6 June 2012

Stories from 6 June 2012

Yemen: The Sheikh, Women and the NYT

Yemeni netizens are enraged by Sheikh Hamid Al-Ahmar, a member of Al Islah’s political leadership, who allegedly made an offensive statement regarding Yemeni revolutionary women to the New York Times. On Twitter, the battle rages as the Sheikh denies he made the comments and the newspaper is yet to show proof of what it says he said.

6 June 2012

Kenya: Digital Activists Fight Corruption Online

I Paid a Bribe is an initiative of Kenyan anti-corruption activists fighting corruption in Kenya using the new technologies. I Paid a Bribe, modeled after India's anti-corruption portal (IPAB), is a partnership between IPAB and Wamani Trust of Kenya to bring IPAB to East and Central Africa.

6 June 2012

Spain: “Occupying” the Banks on the Street and the Net

The bailout of Bankia could cost 23,000 million euros but the governing politicians and the managers of Bankia do not seem interested in holding those responsible accountable. In the face of this, the Spanish people have taken matters into their own hands. Since the crisis began, popular initiatives have flourished both digitally and on the streets.

6 June 2012

Brazil: Magazine Gives Homeless People a Chance

Ocas Magazine, handed out on the streets of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro since 2002, is one such publication that contains information that sets it apart from the mainstream press in Brazil. But it goes even further than that. It also provides a new start and work opportunities for the homeless and people who are at social risk.

6 June 2012

China: Forgiving the Tiananmen Massacre Murderers?

While more than 180,000 people attended the annual candlelight vigil on June 4, in Hong Kong for China's June 4th incident (Tiananmen Square protests), exiled former student leader Chai Ling wrote that she has forgiven the murderers of the massacre. Her comments have stirred up a lot of debate.

6 June 2012

Zambia Fixes Maize Price Again, Flustering World Bank

Increases in the price of maize, a staple food of Zambia, has previously led citizens to riot and even stage a government coup. Despite warnings from the World Bank that it will damage the agriculture sector, Zambian leaders continue to fix the floor price.

6 June 2012

Kenya: Urban Gardening Taking Root

In Kenya, city dwellers are learning different techniques to grow food for consumption and sale even in reduced spaces. For people with low or no income, urban gardening may be the key to food security. These videos show how food can be grown in containers and using limited space and resources.

6 June 2012

Afghanistan: Girls Poisoned for Attending School

Although a ban on education for girls and women in Afghanistan was lifted after the fall of the Taliban in 2001, female students continue being targeted by fundamentalists for attending school. In a recent string of attacks in the northeastern Afghan province of Takhar, hundreds of girls were poisoned at their schools.

6 June 2012