in the 2011 elections.”
Cameroon: Twitter Ban Will Stifle Innovation and Development
The government of Cameroon has forced mobile operator MTN to end its five-month old partnership with the microblogging site Twitter and to discontinue its Twitter short code service, Cameroonian blogger Dibussi Tande reports. Dibussi argues that the ban will stifle innovation and development.
Philippines: Tsunami Monitoring and Quake Hoax
Following the strong earthquake that rocked Japan, a tsunami alert was issued in 19 coastal provinces of the Philippines. #Batanes and #Samar became global trending twitter topics. Batanes refers to the northern province of the country while Samar refers to the false report that an earthquake hit the Samar province
Maldives: Fostering Extremist Ideas
Hassan Ziyau is not happy with Maldive's efforts to suppress extremist ideas where “hate preachers continue with hate mongering and brain washing the youth”.
Trinidad & Tobago: Pacific Tsunami Warning
“Just days after the morning of March 7 2011 when the costume, “Pacific Tsunami” won the 2011 King of Carnival title at the Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain…an 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit Japan's northeastern Honshu Island…and a six-meter tsunami warning was issued”: Guanaguanare says it's a case of...
Haiti: At the Intersection
Throwing Down the Water witnesses a scene which reminds her that “we contain infinite possibilities. And that if we accept the excuses most easily available to us, we are selling ourselves – and the world – short.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Carnival Excess
Plain Talk thinks that this year's Carnival celebrations will be remembered “not for elevating as a nation and rising as a people, but for demonstrating what greed does to human nature in its most base and unattractive form…”
Cuba: The Release List
The Cuban Triangle has the list of the most recent Cuban prisoner releases.
Cuba: Brother of Hunger Striker Detained
“The joy of the announcement Thursday evening that Cuban prisoner of conscience Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet was about to be released from jail, was tempered by the news that another dissident, Rolando Rodríguez Lobaina had been arrested”: Uncommon Sense has the details.
Bhutan: Verdict On Raising Taxes
The Supreme Court of Bhutan has made a landmark verdict ruling that the government violated the Constitution by raising taxes without seeking the Parliament’s approval. Tshering Tobgay has more.
India: Euthanasia Debate Re-kindled
The Indian blogosphere is buzzing with mixed emotions after the Supreme Court of India rejected the mercy killing petition filed by journalist Pinki Virani on behalf of Aruna Shanbaug who has been cared for and kept alive for 37years at the KEM hospital, Mumbai, India. Conversations abound on blogs, forums, comments on published news posts, Twitter and Facebook.
International Solidarity Campaign: the “Acqua for life challenge”
“The Acqua for Life project aims to provide tens of millions of litres of clean water to the communities who most need it. The operation is due to start in Ghana and will support the Smart Water for Green Schools project. In this west African country, almost 40% of the...
Japan: Tsunami Strikes Coast, Leaves Nothing in Wake
Following the country's largest earthquake in recorded history, Japan is being hit by it's most ferocious tsunami. People across the country are glued to their TV screens as scenes of a tsunami measuring more than 7 meters in height sweeping away cars and buildings flashes across the news.
Cuba: “Could Cuba become the next Egypt?”
The popular uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa have members of the Cuban blogosphere wondering: could Cuba become “the next Egypt”? Although reports and footage from Cairo inspired many posts devoted to this question, few bloggers were optimistic that a similar movement could take hold in Cuba today.
Japan: Tweets From Lviv, Ukraine
Ukraine-based @hiranotakaci (Hirano Takaci) tweeted this (UKR) and this (UKR) a while ago: “As for the earthquake in Japan, it's chaos in my feeds now. No gas and electricity, fill bathtubs with water, metro trains aren't running. Don't go to the coast. […] Announcements that trains and metro won't be...
Japan: In Tokyo after the Earthquake
This post is part of our special coverage Japan Earthquake 2011. On Friday, March 11, 2011 at 2:46:23 p.m. local time, an 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck Japan, the largest in recorded history. It's been more than 5 hours since the earthquake hit, and many Tokyoites are still trying to get home...
