Stories from 9 May 2011
Cuba: Low Birth Rates
“What is the problem of low birth rates? That soon there will be very few working age people to maintain many old people. Well, let's try and solve this,” says Rogelio Díaz Moreno in Bubusopía [es] regarding the decrease in birth rates in Cuba.
China: Death of Bin Laden and the Clash of Civilizations
In the early 1990s, political scientist Samuel Huntington put forward the clash of civilizations theory that the fundamental source of conflict in the post-Cold War world will be cultural. Two Chinese writers examine the implications of the death of Osama Bin Laden on Sino-US relations, through the lens of the clash of civilizations.
Cuba: Osama Bin Laden's Death
Journalist and blogger Vladia Rubio comments on United States politics [es] and the death of Osama Bin Laden.
Russia: Victory Day and Politics
Blogger Dmitry Sokolov-Mitrich recollects [ru] his feelings over the media coverage of the Victory Day. Due to over-politicisation and excessive advertisement through the media, the feeling of the national unity of the holiday faints, blogger claims. “I will not watch the parade this year, even on TV. But I will...
Cuba: Remembering Martí
Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo reflects [es] on the figure of José Martí, considered the founder of the Cuban Republic.
Russia: Photos and Videos of the Victory Day Parade
Blogger polyakovv publishes [ru] pictures and videos of the Victory Day Parade, a celebration of the end of the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945 section of the World War II). Twitterers use hashtags #parad [ru], #pobeda [ru], and #9may [ru] to share their pictures and recollections of the holiday.
Ecuador: Voters Back President Correa in 10-Question Referendum
According to the latest results, President Correa's 10 question referendum has passed by a slimmer margin than exit polls first reported. Ecuadorians voted on the 10 questions on Saturday, May 7.
Africa: Drug trafficking and African politics
Ken discusses drug trafficking and African politics. He notes that Kenya, Gambia, Ghana, South Africa, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea have experienced allegations that people high up in government are involved in drug trafficking: “The latest news on this subject is the jailing of Sheryl Cwele, the wife of South Africa’s intelligence minister.”
Ethiopia: In search of genuine musicians
Endalk is in search of genuine music artists in Ethiopia: “Although we had remarkable artists like Tilahun Gessese and Ali Bira singing “political” music way back during the imperial regime in the 1950’s and 1960’ the influence of music on the general public came into the forefront during election 2005...
Ethiopia: Artist finds inspiration in banana plant
Ethiopian blogger Arefe meets Bany Payne (Ras Hailu Tafari), an artist based in Ethiopia who “draws his inspiration from his feelings for land and banana tree which was the chief produce in his home country, St. Vincent, Caribbean Island.”
Colombia: Police Evict 5,400 Squatter Farm Workers
Blueandtanit writes [es] about the eviction of 5,400 homeless farm workers by anti-riot police. The farm workers had occupied farmlands and roads in Urabá (Antioquia department in north western Colombia) early last week. She is concerned about the media coverage of the issue, which treats the squatters as “alleged peasants,”...
Russia: ‘Online Superman’ Navalny Has Bloggers Divided
Alexey Navalny is much more than a blogger. He exploded onto the Russian Internet with scandalous revelations, often against political figures, and quickly grew into the country's "online Superman," fighting what seems to be an unwinnable war against corruption and an army of human bots. Not all bloggers are diehard fans though; many still deeply distrust Navalny.
Portugal: Memory of Political Police Officer on Trial
Three portuguese theatre figures are on court [pt] because of a play about the life of the late Silva Pais [pt], the last director of the repressive police of the dictatorship, PIDE. Bloggers are outraged [pt] with the accusations of Dias’ nephews, who say that the play disrespects their uncle's...
Where the hell is Taiwan
Remember “Where the hell is Matt“? Wu Jian-heng(吳建衡), a young Taiwan backpacker who went on a journey to India-in the costume of deity Nezha, has a similar ambition. His sole wish is to let more people around the world know his country and his trip video has gone viral online recently[English subtitled].
Brazil: Soccer Analysis with Twitcam Tactics
Every Monday at 10 pm (GMT), brazilian journalist Marcelo Costa hosts the Twitcam Tatica event on his blog Esquemas Táticos (Tactical Schemes) [pt] and Twitter (@esquemastaticos). The Twitcam Tatica live sessions are an online space to interactively analyze the main soccer games of the week.
Japan: Holiday in Fukushima
The author of Spike Japan decided to spend last week's national holidays in the Fukushima prefecture. In his latest post he chronicles his journey [en] to the tsunami hit area and its surroundings.
Postscript to Singapore Elections
Singaporeans trooped to the polls last Saturday and re-elected the ruling party which has been in power since 1959. But the opposition also scored some important victories and this generated a lot of reactions in the local blogosphere.
Brazil: Netizens Denounce Bloody Clothing Industry
On May 7, a campaign in Brazil against the killing of animals for the clothing industry [pt] became a trending topic on Twitter with the hashtag #LeLisBlood. After Arezzo Boycott [pt] in mid-April, the company Le Lis Blanc is thus being pressured to stop using rabbit fur in its collection.
