Stories from 5 May 2011
Cuba: Return Prohibited for U.S. Professor and Blogger
Ted Henken, professor at Baruch College at the City University of New York, a well-versed blogger in the Cuban blogosphere, has been informed by authorities from the Department of Security of the State of Cuba that he will not be returning to the island. Over the course of his 12 day stay, Henken interviewed over 40 bloggers for an investigation about blogs and the Internet in Cuba.
Guatemala: Wildfires and Illegal Logging
Blogger Sakis writes [es] about the effects of wildfires and illegal logging in Guatemala. He also posts pictures of a forest that has been cut down.
Haiti: Cholera as the Last Straw
Toussaint on Haiti says that although he sees the merits of the United Nations, “in the case of Haiti, they are causing more harm than good. Whether it's in providing support in running elections or with earthquake reconstruction the UN comes across as a bloated, inefficient organization that's often out...
Iran: 71 year old Bahai prisoner humiliated
Several blogs such as Khabarnavard reported Vajihollah Mirza Golpour, a 71-year old Bahai resident of Safar Abad Village outside Sari in the province of Mazandaran,was made to walk ankle-cuffed all around the town of Tonekabon. Read more here.
Colombia: The Vallenato Legend Festival
Vallenato is one of the most popular and representative music genres in Colombia. There is a whole culture around Vallenato, and the city of Valledupar is paralyzed by the Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata (Vallenato Legend Festival), a festival that takes place during late April.
Russia: Bureaucracy and corruption
Sean's Russia Blog presents reflections on Russian bureaucracy and corruption from current and historical perspectives.
Japan: Sanka, Legendary Gypsies Living in the Wild
A documentary has recently revived interest in the existence of the 'Sanka', a group of people who are said to have lived in the remote mountains and plains of the Japanese archipelago until the 1970s. Some bloggers have speculated on the origins of these legendary nomads.
Haiti, U.S.A.: Communication & Power
Throwing Down the Water wonders about the meaning behind the fact that Osama bin Laden’s capture was tweeted, saying: “It is still a victor-led world. History is still being written by those in power. The difference is that the victor knows it and so must…be ever so slightly more accountable...
Puerto Rico, U.S.A.: Bin Laden Blunder
Liza at Culture Kitchen examines the Geronimo mission “Situation Room photograph”, calling it “the ‘Uh-oh Moment'”.
Cuba: About Those “Reasons”
“Taking another look at ‘The Reasons of Cuba’, I reach the conclusion that Raul Castro is making way for the inevitable- the transition”: Cuban Voices from Exile explains.
Haiti: Interview with Suki Guerrier
AfriClassical interviews Haitian-American pianist Suki Guerrier.
Bermuda: Cricket Historian Passes On
Breezeblog mourns the passing of “lifelong cricket lover and historian of the local game…Tommy Aitchison”.
Mexico Prepares for Massive National Protest on May 8
Next Sunday May 8, 2011, Mexican citizens will march to demand the end of the "War on Drugs." Thirty one cities in Mexico, in nearly all its states, have already scheduled protests. International cities like Berlin, London, Hamburg, Río de Janeiro, New York, Montreal and Barcelona are also participating.
Cote d'Ivoire: An Aid Worker Diary
Oxfam aid worker, Charles Bambara, describes his journey through war-torn Côte d'Ivoire, visiting communities of displaced people. He says people are in urgent need of food and sanitation in overcrowded shelters.
China: Opinion Poll on Bin Laden's Death
C Custer from ChinaGeek translates an opinion poll on Chinese netizens’ reaction to Bin Laden's death.
China: Chengdu Zebra Music Festival
Charlie from Chengdu Living posts some photos on the third annual Zebra Music Festival in Chengdu.
Greece: Arab Cyberactivists To Speak About Networked Uprisings
Global Voices authors Tarek Amr and Lina Ben Mhenni, as well as the administrator of Tunisian group blog Nawaat, Malek Khadraoui, will be speaking in Athens on May 7, 2011 about the Arab revolutions and online censorship, in an event [el] organized by Greek political zines re-public and konteiner. Nawaat is the...
Kyrgyzstan: Osama Bin Laden Dies, Bloggers React
In the wake of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York, the remote Central Asian state of Kyrgyzstan proved itself a key ally in the United States-led war on terror. Washington's presence in the country has often been viewed ambiguously. It comes as no surprise then, that the death of Osama Bin Laden, the popularly assumed mastermind of the attacks, was treated by many Kyrgyz bloggers - and some politicians - with a sense of apathy and even cynicism.
Brazil: Interview to a 10 Year Old Blogger
The young brazilian blogger Aninha Zortea [Pt], only 10 years of age, was interviewed [Pt] by journalist Luiz Carlos Azenha after commenting on his blog Viomundo [Pt]. She created her blog after her father, Luigi Zortea, died on Air France's flight AF 447 that fell on the Atlantic ocean in...
