Stories from 7 February 2012
Spain: A Letter From Syria
Take the Square publishes a letter from Khaled Khalifa from Syria: “I would like to inform you that my people is being subjected to a genocide.”
Cuba: On Yoani Sánchez and Dilma Rousseff
La Pupila Insomne republishes a ferocious critique of the press coverage [es] of Yoani Sánchez's plea to the President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff to intervene with the Cuban government to grant her the exit permit to travel to Brasil for the screening of a documentary in which she appears.
Cuba: Letters to the Editor
Elaine Díaz comments on and critiques the state-run newspaper Granma's publishing politics of letters from [es] the readers.
Cuba: New Angle on Wilman Villar Case
The Miami Herald reports that the widow of Wilman Villar -the Cuban prisoner who died recently after a hunger strike purportedly in protest against the government- has confirmed that her husband was put in jail after being arrested for domestic violence.
Cuba: Fatal Collapse in Downtown Havana Stirs Online Debate
Over the last three weeks, two buildings have collapsed in downtown Havana. Bloggers from Voces Cubanas and Havana Times saw the incidents as clear evidence of state officials' negligence of housing conditions in the city.
Pakistan: Deadly Pills
Talha Bin Ayub at Teeth Maestro takes a look into the sordid state of health care delivery systems in Pakistan.
Peru: Following the Great Water March
It has been seven days since the Great Water March set off, on February 1, from the heights of Celendín, Cajamarca, where the lakes threatened by the Conga mining project are located. Netizens can follow the march's progress through citizen videos, photos and reports.
Latin America: Energy Podcasts in English
Setty recommends the Institute of the Americas’ English-language podcast series on energy in Latin America.
Guatemala: The Role of Women in Decision Making
Hector Javier Tecum blogs about the role of women in Guatemalan politics for Americas Quarterly [es]. He argues that the inclusion of women in decision-making positions is still a challenge for the country.
Peru's President Ollanta Humala: A ‘Chávez’ or a Washington Ally?
In a post for Foreign Policy in Focus, W. Alex Sanchez wonders about Peru's president Ollanta Humala: “Humala: Chavez Clone or Washington Partner?”
Mexico: Josefina Vázquez Mota Wins PAN Primary
Bloggings by boz reports that “Josefina Vázquez Mota, a member of Congress and President Calderon's former secretary of education and secretary of social development, won the PAN [National Action Party] primary yesterday and will be their candidate for president.” He goes on to explain why he thinks her victory is “the...
Maldives: President Resigns After Mutiny
Mohamed Nasheed, the president of Maldives most famously known as a climate champion, announced his resignation on Tuesday, after the military forces joined the police mutiny against his rule.
Trinidad & Tobago: Children's Rights
West Indian Mother thinks that “it's high time we start acting in defense of our children and treat them with the respect that is the right of every human being. ”
Swaziland: The Hypocrisy of King Mswati III
Richard Rooney discusses the hypocrisy of King Mswati III of Swaziland: “King Mswati III of Swaziland is being hypocritical when he expresses disappointment at individuals who continue to plunder state resources for personal benefit. That’s because he is the biggest plunderer of state resources and he has bled his subjects...
Gambia: International Chef Talks About Working in the Gambia
Kathryn interviews Jonathan Groves, the executive chef at Ngala Lodge in the Gambia: “Have you ever cooked for 900 people for a wedding and have 1,500 turn up! No, unsurprisingly, me neither. Jonathan Groves, the superb chef at Ngala Lodge has.”
Africa: Do You Need a Handbook For Bush Flying?
“Low timer pilots handbook to bush flying?,” Bush Pilot in Swakopund asks: “I was wondering if any of you would be interested in an e-book that has all the information about the where's, how's and what's of the job hunt in Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania (and also some other information I...
Ghana: Three ICT Books Launched
Three ICT books have been launched in Ghana, Seth Bokpe reports: “THREE books on Information Communication Technology (ICT) have been launched in Accra to enhance the teaching and learning of the subject in educational institutions.”
Cuba: Get Mad
Without Evasion shares her wish for 2012: “To see Cuba full of angry people, for it is on that day that we will be closer to such longed for rights and democracy.”
Bahamas: University of the Bahamas?
Larry Smith at Bahama Pundit wonders what the keep-back is with establishing a Bahamian university, saying: “An autonomous university would be a big step to achieving such a counterweight to political inertia (and I suspect that's the real issue here).”
Cuba: Young Activist
Pedazos de la Isla blogs about a sixteen-year-old dissident who “calls on ‘all Cuban students’ to join the resistance to end with the Castro dictatorship.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Carnival Must-Haves
Travel blogger Rishi Sankar lists nine items every man should have for Trinidad Carnival.
