Stories from 8 September 2011
Cambodia: State of Human Rights
The latest report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia is now online. The report expressed concern about the violations on the “freedom of expression and land and housing rights” in Cambodia
East Timor urged not to borrow
Debt-free East Timor must resist the urge to borrow and avoid the curse of other developing nations whose huge foreign loans have stunted progress. This was the message of 117 organizations based in 28 countries and 20 groups in East Timor who signed a statement addressed to the government.
Cambodia: SMS versus Malaria
Mobiledia reports how Cambodian health workers use mobile phone texting to fight Malaria.
Morocco: The Twitter Opposition Party
On Monday, the Moroccan government launched a campaign to showcase its "achievements" since attaining power. A website was created to spearhead the campaign which comes only two months before a much expected parliamentary election later this year. Moroccan Twitter users used the platform to mock their government's claims.
Honduras: Video ‘Paradise in Peril’ Documents Destruction of Río Platano Biosphere Reserve
Aaron Ortiz and La Gringa's Blogcito share “Paradise in Peril” by Skyship Films, a video “about the destruction being done in the ‘protected’ Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve,” as ‘La Gringa’ explains.
Bolivia: Interview With Blogger Hugo Miranda
Daniel Calbimonte interviewed [es] blogger Hugo Miranda of Angel Caído [es]. In the interview Hugo explains what it means to be a Community Manager, lists his favorite blogs, discusses the future of the Internet, and answers other related questions.
Mexico: The Importance of Literacy
Ismael Flores at Vivir México [es] blogs about the importance of literacy. He provides some historical background and looks at current challenges related to literacy in Mexico.
Brazil: Does Crime Pay? The Truth About Reclusion Benefits
The Brazilian government’s initiative to offer a benefit to prisoners’ family members and dependents has sparked the debate in online citizen media because of a propaganda email chain against the initiative, which still today circulates on the web. Some bloggers have decided to seek the truth behind the affirmations.
Panama: Twitter Users Spark Protests Against the Government
Hundreds of Panamanians joined in agreement on Twitter to honk their horns and bang pots and pans as a means of protesting the current government. This is not the first time that Panamanians have taken to this method. Ariel Moreno reports.
Cambodia: ‘Avatar’ Rally to Protect Country’s Forest
Prey Lang, the largest lowland forest in Cambodia and home of more than 200,000 indigenous peoples, is threatened by the plan of the government to transform the area into plantations and mining sites. In protest, villagers dressed up like the Na'vi tribe from the film Avatar to express their sentiments
Zimbabwe: Deluge of Online Reactions to Latest WikiLeaks
Julian Assange’s WikiLeaks cables are raising an online storm among Zimbabwe’s netizens. The latest release, among other things, quotes the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor saying Mugabe will die of prostate cancer before 2013.
Russia: President's Office Orders Blog Campaign to Neutralize 2012 APEC Summit Criticisms
Russian president's office administration had published a grant proposal for a blog campaign worth of 3 mln roubles (about 100,000 US dollars) to support the organization of 2012 APEC Summit in Vladivostok, gazeta.ru reported [ru]. The blog campaign will, among others, include reacting to negative messages posted online, “creation of a...
Russia: Crowdsourced Map of Electoral Violations Launched
Electoral monitoring association “Golos” together with gazeta.ru had launched Kartanarusheniy.ru, a crowdsourced mechanism for collecting user data on electoral violations. Ushahidi-like map (although developed on a different software) allows users to report agitation violations, administrative and police pressure, bribery, misuse of power, violation of candidates’ rights.
Bahrain: Medical Staff Released After Hunger Strike
Bahrain yesterday released doctors and medical personnel who have been behind bars since March 2011, after increased international condemnation and a series of hunger strikes by supporters inside and outside the country. Mona Kareem reports.
Burundi: The Challenges of Making a Living from Farming
Lwesso writes [fr] :” It is difficult nowadays to find people who can make a living from farming in Burundi. Farmers often lack the necessary capital to run their businesses and end up putting their lands up for lease.”
Madagascar: Singles, Beware of Bloggers !
Andriamihaja, a young blogger from Toliara (a city in southern Madagascar) lists ten reasons not to date a blogger. [fr] One of the reasons is: “the rare times they will ask you for advice, it is probably to get materials for their blogs.”
9/11 Retrospective: The Birth of a Generation
Ten years have passed since the coordinated 9/11 attacks on the USA by al-Qaeda, an event that changed the world in many ways. All this is discussed through short videos by young people from around the world who came of age in the post 9/11 era.
Israel: Stop Motion Inside Stop Motion
Eran Amir produced a stop motion video showing 500 people around Israel holding up more than 1500 developed pictures. You'll have to see it twice, once to focus on the story told through the black and white pictures the people hold, and the other to enjoy watching the people and...
