Stories from 26 April 2011
Russia: Regions Reduce Digital Divide
More than 90 percent of new users are not from Moscow or Saint-Petersburg, Yandex regional Internet development report says [ru]. Authors note a significant increase in Internet use nation-wide, 30-60 percent decrease in broadband prices, 10 percent raise of everyday user share. The report, quite optimistically forecasts that country's Internet...
Portugal: Employment and Social Inclusion for the Physically Disabled
On the blog 52 Histórias (52 Stories) [pt], journalist Lúcia Crespo writes about Aristides Santos, a portuguese social entrepreneur who has been fighting against social exclusion through a business he created in 1995 to employ the physically disabled people.
Afghanistan: Opium production for 2011 set to rise
Nick Fielding reports that opium production in Afghanistan for 2011 is likely to increase, although overall cultivation for the entire country is expected to decrease slightly.
Tajikistan: Women between a rock and a hard place
Christya Riedel writes about gender issues in Tajikistan and about difficulties that women are facing there – rules for weddings, violence, denied property rights after a divorce.
Bahrain: Khobiz United
Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif shares a video showing how khobiz – a local bread – unites Bahrainis.
Bahrain: Mobile Phone Paranoia
Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif writes about paranoia and mobile phones. Is the worry about mobile phone invading privacy warranted? Read the post to find out more.
Palestine: Survey for Netizens
A survey (Ar) is available for Palestinian netizen to update their information, for the Amin Media Network. Questions on the survey include: location; age; blogging language; and favourite citizen media platform.
Syria: Defamation Campaign Against Human Rights Activist
From Syria, human rights activist Wissam Tarif tweets: “Sorry guys but I had problems with my twitter account, email, and website. And a defamation (hate) campaign in #Syria”
Armenia-Turkey: Suffering on both sides
Journalist in Turkey comments on the anniversary of the 1915 massacre and deportation of ethnic Armenians in Ottoman Turkey and says that it was commemorated for the second time in Istanbul this year. It also criticizes the approach taken by activists in the Armenian Diaspora towards the WWI events which...
Azerbaijan: Talysh socks
The Labors of Other Men posts photographs of Talysh socks, traditional woolen footwear that can be ordered online in order to support community development in and around the southern Azerbaijani city of Lankaran.
North Korea: Three Films Denouncing Kim Jong-il Regime
Three films which give a rare glimpse inside the North Korea have been introduced during the North Korea Freedom Week, an annual event jointly held in Seoul and Washington hosting lectures and film screenings focusing human rights abuses in the North. Mike Paarlberg posted a detailed introduction to the films in...
Argentina: Bloggers Discuss Inflation
Inflation has long been a subject of controversy in Argentina, and as such is a recurring topic for discussion among bloggers. As an important political issue, it is expected to be one of the main themes debated during the presidential race next October.
