Stories from 9 September 2011
Cuba: The Virgin of Charity
Cuban bloggers discuss the goings-on during the feast of Cuba's patron saint, The Virgin of Charity. Photos are here and here.
India: A Market For Class Notes
Youth Ki Awaaz highlights an online market for class notes in India where students are rewarded for their academic success by getting paid to share and sell their school notes and study materials.
U.S. Virgin Islands: Storm Warning
The region has its eye on another tropical storm; News of St. John reports.
Sri Lanka: Youth-Led Reconciliation
Dilinika Peiris discusses whether youth-led reconciliation could put Sri Lanka back on the map.
Puerto Rico: Police Accused of Abuses
Police in Puerto Rico have been accused of civil rights abuses – including using excessive force; Gil the Jenius and Dondequiera weigh in.
Barbados, St. Vincent: More Wikileaks
Barbados Free Press, still following the Wikileaks fallout, applauds a Vincentian journalist who is “standing behind what he said.”
Egypt: Protesters Bring Down Israel Embassy Security Wall and Flag
Thousands of protesters took to Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the Egyptian revolution in downtown Cairo, today in protest against Egypt's military rulers. Soon, crowds of young men swarmed to the Israeli Embassy, where they tore down a security wall built to protect the Embassy, and brought down the Israeli flag, as chaos continued into the night. Here's a snippet of how the events played out on Twitter.
Brazil: Mapping Online Art from the Streets of São Paulo
Arte Fora do Museu [Art outside the museum, pt] intends to map online art from the streets of São Paulo, Brazil. The project so far has mapped 100 “pieces” from grafittis, sculptures, walls and architectural works.
Pakistan: The Dengue Crisis In Punjab
After the recent heavy rains, dengue fever has turned into an epidemic in Punjab, reports Chowrangi.
Morocco: Blogger Arrested in Northern City of Fnidaq
According to activists, Moroccan blogger and web programmer Mohamed Douas was arrested on Monday morning in the city of Fnidaq. His supporters say the arrest is related to Wikileaks Fnidaq, a website Mohamed helped create and in which documents intended to expose corruption within the local administration were published.
Guatemala: Voting Out Cultural Intolerance
Sakis González shares a video [es] of Guatemalan artists speaking out against “cultural intolerance” after the municipality of Guatemala City rejected the reopening of the cultural center ‘Rock’ol Vuh’. Sakis points out that citizens will have the power to choose their leaders this Sunday, September 11, during the general election.
Colombia: Strengthening Ties Between ‘Chiva’ Bus Owners Through Social Media
Carlos Múnera quotes [es] a reader's comment calling owners and drivers of ‘chiva’ buses to use the Internet to communicate, share ideas and inform each other about policies that could affect their work. The reader indicates that he is currently creating a Facebook group for fans of these buses.
Venezuela: A Dairy Cooperative's Struggle for Food Sovereignty
“PROLESA is a small dairy cooperative in the Venezuelan state of Tachira. […] the main focus of the cooperative is to purchase milk from the local community for the production and distribution of cheese and yogurt”: Venezuelan Analysis shares a video where “cooperative members share the amazing stories of their...
Haiti: UN Troops Must Go, Say Haitians After Rape Scandal
An online video showing four UN peacekeepers from Uruguay allegedly raping a 19 year-old man at a military base in Port-Salut has generated outrage and renewed calls for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) to withdraw.
Rwanda: Bloggers’ Reaction to Victoire Ingabire’s Trial
The trial of Rwandan opposition leader Victoire Ingabire resumed this week. Victoire, an outspoken critic of President Paul Kagame’s leadership, is accused of collaborating with terrorist organizations and forming an armed group with the aim of destabilizing the country.
Ghana: Entrepreneurs to Make Ghana a Tech Startup Hub
African entrepreneurs are making Ghana into a tech startup hub, Zak reports: “The nonprofit World Wide Web Foundation is working with local developers through a training program called Mobile Web Ghana to give participants the business and technology skills they need to leverage ideas into successful mobile web companies.”
Portugal: Citizens Ask Icelanders About Democracy
Portuguese bloggers and activists are getting inspired by Iceland's practice of direct democracy in response to the crisis that the country has faced. Sara Moreira reports.
Tajikistan: The country in its 20
Christian Bleuer is analyzing the newest history of Tajikistan – both its internal politics and its geopolitical stand – as this country marks the 20th anniversary of its independence.
Uzbekistan: Journalists face dress-code restrictions
Tomyris reports that Uzbekistan, “a leader in the field of media censorship”, is imposing a new limitation to journalists. The female reporters seen on Uzbek state television will be seen only in a conservative manner – that means no skin exposure in inappropriate places.
Uzbekistan: Opposition in exile gets more active
Abulfazal says that the emerging oppositional movement of Uzbekistan citizens in exile has took its shape as the People’s Movement of Uzbekistan (PMU) with branches in Canada, Sweden and Norway.
Turkmenistan: Challenges for education
Annasoltan talks with a professional teacher in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, about education’s challenges in this country, from shifting generational and cultural values to corruption in the schools.
