Stories from 17 February 2012
Libya: Celebrations Mark Revolution's First Anniversary
Celebrations are continuing in Libya, which marks the first anniversary of a revolution that ousted Muammar Gaddafi, who ruled the country for 42 years. Netizens share scenes of the celebration and their feelings on micro-blogging site Twitter.
Costa Rica: Videos from the Past
A video by geographer Homer Dávila is making nostalgia grow on Facebook as people are reminded of the light traffic that used to be the norm between the capital city...
Bangladesh: Liveblogging TEDxDhaka
Farzana Rahman Sadia provided live updates of the proceedings of TEDxDhaka 2012, which took place today in the capital of Bangladesh.
Mexico: Citizen Initiative to the Clear the Streets of Election Trash
Every three years, the streets of Mexico are plastered with a thick layer of unending advertisements sporting images of smiling candidates for a variety of elected positions. But after the elections, the advertisements remain for days, weeks and even months. #QuitaUnAnuncio ["TakeDownAnAd"] is a citizen initiative to clean up Mexico City during the election period.
Curacao, Haiti: Media Mandate?
In light of prime minister Schotte's recent welcome of Haitian president Michel Martelly “(who repeatedly suggested a pardon or amnesty of Duvalier) [and] who publicly is seen with…ex dictator Baby...
Cuba: Thinking about Racism
Fernando Dámaso blogs about the complex issue racism in Cuba, here.
Trinidad & Tobago: These Boots were made for Jumping
Trinidadian bloggers go to town over a photograph of the Prime Minister at a Carnival fete sporting expensive brand-name shoes: B.C. Pires says: “She’s bound to get flak for such...
Bermuda: Media Shapes Public's Political Views
Respice Finem says that “two important aspects of the news media on our Island merit attention…first, almost all of the news is event driven with very little investigative journalism. The...
Martinique, USA, France: Jesse Jackson's message to Serge Letchimy
B.World Connection posts a letter [En/Fr] with the heading of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition whose leader is Reverend Jesse Jackson: apparently, the Reverend would support the reaction of MP Serge...
Reports on North Korea Cell Phone Ban is Incorrect
A Cario-based telecommunication company and the majority owner of North Korea’s cellular network., Orascom corrected recent media reports which claimed that North Koreans have been banned from using mobile phone...
Brazil: LGBT AIDS Prevention Campaign Excluded From TV
Marcelo Gerald, from the blog Eleições Hoje, comments [pt] on the alleged censorship by the Brazilian Ministry of Health of a recently launched campaign on AIDS prevention, focused on the...
Japan: Netizens Cast Doubt on Anti-Nuclear Power Poster
On March 11, 2011, the largest earthquake in the history struck Japan, and the resulting tsunami irreversibly damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. An anti-nuclear power poster has triggered arguments on the multifaceted impact of visual art.
France, Equitorial Guinea: The Search for “Ill-Gotten Gains” of an African Head of State
The blogger Menilmuche reports [fr] that a massive search began on February 14th at the home of Teoforo Obiang, the son of the president of Equatorial Guinea, in his Parisian...
Tunisia: LGBT Outrage at Human Rights Minister's Comments
The Tunisian Minister of Human Rights has stated on a private Tunisian TV channel that freedom of expression has limits when it comes to Tunisian queers to express themselves. He also compared homosexuality to sexual perversion and mental illness. The country's LGBT community responds.
Syria: Razan Ghazzawi Arrested … Again
Syrian security forces have arrested Syrian blogger and freedom of speech advocate Razan Ghazzawi again, along with 13 of her colleagues. Hisham Almiraat reports.
Zambia: Neighbors Help Celebrate AFCON 2012 Victory
Zambia’s victory over Ivory Coast in the finals of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2012) co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea has been celebrated by Zambians and neighboring Southern African nations alike.
Tunisia: Visit of an Egyptian Islamist Preacher Causes Uproar
Wajdi Ghonim, an Egyptian Islamist preacher has recently visited Tunisia, where he gave a series of religious lectures. His visit has been the centre of a heated debate on citizen media and angered many in Tunisia, because of his support for female genital mutilation.
Morocco: New Video Calls on Moroccans to “Wake Up”
As we approach the first anniversary of the start of the youth-based pro-democracy movement “February 20“, activists are calling for a nationwide demonstration. Anartiviste posted this video on YouTube to...
Bangladesh: Government Observation of Facebook Ignites Debate
For a while now, the Bangladeshi authorities have been keeping an eye on the social media space and the country's Facebook users are increasingly finding themselves in the eye of the storm. Recently the country's High Court sentenced an university teacher to a 6 month jail term after he failed to appear in court to face trial regarding his Facebook status update.
Bolivia: Conflict Over Road Through TIPNIS National Park Continues
In October 2011 President Evo Morales signed off a law declaring the Indigenous Territory National Park Isiboro Sécure "untouchable", cancelling the road project that sought pass through its heart. However, the conflict has resurfaced.
Sao Tome and Principe: Series on Education, Genre, Arts & Culture in Video
Brazilian journalist Dani Moura, from Jornal Futura, published on her Youtube channel a series of short pieces on Sao Tome and Principe: she reported on education and children feeding in...
