Stories from October, 2011
Russia/India: Video of a Paraglider Pilot Attacked by an Eagle in Himalayas
11-minute headcam video [ru] of a story that could end up with a human casualty. Russian paraglider pilot making his first flight in Himalayas was attacked by three eagles, one of which got trapped into the paraglider strings. Thanks to the second parachute the pilot could land and then –...
Russia: Pirate Flag Over Novosibirsk City
LJ-user dedmaxopka publishes [ru] pictures of himself placing a pirate flag over Novosibirsk city administration. “We just wanted to make nice pictures of the city,” explained the blogger to the police that identified him the same day. Blogger was charged with ‘petty hooliganism’ and had to pay a small fine.
China: Open letter to Relativity Media
C Custer wrote an open letter to Relativity Media, a Hollywood Film Producer, criticizing its plan to cooperate with the Linyi government to shoot a movie there. Linyi government has illegally detained Blind activist Chen Guangchen from leaving his house and stopped others from visiting him since his release in...
China: Woman activist beaten by local thugs and police officer
Tom Lasseter interviewed Wang Xuezhen, a woman activist beaten by local thugs when she tried to visit Chen Guangcheng. She was slapped by a police officers when she reported on the violence she faced in the village.
Puerto Rico: Charly García Turns 60
Chemi González remembers the rock legend from Argentina, Charly García [es], on his 60th birthday.
Puerto Rico: Bike Messengers Take the Streets
At El Punto Es [es] Mariángel González interviews Rafi Robles [es], co-founder of the first bicycle messenger company in Puerto Rico Ecomensajería [es].
Puerto Rico: Sports Journalism and Female Athletes
Blogger and sports journalist Rafael R. Díaz offers a critique of the sexist language sports journalists in Puerto Rico used to describe the triumph of the female basketball team at the Pan American Games [es] being held in Guadalajara, Mexico. The women'es basketball team won the gold medal in a...
Puerto Rico: The Old San Juan in Photos
Another beautiful photo essay of the Old San Juan by blogger Yésica Isabel [es].
Puerto Rico: Remembering Luisa Capetillo
The digital news outlet Noticel published an article commemorating the birth 132 years ago of the pioneering Puerto Rican union leader, anarchist, and feminist Luisa Capetillo [es].
Puerto Rico: Rita Indiana's New Video
The music blog Puerto Rico Indie comments on Dominican singer-songwriter Rita Indiana's most recent video production of her song “Da pa lo do.”
Puerto Rico: “Baleros” by Esoez
Th esoez.com team has posted two episodes of their video series “Baleros.” [es]
Russia: Retired Tennis Star Marat Safin to Run for Parliament
Russian tennis phenomenon, Marat Safin, has announced that he will run for the Russian State Duma in the December 4 elections. However, his public image, as illustrated by citizen media outlets, has until now not been focused on public service. Donna Welles reports.
Colombia: Law 30 and “Operation Seventh Ballot” on Regional Election Day
Through the Facebook group “Operation Seventh Ballot” [es], citizens are inviting voters to deposit a paper in the ballot box with the words “NO TO THE REFORM OF LAW 30″ in reference to the education reform launched by the national government. This initiative, which will be carried out during the...
Pakistan: Funding Social Innovation
Jehan Ara at In The Line Of Wire writes how the recipients of the P@SHA Fund for Social Innovation were selected.
Sri Lanka: Why Occupy Colombo Was A Fail
Indi.ca reports that some people attempted an occupy protest in Colombo which did not turn out to be a compelling social movement.
South Asia: A Fundraising Drive Across Three Countries
Journeys To Democracy writes about a fundraising drive in VW Beetles across three countries in SouthAsia (Nepal/India/Pakistan) to help launch a spinal injury rehabilitation center in Nepal.
China: Questions Following Mekong River Massacre
Thirteen Chinese sailors were killed earlier this month in an attack on two cargo ships. Nine Thai soldiers have claimed responsibility, which the Thai government says is theirs alone, but contradicting points in the case have left many with lingering doubts.
Thailand: Floods and Social Media
Many parts of Thailand are still flooded as the country continues to face the worst flooding disaster in the past half century. But some bloggers believe the flooding disaster has been exaggerated by the media - social media in particular.
Iran: Virtual U.S Embassy
America decided to establish a virtual U.S embassy for Iran. In Khodnevis a cartoon says “Imam [Khomeyni]how can we climb up this embassy's wall”. The cartoon refers to Iran hostage crisis where 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981.
Brazil: Police Restrain Students at the University of São Paulo
Military police launched a blitz operation at the University of São Paulo after approaching three students smoking marijuana on the night of October 27. Adriano Rangel reports.
Nigeria: Waste, Wealth and the Burden of a City
Bella Naija's photo story titled “BN Photo Stories: Waste, Wealth and the Burden of a City”: “With an estimated population of 15 million, and growing at an annual rate of 6%, Lagos, Nigeria, is set to topple Cairo soon as Africa’s largest city…With increased, largely unchecked, informal economic activities, emerge...