Stories from 16 June 2012
South Korea: Fight Continues over Jeju Naval Base Construction
GangJeong, a small rural town in the Jeju island has made headlines for several months with intense conflict going on between the government forging ahead with its construction plan and environmentalists and rights groups struggling to protect the natural resources. A net user posted an English subtitle (not embedded) for...
Bahrain: Cursing Neutrality
“I think that it’s not only the killer that should be held responsible for his crime for silence isn’t any lesser of a crime, and that the hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality,” writes Bahraini blogger Mohammed Hassan.
Saudi Arabia: The Repercussions of Nayef's Death
The death of Saudi Arabia's Crown prince and Minister of Interior Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, 78, was announced today. Netizens react to the news.
Yemen: Who Will Handle Yemen's Portfolio After Prince Nayef's Death?
Yemeni netizens react to the death of Saudi Crown Prince and Minister of Interior Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The strongman handled the Yemeni portfolio, and is alleged to have moved Al-Qaeda from Saudi Arabia to Yemen. He has also been quoted in Wikilieaks saying that Yemen is a failed state.
Uzbekistan: Silk and Spice Festival Lost in Translation
Uzbek blogger posts photos from the International Silk & Spice Festival in Bukhara (which the organizers have erroneously advertised [ru] as ‘Silk & Space Festival’).
Tajikistan: Language and Nation-Building
Blogger Adash Istad ponders [tj] the importance of a common vernacular language in the process of nation-building in Tajikistan. The author writes: “We have a national spoken language [which all groups in the country should be able to speak]. Those who do not want to understand this simple truth will...
Serbia: “Internet (R)evolution”
Center for Internet Development in Serbia reports [sr] that Serbs use the Internet mostly for current news (63%) and educational purposes. The research was conducted in April 2012, with a sample of 1,239 respondents: 80% of them considered communication and info-exchange with government institutions via Internet very relevant, while 68%...
Spain: 15M Presents Legal Complaint Against Bankia
The 15M has presented a legal complaint before the National Audience against commercial fraud committed by Bankia executives. Social media have played a key role in the campaign.
Understanding the Violence in Western Myanmar
Dozens dead, more than two thousand houses burned down, and thirty thousand residents have been displaced by the communal violence in Rakhine State, west of Myanmar. Who are responsible for these deaths? How was the internet used to spread hate and racism? What are the views of ordinary citizens on this very complicated issue?
Kyrgyzstan: Videos Abound of ‘Patriotic’ Attacks on Migrant Women in Russia
A number of 'patriotic' videos depicting male Kyrgyz labor migrants abusing their female compatriots for associating with men from other ethnic groups while working in Russia has recently been disseminated online. The videos have sparked outrage across domestic and international networks.
