Stories from 4 April 2012
India: The ‘Coup’ That Never Was
On 4 April, an article in 'the Indian Express' reported about an attempted coup mentioning that two key Indian Army units had moved towards Delhi without notifying the government on the night of January 16-17. Everybody from the government to the common people have dismissed the Indian Express front-page story.
Cuba: Heated Controversy Over Scholarly Forum Continues
Over the last few weeks, state media in Cuba have alleged that the independent scholarly forum, Estado de SATS (State of SATS), is supported by United States government agencies that wish to subvert the Cuban government. Bloggers reflect on the debate.
Bulgaria: Light on a Mysterious Death
The collaborative media outlet svobodnoslovo.com writes [bg] about a new book by Lyubomir Levchev [bg], who mentions Lyudmila Jivkova's death 30 years ago. It has always been reported that Jivkova, the daughter of Bulgaria's last communist dictator, died in a car accident. Levchev explains, however, that she might have been...
Mauritania: Complex Problem of Slavery
Erin Pettigrew discusses the complex problem of slavery in Mauritania: “I’ve been working in Mauritania on and off for the past eight years and this issue of ‘slavery’ is still one I am struggling to fully understand. I certainly cringe every time I see a young black child working in...
China's richest city in 2012
Xinjiang far west China introduced a Xinjiang city, Karamay, the richest city in China in 2012. The Wealth of the newly established city comes from oil.
Panama: A Video Testimony on Mining in the Azuero Peninsula
Joao Quiróz from Medio Cerrado [es] interviews Joaquín Moreno, a resident of the Herrera province in the Azuero Peninsula in Panamá, about mining. Joaquín tells Joao about his opposition to a mining project in the area.
Greece: Public Suicide of 77 Year Old Man in Athens Square
All Greece was shocked this morning by the news that Dimitris Christoulas, aged 77, shot himself in the head around 9 am, in full view of passersby in Syntagma Square, Athens, across from the Parliament building. Before the shot, he reportedly shouted that he "didn't want to leave any debts to his children".
Jamaica, U.S.A.: Asking for Justice in Martin Killing
Of the “Wild Wild West” killing of Trayvon Martin, Abeng News Magazine says: “When stories like these emerge from the streets of cities in the Middle East and other countries in the developing world, Western political leaders and ‘rights’ agencies lambast the nations as lawless and prepare to depose their...
Netizens’ reactions to China Election Monitors to Myanmar
Joe from ChinaSMACK translated netizens’ reactions to Chinese government's election monitor tour to Myanmar. Many comments mocked at the hypocrisy of China monitoring a foreign election when China itself has no direct elections.
Brazil: Indigenous Rights and the Suspension of the Teles Pires Dam
Brazilian blogger Sonia Martuscelli reproduces [pt] an open letter on the suspension of the license for the construction of the controversial Teles Pires Dam, in an area of the Amazon forest inhabited by the indigenous peoples of Kayabi, Apiaka and Mundukuru ethnicities. The natives require measures to ensure their rights...
Argentina and the Falkland Islands: 30 Years After the Armed Conflict
Argentina and the Falkland Islands faced a major anniversary of the armed conflict that began on April 2,1982 and lasted until June of that year. Argentinians, Britons and Falklanders express themselves on the Internet 30 years on, when sovereignty still hasn't been resolved.
Swaziland: King Demands Cows From the Poor
Multimillionaire King Mswati of Swaziland demands cows from the poor: “King Mswati III of Swaziland’s demand that his impoverished subjects supply him with cattle to slaughter for his birthday party has been met with anger and scorn. The king is estimated to have a personal fortune of US$200 million while...
Armenia: Young Author Faces Military Censorship
Hovhannes Ishkhanyan, a 24-year-old former conscript in the Armenian military, has found himself in hot water in the former Soviet republic after penning a literary work detailing life in the country's army.
Georgia: Forbes magazine accused of self-censorship
The Transparency International Georgia blog examines the case of the Georgian edition of the influential Forbes magazine following the resignation of its editor-in-chief who alleges that the magazine's publishers are practicing self-censorship ahead of parliamentary elections to be held later this year.
Haiti: Women & the Spoken Word (Part 2)
Haitian-American spoken-word artist Melissa Beauvery talks to Global Voices about the inspiration for her first project, the importance of oral tradition and the close-knit community that is the Haitian diaspora.
