Stories from 3 May 2012
Bahamas: Election Suggestion
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).
Cuba: Where's the (Press) Freedom?
Today is World Press Freedom Day - but in the Caribbean blogosphere, a handful of Cuban diaspora bloggers are the only ones talking about it.
Guatemala: Community Leader Dies in Clashes in Santa Cruz Barillas
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
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?
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
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.
China and Africa: Exporting the Shenzhen Model
Mary Ann O'Donnell from Shenzhen Noted discussed about the exportation of Shenzhen development model from China to Africa by Chinese investment.
Bahamas: Last Thoughts on Elections
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
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,...
Tunisia: TV Station Chief Sued for Broadcasting ‘Persepolis’
On May 3 Tunisian courts will announce the verdict in the trial of Nabil Karoui, owner of the private channel Nessma TV, who has been prosecuted for broadcasting the animated film Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.
China: Phone calls between Teng Biao and Chen Guangcheng
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
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....