3 May 2012

Stories from 3 May 2012

Bahamas: Election Suggestion

  3 May 2012

Two posts from Weblog Bahamas on the country's upcoming elections, here (about a contentious oil drilling issue) and here (which offers a suggestion on what should guide voters come Monday).

Guatemala: Community Leader Dies in Clashes in Santa Cruz Barillas

  3 May 2012

The blog Asamblea Departamental por la Defensa del Territorio- Huehuetenango [es] published an urgent statement about the death of Santa Cruz Barillas community leader Andrés Francisco Miguel and attacks on other community leaders who oppose the construction of a hydroelectric dam. Today, May 3, the BBC reports: “The Guatemalan government has...

India: Photo Essay On Working Mothers

  3 May 2012

Pattabi Raman’s photo essay on working mothers in parts of rural India is up at the International Museum for women. The photo essay highlights issues that are specific to women in parts of rural India, such as the threat of displacement due to industrialization.

Russia: Crowdsourcing to Solve Local Urban Problems

Solving problems at the local level, the kind encountered by inhabitants of big cities and regional centers, is becoming more and more feasible thanks to projects based on crowdsourcing technology. Crowdsourcing is getting groups of people involved in the discussion and resolution of all sorts of different problems, ranging from firefighting to election-monitoring.

Liberia: Will Social Media Increase Civic Engagement?

  3 May 2012

Global Voices author Counselor Track talks to Shelby Grossman about the use of social media in Liberia. Shelby is a blogger and a PhD candidate in the Department of Government at Harvard University. She has field experience in Liberia, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone.

Sudan/South Sudan: Voicing Hope for #newSUDANS

  3 May 2012

In the wake of the secession of South Sudan from Sudan in July 2011 and the recent clashes between the two countries over the oil-rich region of Heglig, citizens of both Sudans found themselves in the middle of an ugly upheaval. In her first post for Global Voices, Maha Elsanosi shows us how they are using the hashtag #newSUDANS to give peace a chance.

Yemen: Anger at Expansion of US Drone War

The United States has recently expanded its campaign of drone strikes in Yemen, to widespread anger and concern. Drone strikes against suspected Al Qaeda operatives have been launched under expanded authority allowing the CIA and military to fire without knowing the targets' identity.

Bahamas: Last Thoughts on Elections

  3 May 2012

Bahamians go the polls in the country's general election on Monday. With less than a week left before voting day, bloggers are posting their thoughts about their political choices.

Madagascar: Two Journalists in Jail on World Press Freedom Day

  3 May 2012

Lalatiana Rakotondrazafy et Fidèle Razarapiera, two radio journalists of Free FM Radio in Madagascar are held at the police station [fr] of Betongolo, Antananarivo for libel and diffusing political news [fr] that do not conform with the original radio programming agreement. Blogger Teraka Randriatsoa explains the context of the conflict [fr] between Free FM Radio station,...

China: Phone calls between Teng Biao and Chen Guangcheng

  3 May 2012

Chinese activist, Chen Guangcheng, who has escaped house arrest and fled into the U.S embassy in Beijing has stepped out of the embassy and now having his body check in Chaoyang hospital. The are many speculation about his move and the transcript of phone calls between human rights lawyer Teng...

China: Tibetan Netizen Responses to the Self-Immolations in Tibet

  3 May 2012

The April 2012 special “Hot Spots” online issue of the academic journal Cultural Anthropology focuses on the recent self-immolations in Tibet with a comprehensive background page. It features an impressive collection of scholarly responses to the self-immolations by well-known Tibet scholars such as Tsering Shakya, Janet Gyatso and Elliot Sperling....