Stories from 8 October 2011
France: Discussing the Merits of a “Robin Hood” Tax for the Europe Union
A. Rousseaux discusses the merits of a potential Robin Hood tax for the European Union with economist Dominique Plihon [fr]. Plihon argues that such a tax could have a real impact on curbing down excessive speculation on the European market.
Brazil: Different Perspectives on Steve Jobs’ Work
As the world mourns the death of Steve Jobs, the Brazilian cartoonist Carlos Latuff illustrates another side of the entrepreneur. The same does Rodrigo Savazoni, on the blog Trezentos, saying [pt] that Jobs was the number one enemy of collaboration.
Bahrain: Teen Protester Shot Dead
Protests erupted in Bahrain this weekend as angry mourners buried 16-year-old Ahmed Al-Qattan, who was allegedly 'killed by birdshot' according to the Ministry of Interior Affairs. Netizens dispute this - Mona Kareem reports.
Brazil: Senator Suggests Whipping for Lazy Prisoners
Brazilian journalist Marco Antônio Araujo, from the blog O Provocador (The Provocateur), says [pt], with irony, that he is “in favor of whipping thugs who don't work” but suggests “that these measures are firstly tested in Congress”. His post criticises the idea of Senator Reditário Cassol of whipping prisoners who...
Brazil: FIFA's Demands in the Run Up to the World Cup 2014
Brazilian blogger José Carlos denounces [pt] the controversial demands of FIFA (the highest governing body of football) on the preparation of the World Cup 2014 . Several Brazilian laws, such as the half price tickets’, may be violated to ensure greater exposure of FIFA's products and profits.
United States: Alabama Passes Country's Strictest Anti-Immigration Law
On September 29, the state of Alabama passed the United States' strictest anti-immigration law, following in the footsteps of Arizona's already controversial law, which criminalized illegal migrant status. Read reactions from the blogosphere.
Macedonia: Nude Swimming in Alexander the Great Fountain
A big hit in the social media in Macedonia last week was a video of a nude young man who apparently jumped in the new fountain beneath the grandiose monument to Alexander of Macedon and his horse Bucephalus, built as part of the Skopje 2014 project.
Poland: Facebook Initiative Puts Pressure on Politicians
For the past two months, a Facebook initiative with more than 60,000 fans has been crowdsourcing ideas to improve Polish legislation. Ahead of the October parliamentary elections, the organizers promised to endorse political parties who would support the most popular of the netizens’ proposals.
