Stories from 2 November 2011
Russia, U.S.: Arms Dealer Viktor Bout Indicted
In Moscow's Shadows comments on today's guilty verdict in the arms dealer Viktor Bout trial.
Peru: Student's Death in the Andes Divides Media and Social Networks
Ciro Castillo Rojo had been missing for nearly seven months; the finding of his body put an end to the mystery regarding his whereabouts, but the controversy related to his death was revived. This particular case has managed to capture citizens' attention and stay longer than usual in the media's agenda.
Israel: Netizens Strongly Object to the Prospect of a Strike on Iran
Several Israeli media reports in recent days have discussed the possibility of an imminent Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. Following these reports, the Israeli public, for the first time, started seriously debating this important issue. Netizens react to the news on their blogs and on Twitter.
Egypt: SCAF – The Last Pillar of the House!?
The past few days we've witnessed the detention of veteran blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah, a prisoner tortured to death in jail, and other incidents that have made Egyptian bloggers wonder whether we back to square one again.
Côte d'Ivoire: Water Shortages in Abidjan Districts
Kanigui writes [fr] in his blog Actu et Opinion: “Living in certain districts of Abidjan means accepting that there will be no running water from time to time. The inhabitants of Koumassi Remblais, Cocody Angré, or even Yopougon Ananeraie go frequently through the agony of reduced water pressure or outright...
Zambia: Dramatic Elephant Rescue
Dramatic Elephant rescue in Zambia: “The Kapani Lagoon is a source of drinking water for the animals of the area, as well as the place to go for a relieving mud bath. Unfortunately though, a young calf was unlucky enough to get stuck in the mud when visiting the lagoon...
Uganda: Soldiers for Peace or Oil?
What to most Ugandans think about the deployment of US soldiers to Uganda to help stamp out the Lord’s Resistance Army?: “They think what they are actually here to do is secure for their country Uganda’s newly found oil.”
Gaddafi's Lost Arsenal, a Threat to the Sahel Region
Since the beginning of the conflict in Libya that toppled Gaddafi's regime, weapon trafficking has been on the rise in the Sahel region. The consequences of this trafficking threatens peace in a region that is already destabilized by poverty and vast uncontrolled areas.
Gambia: Pigs, Cows and Birds
Lynn blogs about pigs, cows and birds in Gambia: “I got two melons straight from the field and one bag of charcoal for a future barbeque. The most beautiful part of the journey is seeing the birds. Tiny pillar box reds called red billed fire finches and a carmine bee-eater;...
Curacao: Royal Visit to Curacao
TRIUNFO DI SABLIKA blogs about the Dutch royalty's visit to Curacao, explaining why some of the public reaction has “queen Beatrix feeling a bit chilly up in the tropics.”
Cuba: The 10 Per Cent
Cuban diaspora bloggers say they are the 10% percent in the OccupyCuba movement.
Trinidad & Tobago: State to Take Action Against TV Station
With the Director of Public Prosecutions poised to take legal action against the TV station that aired footage of a child being assaulted, Gerard Best “think[s] we may be on the brink of a watershed moment in the history of our local media…because [the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago]...
Latin America: Travel Writer Tackles the Andes
Michael Busch interviews travel writer Michael Jacobs about his book Andes: “Beginning in Hugo Chavez’s Venezuela and finishing up in the heart of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego, Andes masterfully details the history, art, geography, personalities, and politics that have defined and been given shape by life in the region.”
Colombia: Anonymous Invites Citizens to Protest on November 10
Anonymous, through its Twitter account @Anonymiss_Co [es], links to a video [es] where they confirm their support of the student strikes in rejection of a reform to higher education Law 30. They also congratulate the students for their resistance, and invite citizens to join a national mobilization on November 10, 2011.
Honduras: “Operation Lightning” Amid Police Shake Up
La Gringa's Blogcito updates readers on the alleged involvement of four police officers in the murder of two university students. La Gringa also writes briefly about Operation Lightning: “In a joint police-military operation, the country has been divided into 8 sections, each with a police and a military commander. According...
Cuba: A Society Without Trees?
“It is called cyclone prevention. It is called telephony and electricity without ecological interference. It is called sanitation against disease. It is called sunlight. It is called power”: Orlando Luis Pardo thinks that the felling of trees might be “part of a deferred vengeance against the government”, but fears that...
Jamaica: A Halloween Story
The possible links between Jamaican culture and Halloween get Geoffrey Philp blogging about death and “the sacrifices that our ancestors made for us to be here.”
Palestine: New Flotilla en Route to Break Gaza Siege
A flotilla made up of a Canadian and an Irish ship is en route to Palestine, to break the siege on Gaza, it emerged today. The covert operation was under wraps and was just announced. On Twitter, the news is being circulated under the hashtag #Freedomwaves.
Philippines: Average internet speed
Snippets from a white paper by Akamai presented in the blog New Media Philippines reveals that the average internet speed in the Philippines is 1.2 Mbps. This is behind the international average speed of 2.6 Mbps and makes the Philippines rank 103 in terms of average internet speed globally.
Philippines: Failure of social media activism
Get Real Post comments that social media activism in the Philippines has offered lots of noise but without real substance.
Russia: Another Paid Discreditation Campaign Exposed
Yevgeniy Roizman, popular blogger and anti-drugs activist, publishes [ru] a job offer posted at one of the freelance websites. The offer describes in detail the discreditation campaign against Roizman and offers ~8 US dollars for 100 short comments that would contribute to the black mouthing of the activist.
