Stories from 10 July 2012
Bulgaria: How to Become a Prostitute in 1888
The blog “Живот Мой” (“My Life”) published [bg] the 1888 local legislation on how to become a prostitute in the Black Sea coastal city of Varna. The bill contains the requirements for women willing to become prostitutes; regulations on brothels; health requirements before, during and after being a prostitute; and...
Bulgaria: Budget Expenses in Open Access
On July 3, the Bulgarian government voted [bg] for a national roadmap compliant with the Open Government Partnership Initiative requirements. As an integral part of this action plan, the Ministry of Finances launched its transparency plan [bg] and started publishing budget expenses details on an everyday basis.
Bulgaria: “I, the Bulgarian from Macedonia”
The Bulgarian news outlet Fakel published [bg] a review of a new book entitled, “I, the Bulgarian from Macedonia.” The book is described as “a terrible, breaking, disgusting story that not only shakes up, startles and stirs our sleeping national conscience, but shifts, collapses and splits with tectonic force all...
Russia: Pussy Riot Members Remain in Jail
Amnesty International started a sms action campaign calling for the release of three jailed members of the punk band Pussy Riot. The women — Nadezhda, Maria and Ekaterina — were detained after performing an anti-Putin song in a church in Moscow back in February. An announcement on their blog [ru]...
Video: From Colombia, Versión Beta Makes a Recycled Organizer
Using two empty plastic bottles and a zipper, the Colombian Version Beta Show [es] uses a video to teach viewers how to make a storage container.
Video: Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project Helps Iraqis Waiting for Resettlement
The Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project strives to help the Iraqi people who are in the legal limbo of waiting for resettlement papers. This series of videos tells the stories of refugees and also shows how through policy advocacy, providing legal representation to refugees and assistance once they are resettled, the IRAP is helping them out.
St. Lucia: Making Music
At I and Iyanola, Nkrumah Lucien discusses Saint Lucia's rock music scene with journalist/actor/musician Jason Sifflet : “Playing rock from a Caribbean island is a trap, like playing reggae. It’s not indigenous to your culture, so every in and out of your culture sees you as a fake. But when you incorporate your...
Guyana: Editorial Ethics
Ruel Johnson responds to a recent controversial Guyana Chronicle editorial which asserted that black youth in Guyana were socialised to be resentful of Indians : “First of all, editorials are the highest form of journalism and basic journalism calls for the citation of sources of information – generalisations in editorials therefore usually point to...
Brazil: Activists Support Civic Framework for Internet
Internet activists are discussing the civic framework (“marco civil”) for internet in Brazil, to be voted on National Congress today. Mega Yes Movement [pt] says the framework will establish fundamental rights online, and urges netizens to read [pt], tweet (#MarcoCivil), and petition about it. Mega Yes activists previously engaged on...
Myanmar: Netizens Cheer Release of more Political Prisoners
Myanmar netizens welcomed[my] the release of more political prisoners on July 3, 2012. About 24 activists/politicians were released and some believed that it boosted the country's transition towards democracy.
Myanmar, Malaysia: Football Fans Debating about Overaged Players
Football fans from Malaysia and Myanmar are intensely debating about Myanmar's U-22 National Team which was accused of fielding overaged players in the AFC U-22 Championship Qualifiers 2013.
Myanmar : Jackie Chan Visits Orphanage
Myanmar netizens discussed[my] Jackie Chan's visit to an orphanage in Myanmar in his capacity as a UNICEF Ambassador. Some are wondering why he didn't take off his shoes in Dhamma Hall in front of a Buddha statue.
Colombia: Concern About Contamination at Santa Marta Bay
José D. Pacheco M., of the blog Tras la cola de la rata, writes [es] about a study [es] and a report [pdf, es] on the contamination of the bay of Santa Marta, an important tourist destination in the Colombian Caribbean, because of the “poor handling and inadequate control of...
Iran: Alef, a conservative site was filtered
Alef [fa], a conservative site, was filtered.Alef belongs to Ahmad Tavakoli, a conservative MP who has criticized Iranian government's policy for several years. Several conservative sites supported [fa] Alef.
Iran: Lives of several imprisoned journalists and netizens in danger
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says lives of several imprisoned journalists and netizens are in danger in Iran.
Iran: Public wear influenced by social networking websites
A report from a state-run institute says 20 percent of women and 10 percent of men in Iran, choose their wear and public appearance due to the photos they see on social networking websites like Facebook, a deputy at Iran's ‘IT and digital media development center’ presented this report in...
South Asia: First Pakistan-India Social Media Summit
A social media summit between Indian and Pakistani netizens titled the “Social Media Mela 2012″ will take place on the 13th and 14th of July 2012. The seats are limited and excitements are plenty among the netizens, reports Faisal Kapadia.
Russia: A Great Firewall to Censor the RuNet?
The Russian language section of Wikipedia suspended service today in protest against a draft law now under review by the Russian parliament that many believe threatens the RuNet with censorship. Kevin Rothrock reports on the political context and details of the legislation.
East Timor: Photo Report of Vote Counting in Dili
Besides providing numbers of international observers and media correspondents on site for the July 7 elections, the Technical Secretariat of Electoral Management (STAE) used its Facebook page to share photos of personnel counting votes on paper ballots, in Dili. The procedure was followed by observers, members of political parties and...
Angola, China: Netizens Discuss New Development Ghost Town
The government of Angola hired a Chinese company to build 750 expensive apartments in Kalimba, about 30km outside the capital Luanda. Despite rich natural resources, many people in Angola live in abject poverty and cannot afford these apartments. Will Kalimba become Africa's biggest ghost town?
Tunisia: Online Platform to Monitor Police Abuse
Yezzi is an online Tunisian collaborative platform, which documents and reports police abuse and wrongdoings. For years, police corruption and abuse went unnoticed and unpunished in Tunisia. People would talk about it among themselves, but only few would dare speak up in public or resort to justice. Yezzi aims to change that.
