6 March 2012

Stories from 6 March 2012

Tanzania: Support Operation 365

Be part of Operation 365, a project idea from Marisa Ranieri who is taking her first post-graduate job as a high school teacher in Tanzania: “To defray some of the...

6 March 2012

Russia: Sex, Women, Putin and Videos

RuNet Echo

Young women calling on co-enthusiasts to rip off their clothes for Putin last summer, seemed to have disappeared from the scene. As the election season draws to a close in Russia, it is worth taking a look back at how that movement evolved, and how it inspired other women - both, for and against Putin - to get creative.

6 March 2012

Cuba: Communication Cut-Off

On the heels of a visit from the Archbishop of Havana, Uncommon Sense questions the motives behind “cut[ting] off all communication between [a political prisoner on hunger strike] and his...

6 March 2012

Honduras: In Sabanagrande, Making Fun of Police is No Joke

Amidst numerous accusations of police corruption in Honduras, a cultural tradition held every year in the town of Sabanagrande has increased the tension between civilians and police. Blogger Fabricio Estrada, a poet from Sabanagrande, shares the story in his blog.

6 March 2012

East Timor: Nation Loses a Treasured Political Elder

Online tributes pour in after the loss of one of East Timor's political elders, known affectionately as "Grandfather". Francisco "Avó" Xavier do Amaral was the declarer of independence in 1975, and returned to a free East Timor to serve in the Constituent Assembly and parliament. He was a three-time candidate for president.

6 March 2012

Armenia: Eurovision propaganda fiasco

Unzipped comments on a call by Armenian singers to boycott this year's annual Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, Azerbaijan. Armenia and Azerbaijan remain deadlocked in a conflict over the disputed...

6 March 2012

Madagascar: Protesting Endemic Poverty

Rivonala Razafison reports in Africa Review that “scores of Antananarivo residents wore black clothes to denounce poverty in the country”.  He adds that Madagascar has experienced over 10 different forms of protests...

6 March 2012

Brazil: Pay TV Giant Campaigns Against New Act

Act 12.485/1, approved by Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff on September 2011, establishing new rules for pay television, has already created controversy among satellite television providers, subscribers and independent producers. Satellite TV provider, SKY, created a campaign to end the act, and several people in the industry have not been pleased with it.

6 March 2012