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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
