Stories from 5 June 2011
Cuba: Backlash?
Blogger and gay activist Francisco Cruz Rodríguez questions whether recent op-eds [es] defining marriage as uniquely between a man and a woman, published in the two state-run nationally distributed newspapers Granma [es] and Juventud Rebelde [es], might be in reaction to the IV Cuban Conference Against Homophobia recently held in...
Dominican Republic: “Selective Intolerance”
Journalist and blogger María Isabel Soldevila is outraged [es] by how people have reacted to a photo of a newlywed gay couple kissing, published in the front page of the newspaper Listín Diario [es], while they remain apathetic to issues that are seriously troubling the country.
Cuba: New Podcast About Movies
Rafa of the blog El Microwave [es] announces the launching [es] of the podcast Cinefilia [es], in which he will explore the world of cinema with fellow blogger Javier [es].
Georgia: Sharon Stone Seducing the Nation
The most popular topic for discussion on social networks, as well as by the online and traditional media, this weekend was the premiere of Renny Harlin's movie about the 2008 Georgia-Russia war. However, the most important guest invited for the premiere was Hollywood actress Sharon Stone.
Afghanistan: Assessing recent negotiations with Taliban
Nick Fielding opines on the state of negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government, reviewing a report by the New America Foundation.
Uzbekistan: A clothing manufacturer boycotts Uzbek practice of child labor
Avicenna reports that following a campaign against the use of forced child labor in Uzbekistan's cotton fields, Gymboree, the children’s clothing manufacturer, became the latest company to take a stand by refusing to buy cotton from this Central Asian country.
Uzbekistan: Tashkent undergoes a dismantling pandemia
One of the most discussed topics in Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan, is the local authorities’ decision to “dismantle” large portions of the city without providing any explanations to the residents. Samira reports with exclusive on-the-ground photographs.
Turkmenistan: Facebook group plotting the overthrow of government
Annasoltan has discovered a Facebook group openly calling for the overthrow of the Turkmen government via Arab Spring-style tactics.
Uzbekistan: Human rights activist sentenced to 5 year in prison
Avicenna reports that Uzbek human rights activist and journalist Tursunbek Turazoda has been sentenced to five years of prison term after he had been charged with swindling and turned in to police by his close friend.
Uzbekistan: A Dissident Poet Released
Noah Tucker writes that the Uzbekistan authorities released Yusuf Juma, the poet and activist who was jailed for slander in 2008 after publishing a series of poems related to the 2005 Andijon protests.
Uzbekistan: Presidential daughter's suit against journalists backfires
Nathan Hamm informs his readers that the effort of Lola Karimova, daughter of the Uzbekistan president, to punish an online French magazine for calling her father a dictator is now playing against her image.
Afghanistan: Border War Expands
Joshua Foust says that Pakistan and Afghanistan are engaged in a low-level border conflict with militants crossing the border to attack both militaries as well.
Afghanistan: Contractor Mistreatment
Joshua Foust writes about the workers, employed in Afghanistan to different service businesses, and the bad conditions they face, including food riots, sexual abuse, appalling living conditions, and recruitment fraud.
Ghana: 5 Reasons Why Ghana is the Next African App Powerhouse
Andrew explains why Ghana is the next African app powerhouse: “Ghanian developers seem to be bucking the trend by producing a stream of apps that are not to be sustained by aid but by paying clients or paid downloads.”
South Africa: The Ideology of the Democratic Alliance
Sean posts a piece on the politics of the South African opposition party, the Democratic Alliance written by Jane Duncan (a journalism professor at Rhodes University): “The DA under the leadership of Helen Zille is a political phenomenon. It is winning more hearts and minds, including in working class communities...
Tanzania: Opposition MP Tweets His Arrest
Zitto Kabwe, a Tanzanian Member of Parliament from the opposition party Chadema, was arrested on June 4 in Central Tanzania soon after holding a public rally. As he was taken into police custody, the MP used his mobile phone to tweet the arrest to his 1,640 followers who retweeted, sympathised and tweeted back messages of encouragement.
Macedonia: Online Guide to Parliamentary Elections 2011
Early parliamentary elections are taking place in the Republic of Macedonia right now. Filip Stojanovski reviews election-related resources available to Macedonian voters online.
Slovakia: The People Vs. the Census
Tibor Blazko writes about problems with Slovakia's 2011 Population and Housing Census, which took place in Slovakia on May 21, 2011. Issues include people's unwillingness to fill out complex forms and the reportedly high cost of the census.
Hong Kong and China: The 22nd Anniversary of June 4th Massacre
Charles Mok posts a set of photos on the candle vigil in Victoria Park, Hong Kong for commemorating the 22nd Anniversary of the June 4th Massacre in Beijing.
Tunisia: Official Arrested for Criticizing Interior Ministry
Samir Feriani, a senior official in the Interior Ministry, was forcibly arrested by the police and taken into a military barracks in Tunisia on May 29. Days earlier, he had published in “Al-Khabeer” magazine two letters addressed to the Tunisian people, in which he criticized the recruitment policy of the ministry.
China: Chengdu Zoo Rehearses Escaped “Tiger” Response
Fauna from ChinaSMACK translates a local news story and netizens’ responses on the escaped “Tiger” rehearsal of Chengdu Zoo. The rehearsal is quite entertaining.
