Stories from 15 September 2011
Iran: Female Blogger Receives 50 Lashes
These are the words Iranian blogger Somayeh Tohidloo wrote in her blog, after receiving 50 whip lashes in Evin Prison: “Be happy, for if you wanted to humiliate me, I confess that I feel my entire body is suffering with degradation.”
Tunisia: Blogger Beaten up by Police for Telling a Joke
Eight months after the fall of the regime of Ben Ali, police in Tunisia have still not given up their brutality and violations of human rights. On Wednesday September 14, Tunisian blogger Azyz Amamy was arrested and beaten up by police for telling a joke on bananas. Bloggers are outraged.
Trinidad & Tobago: New Curfew Areas
Gerard Best notes that five new curfew areas have been established in Trinidad and Tobago's ongoing State of Emergency.
U.S. Virgin Islands: Here Comes the Sun Again
“That was one large storm but it didn't really live up to the forecasts thank goodness”: live de life is glad to see the back of Tropical Storm Maria, saying: “Finally the rain has stopped and we're seeing the sun again!”
Cuba: 6.0 Quake Hits Off Coast
Bloggers republish news of a 6.0 magnitude earthquake that happened off the southeastern coast of Cuba early this morning.
Barbados: Learning from Crime in the Region
Barbados Underground contends that “the news that Trinidad has overtaken Jamaica as the murder capital of the English speaking Caribbean should be a wakeup call for Barbadians.”
Jamaica: “Ma Lou”‘s Art
National Gallery of Jamaica Blog profiles another art pioneer: “Louisa Jones…popularly known as Ma Lou…a national treasure and a master practitioner of the African-Jamaican pottery tradition.”
Comoros: Reactions of the Comoran Community to Minister's Accusation
After the French Interior Ministry stated that Comorian Community is to blame for some of the violence in Marseille[fr], the governing body of the Comoros Union is denouncing such stigmatization of their community[fr], it encourages Comoran to stay calm and fight back violence only via legal means.
Colombia: Politics in Street Art
LatAm Communiqué posts pictures of political posters, graffiti, and murals in Bogotá, Zipaquirá, Popayán, and Medellín.
Argentina: Government Returns Land to Indigenous Communities
“On Saturday, September 10th, the Argentinian government returned 9,475 hectares (more than 23,000 acres) of land to the Tehuelche and Mapuche communities living new in Las Heras (located in the northern portion of the Santa Cruz province)”, Ryan Seelau at Indigenous News reports.
Bolivia: Journalist Receives Death Threats
Tania Lara from the Knight Center's Journalism in the Americas Blog highlights the case of Mónica Oblitas, a Bolivian journalist who recently reveled on her personal blog [es] that she has received death threats. Tania explains: “‘Your days are numbered,’ was one of several telephone and e-mail messages she received...
Cameroon: Women Must Vote During Presidential Election
Le journal du Cameroun notes that “civil society organizations are rallying to encourage women to vote [fr] during the upcoming Cameroon presidential election, on October 9″.
Russia: To Vote or Not To Vote?
As the Russian parliamentary election approaches, the Internet is fast becoming the main stage for the debate on the election strategy that the Russian opposition should take. Alexey Sidorenko reports.
Brazil: American Rapper uses classic samba cover without credit
American Rapper Curren$y is being criticized by Brazilian bloggers [pt] for using Cartola’s classic cover “Verde Que Te Quero Verde” for his new work without mentioning or giving credit to one of the most important figures of Samba and Brazilian Music.
Central African Republic: ‘Letter to the Person Sending Me Death Threats’
Central African Republic blogger, Blogmandebangos, has posted a letter to the person sending him death threats [fr] for his blogging: “The truth is that I just want to be the painter of my society, a good testimony, I only write about things that happen here…I talk about the daily life we all...
Korea: Plan to Launch Satellite TV Airing Programs to North Korea
Martyn Williams from North Korea Tech blog posted about a private South Korean group's plan to launch a satellite TV station that will air South Korean dramas and entertainment programs in North Korea. Williams, however, voiced worries that it would be nearly impossible for impoverished North Koreans to afford the satellite...
North Korea’s First Cruise Ship Draw Harsh Reviews
Bearded Wiseman from the 2Oceansvibe site wrote about North Korea's first cruise ship, calling it a ‘bit of a joke’.
Macedonia: Celebrating Basketball Win Over Lithuania
The celebration of the Macedonian entry in the semifinals of the European basketball championship has spilled over from the country's streets, balconies and town squares into the blogosphere. Filip Stojanovski reports.
India: The Booming Publishing Industry
Vaibhav Kathuria at ‘Youth Ki Awaaz’ says that “India has just witnessed a publishing boom”.
Sri Lanka: Managing The Colombo Traffic
Going Global discusses how to manage the overburdened Colombo traffic.
Pakistan: Eid Moon Madness
Pak Tea House posts a caption collage on the controversy regarding Eid Moon sighting in Pakistan.
