Stories from 1 June 2011
Iran: Women's Rights Activist Dies at Father’s Funeral
Haleh Sahabi, an Iranian woman's rights activist died yesterday morning as a result of rough mishandling by security agents during the funeral of her father, Ezatollah Sahabi, a veteran patriotic political leader.
Chile: How Many Marched Against the Hidroaysén Hydroelectric Station and Why?
Last Saturday, May 28, a new massive protest took into effect against the Hidroaysén hydroelectric project, that unlike other marches, had a festive and familiar atmosphere. What is it that brought so many people to the streets for so many days? And why has Hidroaysén caused such an uproar in all spheres, including social networks?
Egypt: Breaking Red Lines; Speaking Up Against the Military Tribunals
A few months ago, just walking too close to the Military Prosecution Complex in Cairo’s district of Nasr City could have landed you in jail. But on May 31, the area surrounding the complex staged a demonstration in solidarity with OnTV’s presenter Reem Maged, socialist activist and blogger Hossam El Hamalawy, and journalist Nabil Sharaf El Din, who were summoned by the military for comments they have made to the media.
Mexico: Documentary ‘Barrios, Beats, and Blood’
Daniel Hernandez, in his blog Intersections, posts “Barrios, Beats, and Blood”, a shot documentary on the hip-hop scene in Ciudad Juárez which “offers a direct window into the worldview of youth in a U.S.-Mexico border city that is drowning in death”.
El Salvador: 20 Soldiers Indicted for Jesuit Murders
“On Monday, a Spanish court indicted 20 Salvadoran soldiers for their involvement in the murders and subsequent cover-up of six Jesuit priests and their housekeeper and her daughter at the University of Central America in November 1989”: Mike explains the story behind this report in Central American Politics.
China: First ‘Jasmine’ Sentence Handed Down
In China the first of at least eight trials was held today, following a massive crackdown on dissidents which began in February 2011. After dismissing legal activist Li Shuangde's lawyer and switching his trial date, Sichuan authorities have sentenced him to four months in prison on the charge of credit card fraud.
Puerto Rico: The Hipster-ricans in NYC
The New York City-based blog El Punto Es [es] posts the video of the interview of a group of some cool and young Puerto Ricans [es] living in the city, called Hipster-ricans.
Puerto Rico: New Legal Blog
Law professor and blogger Erika Fontánez has launched her most recent digital project, the blog Observando el Derecho: Miradas desde la Teoría Social [es], which will offer in-depth analyses of the law through social theory.
Puerto Rico: Teatro Breve Online
The acclaimed group of artists and comedians “Teatro Breve” has gone digital: twice a week they are live through their new online radio program RadioBreve [es].
Iran: Environmental Blogger Sued by Authorities
Houman Khakpour, an environmental blogger in Iran has been sued by the state run Bureau for Environmental Protection in the Chahrmahal Bakhtyari province, for warning about the the dangers of a gas pipeline project for the regions' environment.
France : Two Moroccan Actresses Turned Away
Two Moroccan actresses, invited to the Cannes Film Festival for Leila Kilani's movie “Sur la planche” [On a Plank]” were turned away at Nice airport on Thursday, May 19. They were authorized to return afterwards. In Morocco, blogger kechmania commented [fr] : “In a perfect world, official apologies would have...
Peru: 2011 Elections: Candidates Tied, Peruvians Divided
The second round of presidential elections in Peru reaches its final leg in the midst of unresolved social conflict and polarization of the electorate that has not only generated public pronouncements but also citizens mobilization, the collection of signatures and public marches against each candidate, the conservative Keiko Fujimori conservative and the nationalist Ollanta Humala.
Kenya: Masai Mara’s Vanishing Animals
What is the future of wildlife species in Masai Mara reserve in Kenya?: “Most wildlife species have declined toward a third or less of their previous abundance within the overall Mara region between 1977 and 2009, with these decreases being almost as severe within the reserve as in the adjoining...
Africa: Following TED Fellows
Emeka follows TED Fellows around Africa: “…Alexandra Graham, cofounder of Lagray Chemicals, the first vertically integrated pharmaceutical manufacturing company in West Africa; Mohammed Bah Abba, innovator behind the pot-in-pot cooling device;Ainea Kimaro, biogas evangelist, whose work has reached from Rwanda to Tanzania; and Segeni Ngethe, founder of Kenyan e-commerce pioneer...
Uganda: Gay Activist Granted Asylum in US
Ugandan gay activist has been granted asylum in the US, Bridgette reports: “Uganda’s “Kill The Gays” Bill may have had a positive effect, if for at least one man. Kushaba Moses Mworeko must now be relieved that he is no longer facing eminent return to Uganda where he faces incarceration...
South Sudan: The Challenges Ahead
Abeje discusses challenges facing South Sudan: “Lack of peace and security in Darfur and Abyei, as well as the presence of Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), and Ethiopian and Eritrean resistance groups in its jurisdiction are few of the major challenges that will defiantly affect relations between South Sudan and its...
Hungary: A Picnic for Democracy
Authors of Kettős Mérce (“Double Standard”) blog held a ‘picnic for democracy‘ [hu] last Sunday in the capital of Hungary. They also shared a video from the event, which was organized in solidarity with the recent protests in Spain.
Russia: Exposing the Private Side of Lawlessness
Will Partlett writes about young Russian activists who, with the help of a digital camera and a copy of the applicable law, have exposed the private side to the arbitrary exercise of power in Russia.
Russia: Civic Activists Launch ‘Anti-Seliger,’ Open Air Civil Society Forum
Alexey Navalny and Yevgenia Chirikova, famous civic (and digital) activists published [ru] a video-invitation to Anti-Seliger (reference to the annual event organized at Lake Seliger by pro-Kremlin youth movement “Nashi”). Anti-Seliger website [ru] describes itself as a festival of artists, bloggers, environmentalists, human rights defenders and promises 4 days of...
North Korea Tweeting Back at South Korean Governor's Criticism
South Korean politician and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, Kim Moon-Soo harshly accused North Korea of the regime's 3rd generation succession and its reclusive policies in a conference in Beijing, China. North Korean Twitter @uriminzok fired back at Kim, calling his comment ‘a reckless remark’. South Korea's citizen/blogger news, Wiki Tree...
China: Another Self-immolation over Forced Eviction
DJH from China SMACK translated a local report and netizens’ response on another forced eviction and demolition self-immolation incident in Zhuzhou, Hunan province.
