Stories from 18 October 2011
Thailand: Flood Maps and Disaster Monitoring Tools
In an earlier post, Global Voices featured some of the online maps which were created to monitor the floods in Thailand. The flood disaster is already the worst that ever hit the country. Here are other useful online maps, twitter reports, and disaster monitoring tools that provide information about the floods
Bangladesh: Tata Nano Launch Deferred
Guru Mia reports that the Bangladesh launch of Tata Nano, the world's cheapest car, has been deferred because of high price. The $2,870 basic Indian car model would cost $7,900 in Bangladesh after tax.
India: ZaraBol – The Micro-Blogging Site
Anupam Saxena at Medianama reviews ZaraBol, the new Micro-Blogging site launched by Rediff.
Nepal: Movies & Nationality
Acharya, a Nepali language movie based on the life of a Nepali music legend, has been categorized in the Mumbai Film Festival as Indian movie because of its production banner. XNepali asks “do movies have nationality”?
Bolivia: Interview With Indigenous Leader on TIPNIS March
Dario Kenner has updated his blog Bolivia Diary with pictures and information on the march to defend the Indigenous Territory and National Park Isiboro Sécure (TIPNIS) which, as he reports, “is getting very close to La Paz and should arrive this Wednesday”. He also interviewed indigenous leader Walberto Baraona.
Honduras: An In-Depth Look at Crime
La Gringa’ from La Gringa's Blogcito has published the first blog post in a series about crime in Honduras, where she reports that “The recent United Nations Global Study on Homicide put Honduras in the spotlight by naming it number one with 82.1 murders per 100,000 population.”
Central America: The Dangerous Journey of Female Migrants
“Every year, thousands of migrants risk their lives on a treacherous journey toward el norte, facing violence, extortion, kidnapping and discrimination. However, female migrants face a heightened risk of exploitation in the form of sexual violence and trafficking at the hands of many groups: criminal gangs, corrupt officials, law enforcement,...
Paraguay: Digital Magazine Focuses on Young Migrants
Juan Carlos Rodríguez from Camino al Paraguay [es] shares the digital version of a magazine that focuses on Paraguayan youth who have left the country.
Zimbabwe: Deportations of Zimbabweans a Political Move
“Mwana washe muranda kumwe” is an old Zimbabwean saying which means that when one is a foreigners they are a nobody in the eyes of the host country and this rings true today as thousands of Zimbabweans face deportation from South Africa back to Zimbabwe.
France: Towards an Admission of the 17 Octobre 1961 Suppression?
The blog Le Petit Blanquiste recounts [fr] the peaceful demonstration by Algerians in Paris, on 17 October 1961, which was suppressed in blood, and the media reactions of the time. After 50 years of near silence, there are emerging signs of an admission of fault.
Arab World: Celebrations Break Out as 477 Palestinians Released
Tweeps have been busy today following the details of the Israel-Palestine prisoner swap, which saw the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners. Here is a summary of reactions of netizens from across the Arab world and beyond.
Cuba: Remembering Laura Pollan
Four days after her death, the online tributes are still pouring in for Laura Pollan, the late leader of one of Cuba's most recognized and respected opposition groups, Las Damas de Blanco. Many bloggers want to continue their fight for human rights while others just want to remember their friend and hero.
Hong Kong: Occupy Central
In global call for solidarity for Wall Street Occupation, Hong Kong activists have started to occupy Central since last Saturday. Here are some photos showing their daily life in Central.
Japan: We're Losing to Apple, and Here's Why
Blogger Isseki Nagae considers the sorry state of the Japanese personal electronics industry in light of the recent success of Apple in Japan. Through the words of Steve Jobs, Nagae argues that Japanese manufacturers pay too much attention to the views of the average user rather than developing new ideas.
Trinidad & Tobago: The Question of Race
“I feel that a person loses a bit of who he or she is internally by having to limit themselves by that one word. And it can be quite a burden to live up to. And with the growing group of interracial individuals who identify with more than one group,...
Trinidad & Tobago: Children & the Internet
In the wake of a controversy in which a teacher was allegedly involved in a sexual relationship with a student [the situation came to light because of photos he posted online], blogger Mark Lyndersay posts an interview in which he discusses ways in which parents can help manage children's use...
Russia: Newspaper Leaks Plans to Discredit Anti-Corruption Blogger
“United Russia” had ordered a massive plan (worth of ~320,000 US dollars) to discredit anti-corruption blogger Alexey Navalny, Novaya Gazeta writes [ru]. The campaign might include compromising footage with Navalny's look-alike involved in some illegal and/or immoral activities.
Russia: Photoblogger Launches New Citizen Media Agency
Ilya Varlamov, popular photoblogger, officially launches [ru] Ridus.ru, news agency dedicated to the citizen media in Russia. Its ‘special projects’ section [ru] tells about new and already existing civil society movements that deal with environmental issues, traffic violations, illegal development in the historic parts of the cities, freedom of photography...
Malawi: A Growing City and its Pay-to-Cross Footbridges
Hand-made wooden bridges now connect two popular markets on each side of a river in Malawi's capital Lilongwe, providing a local solution to both joblessness and growing urbanization for the young men who build them.
Iran: Student receives lashes
Khorafe says another students received [fa] lashes for insulting Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranian president.
Iran: History of Women's Dress and Clothing
See the history of Iranian women's dress and clothing in Iran for 25 centuries in photos at rounash.com [fa].
