Stories from 10 April 2012
India: Illegal Asphalt Plant's Pollution Causes Cancer in Villagers
A video report by Video Volunteers' India Unheard project exposes the plight of a community in Rajasthan, is where the people and farms are being affected by the pollution caused by several illegal asphalt factories. Juliana Rincón Parra reports.
Topics of Interest in the Caribbean Blogosphere
The Caribbean blogosphere has been talking about an array of different issues over the last week or so. Here's a look at some of them…
Greece: Abbot Released Over Ecclesiastical Real-Estate Scandal
Mixed online reactions have met the news that Elder Ephraim, abbot of Vatopedi monastery on Greece's Mount Athos, who was implicated in a scandal arranging land swaps between Vatopedi and the state, has been released from jail after only four months of detention. The scandal cost the Greek government millions of euros.
Bolivia: Activists Push for Better Internet Connectivity
In Bolivia, Internet connections are among the most expensive in the world. Service is slow and not yet available for the majority of its population. A group of activists is advocating both online and offline for decent internet connections.
Africa: Access to Water and Sanitation Services Still a Burden
Babatope Babalobi, Secretary General WASH-JN [Water, sanitation and Hygiene journalists network (WASH)] discusses two meetings on water and sanitation held in Marseilles last month: “It seems that the organisers of the two events wrongly assumed that all citizens are able to access water and sanitation services through public or privately...
Iran: Instagram users to lose access
A few hours after announcement on Facebook acquisition of famous mobile application Instagram, Iranian users are complaining about losing access to their older photos on the service. Mehrdad, based in Tehran, says [Fa]: ‘I can not load any image older than a couple of days without anti-filter tools’.
Chile: Short Film on Kayaking ‘Shows Chile at its Best’
“Breathless in Chile” is a short film that has been submitted to the 2012 Kayak Session Best Short Film of the Year Awards. Blogger Robert L. Funk says that the film “shows Chile at its best.” You can watch the five-minute film on Vimeo.
Myanmar: Suspended Dam Project May Reopen Again
The Democratic Voice of Burma reports about a leaked government document which suggests the reopening of a suspended dam project in Myanmar. The dam construction was suspended after it was actively opposed by local communities.
Indonesia: Promoting Sexual Rights
Irin tackles the difficulty of promoting gender and women rights in Indonesia. In particular, sexual violence victims are unable to seek redress because of ‘archaic’ laws and traditions in the country
Philippines: Netizens Unite to Save Pine Trees
Filipino netizens are using the hashtag #savebaguiopinetrees to protest the plan of a mall owned by the country's richest man to cut 182 pine trees in order to construct a parking lot in Baguio City in northern Philippines
Trinidad & Tobago: It's Play Time!
West Indian Mother blogs about play as a path to productivity.
Puerto Rico: Kike Estrada's Cartoons Live on the Internet
Enrique "Kike" Estrada is a cartoonist of an endangered species in Puerto Rico. For a cartoonist with his sense of humor, the Internet is the perfect place to exhibit his work. In this online space, he found the freedom to express his point of view. Angel Carrión interviews him.
Controversy on North Korea's Satellite Launch
North Korea invited foreign reporters to its satellite launch facility, asserting that the launch is peaceful in purpose. North Korea Tech blog wrote about the ongoing controversy and suspicions surrounding North Korea's space program.
Mali : Opinions of a Blogger on the Military Coup
On his blog Askia Mohamed [fr] reviews the military coup of March 21, 2012 and in a post entitled Un peuple-Un but-Une foi [fr] (‘One people – One Aim – One Faith’), following a brief summary of the current situation, puts the Tuareg rebellion in an historical context.
China: An Insider's Reflection on Keyword Filtering Programs
A reflective article written by a computer programmer about his experience in developing a program for keyword filtering on mobile devices .
Tunisia: Martyrs’ Day Clashes Leave Many Wounded
Tunisia's netizens and activist community were shocked on April 6, by the police response to a planned protest to mark Martyrs' Day. It came a day after a smaller protest by jobless young people was attacked by the police.
Greece: A Poem and a Song for Dimitris Christoulas
“He has the touch of history / And white hair / Mister Dimitris”. On April 6, the anniversary of the German invasion in Greece during World War 2, Stamatis Kalogeropoulos posted a poem [el] and a song on his blog, Ποίηση κι Αφήγηση (Poetry and Narration), written in memory of 77-year old Dimitris Christoulas, whose...
Russia: Astrakhan Becomes Opposition's New Rallying Cause
Astrakhan mayoral candidate Oleg Shein's cause is becoming the biggest rallying point for an anti-Kremlin opposition that has spent the last month struggling to rediscover its direction. Today, a hunger strike by Shein and several of his supporters is entering its fourth week, with rumors flying that participants' lives are in danger.
