Stories from 19 January 2012
Nepal: Attitude Towards Foreigners
Blogdai comments on the attitude of some Nepalis to the foreigners: “National unity cannot be built on xenophobia.”
Pakistan: Another Journalist Assassinated
Tazeen comments on the recent assassination of journalist Mukarram Khan Atif: “deaths and journalists’ murders are a sad reality in Pakistan, but what irritates me most is the way local...
Bhutan: Tobacco Act Amended!
Sonam Ongmo analyzes the latest amendment in the draconian Tobacco Act of Bhutan.
Iran:”Facebook prisoner” celebrates birthday in prison
Hanieh (Sharareh) Farshi Shotorban, an Iranian young woman who was arrested last year, reportedly, for her Facebook activities, celebrates birthday in Evin prison in prison. Hanieh is sentenced [fa] to...
Venezuela: Soledad Ramírez, One of Caracas’ Heroes
Ten years ago, Soledad Ramírez created the Rincón Infantil San Edmundo [es], a center that today helps 200 at-risk children from Minas de Baruta in Caracas. Journalist and blogger Mirelis...
Bolivia: March Demands Road Through TIPNIS
Last year we reported extensively on a march to protest a road that would go through the TIPNIS indigenous territory; on December 20, 2011, a group demanding the building of...
Uganda: Controversy Over King of Buganda's Child Out of Wedlock
On Tuesday January 17, 2012 the Buganda kingdom in Uganda announced the birth of a second son of their King (Kabaka), Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II. The announcement has sparked controversy and mixed reactions because the new prince was born out of wedlock.
Unhappy Hong Kong Envious of Taiwan's Democracy
Having witnessed Taiwan's 2012 presidential election, Derrick Tao, a Hong Kong photographer, made a video (with English subtitles) to contrast democratic development of the two societies. As a prosperous but...
Cuba: Fatalities in Building Collapse
Fatalities and injuries as a result of a building collapse in “of the worst-maintained neighbourhoods in the Cuban capital” causes Generation Y to comment: “How many others in this capital...
Bahamas: A Belief in Democracy
“To date, my country has not put in place anything to serve and build me; to every politician who has served in parliament in the time I have been voting,...
Trinidad & Tobago: Hopeless to Combat Crime?
Jumbie's Watch says that when it comes to crime, “the hopelessness and anguish are all too real”; Plain Talk adds: “The escalating murder toll is once again bringing the government's...
Cuba: Hunger Striker in Coma
Uncommon Sense posts an update on this Cuban political prisoner, saying: “Courageously taking his protest to the brink of death, Wilman Villar Mendoza tonight remains in a coma brought on...
Venezuela: Childhood, Dance, Folklore… and Propaganda
Carmen Helena González shared pictures of a dance rehearsal through a public photo album on Facebook titled "Venezuela dances to the tune of..." The pictures are accompanied by reflections questioning the presence of political propaganda in an educational setting.
Romania: Towards A European Spring?
Gabriela Ionita of Power&Politics World summarizes ongoing anti-government protests in Romania, draws parallels to the Arab spring, and asks if this is the start of a European wave of revolutions.
Russia: Line to a Drug Dealer in Novosibirsk
YouTube user Pepsick80 publishes a video [ru] of a drug dealer's selling point in Novosibirsk (city in Siberia). Several tens of cars and drug users standing in the line to...
MENA: Amnesty International's Forecast for 2012
“Repression and state violence is likely to continue to plague the Middle East and North Africa in 2012,” forecasts Amnesty International in an 80-page report. It documents the extreme violence deployed...
Russia: Oligarchs Day in Court
John Helmer of Dances With Bears accounts for the legal battle over business interests between Russian business tycoons Boris Berezovsky and Roman Abramovich, which is about to be finalised by...
Brazil: Movement Claims Right for Public Space During Carnival
The Carnival of Salvador, in Brazil, is one of the biggest street parties in the world. People from the city, however, have been fed up by the excess of commercialization and the transformation of public spaces into private provisional balconies. Organizing themselves through Facebook and Twitter protesters took action on January 14 demanding for private companies to withdraw their infra-structures from the streets.
Russia-US: Protest Against the SOPA/PIPA Bills
Windows to Russia writes about the Russian Pirate Party's protest demonstration yesterday against the US SOPA/PIPA-bills outside the US Embassy in Moscow, and how they argue that this might affect...
Russia: Underwater Fire
Dmitry Gorenburg of Russian Military Reform notes yet another fire onboard a Russian submarine, putting naval safety procedures further in question.
Russia: Kremlin Crisis Management
Ania Viver of Foreign Policy Blogs posts an interesting analysis on the Kremlin's attempts at calming down popular protests against the Russian leadership, and tries to explain why they fail...
