Stories from 25 March 2011
Uganda: Anti-Gay Bill Finally Dead?
David Badash wonders whether Uganda's “Kill the Gays” bill, internationally-denounced legislation that would have prescribed all Ugandan gays to be put in jail for life, would have required reporting to the government anyone suspected of being homosexual within 24 hour, is finally dead.
Yemen: Crowds Call for Saleh to Step Down in Sanaa
Thousands of protesters have gathered in Change Square, in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, to call on President Ali Abdulla Saleh to step down. The protests are going strong in what is being described as The Friday of Departure and the army has reportedly fired gunshots in the air to stop pro-regime protesters from clashing with pro-democracy demonstrators. Here are some reactions from Twitter.
Jordan: #March24 Protest Camp in Amman
Hundreds of pro-democracy Jordanians, mostly students and young people, gathered to protest at the Dakhliyeh Circle (Ministry of Interior Circle) in Amman on March 24, 2011. Demands from the protestors included the dissolution of parliament, a new representative election law, the dismantling of the General Intelligence Department, and the removal of Prime Minister Marouf Al Bakhit.
Myanmar: Photos of Earthquake Disaster
A 6.8 earthquake hit northeast Myanmar on the evening of Thursday 24 March, 2011, which was felt in nearby Thailand and as far away as Vietnam and China. The quake killed at least 70 people and destroyed more than 240 buildings in Myanmar alone but casualties could be higher. In Tachilek town, coffins were sold out hours after the quake.
Global Voices’ translator: Jean Saint-Dizier
Jean Saint-Dizier, aka "Juan", is a volunteer translator for Global Voices in French. Madly in love with Brazil, his second homeland, and with Portuguese, Juan translates from Portuguese to French every post about Brazil published on Global Voices because "Brazil is a chance for the world, and I want to share it".
Brazil/Argentina: LGBT advocates repudiate death threats
The Federación Argentina LGBT (Lesbian Gay Transexual and Transgender Federation of Argentina) repudiates [es] the death threats addressed to the federal deputy Jean Wyllys – the first assumed homossexual to enter the Brazilian Parliament.
Brazil: Racism against Federal Judge
Blogger Renato Rovai regrets [pt] that Júlio Campos [pt] – a Federal Deputy from the Brazilian Democratas right wing party- has referred to the Minister of the Supreme Federal Court, Joaquim Barbosa, as the “dark brown of the Supreme”. Campos later apologized [pt] for what were considered racist words.
U.S. Embassy in Uganda Gets Social
The United States Embassy in Uganda is now active in the social media sphere, providing updates on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. In a speech launching the initiative, Ambassador Jerry Lanier also recognized social media as a new battlefield in the war for free speech.
Portugal: Esoteric analysis to Prime Minister's resignation
The astrologer and author of the blog Cova do Urso (Bear's Cave), Antonio Rosa, frames the political crisis in Portugal – triggered by the resignation of Prime Minister Jose Socrates on March 24 – through the analysis of his astrological chart [pt].
Ukraine: Myroslava Gongadze on Media Freedom
Viktor Kovalenko writes about the views of Myroslava Gongadze – who is the widow of the slain Ukrainian journalist Georgiy Gongadze – on the freedom of the press and other issues in Ukraine.
El Salvador: Citizen Reactions to Obama's Visit
The visit of the President of the United States, Barack Obama, has sparked comments in favor and against his trip among Salvadoreans. The visit has also stirred up a heated debate on the Salvadoran blogosphere.
