Stories from 11 August 2012
Tajikistan: Can Olympic Medalist Become a ‘National Symbol'?
Fans in Tajikistan continue celebrating Olympic bronze won by female boxer Mavzuna Chorieva. Blogger Harsavor suggests [ru] that the fighter might become the country's new “national symbol”.
US, Equatorial Guinea: Rebranding an African Dictator
"This is equivalent of organising a conference on free speech in North Korea - then getting Kim Jong-un to cut the ribbon." US-based human rights group, the Sullivan Foundation is helping rebrand Equatorial Guinea's President Obiang, Africa's longest-serving dictator.
Argentina Wins its First Gold Medal in London 2012
Argentinian Twitter users are celebrating the country's first gold medal in London 2012 after Sebastian Crismanich beat Spain's Nicolás Garcia Hamme in Taekwondo.
Venezuela: Flirtatious ‘Joropo’ of the Plains
Of the musical genres that constitute the folklore of the plains of Venezuela, the joropo has long been the most characteristic of this part of the country. This type of music and dance come from the broad flat areas of Venezuela, where the prevalent culture is closely related to the land and livestock.
Guyana: Violence in Linden
Code Red says that “the Caribbean community has been shamefully silent” about police violence in the town of Linden.
Jamaica: Caribbean Region Rallies Behind Bolt
Jamaican bloggers - and indeed netizens from the wider Caribbean region - are continuing to celebrate the island's successes at the London Olympic Games. Unsurprisingly, Usain Bolt is at the centre of the online discussion, thanks to his amazing performance in the Men's 200m event and his response to Carl Lewis' drug use accusations.
Spain: Expropriation of Food for the Most Needy
Politicians and labor unionists have expropriated food from supermarkets in order to give it to the most needy in times in which Spain is experiencing a serious socioeconomic crisis. Chris Moya writes about the action that has caused a commotion in the country.
Côte d'Ivoire: Debate Rages over University Fees
The universities of Côte d'Ivoire are getting ready to re-open their doors on September 3, 2012, bringing to an end long months of closure, controversially ordered by the Ivorian president. Joy at this announcement was swiftly replaced by a wave of indignant reactions following the decision of university heads to increase registration fees. Debate continues to rage in the Ivorian media as well as various social networks.
Guinea: Statistics on Poverty on the Rise
Mamadou Aliou Barry wrote on the Facebook page Voice of the Guinean Youth [fr]: “According to the results of the study on poverty and inequality in Guinea from 1999 to...
Cameroon: Giordano Bruno as an Example of Intellectual Courage
In an article entitled “The real map of Africa hidden for 600 years“[fr], Jean-Paul Pougala, an author from Cameroon, writes that: “25 years ago I chose Giordano Bruno, philosopher of...
China: Dissident Prosecuted for Leaking Staged Suicide Photo
Zhu Chengzhi, a 62 year-old dissident who leaked a photo of Li Wangyang's staged suicide is being prosecuted for state sedition.
Bulgaria: Thousands of Trial Records Go Open
The Bulgarian section of the Open Knowledge Foundation announced [bg] the release of 580,049 court decisions and 607,656 additional documents, including motives. Although all those are already publicly accessible in...
Russia: Pussy Riot's Closing Statement
The blog Chtodelat publishes an English translation of the closing statements of one of the defendants in the Pussy Riot trial. Three of the punk group members are charged with...
Bangladesh: Ugly and Deadly Billboards in Dhaka
Dhaka skylines are covered with commercial billboards. These not only block the view of the sky but during string winds and storms they are prone to collapse and harm pedestrians. So far 15 people have died in billboard related accidents.
Cyprus: Remembering ‘Operation Atilla’ Across Borders
On the 38th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus - Operation Atilla - netizens from Cyprus, Greece and Turkey comment on what they see as either a day to mourn or celebrate.
