Stories from 10 January 2012
Brazil: Murder of Indigenous Child Provokes Reactions
The murder of an indigenous Awá-Gwajá child, allegedly burnt alive by loggers in the state of Maranhao, Brazil, has caused outrage throughout the Internet, as well as disbelief by many in the face of such cruelty. Raphael Tsavkko Garcia reports.
Lebanon: Blogosphere Facts & Figures of 2011
Lebanon Aggregator posts its annual “Facts and Figures” about the Lebanese blogosphere. In it you can get, among other things, figures on the increase in number of blogs, facts on blogs becoming books, various specialized blogs and who is reading these blogs, among other tidbits.
Iran:”Google is a spying tool”
The head of the national security forces, Esmail Ahmadi-Moghaddam, says [fa] Google is a spying tool not a search engine.
Philippines: Filipina Amazons
Vina Lanzona's new history book, Amazons of the Huk Rebellion, tells the many stories of Filipina women involved in the Huk Rebellion from the 1940s up to the 1950s. This is reviewed online at The PCIJ Blog.
Philippines: Davao Tagalog
RM Bulesco blogs about what he calls “Davao Tagalog,” a mongrel language combing Cebuano, Tagalog, and other Filipino languages that is spoken in the southern Philippine city of Davao.
Vietnam: 2012 Predictions
Adam Bray lists his predictions for Vietnam's economy, politics, tourism, and environment sectors.
Myanmar: List of Freed Political Prisoners
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners – Burma has uploaded a list of the 34 freed political prisoners in Myanmar. According to the opposition, there are 591 political prisoners in the country.
Slovakia: The “Work vs Money” Dilemma
In East Slovakia, unemployed people were asked to get involved in a public flood protection project. Only four young men agreed. The rest refused, claiming that they'd be poorer if they took this job. Tibor Blazko writes about unemployment in Slovakia and translates the netizens' comments.
Myanmar: ‘Cosmetic’ Democratic Reforms
Prof Kanbawza Win warns global leaders not be deceived by the so-called democratic reforms in Myanmar: “The West should not be carried away by some cosmetic reforms and that Burma’s long-ruling military still wields enormous power despite a veneer of democracy provided by the sham elections with a dubious constitution.”
Myanmar: “The Somali pirates keep their promise”
A total of 1,400 prisoners including 33 political prisoners were released from Myanmar prisons this month. Reacting to the non-release of hundreds of political prisoners, activist and former detainee Zarganar Thura posted this statement on facebook: “I once likened the situation of my friends in jail as being in the...
Russia: The Russian Orthodox Church Re-Enters Politics
The Russian Orthodox Church has made an entrance into Russia's modern political climate through the contrasting speeches of two church officials- one called for war, the other for peace.
Hungary: “Hey Europe, Sorry About My Prime Minister”
Marietta Le reviews some Hungarian netizens' views on the January 2 protest against the country's new constitution.