Stories from June, 2011
Azerbaijan: Doubts reportedly linger about Eurovision 2012
The Oikotimes, a major Eurovision blog, says that it is still uncertain whether the European Broadcast Union (EBU) is convinced Azerbaijan can host next year's competition. The blog says that it takes more than the oil-rich former Soviet republic spending €100m to do so.
Belarus: Report from Another Non-Violent Protest Event
Belarus Partizan publishes [ru] a detailed report (with photos and videos) on another non-violent protest action (#2906v1900 [ru/by]) in Belarus that took place on June 29, 2011. Police assisted by 3 buses of civilian police helpers (‘druzhinnik‘) and 2 BTRs detained nearly 100 participants. The next action organized by the net-based “Future...
China: Recycling sewage oil
A video showing how industrial and sewage oil is recycled in a dirty workshop in China. (via Sina Video Weibo)
China: Major Websites Go Red for Communist Party’s 90th Anniversary
Steven Millward from Penn Olson notices that major Chinese websites and portals are “going red” for celebrating the Communist Party's 90th Anniversary.
China: Local government budget, land seizure and social unrest
C. Custer from China Geeks explains the relation between local governments’ budget, forced demolition and social unrest in China. To pay back the 1.6 trillion debt, the blogger anticipates a new wave of social unrest approaching.
China: Fake Propaganda Photo
Roland Soong translates a local news story about netizens’ spoofing of a fake propaganda photo which showed the leaders of a county in Sichuan County inspecting the newly constructed country road at Lihong Town.
Japan: Uncanny Terrain, a documentary on Fukushima farmers
Filmmakers Junko Kajino and Ed M. Koziarski have been working on a documentary about the organic farmers of the Fukushima Prefecture. The film titled Uncanny Terrain will examine “the impact of the nuclear disaster on the farmers, their land, the food they produce, and their customers.” At the homonymous blog...
Japan: Real Voices, Real Japan
An Enligh-language website called Real Voices, Real Japan documents “the business environment and recovery in post-quake Japan.” Its purpose is to “keep foreign business communities up to date on the Japanese recovery and enables decision-making based on accurate, locally-sourced information.”
India: The Future of Wikipedia
Wikipedia celebrated its tenth anniversary this year, and almost 100 cities and towns in India registered to host celebrations, the highest number of any country. This year the Wikimedia Foundation will open its first office outside the United States, in an Indian city as yet to be announced. Global Voices has spoken to Tinu Cherian, an active Wikipedian, about Wikipedia in India.
Bangladesh: Exploring The Architecture Of Mud Houses
Jennifer Grosso, an architect student, explored a village near the famous Sundarban mangrove forest to learn about the Bangladeshi mud built homestead. Here is what she found out.
India: Innocents Being Killed By BSF
Anshul Tewari at Youth Ki Awaaz highlights some examples which shows that innocents are being killed at will by Indian Border Security Force. The blogger opines that the Ministry of Home Affairs should intervene.
India: Shooting The Messenger?
The Prime Minister Of India Manmohan Singh has commented on the Indian media “the role of the media in many cases has become that of the accuser, the prosecutor and the judge”. Sans Serif asks “is he barking up the wrong tree by shooting the messenger?”
Bhutan: Are Reality Shows Real?
Sogyel Tobgyel wonders whether reality shows in Bhutanese media are real.
Macedonia: Spin of the Day
The blog Spin of the Day [mk] documents various attempts to taint the protests against police brutality by the Macedonian government officials and their media handlers.
Macedonia: Taboo on Protesting Against Police Brutality
Ribaro wrote [mk] that public figures and music “stars” of Macedonia act as if the protests against police brutality are taboo, evidenced by their lack of participation offline and online. Later he reported [mk] that immediately after tweeting about this article, 17 Twitter users unfollowed him (according to FriendorFollow.com).
Azerbaijan: Freedom of Eurovision, including for Armenians
Unzipped: Gay Armenia comments on news from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) that it expects Azerbaijan to allow all accredited individuals and ticket holders for next year's Eurovision Song Contest in Baku unfettered entry into the country with firm guarantees for their security. The blog notes that yesterday, for example,...
Honduras: Zelaya Supporters March on Two-Year Anniversary of Coup
June 28, 2011 marked the two year anniversary of the coup that removed Manuel Zelaya from office in Honduras. Adrienne Pine participated with “a group of about 500 people” in a march along “half the length of the side of Palmerola [Air Base] […] around 7km”.
Swziland: AFP Correspondent Phone Bugged
AFP correspondent in Swaziland says her phone is bugged: “At first I believed it must be some kind of mix up at the phone company. People who tried calling me when my phone was off told me they got through to someone else who said not to worry he would...
Filipinos Commemorate Jose Rizal's 150th birthday
Jose Rizal is the Philippines' national hero and one of the first Asian leaders and intellectuals who advocated freedom from colonial rule through peaceful means in late 19th century. His 150th birth anniversary this month was a huge celebration in the country. Netizens actively discussed his rich legacy and continuing relevance.
Malawi: Malawi News Go Mobile
Malawi news go mobile: “Just this week [post was written June 17, 2011], Malawi's leading publishing house, BNL Times, publishers of the Daily Times, Malawi News, Sunday Times and Weekend Times inconjuction with TalkAWE announced that it will soon launch an initiative to bring breaking news on your mobile phones.
Egypt: The Battle of Tahrir Rages
Mayhem broke out at Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the Egyptian revolution, last night and spilled into today. Various accounts are circulating online on what really happened and how events escalated, all involving the families of the martyrs killed during the protests - and their call for justice, protesters, thugs and battles with the police. Reports speak of police firing tear gas at protesters, and protesters (or thugs) responding with stones and Molotov cocktails - not necessarily in this order.
