Stories from 1 November 2011
Serbia: Belgrade's Modernism
Nothing Against Serbia writes about the 1933 building by Branislav Kojic, which is “regarded as one of the most successful examples of modernism in Belgrade.”
Myanmar: A Year After Suu Kyi's Release
A year has passed since Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi was released from prison. How did netizens react? Did the government censor news reports about Suu Kyi? What are her political plans?
Albania: Universities – Quantity vs Quality
Home of the Albanian Blogger writes about a BalkanInsight.com article, whose author has “counted some 10 public and over 30 private universities [in Albania], which beats the rest of the Balkan countries.” The quality of education at some of these institutions is something to be worried about, too.
Serbia: Media Ownership Report
Eric Gordy of East Ethnia discusses a recent report on media ownership in Serbia.
Serbia: Nobel Prize Hoax
Very belatedly, links to the posts at East Ethnia and Belgraded, which talk about Dobrica Ćosić‘s Nobel Prize in Literature hoax.
Global Voices Podcast: Bridging the Language Gaps
In this edition of the Global Voices Podcast we discuss languages that are hard to find on the internet. Are you from a place where your mother tongue is not widely spoken? Then you may one of many people around the world who speak and write under-represented languages. We also look forward to the 11 Eleven Project on 11/11/11.
Egypt: Blogger Maikel Nabil Military Trial Postponed
Egyptian blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad, who has so far spent 216 days in prison and 71 days on hunger strike, today refused to stand trial in a military court. Sanad was sentenced in April to three years in prison for posts he published on his blog.
Colombia: The 2011 Regional Elections
On Sunday, October 30, Colombia held regional elections for local public posts. Due to the importance of these posts, these elections are tracked in the same manner as the presidential elections. Citizens followed the voting closely and the elections were widely discussed on citizen media platforms and social networks.
South Asia: Celebrating the 7 Billionth Child
On the 31 October, the earth welcomed Oishi, a newborn in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka. She carried a special message - she is the 7 billionth child of the world. Also in South Asia, Muthumani from Sri Lanka and Nargis from India, both newborn girls, were celebrated as the symbolic 7 billionth human in the world.
Russia: Blogger from the Moscow Region Under Police Pressure
Novaya Gazeta publishes [ru] the story of Vladimir Pronin, a commenter from the Moscow region, who was publishing online materials that exposed corruption in Odintsovo city police. He was first accused of libel but during the search that was conducted in his house, police allegedly planted the ammunition. The court, however, dismissed...
Video: Opening a Coconut Hawaii Vs. Trinidad Style
The Presurfer points us towards this video contrasting two different styles of opening a green coconut to drink the water inside. One of them is definitely not for beginners!
Liberia: Reactions to the Resignation of Liberian Elections Chairman
Following questions about his credibility, James Fromayan, the former head of the Liberian Elections Commission, resigned yesterday. African Election Project reports that his resignation was prompted by the “Letter-gate” scandal.
Brazil: #OccupyBeloMonte Evicted from Dam Construction Site
On October 27, indigenous groups from the Xingu river area in Brazil occupied the construction site of the controversial Belo Monte dam. #OccupyBeloMonte, however, only lasted until the following day. Raphael Tsavkko Garcia reports.
Mexico: Remembering Victims of Organized Crime on the Day of the Dead
This year, during All Saints Day and the Day of the Dead in Mexico, “small groups around the country are using the occasion to remember the thousands of people who died violently over the past year at the hand of one or another collection of combatants in the country’s many-sided...
Cuba: Archbishop Ortega Carries On
Unlike other bloggers and many dissidents, The Cuban Triangle supports the Archbishop of Havana, whose resignation letter was dismissed by the Pope, who “told him to stay where he is, and to continue doing what he is doing.”
Iran: A Storm of Reactions to Hillary Clinton
A remark by Hillary Clinton in an interview with the BBC in October 26, that the Iranian Green Movement would be smart to seek foreign assistance, has spurred a lot of reactions - among others from the Green Movement's well known figures and bloggers.
Trinidad and Tobago: Broadcast Crime Referred to Prosecutors
Gerard Best reports that the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago has referred the controversial matter of a TV station airing footage of a minor being raped to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Cuba: Occupy on Facebook
The Occupy Wall Street phenomenon has apparently inspired an Occupy Cuba movement; Uncommon Sense posts links about it here and here.
Barbados: Accept Gays or Lose Aid Money
In light of the British Prime Minister's statement threatening “countries that ban homosexuality with losing aid payments unless they reform”, Barbados Underground says that “the financial dependent countries of the world will have no choice but to fall in line.”
Greece: Polarized Reactions to the Debt “Haircut” Deal
The Greek debt "haircut" deal reached by European politicians and banks was touted as a solution to stem the sovereign debt crisis. However, many Greek citizens have reacted with uncertainty and anger to the deal.
Kazakhstan: Bloggers Discuss New Copyright Protection Bill
Kazakh bloggers are discussing a new copyright protection bill which would grant state authorities the power to shut down completely any portal considered to be in violation of copyright.
