Stories from 8 July 2011
Russia: Tribute to Dmitry Prigov
At OpenDemocracy.net, Yelena Fedotova writes about Dmirty Prigov – “‘great Russian poet’, postmodern artist, incarcerated ‘madman’.”
Ukraine: Pension Reform; Multiple Voting by MPs
Foreign Notes writes about Ukraine's pension reform, which was passed by the parliament yesterday, highlighting the “breathaking arrogance” and disrespect for law by the people who run the country: “248 deputies voted in support of today's [pension reform] motion even though it seems only 143 deputies were actually registered to...
Honduras: Truth Commission Concludes Overthrow of Zelaya was a Coup
The Honduras Truth Commission has ruled that the removal of President Manuel Zelaya on June 28, 2009 was a coup, something Boz on Bloggings by boz says is no surprise: “There remain some points of contention on the history of the coup […] Even with disagreements, this report should help...
El Salvador: Police Raid Organization for At-Risk Youth
Voices From El Salvador blogs about a police raid in “PROCOMES, the Center for Training for Local Development and Economic Solidarity, […] a civil society organization that works with at-risk youth.” 35 individuals were arrested. The post concludes: “The Salvadoran government has taken steps in the past to fight police...
Kenya: e-Goverment Movement
Bankelele looks at e-government trends in Kenya: “This week the, the National Council for Law Reporting – [NCLR, a state corporation charged with publishing the law and judicial opinions of the High court and Court of appeal) in partnership with Google Kenya launched digital versions of the Kenya Parliamentary debates...
Ghana: On the Proliferation of Grassroots Pressure Groups
Abena is fascinated with the proliferation of grass-root pressure groups taking part in the hotly-contested race between the incumbent president of Ghana, Professor John Evans Atta Mills and an unlikely contender in the person of the former first lady of Ghana, Mrs. Nana Konadu Agygeman Rawlings.
South Africa: Introducing Rapper Prinston
Skyllie introduces South African musician Prinston: “The producer rapper straight out of Durban South Africa known by his fans as Prinston, is really an artist to be reckoned with lately. Having spent some time in the USA in Florida and experienced some international and local exposure, Prinston has built up...
South Sudan: A New Journey Begins
A new journey begins in South Sudan: “South Sudan has been born at time when Africa has made substantial steps in development unlike the 60s. With a population that is not even half that of my country Uganda, South Sudan will need its neighbours who are already a step ahead...
Russia: Parnas; Prokhorov; Tandem
Siberian Light, A Good Treaty and Russia Blog write about the denial of registration to the People's Freedom Party (Parnas); Siberian Light writes about the Medvedev-Putin tandem – here and here and about Putin's “fantasy Duma”; Russia Blog and Natalia Antonova at the Guardian's Comment is free write about Mikhail...
Russia: “Nashi” Spokeswoman's Homophobic Text
A translation of the pro-Kremlin youth movement Nashi spokeswoman's “rant exploring everything from the death of Osama Bin Laden to the curiously specific and virulent homophobia” – at Robert Amsterdam's blog: “Read below to see the kind of talent and hate speech Russia is spending its taxpayer money on.”
Russia: Review of Anna Melikian's “Rusalka”
War and Peace reviews Anna Melikian's 2007 film, Rusalka (“Mermaid”).
Ukraine: Changes to Disability Laws
Odessablog writes about changes to Ukraine's legislation on the rights of people with disabilities and describes the current situation.
Trinidad & Tobago: New Media; New Politics
Plain Talk says that “politics as usual” is irrelevant “in these times of new media, real time information and an empowered and politically active electorate.”
Caribbean: Indigenous News
Review of the Indigenous Caribbean posts a video of “a fairly elementary but well synthesized historical overview of the indigenous people of Dominica”, while The Voice of the Taino People Online notes the passing of Ricardo Alegria, “a Puerto Rican scholar known for his pioneering studies of the island's native...
Trinidad & Tobago: The Need for Culture in Education
Attillah Springer applauds the work of her mother, saying: ” In light of recent developments – Movie Towne, Flugtag, Vybz Kartel – all of which I suppose have their purpose, I hope that cultural workers and community activists get a chance to do the work they need to do.”
Portugal: Getting Funded by the Crowd
MassiveMov, the first crowdfunding platform in Portugal was launched on July 7.
Brazil: #ForaMicarla as Protest Against Corruption in Natal
Since 2010, denunciations of corruption [pt] concerning the mayor of Natal, Micarla de Sousa, have led Brazilian citizens to mobilize in protest via Twitter with the hashtag #ForaMicarla (Out with Micarla!). The movement [pt] has grown from the web to the streets.
Egypt: Why July 8?
Egyptians are back in full force in Tahrir Square, the epicenter of their revolution, once again today. But why are they still demonstrating now that their revolution is over, Mubarak is not in power any more, and many pillars of his regime are behind bars?
Cuba: Political Opposition
Uncommon Sense links to statistics about politically motivated arrests and deduces that “the numbers, although different, agree on one point about repression in Cuba. It is getting worse.”
Guyana: A Future for Film
The Guyanese film industry is ready for its close-up, according to this post at Demerara Waves.
Somalia: Al-Shabaab Calls For International Aid
On Afrik.com, Michelle Nougoum reveals [fr] that: “The Horn of Africa is experiencing one of the worst droughts of its history, so much so that al shabaab, an islamist insurgent group of Somalian rebels, has called for international aid on Wednesday, July 6th. Two years ago, this group had forced...
