Stories from 13 March 2012
Tunisia: The New Phase of Social Media
The use of social media has grown popular during the days of the Tunisian revolution in early January 2011. Today, netizens and politicians maintain a presence online to reach target audiences to fulfill their goals. Ahmed Medien takes us behind the scenes.
Bhutan: The Indian Currency Crunch
The Indian rupee is accepted as a legal currency in Bhutan along with the ngultrum. Penstar reports that a crisis is brewing in the country as all the banks were ordered to close the accounts held by non-resident Indians to tackle the Indian currency crunch.
Syria: Campaign to Stop One Year of Bloodshed
To mark the first anniversary of the violence accompanying the Syrian revolution, which started on March 15, 2011, a campaign is being launched to mount a global call on world leaders to unite and stop the bloodshed.
Iran: ‘May God bring bread to empty tables’
An Iranian blogger based in Tehran posted a Libyan cartoon on his official blog and briefly writes [fa]: ‘Coming new Iranian year, I wish God brings food to all the empty tables so no respectful father would be ashamed with his family’. The cartoon shows a father painting fruits on an...
Iran: The sanctions are resulting in inflation
A Persian blog focused on economics writes [fa]: Inflation is Iran is a result of sanctions against the country and high liquidity. The unknown writer of this blog believes: The market can not be reined without tuning down the international tensions and reducing the liquidity.
Iran: Wednesday Feast with crackers and fireworks
This evening Iranians are celebrating ChaharShanbeh-Suri (the Wednesday Feast) in Tehran and other cities, with fireworks and crackers which are called ‘pomegranates’ informally. The eve of last Tuesday of the Iranian year is marked by special customs and rituals, most notably jumping over fire. Some Iranian users are expressing their objection...
Iran: The 4th enemy of Internet
Reporters Without Borders considers Iran as the 4th ‘enemy of Internet’, after Burma, China and Cuba. The annual report of RSF on ‘World day against cyber-censorship’ says [en]: Iran has intensified online crackdowns and surveillance again this year. The regime has also continued to demonize the new media, accusing them...
Singapore: “Blackest Month for Bloggers”
Citing the numerous legal cases filed by Singapore public officials against prominent bloggers in the past month, Teo Soh Lung described the month of February 2012 as the “blackest month for bloggers and every Singaporean who treasures the right to free speech.”
Cuba: Preparing for the Pope
Havana Times says that “everything seems to be ready to welcome the Pope, who will visit Cuba from March 26 to 28″, while babalu cautions that “with the upcoming Papal visit to Cuba, it's important to remember who the real Catholics in Cuba are.”
Cuba: Dual Citizenship
“Lynden Pindling International Airport is the place of metamorphosis, the place to assert the dual nationality that is not recognized in their own country”: Generation Y blogs about an unlikely connection between Cuba and the Bahamas.
South Korea: Guidelines for Stopping Jeju Naval Base Constructions
The Global Justice blog wrote about what individuals can do to promote and encourage protests against the Jeju naval base construction which has been blamed for destroying a rare ecosystem and disrupting the resident's livelihoods. Recently violent clashes between the government and protesters erupted as the construction launch date draws...
Barbados: Media Ownership
Veteran Caribbean journalist Julius Gittens touches on issues of media ownership and calls for reflections on the adequacy of the existing structures and for ideas to spawn new ones…he is also sceptical of the notion that technology has reduced the need for conventional journalism: “Already in the Caribbean…so-called social media have made traditional...
Singapore: Keeping Internet Safe
Andrew Loh reacts to the proposal of the Singapore government to develop an Internet code of conduct. The blogger suggests alternative ways to keep internet safe for young people.
Unemployment Woes of Young Singaporeans
Gilbert Goh writes about the unemployment woes faced by young Singaporeans, in particular those who belong to the so-called Generation Y.
Korea: Criticisms Mount against China for Repatriating North Korean Defectors
The Marmot's hole blog displayed interesting discussion threads on Chinese repatriation of North Korean defectors. Several reports revealed last week Chinese government sent back 31 North Korean defectors to North Korea where even families who helped those to escape from the country are being arrested and interrogated.
Singapore's Last Fishing Village
Remember Singapore posts pictures of Seletar Fishing Village which is described as “one of the last places in Singapore where you can find local fishermen making a living by the sea”
Trinidad & Tobago: Bagoo Raid Raises Question of Press Freedom
Just over a month ago, the offices of Newsday, one of Trinidad and Tobago's daily newspapers, were raided by the police. They were looking for information and sources related to an article written by journalist and blogger Andre Bagoo, whose home was also placed under surveillance and searched. While much of the online discussion was happening within the confines of Facebook, there was also a fair bit of blogger commentary on the issue.
Intercontinental Cry Will Launch Spanish Edition
Ahni announces the upcoming Spanish edition of Intercontinental Cry [es], which will go live on March 31, 2012. “The main objective of IC Espanol is, of course, to provide Spanish readers with the same news that our English readers have come to expect from us; what I consider to be...
Brazil: Citizens Say No to Aquarium in Fortaleza
Citizens of Fortaleza are urging the governor of the Brazilian state of Ceará, Cid Gomes, to halt an Aquarium project which has had no public bidding. Critics argue it will rise land prices and force families to leave. Mobilization took to the streets on carnival, spread on Twitter with #AcquarioNao...
France: Why Celebrated Film ‘The Artist’ Isn't Such a Hit at Home
In February 2012, French and world cinema history was made after five Oscars were awarded to the film 'The Artist' and its leading actor Jean Dujardin. But despite winning Oscars, the film did not enjoy critical acclaim in France.
Brazil: Bloggers Sued for Denouncing Corruption in Alagoas
Mário Júnior and Alexandre Fleming, on Blog do Fleming, denounced [pt] in July 2011 that the Secretary of Budget and Planning and Economic Development, Energy and Logistics, Luiz Otavio Gomes Silva, from the Brazilian state of Alagoas, was benefiting “individual customers with government incentives.” Now, in 2012, bloggers were sued...
