Stories from 15 March 2012
Colombia: New Pension System ‘Colpensiones’ Sparks Protests
After the government announced the transfer of the Social Security Institute [es] (ISS), a public pension fund, to Colpensiones [es], the new state entity that will administer the pension system starting April 2, the Central Union of Workers (CUT) called for protests [es] that were carried [es] in different cities. This has...
Dominica: Architectural Heritage
Dominica Weekly takes us on a virtual tour of the island's historic buildings.
Trinidad & Tobago: Political Fiction
The Eternal Pantomime says that it is becoming “very hard…to keep up with the many stories and angles to this new scandal with the PM’s travel assistant”, adding: “This govt is a fiction machine and churns them out faster than the Sweet Valley High series.”
Cuba: Antúnez Released
Uncommon Sense reports that “Cuban human rights activist Jorge Luis García Pérez Antúnez was released from jail Wednesday, three days after he was arrested.” Pedazos de la Isla supplies more details.
Barbados: Chattel House Garden
my rustic bajan garden discovers “a gem of a garden” belonging to the owner of a Barbadian chattel house.
Colombia Orders Arrest of Colombian Ambassador to Peru Jorge Visbal
Colombia's Attorney General ordered the arrest [es] of Colombian ambassador to Peru, Jorge Visbal Martelo, for alleged links with paramilitary groups. After the order Visbal resigned [es] and is expected to return to the country, as confirmed by his lawyer. Twitter users [es] are connecting him [es] with former President Alvaro...
Azerbaijan: Investigative Journalist Defiant After Blackmail Threat
According to Freedom House, Azerbaijan continues “to imprison journalists and bloggers who express dissenting opinions.” However, as one journalist discovered last week, there are other ways to silence critical voices in the oil-rich former Soviet republic.
United States: Errors During the Republican Campaign
Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney are not only competing to become the Republican candidate who will face Barack Obama this coming November, but also for whom commits the greater number of errors in a speech or interview. In his recent visit to Puerto Rico Santorum declared that speaking English was a prerequisite for it to become the 51st state.
Colombia: A “Football for All” Bill Proposed in Congress
Since the biggest TV cable operators could not reach a deal with the Colombian football administration for the rights of the domestic tournament matches until 2016, a Senator proposed a bill in order to break the “monopoly,” so the matches can be broadcast on over-the-air channels (only one of the...
Uganda: Yes We Kony!
A social media campaign to raise support for the arrest Ugandan guerrilla leader and wanted war criminal Joseph Kony has taken a humorous twist. Parody videos about the campaign are currently circulating online.
South Korea: Major Network TV Journalists and Producers Joined Forces in Protest For Fair Journalism
Following MBC workers’ indefinite strike against the company president and his censorship of news contents, journalists, producers and union workers of other major TV networks have joined the protest calling for fair journalism. One well-known journalist appeared on this video clip [ko] that encourages people to attend a rally planned on...
South Korea: Protests Erupted against the Free Trade Deal with United States
A controversial free trade agreement between the United States and South Korea took effect starting March 15, 2012, prompting protests in downtown Seoul, South Korea. The nation's citizen media, Wiki Tree consolidated tweet photos of the protest.
Brazil: Ministry Silences Report on Human Rights in Belo Monte
Brazilian journalist Leonardo Sakamoto comments [pt] on a news [pt] about a report he wrote for the government that denounces human rights abuses [pt] in the region affected by the Belo Monte Dam. The news points that almost one year after the visit, the report hasn't been formally discussed by...
China: Secret Arrest Law Passed
Samuel Wade from the China Digital Times translated some initial reactions from Twitter on the passing of a controversial amendment to China’s Criminal Procedure Law which provides legal ground to secret arrest and detention.
China: End of Chongqin Model Upon the Removal of Bo Xilai?
The former Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader of Chongqing, Bo Xilai, has been removed from his post and replaced by Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang. Some believe that it signifies the end of the Chongqing model, which adopts a Maoist populist approach to justify a hard-fist crackdown on organized crime. Does it mean that China will be more open now to initiating political reform?
Syria: “The Day We Knew What It Meant to Be Syrian”
Today marks the first anniversary of the uprising in Syria. On Twitter, Syrians and their allies utilized the #Syria and #March15 hashtags to commemorate the day, remember the country's martyrs, and reflect on the year behind them.
Bahrain: Save Bahraini Children From the Regime
The suffering of Bahraini children was the highlight of a Twitter campaign aimed at highlighting how youngsters have fared during the country's one-year uprising. Mona Kareem takes a closer look at netizen reactions.
Morocco: Girl Forced to Marry Her Rapist Commits Suicide
Amina, a 16-year-old girl from Larache in northern Morocco, who was forced to marry her rapist, chose to put an end to her life by swallowing rat poison. Amina's story deeply touched, and outraged Moroccan netizens, who have been using the Twitter has tag #RIPAmina to mourn the young girl.
Syria: Crackdown Against Journalists Continues
With thousands killed, tortured, arrested and disappeared, the Syrian struggle continues amid unprecedented brutality. In its attempt to silence activists, the regime has stepped up its crackdown against journalists, bloggers and video activists. Salma Yafi, a student of Journalism and member for the National Development Party, is one of the regime's latest victims.
Lebanon: Picture An Arab Man
Rania Massoud repost on her personal blog [fr] her article published by Lebanese daily L'orient-Le jour about a photography project undertaken by Tamara Abdul Hadi. “Picture an Arab man” wishes to update the image of today's Arab men by photographing men from every Arab country in the nude.
Hong Kong: Everyday Misery Unaddressed in Small Circle Mayoral Election
On the eve of the election of the Chief Executive in Hong Kong, a netizen presents a video showing the miserable life of Hong Kong people which hasn't been given enough attention in the upcoming small circle election of the city's Chief Executive.
