Stories from 12 December 2011
Sri Lanka: The 3D Experience
The Puppeteer shares her experience of going to Sri Lanka’s first 3D Movie Theatre.
Greece: TEDxAthens, The Art of Disruption
On Saturday 3 December, TEDxAthens 2011 took place in the Cultural Center of the Hellenic World; a 12 hour long, 23 speech marathon, it was organized and supported by 38 volunteers. This year's theme was 'The Art of Disruption'.
Ukraine: Football Fans Consulates
Odessablog's Blog argues against a recent idea by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry to have fans organize their own consular services for the upcoming Euro 2012 soccer championships in Ukraine.
Haiti: Celebrity Visits Overshadow Real News
“I just don't get it. Why is it newsworthy that Kim Kardashian was in Haiti?”: Toussaint on Haiti “continue[s] to be baffled by the relative media silence around the effort of Haitians to hold the United Nations accountable” and asks: “How can we maintain attention on this issue until it...
Jamaica: Politics or Party?
Jamaica Woman Tongue says of the new Prime Minister's choice of a December 29 election date: “If our PM/minister of education knew his history, he would never have dared to ‘mash up’ the holidays with politics. But ‘im young; im wi learn.’”
Puerto Rico: The Success of TEDx San Juan
Gil the Jenius had his reservations about TEDx San Juan, but is pleased to report that it was “a rousing success.” Dondequiera adds that it was a day “of wonderful stories, passionately told.”
Russia: A Critical Eye on Protests
Der Unbequeme turns a critical eye on [ger] the ongoing protests in Moscow against the results of parliamentary elections, arguing that protesters are few, divided, and that an actual OSCE-assessment of elections is still lacking.
Estonia: Language and History
Giustino of Ithing for Eestimaa discusses Estonians’ obsession with language – and especially their own as opposed to Russian – against the backdrop of a recent interview with the country's president Toomas Ilves.
Cuba: Christmas Lights, No Human Rights
“In the long list of the words forbidden in my childhood, there were two in particular that were censored: ‘Christmas’ and ‘Human Rights'”, writes Generation Y, explaining that Christmas has become acknowledged – unlike human rights; Uncommon Sense supports her claim by quoting “one of the island's preeminent human rights...
Belarus-Poland: Ex Presidential Candidate Arrested in Warzaw
According to LJ user artem_ablozhei [ru], former Belarus presidential candidate Ales Michalevic earlier today was arrested at Warzaw airport by Polish police acting on an extradition request by Belarus authorities.
Jamaica: Spy Games
Active Voice blogs about “the spy plane the government didn’t see” and the effect that the admission of its existence is having on the ruling Jamaica Labour Party.
Iran:Female blogger was released
Rahsanews says [fa] Rojin Mohammadi, female blogger and student released from jail in Tehran.
Peru: Congress Approves Law Criminalizing Femicide
The Peruvian Congress has approved the text of a law that recognizes femicide as a crime punishable by up to 25 years of incarceration. Under the existing law, the murder of a women can result in release from jail in about two years.
Iran:Tehran won propaganda war against USA
Ahestan writes [fa] displaying U.S. drone by Iranian forces, is a proof that Islamic Republic has won propaganda, political and media war against American government.
Nigeria: My Interview With Santa Claus
Crazy Nigerian interviews Santa Claus: “Me: There’s so much I’ve been dying to ask you…like why don’t you ever come to Nigeria? Santa: Oh, all the houses there don’t have any chimneys. Me: But you can’t expect chimneys in a country that’s hot virtually all year round! Santa: Sorry my...
Kenya: Nigerian Blogger's Impression of Nairobi
Nigerian blogger, Nwachukwu, blogs about his visit to Nairobi: “Oyi ooo! Nairobi welcomed me with a chilly breeze. I have never felt this cold before, to think that this is Africa…These guys are more adapted to the British – our common colonial masters. Most people bear their Christian ‘English’ names....
Kenya: First World Problems in a Third World Country
Bankelele looks at first world problems in a third world country: “Ory (@kenyanpundit) reigned some of us with a recent comment that people are complaining on twitter about a lack of parking at the Junction Mall in Nairobi, while there are people near there who don't have enough food to...
Ghana: Ghana should not ban second-hand cars
The Ghanaian Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, says that legislation will be coming into Ghana to ban the importation of second -hand cars. Bello disagrees:”How are Ghanaians supposed to afford brand new cars? We don't have our own car manufacturing industry to drive costs down.”
Caucasus: Frozen Conflicts, Forgotten Lives?
Marginalized by society and deprived of a voice by the mainstream media, can new media offer an alternative to refugees and IDPs in the South Caucasus?
Guatemalan Children Caught in the Cycle of Starvation
Guatemala Solidarity Network posts an article by Natasha Pizzey-Siegert entitled ‘The children of Guatemala are starving’ where she writes that, “a slow, deep hunger has been building in Guatemala for decades. And now it’s destroying a generation.”
Paraguay: Photos of the Pilgrimage to Caacupé
Yluux published a photo essay [es] on the pilgrimage to the city of Caacupé on December 7 and 8: “hundreds of thousands flock [to the city] from all over the country to pay homage to the Virgin of Caacupé.”
