Stories from 2 June 2012
Nepal: Time To Find Leaders
Ushaft proposes that time has come for a Leaders-for-Nepal initiative. Because election or not, the nation needs a nationwide network of youths committed to some core political and economic values.
Tunisia: Protesting the Military's Lack of Transparency and Censorship
Two Tunisian journalists have gone on hunger strike in protest at the military which had confiscated their video taping equipment while they were covering a court hearing on the murder of protesters during the 2011 Tunisian uprising. The journalists accuse the military justice of its lack of transparency in handling this case.
Kyrgyzstan: Challenging the Government-set ‘Subsistence Minimum’
Is the ‘subsistence minimum’ a realistic measure of the goods and services that one needs to maintain a basic standard of living? Three Kyrgyz bloggers participate in an experiment to see whether...
Argentina: The Return of ‘Cacerolazos’, Pot-banging Protests
On May 31 the 'cacerolazo' - a protest where people bang pots and pans - returned to Argentina in reaction to new foreign exchange measures, insecurity, and corruption, Argentines organized through social networks to protest in the streets and from their homes.
China: Lives of Kidney Sellers
Alia from ChinaBeat translated a local feature story on the lives of kidney sellers in China. What they gets in return is about USD5600 per kidney.
Brazil: Facebook Censors Photos of the ‘SlutWalk’
Not long after the SlutWalk which took place in several Brazilian cities, photos in which some women appear bare-breasted in protest against male chauvinism were deleted by Facebook for “violating the declaration of rights and responsibilities.” The social network has found itself at the core of the debate about the distinction between “gratuitous” nudity, pornography and social activism.
Uganda: Netizens Show Support for National Team on Twitter, Facebook
The Ugandan national team will be in Angola this weekend to start their 2014 World Cup qualifiers. The match will take place on the same date Ugandans celebrate the Uganda Matyrs' Day. The Uganda Cranes almost made a historic comeback to the Africa Nations Cup tournament last year after 33 years. Using Twitter and Facebook, Uganda show their undying support for the Cranes:
Egypt: Life Imprisonment for Mubarak
The world watched as an Egyptian court sentenced former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and his Interior Minister Habib Al Adly to life imprisonment for their role in the killing of protesters. The historic verdict was broadcast live, prompting netizens to post reactions online as the court session progressed.
Hong Kong: Complaint Culture
Everything can be a subject of complaint in Hong Kong, like croaking frogs, flowering trees and tweeting birds. Regardless of the fairness of the complaints, the government and private property...
China: Permit a moderate amount of corruption
Fauna from ChinaSMACK translated state controlled media Global Times’ editorial on fighting against corruption in China and netizens’ response to their idea that people should accept an appropriate amount of...
Ethiopia: Land, History and Justice in Gambella
Land activists are using online petitions, Facebook and Twitter to campaign against land grabbing in Ethiopia. It is reported that villagers in Gambella province are forced to settle in state-designated villages to pave way for land grabbers. Gambella is the poorest region in Ethiopia.
Kazakhstan Joins the Central Asian Ban on ‘The Dictator’
Following in the footsteps of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan has stopped [ru] showing The Dictator, Sacha Baron Cohen‘s latest spoof blockbuster. Baron Cohen's 2006 comedy film, Borat, which ridicules Kazakhstan has also been...
Kazakhstan: Deadly Incident at the Border a ‘Terrorist Act'?
Following yesterday's reports about a deadly incident at a remote frontier post in Kazakhstan, Zhanaozenskie Neftyaniki blog summarizes [ru] possible causes behind the deaths of 14 border guards and a...
