Stories from 20 May 2011
Australia: Journalist Arrest Over Facebook Photo
Australian journalist arrested and iPad seized! No it’s not Julian Assange. But Ben Grubb’s brief encounter with Queensland authorities raised several serious cyber issues including social media privacy and security, police powers of arrest and confiscation of digital devices, plus journalists’ rights.
India: A Day In The Life Of A Beggar
Vanillasense recreates a day in the life of a beggar in India.
Nepal: Dhaka Topi, The National Identity
XNepali at Nepal Blogs writes about Dhaka Topi, an unique cap worn by many Nepalis which is considered as a national identity.
Sri Lanka: Transparency Regarding ‘Boot Camp’ For Youth
Serendipity discusses about the issues surrounding the latest “Boot Camp” initiative for A level students in Sri Lanka, which is an in house 3 week course at an army camp. The actual program and plan has not been publicized leaving scope for speculations and rumors.
Bhutan: Another Royal Wedding
Bhutanese Member of Parliament Sangay Khandu informs in a blog post about the royal address of His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (31), in which he declared his wedding with Jetsun Pema.
Bulgaria: Right-Wing Group and Muslims Clash in Sofia
Ruslan Trad reports on the violent clashes that erupted in Sofia during today's nationalist rally against a mosque's loudspeakers, between sympathizers of the nationalist Ataka party and local Muslims.
Portugal: Uncovering Transparency in Parliament
With the backdrop of prolonged economic crisis, which contaminates social and political life, portuguese citizens demand for public governance transparency. Today an important step was taken in this direction, with the launching of Demo.Cratica, a website that lets you learn about portuguese MPs and all their discussions in the parliament.
Africa: Will Land Grab Help Africa?
Ken argues that the latest land grab in Africa might help the continent: “This latest land grab on the continent maybe the catalyst of an African green revolution. Most African governments gave up on non cash-crop agriculture in the 1970s. Some, like Nigeria, abandoned agriculture wholesale and quickly became a...
Africa: African Cartoonist Top Somalia Cartoon competition
African cartoonists win cartoon competition: “Cartoonists either based in or originally from Africa have made a clean sweep of the prizes on offer during the inaugural edition of the Hadaf Somalia International Cartoon Competition. The competition was organized by the Association of East African Cartoonists (KATUNI).”
Uganda/Kenya: Anti Kenya Airways campaign bound to fail
Will anti Kenya Airways campaign on Facebook succeed?: “…a group of Uganda’s opposition activists has now resorted to creating a Facebook page ‘Boycott Kenya Airways 4 Violanting(sic) Dr. Kiiza Besigye’s rights’.”
Spain: “Yes We Camp,” Mobilizing on the Streets and the Internet
Since May 15, people in Spain have taken the streets to demand democracy in advance to the upcoming elections, with thousands camping out in cities across the country. Protesters and supporters are organizing in decentralized and horizontal networks, and employing social media tools to share and spread information, tell their stories, and collaborate on ideas, proposals and initiatives.
Cuba: Reforms vs. Reality
Laritza Diversent looks at some of the impending changes coming out of the Communist Party Congress, but says: “There is far too much optimism towards the announced changes made by the PCC. Freedom and permission are not synonymous.”
Bahamas: Help with Crime?
“Mr Dwayne Cartwright, an employee of the Department of Environmental Health has been murdered by senseless thugs that are running wild on our streets”: Jerome Pinder at Weblog Bahamas wonders if the country is at the stage of needing “outside assistance”.
Brazil: Future of Forests at Stake
Across the past few weeks, the Brazilian National Congress has been abuzz with the pressure to vote on a new Forestry Code. The project based on proposed changes of the existing Code is backed by a coalition of Deputies of the so-called “Ruralist Front”. Environmentalists have mobilized against the new Code, and scientists demand more time to analyze the project.
Cuba: Musings on the Sixth Congress
Laritza's Laws blogs about “the trap of socialist democracy”, while Octavo Cerco says that “after the close of the Sixth Congress of the Communist Party…the only point on the official agenda that seems to be right on the mark is the repression of the alternative groups that have been growing...
Jamaica: A Lucky Poem
Litblogger Geoffrey Philp posts a poem by diaspora writer Shara McCallum.
Cuba: Pastor Speaks Out
Dissident Juan Wilfredo Soto García‘s pastor has a blog and is using it to “raise [his] voice for Juan Wilfredo.”
North Korea: Has Idolization of Kim Jong-Un Failed?
Whilst North Korean regime tries hard to apotheosize Kim Jong-un, report came out today claiming that most ordinary North Korean has no interest to the heir. The Free Radio for North Korea which founded and runs by defectors revealed [ko] that most low-level soldiers are unaware of the new dictator,...
Armenia: Royal visit to Ireland as an example for the Caucasus
Writing on his official blog, Charles Lonsdale comments on this week's historic visit by the Queen to the Republic of Ireland. The Ambassador to Armenia for the United Kingdom says that even if the conflicts in the South Caucasus are different, the visit shows that “even long-running and seemingly intractable...
Azerbaijan: Manatvision
Global Voices author Leyla Najafli posts an English translation of a blog post commenting on Azerbaijan's victory in last weekend's Eurovision Song Contest. Playing with the name of the local currency and Eurovision, the blogger disagrees with the general euphoria otherwise displayed by many of the blogger's fellow countrymen.
Ghana: Start-up Helps You to Share and Discover the Best
Gamelmag writes about a Ghanaian start-up Tutamee: “Formed in mid 2010, Tutamee officially launched the alpha version of its website (http://tutamee.com/) on 27th April 2011. The co-founders of the company are Ghanaian entrepreneurs Mawuli Sikanku, Eugene Idan and Francis Bernasko. Tutamee received seed funding from the Meltwater Foundation.”
