20 January 2012

Stories from 20 January 2012

Cuba: “Free Isn't Easy”

Blogger and Global Voices author Ellery Biddle reflects on freedom of speech in thinking about the recent struggle against the United States proposed anti-piracy bill Stop Online Piracy (SOPA) and...

20 January 2012

Puerto Rico: The 365 Project

The online edition of the magazine Cruce has published some of the photographs the photojournalist José Rodrigo Madera [es] shot as part of his 365 project: a photo for every day...

20 January 2012

Puerto Rico: Levels of Crime?

In response to an editorial suggesting that the citizenry “may have been complicit in the senseless murder of Karla Negrón, the latest victim of a stray bullet on New Year's...

20 January 2012

Guyana: First Female Colonel

Repeating Islands notes that “in a history making moment, the promotion of Guyana’s first female Colonel was today announced. She is the region’s first serving female colonel.”

20 January 2012

Zambia: Blogger Challenges Ex-ruling Party's Query On Guy Scott's Appointment

The former ruling party, the MMD, has questioned the legality of the appointment of independent Zambia’s first white Vice President, Dr Guy Scott, threatening to take the matter to the court of law to determine its constitutionality. But one Zambian blogger argues that Dr Scott qualifies hold the office of Vice President and even to stand for the office of president.

20 January 2012

Liberia: Was the Presidential Oath of Office Taken Improperly?

Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took the oath of office on January 16, 2012 in Monrovia. One Liberian blogger argues that Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is not Liberia's President because she did not raise her right hand and kiss the Bible while taking the oath as the procedure requires.

20 January 2012

Brazil: Toll Roads, Constitutional or Too Much?

After the approval of the Urban Mobility Law in the beginning of 2012, a discussion surrounding toll roads in all national territory came back into play. According to the law, cities will be able to charge an “urban toll” with the intention of diminishing automobile traffic and improve circulation around the cities. However, the implementation of yet another toll makes internal mobility impracticable for a portion of the population, given that several important federal and state highways have already been privatized.

20 January 2012

Russia: Mafia State Review

Kelly Hignett of The View East reviews Luke Harding's Russia-critical book Mafia State on his dire experiences as a foreign correspondent in Russia.

20 January 2012

Ukraine: Tormenting Trial

LEvko of Foreign Notes criticizes the ongoing trial against former Ukrainian Interior Minister, Yuri Lutsenko, as procedures display an abnormal amount of legal irregularities.

20 January 2012