Stories from 3 January 2012
Southeast Asia in 2011: A Year of Protest
#bersih, #bersih2, #bersihstories, #occupydataran, #campoutph, #walk4freedom, #sawangsawa. These are the protest hashtags of the year in Southeast Asia. Global Voices reviews several protest movements in the region in the past year that echoed the radical politics of Arab Spring and Occupy.
Latin America, 2011: A Year Marked by Social Movements
Citizens across the world took to the streets in 2011, and Latin America was no exception. In this post we look at the social movements that marked 2011 in South and Central America and how protests, vigils, marches and occupations were covered and analyzed through citizen media.
Turkey: Remembering the Turkish Schindlers
Writing on the Huffington Post, Ziya Meral explains why honoring those Turks that saved Armenians during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire is important. Meral argues that recognizing these ‘Turkish Schindlers’ would go some way in defusing tensions between Armenia and Turkey, making the events of 1915 a shared tragedy....
Zambia: Opposition Leader Addresses Facebook Parliament in a First
Zambia’s opposition National Restoration Party (NAREP) president Elias Chipimo Jr. has become the country’s first politician to “address” the make believe 1,318 member Facebook Zambian parliament after he was allowed by the “Speaker” to post his end of year message.
Tunisia: 2011 in Citizen Media Photos
The year 2011 was a year of change in Tunisia. It started with the fall of the regime of Zeine El Abidine Ben Ali, and ended with Islamists' rise to power through the polls. Check out this photography post about the major events that marked Tunisia during the year.
Tunisia: Censorship and Freedom of Speech in the Year That Was
Ever since the fall of the regime of Ben Ali, Tunisians have been able to express themselves freely, protest, assemble, and enjoy unprecedented access to Internet like never before. But, since old habits die hard, the battle for freedom of speech in Tunisia will continue in 2012, writes Afef Abrougui.
Iran: Iranian activist's video message from prison
An Iranian political activist, Heshmatollah Tabarzadi, sent out a video message from the Rajayishahr prison. He said “repression and violence can not stop our movement”.
Arab World: Best of Arab Blogs
OpenDemocracy shares its list of the Best of Arab blogs here. Check out their list, which includes blogs from Egypt, Syria, Tunisia and Morocco, by clicking the link above.
Vietnamese Students in the US
Rahul Choudaha notes that the number of Vietnamese students in the United States had grown by more than six times in a decade.
Vietnam: Situation of Sex and Drug Rehabilitation Centers
Anand Grover, the UN's Special Rapporteur for the Human Rights Council, found Vietnam's rehabilitation centers as “ineffective, counterproductive, and a violation to the right of health.” His final report will be released this June
Vietnam: Memorable Statements of Public Officials in 2011
Mai Chi reviews some of the memorable statements made by Vietnamese officials in 2011
Vietnam: Video of a Child Laborer in a Garment Factory
Blue Dragon uploads a short video of a kid working in a garment factory in Central Vietnam.
Top Thai Films of 2011
Wise Kwai's Thai Film Journal lists the top five Thai films of 2011.