Stories from 6 May 2011
Palestine: Demonstrations Against Occupation, For Unity
In the last several years, West Bank Palestinian villages have seen their land claimed both by Jewish settlements in the West Bank and by the security wall erected by Israel. In villages such as Nabi Saleh, Bi'lin and Ni'lin, village residents have responded by holding weekly nonviolent protests. The week after Hamas and Fatah inked their unity agreement was no exception.
Greece: Documentary Film “Debtocracy” Available in English
Debtocracy, a documentary by Katerina Kitidi and Aris Hatzistefanou about the causes and possible solutions of the Greek debt crisis, can be viewed with the English subtitles beginning today. It's...
Tunisia: Police Brutality is Back
Tunisians are back on the streets calling for the overthrow of the government, after former Interior Minister Farhat Rajhi announced on Facebook that Tunisia continues to be run by a shadow government, headed by a friend of Ben Ali, Kamel Ltaief, among other things. And once again, protesters were faced with police brutality and repression.
Ecuador: The 10 Questions Ecuadorians Will Vote On
Just the Facts provides an English translation –and explanatory notes– of the 10 questions Ecuadorians will be voting on tomorrow, May 7: “Polls indicate that while awareness of the questions...
Guyana: Chanderpaul & the WICB
WICB Expose says that “Shivnarine Chanderpaul is just the latest in a long line of great West Indies cricketers to be mistreated by the West Indies Cricket Board” and links...
Cuba: Torture Tactic
Uncommon Sense blogs about how the authorities “have responded to Andy Frometa Cuenca, a political prisoner on hunger strike since April 16 to demand his release and that of all...
Trinidad & Tobago: Time for Land Use Policy
Plain Talk calls for reason in the ongoing battle between local farmers and the Housing Development Corporation, saying, “I have called for a land use policy from this government and...
Trinidad & Tobago: Valley Dies
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog reports that “former government minister and People’s National Movement (PNM) stalwart, Kenneth Valley died this morning.”
Cuba: Proper Care for HIV+ Mother
Pedazos de La Isla reports that the Orlando Zapata Tamayo National Resistance Front has publicly requested – and since received – proper medical service and housing conditions for an HIV-positive...
Syria: Reports of Telecom Disruptions as Protests Rage
Twitter users in Syria are reporting that mobile internet telecommunications have been disrupted today, as protests continued across the country. Some also report that landlines and electricity have been disconnected in different areas.
Sub-Saharan Africa: Surge in Use of Mobile Phones
André-Michel Essoungou writes the following on the site reseautelecom.com: “According to the ITU [International Telecommunication Union], investments in the African mobile phone sector, the prime mover of information and communication...
Tunisia: Blog Declines Award Sponsored by Bahrain Government
Award-winning Tunisian blog Nawaat, which has been instrumental in reporting the Tunisian Revolution, has declined the Arab eContent award, in protest against the Bahraini government's censorship policy and violations of human rights. The Arab eContent event is both organised and sponsored by the Bahrain government.
Africa: Osama's Death: How the Letter O Helped Obama
African netizens react to the news of Osama's death: Kenyan blogger Clay Onyango comes up with his take on why Osama was killed by the United States administration, while Crazy Nairobian explains what would have happened if Osama had been killed by a movie hero such as Arnold Schwarzenegger or Bruce Lee.
Jordan: “Bring Raad Home” from Syria
Momentum is building up online to pressure the Syrian authorities to release Jordanian Raad Kawar, who has been held since April 19. The 26-year-old was in Syria returning by car from vacation in Beirut to Fuheis, Jordan, where he lives, when he was arrested. Find out what relatives and friends are doing online to push for his freedom.
Russia: Problematic leniency towards corruption
LJ user SPbChel discusses [RU] governmental leniency towards corrupt officials as explanation of the failure of Russia's anti-corruption campaign.
Azerbaijan: Clashes during hijab ban protest
Tamada Tales comments on reports that a protest held to oppose a ban on the hijab in schools today ended in clashes with police. The blog notes the official line...
Russia: Individual political funding
Vladimir Kara-Murza at World Affairs writes about the rise of individual citizen contributions to oppositional parties and organizations, and how the interests holding power in Russia relate and react to...
Kuwait: In Love with Osama Bin Laden
Kuwaiti columnist Khulood Al-Khamis has declared her undying love to terror mastermind Osama Bin Laden, saying she looks forward to being united with him in heaven to live out her dreams. On Twitter, Kuwaitis express shock at her column and Al-Khamis' sentiments.
Poland: Pre-war functionalism
Michael Dembinski of W-wa Jeziorki discusses pre-World War II functionalistic architecture in Warzaw and posts pictures to illustrate.
Japan: Tarō Okamoto's Mural Hijacked
Displayed in Tokyo's Shibuya Station, the mural “Myth of Tomorrow” by Tarō Okamoto depicts the atomic bombing in Hiroshima. Upowers2008 posted a video of the mural after it mysteriously “gained”...
Mexico: Day 1 of Peaceful Protest Against Drug War Violence
On Thursday May 5, 2011, a national protest (#marchanacional on Twitter) kicked off in Cuernavaca, Morelos, a city 80 kilometers (around 50 miles) away from Mexico City. The participants en route to the capital in a peaceful walk will be received on Sunday, May 8, with a massive peaceful demonstration against the violence generated by the War on Drugs.
