Stories from 25 July 2012
Saudi Arabia: Kingdom's First Female Olympic Athletes Called ‘Prostitutes’
For the first time, two women from conservative Saudi Arabia will be competing in the Olympics. Their involvement in London 2012 triggered the Twitter hashtag, "Prostitutes of the Olympics."
Saudi Arabia: Lone Protester Khaled Al Johani Temporarily Released
When the Day of Rage was called for in Saudi Arabia back in March 11, 2011, only a handful of protesters challenged the heavy police presence and protested. Khaled Al Johani was the only one caught on tape and was soon detained. Netizens react to Al Johani's release for 48 hours.
Morocco: Video Explores the Question of Racism
In Morocco, an ethnically diverse country and one that has seen a recent influx of sub-Saharan African migrants, racism is seldom discussed. A video [Ar] posted by Moroccan YouTube user...
Global Voices Seeks Advocacy Director
Global Voices seeks an Advocacy Director to run its online freedom of expression initiatives. Global Voices Advocacy seeks to build a global anti-censorship network of citizen media and online activists throughout...
Puerto Rico: It's a Bird… It's a Plane… It's Aslan!
Aslan is one of Puerto Rico's most innovative street artists. Using an iPhone and the photo application Instagram, his series of airplane photographs, #parriba (upwards), is perhaps his most ambitious & engaging project yet.
Venezuela: Filmmakers Explore Urban Realities
On Caracas' 445th birthday, Laura Vidal shares the work of three filmmakers who give netizens inside and outside Venezuela a different perspective of the Venezuelan capital.
Hong Kong: Signal Ten Typhoon
Beijing cream collects some citizen videos that show typhoon Vicente, the strongest typhoon in 13 years, passed through Hong Kong on July 24.
Ghana: President's Death Trends on Ghanaian Twittersphere
Ghanaian President John Atta Mills died on July 24, 2012. Ghanaians took to Twitter to express their shock and sadness. Tweets of the President’s death hit the social media site before many of the media houses officially confirmed it.
Japan: Debate over the Preservation of a Dead Tree
Asia Sentinel reports on a controversy in Rikuzentakata, a city in Iwate, Japan over the public spending of about USD 2 millions for preservation a dead tree and turning it...
Language War in the Hong Kong Book Fair
A Cantonese-Mandarin language war broke out in a talk given by movie director Pang Ho-cheung for the 2012 Hong Kong Book Fair. To serve the big mainland Chinese market, the...
Saudi Arabia: The “Faceless” Experiment
Rana Jarbou is a Saudi blogger who has decided to carry out an experiment. For a week she is wearing the niqab or face veil, to see how she feels, and to see if she is treated differently.
Egypt: Egyptian Woman faces Sexual Harassment, in Washington DC
Nancy M is an Egyptian woman who moved from Cairo to Washington DC last month, thinking she has left sexual harassment behind her.”I was still a woman, walking the streets...
Syria: Weapons and Combat Tutorials Online
Syrian rebels turn to a YouTube channel called 'Free Syrian Army Help' for training. The channel has 80 videos explaining tactics like hand-to-hand combat, how-to-make flame-throwers, and ambushing an enemy.
Argentina: A Tour Through Rosario and its Architecture
The city of Rosario, located 300 km from the city of Buenos Aires in Argentina, offers lovers of architecture a tour of history through its buildings, which mark the era of opulence that characterized the city. On the Internet, those who visited or are living in Rosario share photos and information on this iconic architecture.
Paraguay: Citizens Reject Rio Tinto's Aluminium Smelter Project
The blog Interparaguay [es] shares several videos on a project headed by Río Tinto Alcan to build an aluminium smelter in Paraguay. In the last video, Mercedes Canese, Vice Minister...
Madagascar: Three Soldiers Killed During Uprising in Military Barracks
Three soldiers were killed and four injured during a confrontation at Ivato barracks, Madagascar on Sunday July 22, 2012. This revolt took place shortly before a meeting between the interim leader Andry Rajoelina and ex-president Marc Ravalomananana, scheduled for July 24 in the Seychelles. This latest incident follows a pattern all too familiar to Malgasians as they ask themselves who benefits from the unrest that occurs before each attempt at mediation.
Malaysia: Selangor State Faces Water Shortage
Selangor, Malaysia's richest state, could be facing a water shortage crisis soon after its water concessionaire announced that water rationing might be necessary because of lack of clean water reserves. The state government, however, is accusing the company of using the issue to gain more profit.
India: Ethnic Clashes in Assam
Fighting between indigenous Bodo tribes and Muslim settlers in the Indian State of Assam killed at least 32 people and wounded many more. Approx. 70,000 villagers have fled their homes since the violence started and taken shelter in relief camps. More than 60 villages belonging to both Bodos and Muslims in Kokrajhar and Chirang districts were ransacked or burned.
